Xiaomi smartwatches are some of the most popular gadgets for tracking activity, but connecting them to smartphones of other brands (for example, the Samsung Galaxy A12) often raises questions. Despite the fact that both devices run on Android, differences in firmware and branded shells (MIUI vs One UI) can create nuances when synchronizing. In this article, we will discuss not only the standard connection procedure, but also the typical mistakes that occur when trying to associate the Mi Band, Amazfit or Xiaomi Watch with the Galaxy A12.
The Samsung Galaxy A12 features a One UI Core shell (a simplified version of One UI), which sometimes blocks application background activity, which can interfere with the stable operation of the Bluetooth connection with the watch. In addition, many users face the problem when the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp for Amazfit) does not see the device, even though Bluetooth on the phone is turned on, and we will detail how to circumvent these restrictions and ensure seamless synchronization.
1. Xiaomi watch compatibility with Samsung Galaxy A12
Before you start connecting, it’s important to make sure your watch model is officially supported by your phone.Most Xiaomi devices are Android 6.0 and higher compatible, and the Galaxy A12 runs Android 10/11 (depending on region and updates).
- 📱 Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7 — Fully compatible but require Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit).
- ⌚ Amazfit Bip U / GTR / GTS — The app is available via Zepp (formerly Amazfit).
- 🕒 Xiaomi Watch / Watch S1 — Supported, but may have trouble with notifications due to One limitations UI.
- ⚠️ Outdated models (such as the Mi Band) 1/2) — It is not guaranteed to work correctly with modern versions of Android.
Samsung is also actively optimizing its power consumption, which can cause background processes (including clock synchronization) to pause, not critical to basic functionality (time, steps), but affects notifications and continuous heart rate monitoring.
2. Preparing the Samsung A12 phone for connection
Before you connect the watch, you need to configure the Galaxy A12 so that it does not block the connection.
- Update your firmware: Go to Settings → Update your software and install the latest patches. This will fix possible Bluetooth errors.
- Allow background activity: Open Settings → Applications. Find Mi Fitness or Zepp (depending on the watch model). Select Battery → Battery Optimization. Set the switch to Do Not Optimize.
- Enable permissions: In the application settings (Mi Fitness/Zepp), allow access to Contacts, Notifications, Locations and Phone. Activate Auto Run (in some regions this option is hidden - see spoiler below).
How to enable auto-run on Samsung A12 if you don’t have options on the menu?
If you don't turn off battery optimization for the watch, sync will stop every 10 to 15 minutes, and notifications will come with a delay.
3. Step-by-step instructions for connecting the clock
Now, let's move directly to synchronization. The manual is suitable for most Xiaomi models, but there are slight differences for the Mi Band and Amazfit.
Charge the clock to 50% or more
Install Mi Fitness (for Mi Band) or Zepp (for Amazfit)
Turn on Bluetooth on your phone
Allow all application requests (notifications, location, etc.)
Restart your phone (recommended for stability)-->
For the Mi Band (all models)
- Open the Mi Fitness app and sign up (or sign in to your Xiaomi account).
- Click Profile → Add the device.
- Choose your Mi Band model from the list.
- Follow the instructions on the screen: Confirm the pairing on the clock (click on the touch button) and on the phone.
- Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 2 minutes).
For Amazfit (Bip, GTR, GTS, etc.)
- Launch the Zepp app and create an account.
- Press Devices. → Add the device.
- Choose your Amazfit model.
- Confirm the pairing on the clock (for Bip U, hold the 3 second button).
- Update the firmware of the watch if the app offers.
If the clock is not set, try:
- 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (Settings) → Bluetooth → switch off).
- 📱 Remove the application cache (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness/Zepp → Memory. → Clear the cache).
- 🔌 Connect the clock to another phone (to check its performance).
💡
If the Mi Band 6/7 watch is not connected, try resetting it to factory settings: press and hold the touch button for 10 seconds until vibration appears.
4. Set up notifications and data synchronization
Once you've successfully connected, you need to configure notifications and health data synchronization, and there are limitations in One UI Core that prevent this feature from working properly.
