Connecting Xiaomi Watches to Android via Bluetooth: Video Instructions and Error Solving

Xiaomi smartwatches are among the most popular wearables on the market due to their combination of functionality and affordable price. However, even experienced users sometimes have difficulty connecting to a smartphone for the first time. This article will help you understand how to properly sync Xiaomi watches (including Mi Band 7/8 Pro, Xiaomi Watch 2/3, Redmi Watch 3) with an Android phone via Bluetooth, as well as provide video instructions and solutions to typical problems.

We will look not only at the standard pairing procedure, but also at nuances that are often overlooked in official manuals. For example, why some watches require a firmware update before the first connection, how to avoid the “Device not found” error, and what to do if the Bluetooth connection is constantly broken. Fitness/Zepp Life and Device Compatibility Table.

1. Preparation of the phone and the clock to connect

Before you start pairing, make sure your smartphone and watch are ready to connect, which will save 80% of potential problems during the connection phase.

The phone must:

• 📱 Update Android to the current version (minimum Android 8.0 for new watch models). → System system → Update of the PO.
• 🔄 Turn on Bluetooth and Location – without it, the app will not be able to scan the devices. → Connections → Bluetooth.
• 🚫 Remove old pairings with other wearable devices in the Bluetooth Settings menu → Stored devices.
• 📥 Install the official app: Mi Fitness (for Mi Band) or Zepp Life (for Xiaomi Watch!

On Xiaomi watch, do:

• 🔋 Charge the device to at least 50% – with a low charge, the watch may not appear in the list of available devices.
• 🔄 Reset the watch if it has already been used with another phone, holding the power button (or touch zone) for 10-15 seconds.
• 📶 Activate pairing mode: on most models, you need to swipe down the screen and select the Bluetooth icon.

⚠️ Note: If you are connecting the Xiaomi Watch S3 Or, later, pre-disable the power saving mode on the phone for the Zepp Life application. Otherwise, the connection will break every 5-10 minutes.

2. Step-by-step instruction: how to connect the clock via Bluetooth

Now, to the process of pairing, follow the instructions carefully, the order of action is important.

Step 1. Open the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app and log in (or sign up) through your Xiaomi account.

Step 2. Click on the + icon (or Add Device) in the upper right corner. Select your watch model from the list. If no model, update the app!

Step 3: The phone will start scanning Bluetooth devices, and the pairing indicator (Blinking Bluetooth icon) should be on the watch at the same time, and if there is no indicator, restart the clock.

Step 4: When the watch appears in the list, click on it. The system will request code confirmation on both devices (usually a 6-digit numeric code). Confirm pairing.

Step 5: Wait until the sync is complete (it can take up to 2-3 minutes) and then the watch will automatically update the firmware if a new version is available.

If the clock is not in the scanning stage, try:

• 🔄 Restart Bluetooth on your phone (Settings) → Bluetooth → Off./On.).
• 📱 Reinstall the Mi app Fitness/Zepp Life.
• 🔋 Connect the watch to charging – sometimes it “wakes up” the Bluetooth module.

Video instruction: visual connection

For those who are better at visualizing, we have a set of proven, step-by-step videos, and look at the year of the video release, which is the current instruction no older than 2023-2026.

Video selection tip: Look for videos that show the interface of your version of the app. For example, in Mi Fitness 5.0+, the connection menu has changed compared to version 4.x.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use videos that suggest hacking your watch through third-party firmware (e.g. Amazfit) and this will lead to loss of warranty and unstable sensors.

4. Common mistakes and their solutions

Even if you do the instructions correctly, you can have errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Error 1: "Device not found"

• 📱 Check that the phone is powered not only by Bluetooth, but also by Location (required for Android 12).+).
• 🔄 Reboot both the watch and the phone.
• 📋 Make sure you choose the right model in the app, for example, Mi Band 7 and Mi Band 7 Pro are different devices!

Error 2: "Can't connect. Try again."

• 🔋 Charge the clock to 100% – sometimes a low charge blocks pairing.
• 📲 Remove the Mi Fitness app cache in Settings → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 🔄 Try connecting via another app (e.g. Notify & Fitness for Mi Band).

Error 3: The clock is connected, but the data is not synchronized

• 📶 Check your phone’s internet connection – network access is required for synchronization.
• 🔄 In the app, go to Profile → My devices. → [Your watch] → Synchronize data.
• 📋 Update the firmware of the watch through the application (section "Update software").

5.Setting hours after connection

Once paired successfully, you need to adjust the watch for comfortable use, and here are the key settings that you should set up right away:

1. Notifications

• 📱 Turn on the alerts for calls, SMS and messengers in Mi Fitness → Profile → My devices. → Notifications.
• 🔕 Set up Quiet Mode on your watch to turn off notifications at night.

2. Health monitoring

• ❤️ Activate constant heart rate control in the Settings of the clock → Heart monitoring → Continuously.
• 😴 Turn on sleep tracking (automatic or manual).

3. Screen and interface

• 🌓 Adjust the brightness of the screen and the backlight time in the Settings of the clock → Display.
• 🎨 Install a dial from the application collection (section "Dials").

💡

To save battery power, turn off constant time display (AOD) in the display settings, which will increase autonomy by 20-30%.

Additional functions

• 🏃‍♂️ Set up activity tracking (steps, calories, exercise).
• 🔐 Turn on the lock screen of the watch when removing from the hand (option "Block when removing").
• 📱 Synchronize weather and calendar with your phone.

6. Compatibility of Xiaomi watches with different versions of Android

Not all Xiaomi watches work equally well with different versions of Android. Below is a compatibility table to help avoid connection issues.

If your phone is running Android 12 or later, before you connect:

1. Allow Mi Fitness/Zepp Life to access the exact location (not just the approximate location).
2. In the Bluetooth settings of your phone, enable the option “Show devices without names” (Settings → System → Developer → Enable Bluetooth scanning).
3. Turn off the power saving mode for the watch application.

💡

For stable operation of the watch Xiaomi Watch S3 and newer requires Android 11+. on older versions there may be problems with synchronization of health data.

7. Alternative ways of connecting

If the standard Mi Fitness method doesn't work, you can try alternatives, which are suitable for advanced users or owners of informal firmware.

Method 1: Connecting with Notify & Fitness

Notify & Fitness for Mi Band supports most Xiaomi models and offers advanced settings:

1. Download Notify & Fitness from Google Play.
2. Turn on the watch pairing mode (as in the standard instructions).
3. In the application, select "Connect new device" and follow the instructions.

Method 2: Manual pairing through Android settings

This method is suitable for models with support for Bluetooth LE:

1. Open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth on your phone.
2. Click Scan and find your watch in the list (the name will start with MI or XMSH).
3. Confirm the pairing. Then open Mi Fitness, the watch must be automatically determined.

⚠️ Note: When manually connected via Android settings, some features (such as notifications or sleep monitoring) may not work.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions