Where to start: choosing a model and preparing devices
The Xiaomi Mi smartwatch is not just an accessory, but a full-fledged assistant for health, sports and notifications. But before it starts working at full capacity, it needs to be properly connected to a smartphone. The pairing process depends on the watch model (Mi Band 7/8, Mi Watch, Watch S3), the firmware version and the phone’s operating system.
The first thing to do is make sure your smartphone is watch compatible. Most Xiaomi models support Android 6.0+ and iOS 12.0+, but some features (like Xiaomi Pay or voice assistant) may need more recent versions to work properly. Also check that the phone has Bluetooth 4.2 or later on — without this, the connection will be unstable.
If you've just unpacked your watch, don't rush to turn it on. First, charge it to at least 50%, which will prevent a sudden shutdown during setup. For the Mi Band, 10-15 minutes of charging is enough, but here's the Mi Watch with a full charge. AMOLED-It can take up to an hour to get a screen. Use only the original cable, because cheap ones often cause connection errors.
Installation of the official Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app
Xiaomi needs a special app to manage its watches. Until 2022, all devices were configured via Mi Fit, but now the company has switched to Zepp Life (for Mi Band 7/8, Watch S3) and Mi Fitness (for older models).
- 📱 For Mi Band 6 and older, Mi Watch S3, Watch 2 Pro: Download Zepp Life (available on Google Play and App Store).
- 🔄 For Mi Band 5 and below, Amazfit Bip: Use Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit).
- 🚫 Don't install both programs at the same time.
After installation of the annex:
- Sign up or sign in through your Xiaomi account (if not, create one).
- Provide all the requested permissions: geolocation, notifications, contacts (for calls).
- Enable auto-run for the application in the phone settings – this is necessary for stable notifications.
⚠️ Note: If you use an iPhone, some features (such as answering calls or controlling music) may be limited due to Apple's policies.
Step-by-step: how to hide the clock with the phone
Now, to the most important thing, the clock connection, follow the instructions carefully to avoid errors:
- Turn on the watch. For the Mi Band, press the touch button; for the Mi Watch, press the side button for 3 seconds.
- Activate Bluetooth on your phone. Go to Settings → Bluetooth and turn it on. The watch should appear on the list of available devices like MI Band X or Mi Watch XXX.
- Open the Zepp Life/Mi Fitness app. Click Add Device (+ icon in the upper right corner).
- Confirm pairing. A 6-digit code will appear on the watch screen -- compare it to the code in the app and click Confirm.
If the clock is not specified:
Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off/on)
Make sure the watch is charged (>30%)
Check if they are connected to another device.
Update the firmware of the watch through the app
Reinstall the Zepp app Life/Mi Fitness-->
Once you've successfully connected, the app will suggest you update your firmware. Don't refuse to upgrade -- new versions fix sync errors and add features (such as sleep monitoring or new dials) that take 5-15 minutes, don't interrupt it!
What happens if you interrupt the firmware update?
Configure notifications and basic functions
After pairing, you need to configure what notifications will arrive on the clock. By default, only calls and SMS are turned on, but you can add messengers, a calendar and even mail.
How to do this:
- In the app, go to Device Profile → Notifications.
- Turn on the Notification switch (at the top of the screen).
- Select the apps you want to see on your watch (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).
- Set up the display style: full text or only the app icon.
Additional options are available for the Mi Watch:
- 📞 Call response: You can talk right from the clock (if you have a microphone).
- 🎵 Music Management: Switching tracks on the phone.
- 🔋 Quick answers: template messages for messengers.
⚠️ Note: On iPhone, notifications can come with a delay of up to 5 minutes.This is an iOS limitation, and you can't fix it. To reduce latency, keep the Zepp Life app open in the background.
Also, don't forget to set up:
- 🌙 Sleep mode: Automatically disabling notifications at night.
- 🏃 Activity goals: steps, calories, sleep time.
- 🔒 Screen locking: PIN-data-protection.
Synchronizing Health and Sport Data
One of the key functions of smartwatches is health monitoring, and to keep your heart rate, sleep and exercise data correctly, you need to:
- Enable Continuous Heart Rate Monitoring in the clock settings (Profile → Heart Monitoring).
- Activate Sleep Tracking (it is better to set an automatic time mode).
- Connect to a Google Fit or Apple Health account to export data: Zepp Life Profile → Integration → Google Fit/Apple Health
For accurate tracking of training:
- 🏊 Swimming: Turn on Open Water or Pool mode (specify the length of the track).
- 🚴 Cycling: Connect an external speed/cadence sensor (if available).
- 🏋️ Strength Training: Choose a specific type of exercise to accurately count calories.
The data is synchronized automatically when the watch is connected to the phone, if the synchronization does not occur:
💡
Check if the phone is power-saving mode enabled – it can block Zepp Life background work. Add the app to the exclusion list (on Xiaomi phones: Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All apps → Zepp Life → No restrictions).
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep data not stored | No geolocation permit is available | Include geodata for Zepp Life in your phone settings |
| Pulse is not measured. | Dirt on the sensor or loose fit | Wipe the lower part of the watch with an alcohol napkin, tighten the strap |
| Training not maintained | Not enough memory on the clock | Delete old data through Settings → Memory |
| Notifications are duplicated | The watch is connected to two phones | Turn off the pairing on the second device |
Additional features: payments, voice assistant, dials
Modern Xiaomi Mi watches support not only basic functions, but also advanced options:
- 💳 Xiaomi Pay: contactless payments from the clock (only works with partner banks, the list is in the app). → Wallet → Add a map
- 🎤 Voice assistant: on the Mi Watch S3 and newer available Xiao AI (Chinese version or Google Assistant (for global firmware) activated by voice command or button.
- ⌚ Change dials: Zepp Life has a store with free and paid themes. → Dials → Shop
For the Mi Band, available:
- 🔦 Camera Control: You can take a selfie from your phone by tapping the clock screen.
- 🔍 Phone search: if the smartphone is lost, the watch will help you find it).
- 🌦️ Weather: Current temperature and 3-day forecast are displayed.
⚠️ Note: Xiaomi Pay only works on the watch with NFC (For example, Mi Band 7 Pro, Watch S3). To activate it, you will need to link your bank card through the Mi Pay app (separate from Zepp Life).
Solving common problems
Even after a successful connection, there may be problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The clock is off after 5-10 minutes. | Weak Bluetooth signal or energy saving | Turn off battery saving mode for Zepp Life |
| No notifications coming. | No permission to display over other windows | Enable it in the app settings |
| Clocks don't define training | I need to update the firmware. | Check the updates in Device Profile → Software Update |
| The screen doesn't respond to touch. | Sensor contamination or damage | Wipe the screen with a wet wipe, reset the clock |
If the clock doesn't turn on at all:
- Put them on charge for 30 minutes (even if the indicator is not on).
- Press and hold the button for 20-30 seconds to reset.
- If it doesn’t work, try hard reset (for Mi Watch): press both buttons for 10 seconds.