How to allow notifications for Mi Fitness/Zepp
- Open Settings → Notifications → Additional settings.
- Find Mi Fitness or Zepp in the list of apps.
- Turn on the switches: Show notifications Sound and Vibration (optional) Important notifications (for Android 10+)
Telegram
Calls.
Problems with data synchronization
If steps, sleep or pulse data are not updated:
- 🔄 Check if the synchronization is enabled in the background in the application settings.
- 📶 Make sure your phone is on mobile internet or Wi-Fi (to upload data to the cloud).
- ⏳ Wait 5-10 minutes – sometimes synchronization occurs with a delay.
- 🔧 Reinstall the application if the error repeats.
💡
On the Samsung Galaxy A12, watch notifications can come with a delay of up to 5 minutes due to energy-saving settings.To reduce latency, turn off battery optimization mode for the watch application.
5. Solving common mistakes
Even with the right connection, Galaxy A12 users often face typical problems, including the most common and ways to fix them.
| Mistake. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The watch is not on the list of available devices. | Bluetooth phone overloaded or clock discharged | Restart your phone and watch, then re-search. |
| The application freezes at the stage "Connection..." | Conflict with other Bluetooth devices | Disable all other Bluetooth gadgets (earphones, speakers) and try again |
| Notifications do not come to all applications | One UI Limitations for Background Processes | Manually allow notifications for each application in Mi Fitness/Zepp |
| The clock goes off in a few minutes. | Energy saving turns off Bluetooth | Add Mi Fitness/Zepp to battery optimization exceptions |
| The watch firmware is not updated. | Weak Internet connection or regional restrictions | Connect to Wi-Fi and check your region settings in your Xiaomi account |
⚠️ If you have a watch called Mi Band 7 or Amazfit GTR 3 constantly lose communication, check if the phone is power saving or ultra-high energy saving. These modes aggressively restrict background activity, which leads to a break in the Bluetooth connection.
6. Alternative ways of connecting
If the standard method didn't work, you can try alternatives, which are less reliable, but sometimes help bypass the limitations of One UI.
Method 1: Notify & Fitness for Mi Band
This third-party app supports more features than the official Mi Fitness, and works better with Samsung:
- Remove Mi Fitness (if installed).
- Download Notify & Fitness from Google Play.
- Follow the instructions in the app to connect the clock.
- Allow all necessary permissions (including ADB if required) in the settings.
Method 2: Connect via Amazfit Tools (for Amazfit watches)
If the official Zepp app is not stable:
- Install Amazfit Tools from the app store.
- Connect the watch through this app (it uses the same protocols but with advanced settings).
- Turn on the Keep Alive option in the app settings – this will prevent the connection from breaking.
⚠️ Attention! When using third-party applications (such as Notify & Fitness) you may need to debug ADB It's not dangerous, but it requires care. ADB For Samsung, see spoiler below.
How to enable USB debugging on Samsung Galaxy A12?
7. Optimize the work of the watch with Samsung A12
To keep the watch running, it's not enough to just plug it in, you need to optimize the settings of the phone and the watch itself.
Phone settings
- 📴 Turn off the power saving mode for the watch application.
- 🔄 Update Bluetooth stacks: sometimes resetting Bluetooth settings helps (Settings) → System system → Reset → Resetting network settings).
- 🛡️ Add the app to the exceptions: Settings → Battery → Optimizing battery operation → All applications → Mi Fitness/Zepp → Not optimize.
Settings of the clock
- 🔋 Turn off unnecessary features (like Continuous Heart rate Monitoring if you don’t need one) – this will save you charge and reduce the Bluetooth load.
- 📲 Set up notifications selectively: not all apps need clock duplication (e.g. system alerts).
- 🔄 Update the firmware through the official application – this fixes compatibility errors.
If your watch runs out too fast when you connect to the Galaxy A12, try:
- Reduce the frequency of data synchronization (e.g., every 30 minutes instead of 5).
- Turn off Hand Raising to activate the screen (this reduces battery consumption by 15-20%).