Connecting Xiaomi fitness bracelet to Android: full instruction with problem solving

Why sync Xiaomi fitness bracelet with your phone?

Xiaomi fitness bracelets are among the most popular wearables due to their combination of functionality and affordable price. However, many users face difficulties when connecting to an Android smartphone for the first time. Without proper synchronization, you will lose access to key features such as sleep tracking, call notifications, pulse monitor, and even contactless payments (in NFC models).

In this article, we will not only discuss the basic connection procedure, but also the nuances for different models - from Mi Band 6 to Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, as well as solve typical problems such as the "Device Cannot Be Found" error or constant connection breaks.

If you've tried to connect and you've failed, don't rush to factory resets. 90% of the time, it's by adjusting your phone's settings or reinstalling your app. And for Android 13+ users, we've created a separate section to reflect the latest changes in Google's permissions policy.

Which Xiaomi bracelets support Android connectivity?

Before you start setting up, make sure your model is Android compatible. Most Xiaomi bracelets work with Android 6.0 and higher phones, but there are nuances:

• 📱 Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7/8 — Full support including notifications and payments (for models with a NFC).
• ⌚ Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro / 8 Pro – Require Android 7.0+ work-in GPS and voice assistant.
• 🕒 Xiaomi Watch (S1, S1 Pro, 2, 2 Pro – compatible with Android 8.0+, But to install branded dials, you need Mi Fitness 5.0+.
• ⚠️ Mi Band 1/2 — Outdated models, not officially supported after Android 10.

Important: NFC bracelets (such as the Mi Band 7 NFC or Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro) may require an additional Mi Pay app, which is not available in all regions.

Preparing the phone before connecting

To avoid synchronization errors, make presets on your smartphone:

1. Update your operating system. Go to Settings → System → Software Update and install the latest security patches. On Android 12+, this is critical for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to work smoothly.
2. Turn on Bluetooth and geolocation. The bracelet uses BLE to communicate, and geodata is needed to find the device. Path: Settings → Connections → Bluetooth and Settings → Privacy → Geodata.
3. Allow installation from unknown sources (if you are downloading Mi Fitness from a non-Google Play site). Go to Settings → Apps → Special Access → Install unknown apps and select a browser.

Warning for owners of shelled phones MIUI: if you have a smartphone Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco, Turn off Battery Optimization for Mi Fitness, otherwise the system may force it to close in the background, causing it to lose communication with the bracelet. → Annexes → Application management → Mi Fitness → Optimizing the battery → No restrictions.

Step-by-step: how to connect the bracelet to Android

Follow this algorithm for successful synchronization. The instructions are universal for all Xiaomi models, but taking into account the features of the latest versions of Mi Fitness (2026).

1. Installation of the Mi Fitness app

Download the official app from Google Play or APKPure (if it is blocked in your region). Version should be at least 5.0 - older builds do not support new bracelets.

After installation:

• 📌 Start Mi Fitness and select the language (Russian available).
• 📌 Accept the Terms of Use and allow access to contacts, notifications and geodata.
• 📌 Register with Xiaomi Account, Google or Apple ID (If you have an iPhone but are reading this article, you probably don’t).

2. Addition of a new device

In the main menu of the application, click "Profile" → "Add device". The system will prompt you to select the type of gadget:

• 🕶️ Bracelet for Mi Band or Smart Band.
• ⌚ Smart watches for Xiaomi Watch.

Choose your model from the list. If you don't have one, upgrade the app or download a newer version from Huawei AppGallery (which often releases fresh builds earlier than Google Play).

3. Bluetooth synchronization

Activate Bluetooth on your phone and wait for the app to find the bracelet.

1. Reset the bracelet (press the touch button for 10 seconds).
2. Turn on and off Bluetooth on your phone.
3. Make sure the bracelet is at least 20% charged – at low charge, it may not broadcast the signal.

When the bracelet appears on the list, click on it and confirm pairing on both devices. The bracelet will show a code on the screen — compare it to what the phone shows.

4. Set up the main parameters

After successful connection:

• 🔄 Update the bracelet firmware (if an update is available).
• 🔔 Set up notifications: select applications that will duplicate the alerts on the bracelet (WhatsApp, Telegram, Calls, etc.).
• 💤 Activate sleep and heart rate monitoring (in some models, this is done manually).

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If the bracelet is not detected, try connecting via another app, Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (available on Google Play), which supports even outdated models and often solves sync problems.

Table: Compatibility of Xiaomi bracelets with Android versions

Important: NFC bracelets (such as Mi Band 7 NFC) may not work with contactless payments on LineageOS, Pixel Experience phones due to the lack of a certified Google Pay module.

Solving Typical Connection Problems

Even with the correct following of the instructions, errors can occur, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

1.The bracelet is not on the device list.

Causes and solutions:

• 🔋 Battery discharge – charge the bracelet to at least 30%.
• 📶 Interference from other devices – turn off Wi-Fi on your phone and try connecting elsewhere.
• 🔄 Outdated bracelet firmware – connect it to another phone with Mi Fitness and update the software.
• 🚫 Lockdown MAC-Addresses – some phones (such as Samsung) need to manually allow the connection to the phone. BLE-devices in Settings → Connections → Additional settings.

2. Permanent breaks of the connection

If the bracelet is connected, but after a few minutes the connection disappears:

• 🔄 Reinstall Mi Fitness by pre-clearing the cache and application data (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Warehouse → Clear the cache/data).
• 📵 Turn off power saving mode for Mi Fitness and Bluetooth.
• 🔗 Check if the connection is blocked by third-party software (antiviruses, battery optimizers).

3. "Failure to update firmware" error

This problem often occurs when trying to update through Mi Fitness.

• 🌐 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes blocked due to provider restrictions).
• 🔌 Use a charger – some bracelets (e.g. Xiaomi Watch) S1) Requires network connection during upgrade.
• 📥 Download the firmware manually from the MiBandMods website and install it via Mi Fitness (the device menu has the option "Local Update").

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If the bracelet stopped connecting after the Android update, try rolling back the Mi Fitness version to the previous one. New builds of the app sometimes contain bugs that are incompatible with the latest OS patches.

Additional settings after connection

To unlock the full potential of the bracelet, adjust these parameters:

1. Personalization of dials

In Mi Fitness, go to "Device Profile → Dials." Here you can:

• 🎨 Choose from preset themes (sports, classic, minimalist).
• 📲 Install custom dials via Amazfit Watchfaces or WatchFace (requires registration).
• 🔧 Set up the widgets displayed (steps, weather, pulse, battery level).

Animated dials are available for the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, but they consume more power – keep that in mind when setting up.

2. Set up notifications

To make the bracelet vibrate when calling and texting:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to "Device Profile → Notifications".
2. Enable the option to "Show notifications".
3. Select applications that need to be duplicated (e.g. WhatsApp, Gmail, Calendar).
4. Set up the display style: only vibration, text on the screen, or both.

3. Activation of health functions

To monitor heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2) and sleep:

• 🩺 Turn on "Continuous monitoring of heart rate" in the bracelet settings (the battery will increase by a maximum of three hours). ~15%).
• 😴 Activate Smart Sleep Monitoring – The bracelet will automatically detect sleep phases.
• 🚨 Set up high pulse alerts (threshold can be set manually).

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To save battery, turn off continuous heart rate monitoring and only turn it on during exercise, the difference in autonomy can be as much as 3-4 days!

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi bracelets