How to connect Xiaomi smartwatch to your phone: from Mi Band to Watch 2 Pro

Why can’t you connect Xiaomi watches to your smartphone?

Xiaomi smartwatches and fitness bracelets are some of the most popular wearables on the market due to a combination of functionality and affordable price. However, even with such gadgets, users often face problems when connecting for the first time. For example, the Mi Band 8 bracelet is not detected by the phone, the Mi Fitness app gives a synchronization error, or the Xiaomi Watch S3 watch is connected but does not show notifications. The reasons can be different from banal battery discharge to conflicting firmware versions.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to connect Xiaomi watches to your phone – both through official applications (Mi Fitness, Zepp Life), and alternative methods for older models. You will also learn how to fix typical errors (for example, code 10008 or 50001), configure notifications and sync data with Google Fit. If you just bought the Mi Band 7 or Watch 2 Pro – this guide will help you avoid hour-long googling forums.

Before you proceed to setup, make sure your smartphone meets the minimum requirements:

📱 Operating system: Android 6.0+ or iOS 12.0+ (iPhone functionality is limited).
🔋 Battery charge: the clock should be at least 20% (at low charge, synchronization may be interrupted).
📶 Bluetooth: version 4.2 or later (check in the phone settings) → The phone. → Bluetooth version).
🌍 Region: Mi Fitness must select Russia or Global (Chinese version can block connection).

📊 What Xiaomi Watch Model Are You Using?

Mi Band 6/7/8

Xiaomi Watch S1/S2/S3

Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro

Redmi Watch 3/4

Another model

Method 1: Connect via Mi Fitness (for Mi Band and older watches)

The official Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) is the main tool for synchronizing Mi Band fitness bracelets (including Mi Band 8) and some watch models (Xiaomi Mi Watch, Redmi Watch), which has the advantage of supporting Russian and stable work with most devices. However, after rebranding Xiaomi has moved some devices into the Zepp ecosystem, so a new watch (Watch 2 Pro, Watch S3) will require another application.

Step-by-step:

Download Mi Fitness from the official store: 🤖 Google Play for Android). 🍎 App Store (for iPhone).

⚠️ Note: Do not install the app from third-party sources – this may lead to data leakage or blocking of your Xiaomi account.

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and unlock the watch/bracelet screen (on the Mi Band, click the touch button).

In the Mi Fitness app, click Profile → Add the device and select your model from the list.

Follow the instructions on the screen: Confirm the connection on the clock (usually you need to press a button or touch area).

If the device is not located, try:

🔄 Restart your phone and watch.
📱 Remove the Mi Fitness app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Memory. → Clear the cache).
🔌 Shut down. VPN Proxies (they can block Xiaomi servers).

☑️ Preparing for connection through Mi Fitness

Charge the watch to 50%+Update Mi Fitness in the storeTurn on Bluetooth and GPSRemove old devices from profile

Done: 0 / 4

Method 2: Connect via Zepp Life (for Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, Watch S3 and new models)

Since 2022, Xiaomi has started integrating its smartwatches into the Zepp (formerly Amazfit) ecosystem, leading to app separation.Now, Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, Watch S3 and newer models require installing Zepp Life instead of Mi Fitness.This app offers advanced health analysis features, but can cause confusion among users accustomed to the old platform.

How to connect a watch with Zepp Life:

Remove Mi Fitness if it is installed (app conflict is a common cause of errors).
Download Zepp Life: 🤖 Google Play 🍎 App Store

Turn on Bluetooth and geolocation (required to find the device!).

In the app, click + → Add the device and select your model.

Confirm the pairing on the clock (the code will appear on the screen, which you need to compare with the code in the application).

Important: The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro requires a firmware update through Zepp Life after the first connection. If you skip this step, some features (such as NFC for payment) will not work.

Model clock	Annex required	Support for iOS	Features
Mi Band 6/7/8	Mi Fitness	Yes (limited)	No NFC, the basic set of functions
Xiaomi Watch S1/S2	Mi Fitness or Zepp Life	Yes.	Call support, but no Wear OS
Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro	Zepp Life	Yes.	Wear OS, NFC for Payment, Google Assistant
Redmi Watch 3/4	Mi Fitness	Yes (no notice)	Budget option, no screen is always on

💡

If the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro doesn’t connect to Zepp Life, try resetting it to factory settings: press the physical button for 10 seconds until the Xiaomi logo appears.

Connection Problem Solving: Errors 10008, 50001, and Others

Even with the right setup, users often encounter sync errors, and consider the most common codes and how to fix them:

🚫 Error 10008 ("Unable to connect to the device"): Reason: Bluetooth conflict or outdated firmware. Solution: Turn off Bluetooth on the phone, restart it. Remove the device from the list of conjugated Bluetooth settings. Update the watch firmware through the app.
⚠️ Error 50001 ("Server Unavailable"): Reason: problems with the Internet connection or Xiaomi servers.Solution: Check the Internet connection (turn off) VPN). Change the region in your Xiaomi account to Russia. Wait 1-2 hours - maybe technical work is underway.
🔄 The clock is connected, but the data is not synced: Reason: the lack of permissions in the application. Solution: Go to the phone settings → Annexes → Zepp Life/Mi Fitness → Permits: Enable contact, notification, geolocation and physical activity. Restart the app.

