Compatibility of Xiaomi fitness trackers with the Apple ecosystem has long been a subject of controversy, but the release of the Mi Fit app (now Mi Fitness) for iOS has dramatically changed the situation. Owners of the popular iPhone 11 smartphone often wonder how stable the bundle works with the budget but functional Mi Band 4. Fortunately, the setup process has become as automated and understandable as possible even for inexperienced users.
The main feature of the fourth-generation bracelet interaction with the iOS operating system is the need to use official software for initial synchronization. Without a special application, the Bluetooth module of the phone will not be able to correctly recognize the device and pass the necessary security certificates to it, which is a stage that often causes difficulties if you do not follow the correct sequence of actions.
In this article, we will take a look at every step of pairing, from preparing gadgets to fine-tuning notifications. You will learn how to avoid typical connection errors and make the tracker work in tandem with the iPhone 11 as efficiently as possible. Proper installation of all components of the system will ensure stable transmission of health data and instant alerts.
Device preparation and installation of Mi Fitness application
Before you start pairing, make sure your iPhone 11 is updated to the current version of the iOS operating system. Older versions of the software may not work properly with the new encryption protocols that Bluetooth 5.0 uses in the bracelet. Also check the charge level of the tracker itself - it should be at least 20-30% to successfully complete the process.
The main tool for managing the device is the Mi Fitness app (formerly known as Mi Fit), which must be downloaded exclusively from the official App Store to ensure that there is no malicious code and all the latest security updates, and search best by developer Anhui Huami Information Technology or simply by model name.
⚠️ Note: Do not try to connect the bracelet directly through the standard Bluetooth menu in the iPhone settings. iOS system can see the device, but will not be able to complete (pair) without authorization through the proprietary application, which will lead to a connection error.
Once installed, you’ll need to create a Mi Account or log in through your existing Apple ID profile, a requirement to synchronize your activity data and store your training history in the cloud, and without authorization, device functionality will be severely limited and notification settings will be impossible.
☑️ Pre-launch check
The process of primary pairing of the Mi Band 4 and iPhone
Launch the Mi Fitness app on your iPhone 11 and go to the Profile tab at the bottom menu. Click on Add Device and select the Bracelet category from the list. In the model list that appears, find and specify the Mi Band 4. The app will go into search mode and start scanning the surrounding space.
Place the bracelet next to the smartphone at a distance of no more than 10-15 centimeters. If the device was previously used with another phone, you may need to reset it to factory settings through the menu of the tracker itself (the item "Tear" or "Factory Reset").
After selecting the device on the screen iPhone will appear QR-code or numerical confirmation code. In some versions of firmware, you need to enter the code on the bracelet screen, in others you just confirm the action with a button on the tracker. Follow the instructions on the smartphone display before a message about a successful connection appears.
What to do if the search does not begin?
It is important not to interrupt the firmware update process if offered immediately after connecting.Firmware bracelet often contains critical fixes for working with iOS, so ignoring this step can lead to unstable notifications in the future.The process can take from 2 to 5 minutes depending on the speed of the Internet connection.
Set up access rights and notifications iOS
For the full operation of the Mi Band 4 and iPhone 11, you need to give the application extended access rights. Immediately after pairing, iOS will request permission to use Bluetooth, send notifications and access geolocation. Without permission to geolocate (even background), synchronization of pulse and step data can be delayed.
Special attention should be paid to setting up notifications in the “Application Notifications” section inside Mi Fitness. Here you can choose which apps will duplicate their messages on the bracelet screen. To correctly display text messages from WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, you must also allow previews of messages in the iPhone system settings.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Notifications on iPhone and select the desired application.
- 🔔 Make sure the “Allow Notifications” switch is active.
- 👁️ In the “Settings” section, select “Always” to show the preview, otherwise the bracelet will only have the sender’s name.
- 📲 Check that the Mi Fitness app has a green activity indicator in front of this messenger.
⚠️ Note: If you turn off the background update of the Mi Fitness app in iOS settings, the bracelet will stop receiving real-time notifications.
For privacy users, you can set the content of messages to display. You can set the bracelet to vibrate when you call, but you can't show the contact name or text if the phone is unlocked, and this is done through a combination of iOS system settings and settings in the profile section of the app.
Synchronizing Health Data Through Apple Health
One of the key features of the integration is the ability to transfer physical activity data to the native Apple Health app, which allows you to combine statistics from different devices and see a full picture of your activity. To activate this feature in the Mi Fitness app, you need to go to the Profile section and select Apple Health.
When synchronization is first enabled, the system will request permission to write and read different types of data, and it is recommended to include all items, especially Steps, Pulse, Sleep and Distance Traveled, which will ensure that the health analysis algorithms work correctly and allow the data from the bracelet to be used in third-party fitness applications.
| Type of data | Direction | Default status | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steps. | Mi Fit → Health | Included. | Low. |
| Pulse. | Mi Fit → Health | Off. | Average. |
| Son | Mi Fit → Health | Off. | Low. |
| Weight (Mi Scale) | Health → Mi Fit | Off. | Low. |
It's worth noting that synchronization is not real-time, but when you open the Mi Fitness app or when you update the background. If you don't see new data in Apple Health, try running the tracker app and waiting for the pie chart to show up, and then the data will automatically appear in the health system repository.
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For more accurate steps count, turn off the activity tracker of the iPhone itself in the Apple Health settings to avoid double counting of steps (phone + band).
Installation of Russian language and dials
One of the nice things about the Mi Band 4 is that it supports Cyrillic, which allows you to read notifications in Russian right from your wrist. However, by default, the bracelet can be set to English or Chinese. To change this, you need to go to the device settings inside the Mi Fitness app.
In the “Bracelet settings” section, look for “Language” (or “Language”). If the language is not on the list, you will need to download an additional language package. The application will offer to download the localization file, after which the bracelet will reboot and apply new font settings. The Cyrillic fonts on this device read perfectly, without “crackers”.
To personalize the look, there's a dial store available. You can choose a static image or an animated dial from the app. When choosing an animation, remember that it consumes battery power a little faster than static. New dials are loaded via Bluetooth, so the process can take up to 2-3 minutes.
⚠️ Note: When installing custom (third-party) dials through informal applications, there is a risk of overflowing the memory of the bracelet, which may require a complete reset of the device to factory settings.
If you want to put your photo on the screen, use the Local Dial feature in the app. Select a photo from the iPhone gallery, trim it to a round format and click Send to the bracelet. The image will be processed and stored in Mi Band 4 memory for permanent display.
Solutions to problems and connection breaks
Despite the stability of the work, users may experience periodic connection breaks between the iPhone 11 and the tracker. Often this is due to the aggressive energy saving policy of iOS, which “sleeps” background processes. To minimize the risk of loss of communication, make sure that the iPhone settings for the Mi Fitness application allow background content loading and geolocation (item “Always”).
Another common problem is the inability to find the device after an iOS update, in which a full reconnect cycle helps: removing the device from the application, turning off Bluetooth, rebooting the smartphone and re-pairing the procedure, sometimes requiring the bracelet to be removed from the list of forgotten devices in the Bluetooth system settings.
- 🔄 Perform a network reset on iPhone: Settings → Mainstream → Reset → Resetting network settings.
- 🗑️ Remove the Mi Fitness app and install it again.
- ⌚ On the bracelet, reset: More → Factory Reset.
- 🔋 Charge the bracelet to 100% before re-attempting to connect.
If the bracelet stops vibrating when alerted, check to see if the iPhone’s Do Not Disturb mode is on, blocking all visual and audio signals, including those transmitted to wearable devices. Also make sure the phone screen is not locked when the message arrives – some iOS settings only duplicate notifications when the phone screen is turned off.
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The stability of the connection Mi Band 4 and iPhone 11 directly depends on the background permissions of the application Mi Fitness in iOS.