The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular activity tracking gadgets, despite the release of new models, its main advantages are affordable price, long-term autonomy (up to 14 days of operation), and a wide range of functionality from sleep monitoring to smartphone notifications. However, many users face difficulties when connecting the bracelet to an Android phone for the first time. In this article, we will analyze the process of synchronization by steps, taking into account the latest updates of the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) in 2026, and consider typical errors and how to fix them.
It’s important to understand that the connection algorithm may vary depending on the firmware version of the bracelet and the phone’s operating system. For example, Android 13+ requires additional permission to access notifications, and some custom shells (such as MIUI or ColorOS) may have conflicts with the background of the application, and we’ve taken all these nuances into account to make the instruction suitable for most devices.
1.Preparation for connection: what to check before starting
Before you start synchronizing, make sure that all the prerequisites are met, which will help to avoid most errors during the connection stage.
- 📱 Android Version: The bracelet officially supports Android 5.0 and higher, but Android 8.0 is recommended for stable operation+. Older versions may lack some features (e.g., quick responses to notifications).
- 🔋 Bracelet charge: battery level should be at least 20%. with a lower charge, the Mi Band 5 can turn off during synchronization.
- 📶 Bluetooth and geolocation: Bluetooth 4.0 should be enabled on the phone+ Geolocation Services (even if you do not plan to use them) GPS-Without this, the app will not be able to detect the bracelet.
- 🚫 Conflicting apps: Remove or disable other fitness trackers (e.g. Google Fit, Huawei Health) if they were installed earlier.
If your account is registered in China (Mainland China) and the bracelet is intended for the global market (Global Version), there may be problems with displaying data, in which case it is recommended to create a new account in the region of Russia or Europe.
⚠️ Warning: If you’ve previously used the Mi Band 4 or another Xiaomi model, reset the bracelet to factory settings via the Settings menu → Reset on the device itself. This will eliminate conflicts when connecting a new gadget.
2. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application
The official Mi Band 5 management app is called Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), which can be downloaded from Google Play or Xiaomi's official website, and it's important to use the latest version, as older releases may not support new bracelet features.
- 🔍 Search on Google Play: Enter Mi Fitness Xiaomi and select an app from developer Xiaomi Inc. Pay attention to the number of downloads (should be 100M+) rating (not less than 4.2)★).
- 📥 Alternative download: if the app is not available in your region, download APK From the official website of Xiaomi (Support section) → Downloads).
- 🔄 Update: After installation, check for updates in the Profile menu → Settings → Update.
When the application is first launched, you will need:
- Sign in through your Xiaomi account (or create a new one).
- Grant permissions to access contacts, notifications, geolocation and physical activity.
- Select a region (Russia or Europe for the global version of the bracelet).
If the application requests access to phone calls, it is necessary to display incoming calls on the bracelet screen. Without this permission, the function will not be available.
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If the Mi Fitness app doesn’t see the bracelet, try rebooting your phone and resetting your Bluetooth settings in the Settings menu → System → Reset → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile network, and Bluetooth settings.
3. Step-by-step instructions for connecting Mi Band 5
When all the preparatory steps are completed, you can start synchronizing. Follow the instructions carefully, as skipping even one step can lead to failure.
- Activate the bracelet: Press the Mi Band 5 touch button (under the screen) and hold it for 3-5 seconds until it appears. QR-code.
- Adding a device: In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → Add a device and select a Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 5.
- Scan. QR-Code: Point the phone camera at QR-If the scan fails, click Manually Connect and select the bracelet from the list of available Bluetooth devices.
- Confirmation of connection: the bracelet will show vibration and request confirmation. Tap the tick on the screen Mi Band 5.
- Update firmware: If a new version of the software is available, the app will prompt you to install it. Don't interrupt the process, this can cause the bracelet to crash.
Once successfully connected, the bracelet automatically synchronizes time, step data, and other parameters, and the first synchronization can take up to 2-3 minutes.
Make sure the bracelet is charged (>20%).
Enable Bluetooth and geolocation on your phone.
Remove old versions of Mi Fit (if any).
Update Mi Fitness to the latest version.
