Connecting Xiaomi Mi Band 5 to a smartphone: full instruction with error solutions

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular wearables due to its combination of functionality and affordable price, but even experienced users sometimes have difficulties with connecting to their first phone — especially if it is a question of changing a smartphone or reinstalling an application. In this article, we will discuss not only the standard pairing procedure, but also the nuances that are not mentioned in the official instructions.

It’s important to understand that the Mi Band 5 runs through Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit) and its correct configuration affects the stability of communication, synchronization of data on steps, sleep and pulse. We will look at options for Android and iOS, and also analyze common errors like “does not see the bracelet” or “constantly break the connection.” If you have already tried to connect and faced a problem, skip the basic steps and go straight to the “Problem Resolution” section.

Special attention will be paid to setting up notifications and permissions, which often cause problems. For example, many users do not know that Android 12+ requires manually allowing the Mi Fitness app to access the exact location - without this, the bracelet may not synchronize jogging data. And on the iPhone, you must necessarily activate the background update of the application, otherwise notifications will arrive with a delay.

Requirements for phone and bracelet before connection

Before you start pairing, make sure your device meets the minimum requirements. Xiaomi Mi Band 5 is compatible with smartphones on:

• 📱 Android 5.0 and newer (with Bluetooth 4.2 support) LE)
• 🍎 iOS 10.0 and newer (iPhone) 5s higher)
• 🔋 Bracelet charge not less than 20% (with a low charge, failures are possible)
• 📶 Stable Internet connection (for downloading applications and updates)

Pay special attention to the Bluetooth version. If your phone is released before 2015, there is a high risk that it does not support Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) - in which case the bracelet will permanently turn off. Check the Bluetooth version on Android you can see the Settings menu → About phone → Bluetooth version.

Also note that for full operation of the Mi Band 5 you will need:

• 📌 Up to 50 MB of free space on your phone (for app and cache)
• 🔒 Contact access permission (for call notifications)
• 📍 Geolocation permit (for jogging tracking)
• 🔔 Included notifications for the Mi Fitness app

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware (such as LineageOS) or the Chinese version MIUI Without Google Services, Mi Fitness may not be installed. APK from the official Xiaomi website.

Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application

The official Mi Band 5 management app is called Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit).

• 🤖 For Android: Google Play
• 🍏 For iOS: App Store
• 🌐 Alternative link: Official Xiaomi website

After installation, launch the application and follow the following steps:

1. Choose a region (Russia or Global - not fundamentally).
2. Accept the user agreement and privacy policy.
3. Sign up or sign in through your Xiaomi, Google, Facebook or Apple ID account.
4. Click Add the device (the + icon in the upper right corner).

Download Mi Fitness from the official store |

Register a Xiaomi | account

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone |

Charge the bracelet to 50%+|

Allow all application requests (geolocation, notifications)

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At the stage of registration, Xiaomi may need confirmation by email or phone number. If you have already used other Xiaomi devices (for example, a smartphone or router), you can sign in through your existing account.

⚠️ Note: If you choose China when registering, some features (e.g. sync with Google Fit) may not be available.

Connecting Mi Band 5 to the phone

Once the application is installed and the account is created, you can start pairing.

1. Activate Bluetooth on your phone (in the Quick Settings Panel or in Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
2. In the Mi Fitness app, click Add Device and select Bracelet.
3. From the list of models, select the Mi Smart Band 5 (not to be confused with the Mi Band 4 or Mi Band 6).
4. Press Hide and wait for the phone to find the bracelet. It can take up to 30 seconds.
5. When a 4-digit code appears on the bracelet screen, confirm it in the application.
6. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (the progress bar in the app should reach 100%).

If the bracelet is not found, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off and on).
• 🔋 Reset the bracelet (press the touch button for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Remove the application cache (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Memory. → Clear the cache).

Once successfully connected, the app will suggest updating the bracelet firmware. Update the firmware only when the bracelet is over 50% charged and the Internet connection is stable - interruption of the process can lead to "bricking" of the device.

💡

If the bracelet does not respond to touch during pairing, hold it to a bright light source (like a lamp).The Mi Band 5 touch screen sometimes does not work well in low light.

Set up permits for stable operation

Many users find that once connected, the bracelet doesn’t show notifications, doesn’t sync data, or permanently shuts down, 90% of the time it’s due to insufficient resolutions for the Mi Fitness app.

Check the necessary settings:

Android 12 and later also requires:

1. Allow precise location (not just approximate).
2. Enable the display over other windows (Settings → Special features → Mi Fitness).
3. Add the application to battery optimization exceptions.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO shelled MIUI You need to turn off the auto cleaning. RAM For Mi Fitness, go to Settings. → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Battery → Autocleaning → Shut down.

Set up notifications and calls

One of the key features of the Mi Band 5 is to display notifications about calls and messages, so that they work correctly:

1. In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Notifications.
2. Turn on the Call Notification switch.
3. In the Applications section, select messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS, etc.), notifications from which you want to see on the bracelet.
4. Set up the vibration style and repeat notifications (by default – 3 times with an interval of 10 minutes).

On the iPhone, extra:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Notifications → Mi Fitness.
• 🔔 Turn on the sounds and icons on the lock screen.
• 🔄 Activate the application's Background Update (Settings) → Mainstream → Content updates).

If notifications do not arrive:

• 🔄 Reconnect the bracelet (profile) → Mi Smart Band 5 → Turn off the device, then pair again).
• 📵 Check if Mi Fitness is added to the notification blacklist (on Android: Settings) → Notifications → Blacklist).
• 🔋 Make sure the bracelet is in “Do Not Disturb” mode (check down on the bracelet screen).

Solving Typical Connection Problems

Even with the right setup, there can be failures, and let's look at the most common errors and how to fix them:

If none of the methods helped, try to reset the bracelet to the factory settings:

1. On the bracelet, go to Settings → More → Reset (or press the touch button for 20 seconds).
2. In the Mi Fitness app, remove the device (Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Delete).
3. Restart the phone and repeat the connection procedure.

💡

If the bracelet stopped syncing after updating the phone’s firmware (for example, to Android 14), try rolling back the Mi Fitness app to the previous one. To do this, download APK from APKCombo’s website (select version 5.8.0 or 5.9.0).

Additional settings and chips Mi Band 5

After successful connection, we recommend setting up:

• 🌙 Sleep tracking: Include in Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Son → Auto-tracking: The bracelet will automatically detect sleep phases (light, deep, REM).
• 🏃 Exercise: Add frequently used sports (running, cycling, swimming) to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Training for quick access.
• 🔐 Unlocking phone: On Android, you can configure unlocking your smartphone when the bracelet approaches (Settings) → Security → Unlocking with a bracelet).
• 🎵 Music management: Enable the Player Control option in your bracelet settings to switch tracks directly from the Mi Band 5 screen.

Hidden chip: if you swipe left on the main screen of the bracelet, the menu will appear «PAI» (Personal Activity Intelligence is a personal activity index that measures your fitness on a scale of 0 to 100. The higher the value, the better your cardiorespiratory fitness is.

For advanced users:

• 📊 Export your workout data to Google Fit or Apple Health (Profile) → Settings → Synchronization of data).
• 🔧 Set up automatic heart rate tracking (the interval can be set from 1 to 30 minutes).
• 🌍 Change the units of measurement (kilometers/miles, kg/pounds) to Profile → Settings → Units of measurement.

Frequently asked questions