How to connect Xiaomi Mi Band 4 to a smartphone: full instructions with error solutions

Why Mi Band 4 is still relevant in 2026

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet, released in 2019, remains one of the most popular wearable devices due to the combination of affordable price, reliability and rich functionality. Despite the release of new models (Mi Band 5/6/7/8), the fourth version continues to be in demand - it can be found on the secondary market at a price of 1,500 rubles, and in key parameters (autonomy, pedometer accuracy, water resistance) it is not inferior to more recent analogues.

Connecting the bracelet to your phone is the first and most important step to get started, but many users are struggling: Mi Fit (now Zepp Life) doesn’t see the device, sync errors occur, or the bracelet shuts down after a few minutes. In this article, we’ll take a step-by-step guide for Android and iOS, look at typical issues, and give tips for optimizing the Mi Band 4 in 2026.

The main difference from the new models is the Mi Band. 4 Bluetooth 4.2, not 5.0, This can affect the stability of communication with modern smartphones, and the bracelet does not support the latest firmware versions for the Mi Band. 7/8, It is important to use the right software.

What you need to connect

Before synchronization, check for all the necessary components:

  • πŸ“± Smartphone on Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+ (Support for Bluetooth 4.0 and higher).
  • πŸ”‹ Xiaomi Mi Band 4 with a battery charge of at least 20% (at low charge, the bracelet may not appear in the list of devices).
  • πŸ“² The official Zepp Life app (formerly Mi Fit) – download it from Google Play or App Store.
  • πŸ”„ Stable Internet connection (required to register an account and download the bracelet firmware).

If you’re using an Android smartphone, make sure that Bluetooth settings enable Visibility for all devices (some firmware makes it critical to detect the bracelet). iPhone doesn’t require any additional settings, but you may need to allow the Zepp Life app to access notifications in Settings β†’ Privacy β†’ Bluetooth.

πŸ“Š What version of the Mi Band you are using?
Mi Band 4
Mi Band 5
Mi Band 6
Mi Band 7/8
Another model.

Step-by-step: Connecting to Android

Synchronization with Android phones is the most stable, but may vary depending on the firmware and shell version (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS, etc.)

  1. Install the Zepp Life app and open it. You’ll need to register for a Xiaomi account or log in via Google/Facebook when you first start it.
  2. Click Profile β†’ Add Device β†’ Bracelet β†’ Mi Smart Band 4.
  3. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and wait for the app to find the bracelet. If the device is not found, click Update List or restart the smartphone's Bluetooth module.
  4. After detecting Mi Band 4, click on it and confirm pairing in the Android system window.
  5. Wait until synchronization is complete (it can take up to 2 minutes). The bracelet vibrates and displays a tick - the connection is successful.

If you fail to connect during the device search stage, try the following steps:

  • πŸ”„ Reset the bracelet (press the touch button for 10 seconds until the Mi logo appears).
  • πŸ“΅ Turn it off. VPN Proxies – they can block the connection to Xiaomi servers.
  • πŸ”§ In Android settings, open Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Zepp Life β†’ Permissions and enable all switches (geolocation, notifications, contacts).

β˜‘οΈ Preparation for connection

Done: 0 / 5

Connection to the iPhone: features and nuances

Synchronizing Mi Band 4 with iOS has several key differences:

  1. The Zepp Life app must have access to Notifications and Bluetooth in your iPhone settings (otherwise the bracelet will not display incoming calls and SMS).
  2. At the connection stage, a system window may appear with a warning β€œZepp Life” wants to use Bluetooth – be sure to click Allow.
  3. After pairing, go to iPhone β†’ Bluetooth Settings and make sure that Mi Band 4 appears in the list of My Devices. If the device is connected but not synced, remove it from the list and repeat the process.

Important for iOS 16+: Apple has limited the background performance of Bluetooth devices, so the Mi Band 4 can periodically shut down to save power.To avoid this, open Settings β†’ Battery and turn off the option Battery Optimization for the Zepp Life app.

What if the bracelet does not vibrate when notifying on the iPhone?
On iPhone, you need to manually enable notifications for Zepp Life. Go to Settings β†’ Notifications β†’ Zepp Life and activate the Allow Notifications, Sounds and Badges options. Also check that the bracelet settings in the app include Notifications β†’ Enable notifications on the bracelet.

Setup of the bracelet after connecting

After successful synchronization, it is recommended to perform the basic setting of the Mi Band 4 for comfortable use:

ParameterRecommended settingsHow to change
Automatic synchronizationTurn on (every 30 minutes)Profile β†’ Mi Band 4 β†’ Synchronization of data
NotificationsEnable for calls, SMS, messengersProfile β†’ Notifications β†’ Notifications Management
Raising your hand for lightingInsert (sensitivity - medium)Profile β†’ Display β†’ Raising the hand
DialSelect from a collection (e.g. Digital Classic)Profile β†’ Dials

For advanced users, additional settings are available:

  • πŸ” Weather Display: Enter Profile β†’ Weather and choose a city.
  • πŸƒ Activity goals: Set individual goals for steps, calories and sleep time in Profile β†’ Goals.
  • πŸ”‹ Saving Charge: Turn off unnecessary notifications and reduce synchronization frequency to 1x per hour.

πŸ’‘

If the bracelet discharges quickly, turn off continuous heart rate monitoring in Profile β†’ Heart Rate Monitoring β†’ Mode: Manual. This will increase autonomy from 5 to 10-12 days.

Solving common problems

Even after a successful connection, Mi Band 4 users may encounter common errors, and consider the most common ones and how to fix them:

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet stopped syncing after updating the Zepp Life app, try rolling it back to the previous version.New versions of the app are optimized for Mi Band 6/7 They can work in a stable way with the Mi Band. 4.

1.The bracelet does not connect to the phone

Causes and solutions:

  • πŸ“Ά Weak Bluetooth signal: Make sure there are no obstacles between the bracelet and the phone (walls, metal objects) and maximum distance is 10 meters.
  • πŸ”„ Conflict with other devices: disconnect from the phone other Bluetooth gadgets (earphones, speakers).
  • πŸ“± Energy Saving Limits: On Android, add Zepp Life to the battery optimization exception list (Settings) β†’ Battery. β†’ Optimizing the battery).

2. no notifications are coming.

Check it out.

  • πŸ”” Zepp Life Settings Include Notifications for Apps (Profile) β†’ Notifications).
  • πŸ“΅ On iPhone, notifications for Zepp Life are allowed in system settings.
  • πŸ”• The bracelet does not activate Do Not Disturb (check swipe up on the screen Mi Band 4).

3.The bracelet discharges quickly

Optimize consumption:

  • πŸ”‹ Turn off the constant monitoring of heart rate (leave only while sleeping).
  • πŸŒ™ Reduce the brightness of the screen to 2-3 divisions β†’ Display. β†’ Brightness.
  • πŸ“΄ Turn off vibration for unnecessary notifications.

πŸ’‘

If the bracelet discharges in 1-2 days, most likely the problem is in the unoriginal strap with a heart rate sensor.

Update firmware and reset settings

Regular firmware updates improve the stability of the Mi Band 4, but it is important to keep an eye on the software version. The latest official firmware for this model is 1.0.9.56 (released in 2021).

  1. Open Profile β†’ Mi Smart Band 4 β†’ Update firmware.
  2. If a new version is available, click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t turn off Bluetooth!).
  3. After the upgrade, the bracelet will reboot automatically.

Resetting to factory settings may be necessary in case of serious failures (for example, the bracelet does not respond to touch or does not sync).

  1. On the bracelet, swipe down to the other.
  2. Select Reset and confirm the action.
  3. After resetting, reconnect the bracelet as when you first use it.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the firmware update process, this may lead to the bracelet becoming β€œbrickled” (loss of performance). If the update is suspended during the Preparation stage, restart the bracelet and try again.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I connect Mi Band 4 to multiple phones at the same time?
No, the bracelet only supports sync with one device. To connect it to another phone, first untie it in Zepp Life (Profile β†’ Mi Band 4 β†’ Disable the device).
How to transfer data from one Xiaomi account to another?
The official transfer of data between accounts is not supported, however, you can export your activity history to Google Fit or Apple Health through Profile β†’ Export data, and then import it to a new account.
Why does the bracelet show the wrong time?
Time on Mi Band 4 syncs automatically with the phone. If it gets lost, check: The phone has Automatic Date and Time on. Zepp Life Settings has the correct time zone. The bracelet is not in Flight mode (disables sync).
Can I use Mi Band 4 without a smartphone?
Yes, the bracelet will work offline: count steps, tell time and wake the alarm. But without the phone, you can't: Get notifications, sync data to the app, update the firmware. For full use, sync with your smartphone is mandatory.
How to disconnect the bracelet from your phone if it is lost?
If the Mi Band 4 is lost or stolen, untie it from your account via Zepp Life: Open the app and go to Profile β†’ Mi Band 4. Click Disable the device and confirm the action. If the bracelet is found, it can be reconnected. For security, also change the password from your Xiaomi account.