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4. Set up notifications and basic functions
After you connect, you need to adjust the bracelet to your needs. The main parameters are in the Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Device settings.
| Function | How to set up | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Go to Notifications → Notification Management and select the apps you want to see on your bracelet. | Turn off unnecessary notifications (such as games) to avoid wasting battery power. |
| Quick answers | Include the option in Notifications → Quick Answers and add templates (e.g., “OK”, “I’ll be back later”). | It only works on Android 8.0+ with permission to access SMS. |
| Sleep tracking | Activate in Sleep Monitor → Auto-tracking and specify the time of going to bed. | For accuracy, turn off the "Do Not Disturb" mode on your phone at night. |
| Weather. | Put it in the Weather. → Synchronize weather and provide access to geolocation. | The data is updated every 6 hours or by manual synchronization. |
The Mi Band 5 can create up to 10 smart alarm clocks that will fire even if the phone is turned off. Go to the alarm clocks → Add an alarm clock and specify the time, days of the week and type of vibration.
⚠️ Warning: If notifications don't come to the bracelet, check the power saving settings on your phone. POCO Add Mi Fitness to Autostart Exceptions: Settings → Battery → Battery consumption management → Select applications → Mi Fitness → No restrictions.
5. Common mistakes and their solutions
Even with the right connection, users often face problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.
- 🔄 Bracelet not synced: Reboot phone and bracelet (hold the button for 10 seconds until the Mi logo appears). Remove the bracelet from the list of devices in Mi Fitness and connect again. Check whether the antivirus (for example, Avast or Kaspersky) blocks access to Bluetooth.
- 📵 No connection to your phone: Make sure the device is not more than 10 meters apart. Turn off Flight Mode on your phone. Check if the bracelet is connected to another phone (Settings menu) → Bluetooth on a bracelet).
- ⚡ Battery discharges quickly: Turn off constant heart rate monitoring in Settings → Monitoring of heart rate → Frequency → Manually, reduce the brightness of the bracelet screen to 2-3 divisions. Turn off notifications from unnecessary apps.
If the bracelet is frozen (does not respond to touch, the screen does not turn on), perform a forced reboot:
- Connect the bracelet to the charger.
- Hold the touch button for 20 to 30 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
- After restarting, reconnect to the phone.
What if Mi Band 5 is not a new device?
6.Extra features: what does Mi Band 5
Xiaomi Mi Band 5 supports many features that many users do not even know about.
- 🎵 Music control: You can pause the music from the bracelet, switch tracks and adjust the volume. To do this, in Mi Fitness, turn on the option to control music and provide access to media.
- 🏃 Training with GPS: The bracelet can be used GPS phone to track the route while jogging or cycling. Included in Settings → Training. → Use it. GPS phone.
- 💧 Water reminder: gadget will vibrate if you haven't drunk water for a long time.Tunes into Settings → A reminder of water.
- 🔒 Unlocking the phone: on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO The bracelet can unlock the screen without entering a password. → Lock screen → Unlocking with Mi Band.
- 🌙 Do Not Disturb: Disables notifications on the bracelet at a predetermined time (e.g. at night) Configures to Settings → Don't disturb.
For personalization enthusiasts, dials can be changed. In Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Dials and select one of the options offered. You can also download additional dials from the Amazfit community (compatible with Mi Band 5).
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To accurately track your heart rate, wear a wristband 2-3 cm above your wrist and tightly but without squeezing your hand. Measurements in motion (such as while running) may be less accurate.
7. Update firmware and reset settings
Regular firmware updates add new features and fix bugs. You can manually check for updates:
- Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Firmware Update.
- If a new version is available, connect the bracelet to charge (the battery level should be >50%).
- Press Update and wait for the process to complete (5-10 minutes). Don't turn off Bluetooth or take the bracelet out of charging!
If after the update the bracelet began to work unstable (for example, quickly discharged or not synchronized), reset the settings:
- On the bracelet, go to Settings → More → Reset (to do this, swipe up the screen to open the menu).
- Confirm the reset by touching the tick.
- After restarting, connect the bracelet to the phone again.
Resetting is also useful before selling the bracelet to delete all personal data.