⚠️ Note: If after updating the firmware watch Xiaomi Watch S3 stop showing the time, reset through the application: Device profile → Settings → It'll delete all the data from the clock!

What if the clock is not fixed by the phone?

1. Check if your phone supports Bluetooth 5.0 (for the Watch 2 Pro, it is mandatory). 2. Make sure the watch is not connected to another device (for example, a tablet). 3. Try connecting via another phone - if the problem persists, the malfunction in the watch. 4. For the Mi Band, try removing the capsule from the strap and inserting it back (sometimes the contacts are oxidized).

Set up notifications and sync with Google Fit

Once successfully connected, the next task is to set up notifications for calls, messages and other events. By default, Xiaomi watches only show basic alerts, but they can be customized.

How to enable notifications:

In the app (Mi Fitness or Zepp Life), go to Device Profile → Notifications.
Turn on the Call Notification and Notifications from the apps switch.
Select the apps you want to see on your watch (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).
Set up the display style: 📱 Show the text of the message (full text or only the name of the sender). 🔔 Vibration (length and intensity). 🔕 Silent mode (disabling notifications at certain times).

To sync data with Google Fit (relevant for Android owners):

In the Mi Fitness/Zepp Life app, go to Profile → Settings → Data Synchronization.
Select Google Fit and log in through your Google account.
Allow access to data on steps, sleep, pulse and training.

⚠️ Note: On iPhone, syncing with Google Fit is unstable due to Apple restrictions.In this case, use Apple Health to export data.

💡

For stable notifications on Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, you need to disable battery optimization for the Zepp Life application in the phone settings (Settings → Applications → Zepp Life → Battery → No restrictions).

Alternative ways of connecting (without official applications)

If the official Mi Fitness or Zepp Life apps don’t work (for example, due to regional limitations or incompatibility), you can use third-party solutions.

Ways for Advanced Users:

🔧 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band: An Android app that replaces Mi Fitness and adds advanced features (like responding to messages from a watch.
🖥️ Gadgetbridge (for open source fans): Open source alternative with support for Mi Band and some watch models. It allows you to do without a Xiaomi account. ⚠️ Requires manual installation APK and skills in working with ADB.
🔄 Reset firmware via Mi Band Tools: If the watch freezes after a failed update, you can try reflashing it through Mi Band Tools (for power users only!).

Before using third-party applications, make a backup of the data through the official software!

💡

To connect the Mi Band 4/5 to an iPhone without Mi Fitness, you can use the Mi Band Master app (available on the App Store), which supports notifications and sleep monitoring, but does not sync data with Apple Health automatically.

How to check if the clock is connected correctly?

After setting up, it is important to make sure that the sync is working correctly. Here are 5 signs of a successful connection:

Real-time data display: Step, pulse and charge levels should be updated on the home screen of the application.
Test notification: Ask a friend to send you a message on Telegram or WhatsApp - it should appear on a clock with a vibration.
Time synchronization: The clock and phone should have the same time (if the discrepancy is more than 1 minute, update the firmware).
Additional functions: 📞 For the Xiaomi Watch S3: Check the possibility of answering calls. 💳 Watch 2 Pro: Add a card to Google Pay and pay for your purchase. 🏃 For Mi Band 8: Start a workout and check the route mapping.

No errors in logs: In the app, go to Device Profile → Synchronization log – there should be no red exclamation points.

If at least one of the items does not fulfill, go back to the "Problem Solving" section or reset the settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi watches

❓ Can you connect a Xiaomi watch to two phones at the same time?

Officially, no. The watch only syncs to one device, but you can manually switch the connection: Turn off the watch from the first phone through the app. Connect it to the second phone. It doesn't duplicate the data, it's tied to a Xiaomi account.

❓ Why Xiaomi Watches Aren't Connected to iPhones?

iOS issues are related to Apple's restrictions: 🍏 iPhones don’t run clock calls (except Watch 2 Pro with Wear) OS). 📵 Notifications come only from standard applications (Messages, Calendar). 🔄 Synchronizing data with Apple Health requires manual tuning.Solution: Use your Android phone to work properly.

❓ How to update the firmware on Xiaomi watches if the application does not find updates?

If Mi Fitness or Zepp Life doesn't have an update button: Check your Internet connection (updates are downloaded via Wi-Fi or mobile network). Delete the app cache (Settings → Apps → Zepp Life → Memory → Clear cache). Connect the watch to another phone and check for updates. For Watch 2 Pro, updates come via Google Play (since the watch runs on Wear OS).

❓ Can I use a Xiaomi watch without a phone?

Yes, but with limitations: ✅ Mi Band 6/7/8: They work as a pedometer and alarm clock, but without notifications. ✅ Xiaomi Watch S3: Support offline workouts and music (if you download files through the app). ✅ Watch 2 Pro: full-fledged smart-watch with Wear OS, But you need a phone to install apps. You need a phone to make calls without a phone. SIM-Map (supported only in Xiaomi Watch) S1 Active).

❓ How to Reset Xiaomi Watches to Factory Settings if They Are Not Connected?

Resetting methods depending on the model: 🔄 Mi Band 6/7/8: Press and hold the touch button. 15 A few seconds before the Xiaomi logo appears. 🔄 Xiaomi Watch S3: Press the physical button on 10 seconds. 🔄 Watch 2 Pro: Go to Settings → System system → Reset (on the watch itself) After reset, all data will be deleted, including training and settings!