Connecting Xiaomi Mi Band 4 to iPhone 11: full instructions with solutions to typical errors

Introduction: compatibility of Mi Band 4 and iPhone 11

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular wearables due to its combination of affordable prices and wide functionality. However, iPhone 11 owners often face questions about the compatibility of gadgets on different platforms. Unlike Android smartphones, where synchronization is almost automatic, connecting to iOS requires a few nuances.

The main problem lies in the limitations of Apple’s operating system: the iPhone does not support direct data transfer over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) as flexibly as Android.This means that to fully work Mi Band 4 will require the official Mi Fit application (or its alternatives), as well as the correct setting of permissions. In this article, we will analyze the step-by-step connection algorithm, possible errors and ways to fix them, and give recommendations for optimizing the performance of the bracelet with the iPhone 11.

Importantly, despite the fact that Mi Band 4 was released in 2019, its firmware is regularly updated, and some features (such as displaying notifications from messengers) may not work stable on the latest versions of iOS.

Pre-connection requirements

Before you start syncing, make sure your hardware and software meet the minimum requirements:

• 📱 iPhone 11 with iOS version 13.0 or later (15.0 recommended)+ steady-work).
• 🔋 Mi Band 4 bracelet charge of at least 20% (at low charge connection may be interrupted).
• 📲 Installed Mi Fit app (version 4.6.0 or higher) from the App Store.
• 🔄 Bluetooth enabled on iPhone and geolocation access allowed for Mi Fit (required for correct operation!).

Critical note: if your iPhone is running a beta version of iOS, sync with Mi Band 4 may not work properly due to Apple’s experimental limitations on interacting with peripherals, in which case we recommend you to roll back to a stable version or use alternative software (we will discuss this later).

If your iPhone 11 meets these requirements, you can move on to the next step, otherwise update the software or charge the bracelet, and check whether the power saving mode on the iPhone blocks the background work of Mi Fit, which is a common cause of sync failures.

Installation and configuration of the Mi Fit application

The official Mi Fit app is the only reliable way to connect the Mi Band 4 to the iPhone 11. Alternative programs (like Notify & Fitness) may offer advanced features, but often face compatibility issues.

1. Open the App Store on your iPhone and find the Mi Fit app (developed by Xiaomi Inc.).
2. Install the application and wait for the download to be completed.
3. Launch Mi Fit and click Register (you can use your Xiaomi, Google or Apple ID account).
4. From the app menu, select Profile → Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 4.

At this stage, the system will request permissions:

• 📍 Geolocation: be sure to choose Allow Always (only when using the synchronization will be interrupted).
• 🔔 Notifications: Turn on to receive alerts from messengers to the bracelet.
• 🔗 Bluetooth: Allow connection to peripheral devices.

Important! If you miss the geolocation step, the bracelet will shut down every few minutes, which is due to Apple's policy that restricts the background of applications without access to location.

Install Mi Fit from the App Store|Registering a Xiaomi account|Turn Bluetooth on your iPhone|Allow geolocation for Mi Fit (Always mode")|Charge the Mi Band 4 to 50%+-->

Step-by-step connection of Mi Band 4 to iPhone 11

Now, to the synchronization process itself, make sure that the bracelet is near the phone (not more than 10 meters away), and follow the instructions:

1. Turn on the Mi Band 4 by clicking on the touch button below the screen. The Mi logo will appear on the display.
2. In the Mi Fit app, click Add Device and select Mi Smart Band 4.
3. The iPhone screen will see a request for Bluetooth connectivity. Confirm it.
4. The bracelet vibrates, which is a signal that it's starting to sync, and it's going to display a 4-digit code on its screen.
5. Enter this code into the Mi Fit app on your iPhone.
6. Wait for the firmware update to be completed (if offered).

If at the stage of entering the code there is an error "Can not connect", follow the following steps:

• 🔄 Reboot the Mi Band 4 (press the touch button for 10 seconds until the vibration appears).
• 📱 Restart the Mi Fit app on iPhone.
• 🔌 Turn off and turn on Bluetooth again in iOS settings.

Tip: If the bracelet is not detected, try connecting it in another room – sometimes interference from other Bluetooth devices (such as headphones or speakers) interfere with the search.

Configure notifications and basic functions

After successful connection, you need to configure alerts and bracelet settings. In Mi Fit, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 and Configure for the following options:

1. Notifications

• 📩 Incoming calls: Turn on the option to see incoming calls on the bracelet screen.
• 💬 Messages: Select messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.), notifications from which will be duplicated.
• 🔔 Apps: Add other programs (such as Gmail or Calendar).

2. Data display

• ⏱️ Time format: Choose 12-hour or 24-hour.
• 🌍 Interface language: Russian, English and other languages are available.
• 🔄 Autosynchronization: Set a data update interval (recommended 1 hour).

Attention! On iPhones, notifications from some apps (like Viber or Skype) may not arrive on the wristband due to iOS restrictions, which is because Apple blocks notifications from being transmitted in the background for third-party accessories.

💡

To increase notification stability, add the Mi Fit app to the Allow Background Activity list in the iPhone settings: Settings → Main → Content Update.

Solving common problems

Even after a successful connection, iPhone 11 users may encounter common bugs, and consider the most common ones and how to fix them:

If neither of these methods worked, try alternative apps like Notify & Fitness for Mi Band or Tools & Mi Band. They offer advanced notification settings, but may require additional premium features.

⚠️ Note: when using third-party applications, there is a risk of losing activity data (steps, sleep), since they are not always synchronized with Mi Fit.

Optimization of the bracelet with iPhone 11

To make the Mi Band 4 work as efficiently as possible with your iPhone 11, follow these guidelines:

• 🔋 Battery: Turn off the Constant pulse in the bracelet settings if you don’t use it regularly – this will save up to 30% of charge.
• 📶 Synchronization: Install automatic data updates every 2-3 hours to avoid loss of information.
• 🛡️ Security: Enable Screen Lock on the bracelet to prevent accidental pressing.
• 🌙 Sleep mode: activate the function Do not disturb at night, so that notifications do not wake you up.

You should also check the bracelet firmware updates regularly. To do this, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Firmware Update. The latest update for Mi Band 4 (version 1.0.9.58) fixes sync errors with iOS 16, so installing it is a must.

Athlete advice: If you use a training bracelet, calibrate the pedometer. To do this, walk 100 meters with your phone in your hand and compare the data in Mi Fit and Apple Health. For discrepancies greater than 10%, calibrate the bracelet settings.

1. Allow geolocation in the "Always" mode.

2 Update the bracelet firmware to the latest version.

3. disable the power saving mode for the Mi Fit application.-->

Alternative ways of connecting

If the standard Mi Fit method doesn't work, you can try alternatives. Let's look at two proven ways:

1.Appendix Notify & Fitness

This app offers advanced notification settings and is compatible with Mi Band 4.

1. Remove Mi Fit (Temporary Solution)
2. Install Notify & Fitness from the App Store.
3. Follow the instructions in the application to connect the bracelet.
4. Set up notifications for each messenger separately.

2.Use of Amazon Alexa (for notifications)

If the main purpose is to receive notifications, you can integrate Mi Band 4 with Amazon Alexa.

1. Install the Amazon Alexa app on your iPhone.
2. Connect your Mi Fit account to Alexa through Skills.
3. Set up rules for forwarding notifications.

Both methods have limitations: Notify & Fitness is paid, and integration with Alexa requires additional adjustments, but they can be a salvation if standard synchronization fails.

⚠️ Note: when using third-party applications, there is a risk of encountering duplicate notifications (for example, the same message will come to the phone and to the bracelet twice.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions