Connecting Xiaomi Mi Band 4 to a smartphone: instructions with pictures and tips

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular gadgets for tracking activity even years after its release. Its main advantages are an accurate pulsemeter, a bright AMOLED- screen and a record battery life (up to 20 days). However, many users face difficulties when connecting to a phone for the first time: the bracelet is not detected, the application emits errors, and synchronization is interrupted. In this article, we will analyze all the ways of connecting (including non-obvious), consider typical errors and give recommendations for setting up for maximum functionality.

It’s important to understand that the synchronization process depends on the phone’s operating system (Android or iOS), the bracelet firmware version, and even the smartphone model. For example, iPhones with iOS 17+ may have trouble notifying because of Apple’s restrictions, and Android 13/14 sometimes requires manual permission for the app’s background work, and we’ve taken all these nuances into account and prepared a universal guide that will be suitable even for inexperienced users.

1.Preparation for connection: what to do before synchronization

Before you start pairing your bracelet with your phone, follow a few mandatory steps that will save you 90% of the typical problems like “device can’t see” or “connection is constantly broken.”

First, check the bracelet's charge. Even if the indicator shows battery life, at a level below 20%, the Mi Band 4 can shut down during synchronization. Connect it to charging for 10-15 minutes - this is enough for stable operation. Second, update the smartphone firmware: on older versions of Android (below 8.0) or iOS (below 12.0), the Mi Fitness application (formerly Mi Fit) may not work correctly.

• 🔋 Bracelet charging: minimum 20% (optimum 50%+) Use the original cable or certified equivalent.
• 📱 Phone OS Update: Android version 8.0 and higher, iOS version 12.0 and higher. Check in Settings → Phone.
• 🌐 Stable Internet connection: Wi-Fi or mobile network (3G/4G/5G) When you first connect, the app downloads the bracelet firmware data.
• 📲 Free space on the phone: at least 100MB. The Mi Fitness app weighs ~50MB, plus cache and updates.

A critical mistake many users made: trying to plug the bracelet into the Bluetooth settings of the phone manually. This won't work — the Mi Band 4 pairs exclusively through the official app. If you've already tried to connect "bypass", reset the bracelet settings: press the touch button for 10 seconds until the vibration and the Mi logo appear.

2. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness (Mi Fit) application

The official management app for Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is called Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), and in some regions it can be displayed as Xiaomi Wear or Zepp Life (after rebranding).

• 🤖 For Android: Google Play or AppGallery (for Huawei devices).
• 🍎 For iOS: App Store. Note: iPhone features are limited (no phone answers, fewer widgets).

After installation, launch the application and perform the initial setup:

1. Select a region (Russia or Other if your country is not on the list).
2. Accept the user agreement and allow access to notifications (required for alerts to work!).
3. Sign up via phone number, email or Xiaomi/Google/Apple ID account.
4. Enable geolocation (needed for accurate jogging tracking) and background activity (for Android).

Attention! If you already have another Mi Band bracelet connected, remove it from the app before adding a new one. To do this, go to Profile → My devices, select an old gadget and click Delete.

Install Mi Fitness | Charge up to 50%+|Enable Bluetooth and geolocation |Remove old devices from your account (if any) |Allow all application requests (notifications, contacts, etc.)

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Step-by-step: how to connect Mi Band 4 to the phone

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

For Android:

1. Open the Mi Fitness app and tap the + icon (or Add Device).
2. Select from the Mi Smart Band 4 list (if not, update the app).
3. Click Connect and confirm access to contacts, calls and notifications.
4. Wait for the phone to find the bracelet (which can take up to 30 seconds). When the confirmation code appears on the Mi Band 4 screen, compare it to the code in the app and click Confirm.
5. Update the bracelet firmware if you receive a request (recommended!).

For iOS (iPhone):

1. Start Mi Fitness and allow access to Bluetooth and notifications.
2. In the list of devices, select Mi Smart Band 4.
3. Press Pair and wait for the code to appear on the bracelet.
4. Confirm the code in the app. If the code does not appear, reset the bracelet (press the button for 10 seconds).
5. Set up notifications manually: go to iPhone Settings → Notifications → Mi Fitness and turn on Sounds and Banners.

Important! iPhones may require permission to run the app in the background after they are connected. Go to Settings → Mi Fitness → Background Update and select Wi-Fi and cellular.

4. Set up notifications and basic functions

Once we've successfully connected, we'll set up the bracelet for maximum convenience, starting with notifications, the most popular feature.

How to turn on alerts:

1. In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications.
2. Turn on the Call Notification and Notifications from the apps switch.
3. Select the apps you want to see on your bracelet (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).
4. Set up the display style: vibration only, notification text or full preview.

On Android, you can also configure quick responses to messages (available for some instant messengers).

1. Go to Notifications. → Quick answers.
2. Add up to 5 templates (e.g., “I’ll answer later”, “OK”, “I’ll re-take”).
3. On the bracelet, swipe right when you receive a message to select the answer.

Additional settings:

Athletes' advice: Activate Training Mode (Profile → Mi Band 4 → Training). The bracelet supports tracking 6 activities: running, walking, cycling, gym, swimming and elliptical exercise. To swim, turn on pool mode - the bracelet automatically recognizes style and counts laps.

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To save your bracelet, turn off continuous heart rate monitoring and only keep manual measurements, which will increase your autonomy from 15 to 25 days.

5. Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even with the right connection, users are faced with errors, and we've collected the most common ones and ways to fix them.

Problem 1: The bracelet is connected but not synchronizing data

Reasons:

• 🔄 Outdated firmware bracelet or application.
• 📵 Unstable Internet connection on the phone.
• 🔋 Low bracelet charge (less than 10%).

Decision:

1. Update the firmware bracelet in Profile → Mi Band 4 → Update firmware.
2. Reboot your phone and bracelet.
3. Turn off the power saving mode for the Mi Fitness app.

Problem 2: Notices are not coming.

Reasons:

• 📱 Prohibited access to notifications in phone settings.
• 🔕 Do not disturb mode on the bracelet or phone.
• 📵 Bluetooth or weak signal is disabled.

The Android solution:

1. Go to Phone Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Notifications and enable all permissions.
2. In the app itself, check the list of allowed apps (Profile → Mi Band 4 → Notifications).
3. Turn off the power saving mode for Mi Fitness.

The solution for iOS:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Mi Fitness and turn on Banners and Sounds.
2. In the application itself, allow access to Contacts and Calendar.
3. Reboot your iPhone – this often solves problems with the background of applications.

Problem 3: The bracelet discharges quickly

Reasons:

• 🔋 Continuous monitoring of heart rate.
• 🌡️ Frequent notifications (especially from messengers)
• 📱 Outdated bracelet firmware.

Decision:

1. Turn off continuous pulse measurement in Profile → Mi Band 4 → Heart rate.
2. Reduce the number of notifications (leave only important ones).
3. Update the bracelet to the latest version.
4. Turn off the hand raising to activate the screen (Profile → Mi Band 4 → Screen settings).

⚠️ Warning! If the bracelet discharges in 1-2 days even after all the settings, this may indicate a malfunction of the battery. Contact Xiaomi Service Center - in the first 12 months, the warranty battery will be replaced for free.

6. Resetting and reconnecting the bracelet

If all attempts to connect Mi Band 4 failed, perform a complete reset, which will return the bracelet to factory parameters and eliminate software failures.

How to reset the settings on the bracelet:

1. Disconnect the bracelet from the strap (neatly pull the capsule up).
2. Put him on charge.
3. Press the touch button for 15-20 seconds until you feel the vibration and see the Mi logo.
4. Release the button and the bracelet will reset and reset.

How to reset settings through the application:

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4.
2. Scroll down and click Remove the device.
3. Confirm the removal and wait for the process to be completed.
4. Now you can reconnect the bracelet as in the first use.

⚠️ Attention! Setting reset removes all data from the bracelet, including your workout and sleep history, but the information synchronized with the app will be saved in the Xiaomi cloud (if you are logged in).

After the reset, we recommend:

• 🔄 Update the bracelet to the latest version.
• 📱 Reinstall the Mi Fitness app.
• 🔋 Fully charge the bracelet before reconnecting.

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Resetting is a last resort, before you try to reboot the bracelet (10 seconds) and phone, and update the firmware.

7. Additional Chips and Hidden Features of Mi Band 4

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 has a lot more to do than count steps, and here are some useful features that many people don’t know about:

1. Music management

The bracelet can switch tracks and adjust the volume on the phone.

1. Turn on the player on your phone (like Spotify or YouTube Music).
2. On the bracelet, swipe to the right of the main screen to open the menu.
3. Select the music icon (note) and control playback.

2. Phone search

If you lose your smartphone, the bracelet will help you find it:

1. On the bracelet, open the menu (swipe to the right).
2. Select the phone icon (tube).
3. The bracelet will make the phone ring at full volume, even if it is in silent mode.

3.Do not disturb mode

Disables all notifications and vibrations for a set time (useful at night or at important meetings):

1. On the bracelet, go to Settings → Do not disturb.
2. Select a period (for example, from 23:00 to 8:00).
3. Activate the mode - the crescent icon will appear on the screen.

4. Hidden dials

In addition to the standard dials, the Mi Band 4 has hidden designs to activate them:

1. In the app, go to Profile → Mi Band 4 → Dials.
2. Scroll down and click Get More.
3. In search, enter the codes: MB4_DIGITAL - digital style with animation. MB4_SPORT - sports design with stopwatch. MB4_MINIMAL - minimalist dial.

Bonus: If you have Android, you can install custom dials through apps like Amazfit Watchfaces or Notify & Fitness for Mi Band.

1. Download your favorite dial in.bin format.
2. In the Notify & Fitness app, go to Dials → Install.
3. Select a file and wait for synchronization with the bracelet.

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To extend the life of the Mi Band 4 screen, reduce the brightness to 2-3 divisions in the bracelet settings (Profile → Mi Band 4 → Screen settings).

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)