Connecting Xiaomi Watches to iPhone 13: Full Instruction with Typical Error Solutions

Why iPhone 13 owners choose Xiaomi watches and what difficulties they face

Xiaomi’s smartwatches are no longer exclusive to Android devices. Models like the Mi Band 7 Pro, Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro or Redmi Watch 3 are actively bought by iPhone users, thanks to a combination of price, functionality and design. However, synchronization with iOS (especially on the iPhone 13 with its strict restrictions on the background operation of applications) often turns into a catch-up: notifications do not come, step data disappears, the connection breaks after a firmware update.

This article provides step-by-step picture instruction (see table below), unique solutions for iPhone 13 on iOS 17/18 (including bypassing Apple’s restrictions), and answers to questions that aren’t covered even in Xiaomi’s official documentation, such as why Mi Fitness doesn’t see a watch after a phone reboot, or how to make Telegram notifications work without lags.

Spoiler: It's not your watch or your phone that's the problem, it's the iOS architecture that blocks the background activity of third-party apps, but there are workarounds — read on.

What Xiaomi watch is compatible with the iPhone 13: a full list of models

Not all Xiaomi smartwatches work equally well with iPhones, for example, the Mi Band 1-4 does not officially support iOS, and the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro may lose connection due to a conflict with the Apple Watch. Here is the current list of models tested (data for 2026):

• ✅ Full compatibility: Mi Band 6/7/8, Xiaomi Smart Band Pro, Redmi Watch 2/3, Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro
• ⚠️ Limited functionality: Xiaomi Watch S1/S2 (No Call Notifications, Mi Band 5 (Requires manual connection after each update)
• ❌ Incompatible: Mi Band 1-4, Amazfit Bip U (despite the overall brand, requires separate software)

Important: Even on the “full compatibility” list, some features may not work. For example, the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro does not sync sleep data with Apple Health due to Apple’s restrictions, and the Mi Band 8 does not show notifications from WhatsApp if the iPhone settings disable notifications for the Mi Fitness app.

Preparing iPhone 13 before connecting: 5 mandatory steps

Before you take the watch out of the box, do this on the iPhone 13, otherwise you run the risk of a “Device failed” error or permanent connection breaks:

Update iOS to the latest version (at the time of writing: 17.5.1)

Remove old versions of Mi Fitness or Zepp Life (if any)

Turn Bluetooth on in Settings → Bluetooth and leave it active

Allow the app to access notifications in Settings → Notifications

Turn it off. VPN (It can block Xiaomi servers)-->

In iOS 17+, Apple has tightened its security policy: if you don’t give Mi Fitness permission to display notifications before you connect the watch,Later you won’t be able to enable them without resetting the watch.

⚠️ Warning: If you're using an iPhone 13 with iOS 18 beta, temporarily roll back to stable firmware. in beta versions, Bluetooth often breaks down. LE (Low energy, which leads to inability to synchronize with the clock.

Step-by-step: how to connect the Xiaomi watch to the iPhone 13

The connection process takes no more than 5 minutes if done correctly, and follow the instructions in strict order, skipping the steps will lead to errors.

1. Install the app: Download Mi Fitness (for Mi Band) or Zepp Life (for Xiaomi Watch) from the App Store. Don't use the web version or APK - they don't work with iOS.
2. Sign up for an account: Create an account via email or phone number. Don't use a Google account, it doesn't sync with iOS.
3. Turn on the watch: Press the button on the body (or tap the screen if touch) before the Xiaomi logo appears. For the Mi Band, pull the strap to unlock the screen.
4. Start pairing: In the app, click "Add device" → "Bracelet or Clock" → Choose your model from the list. Wait for it to appear. QR-code on the watch screen and scan it through the app.
5. Configure Permits: Allow access to Bluetooth, Notifications, Health (Kit) and Geolocation (required for accurate jogging tracking).

Once successfully connected, the watch will automatically update the firmware (if a new version is available), do not interrupt the process, this can lead to the "bricking" of the device, the average refresh time is 10-15 minutes.

Setup notifications: why they don’t come and how to fix it

The most common problem with using Xiaomi watches with iPhone 13 is the lack of notifications from messengers or calls, the reason is because of Apple’s policy: iOS blocks the background activity of applications if they are not optimized for Background App Refresh.

Here’s how to make notifications work:

1. Enable Background App Refresh: Go to Settings → Main → Content Update and enable the option for Mi Fitness.
2. Set up notifications manually: In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → Notification Settings and manually select apps (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, VK) that should be duplicated by the clock.
3. Turn off battery optimization: In Settings → Battery → Battery status, turn off charging optimization for Mi Fitness. This will prevent the application from automatically closing.
4. Reboot your watch and iPhone: After you change your settings, be sure to restart both devices. Otherwise, the changes won't apply.

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If notifications come with a delay, try this: Open the Mi Fitness app on your iPhone, pull the screen down to update the data, and then roll the app (don't close!) This forcefully activates background sync.

⚠️ Warning: Call notifications may not work if the iPhone is on Do Not Disturb or Focus mode, and check if the caller's number is blacklisted in the clock settings.

Synchronization of health data: steps, sleep, pulse

Xiaomi watches collect steps, heart rate, sleep phases and blood oxygen levels, but by default, they're not exported to Apple Health to fix this:

1. Connect HealthKit integration: In Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Settings → Health App and enable synchronization. Allow access to all categories of data.
2. Set up Auto Export: In Apple Health (Health App), open the Data Sources tab and make sure Mi Fitness is marked as an active source.
3. Check the synchronization frequency: By default, the data is updated once an hour. To change the interval, go to Mi Fitness → Device → Synchronization settings.

Important: Stress and breathing data (if supported by your watch model) are not synced with Apple Health due to API limitations.

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If Apple Health displays incorrect data after syncing (e.g. 10,000 steps instead of 500), reset the statistics to Mi Fitness: Profile → Device → Reset. Then reconnect the clock.

Typical Problem Solving: From Error 10004 to Permanent Connection Breaks

Even after a successful connection, iPhone 13 users are faced with errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, try resetting the clock to factory settings:

1. On the clock, go to Settings → About the device → Reset.
2. In the Mi Fitness app, remove the device from the list.
3. Reboot the iPhone.
4. Repeat the connection process from scratch.

⚠️ Warning: After resetting, all data on the clock (steps, sleep history) will be deleted. If it is not synchronized with the application, it will be impossible to restore it.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions