Connecting Xiaomi Mi Band 4 to a smartphone: full instruction with solutions to problems

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular gadgets for monitoring activity even years after its release. AMOLED-The display and 20-day autonomy are engaging, but the first launch often raises questions: How do you sync the wristband to your phone? What apps are you looking for for for Android and iOS? Why isn't the device defined by the system?

In this article, you’ll find step-by-step instructions on how to connect the Mi Band 4 to smartphones on both platforms, including the nuances of setting up notifications, firmware updates, and solving common bugs. We’ll also look at how to avoid pairing problems if the bracelet was previously tied to another device, and what to do if Bluetooth “can’t” the gadget.

1. Preparation for connection: what will be needed

Before you start synchronizing, make sure you have everything you need, and without these components, the process can end in error or the bracelet will not work properly.

• 📱 Smartphone on Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+ Bluetooth 4.2 (or newer) devices may not detect Mi Band 4.
• 🔋 Charged bracelet: battery level should be at least 20%. If the discharge is less than 10%, synchronization may be interrupted.
• 🌐 Stable Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile network) for downloading the application and updating the bracelet firmware.
• 📲 Free space on the phone: the Mi Fitness app weighs ~100MB, plus you'll need cache space.

Pay special attention to the region of your Xiaomi account. If your account is registered in China (Mainland China), you will need the Zepp Life app (formerly Amazfit) to connect, not Mi Fitness. This is due to the company's policy of separating services for different markets.

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If you bought the bracelet in China or on AliExpress, chances are it is tied to the Chinese region, in which case, before connecting, change the account region to "Russia" or "Global" in the Xiaomi profile settings.

2. Installation and configuration of the application

The official Mi Band 4 management app is Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), available for Android and iOS, but with different interfaces and functionality, and instructions for installation and initial setup.

For Android:

1. Download Mi Fitness from Google Play or AppGallery (for Huawei devices).
2. Launch the app and sign in to your Xiaomi account (or create a new one).
3. Click Profile → Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 4.
4. Allow all requests for access to notifications, contacts and geodata (necessary for the pedometer and alerts to work correctly).

For iOS:

1. Download Mi Fitness from the App Store.
2. Sign in to Xiaomi. If you don't have one, sign up via email or phone number.
3. Go to Devices → Add the device → Mi Smart Band 4.
4. In your iPhone settings, enable Bluetooth, Notifications, and Health (HealthKit) access for the app.

Important: On iPhone, the bracelet will not display notifications from messengers unless the phone’s settings enable access to Notifications for the Mi Fitness app, a restriction of Apple, not Xiaomi.

3. Step-by-step connection of Mi Band 4 to the phone

Once the application is installed and the account is authorized, you can start pairing. Follow the instructions carefully - skipping steps can lead to failures.

1. Activate Bluetooth on your phone and make sure the bracelet is charged (the charging indicator turns green when connected to a USB).
2. In the Mi Fitness app, click Add Device and select Mi Smart Band 4 from the list.
3. The bracelet will have a 6-digit code on its screen. Compare it to the code in the app, they should match. If the codes are different, click on the bracelet screen to update it.
4. Confirm the pairing in the app. The bracelet vibrates and resets (this is normal).
5. After the reboot, a request for firmware update will appear on the bracelet screen. We recommend you agree - this will fix possible bugs and add new features.

If the bracelet is not detected, check:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off/on in settings).
• 📱 Remove the bracelet from the list of conjugate devices in your phone’s Bluetooth settings (if there is one there).
• 🔋 Bracelet charge: at a level below 10%, it may not respond to connection requests.

4. Set up notifications and basic functions

Once you have successfully connected, you need to set up alerts and bracelet settings, without which you will not receive notifications of calls, messages and alarms.

How to enable notifications:

1. In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications.
2. Activate the Call Notification and Notifications from the apps switch.
3. Select the applications you want to see on your bracelet (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS).
4. On Android, additionally enable Special Access in your phone settings → Notifications → Mi Fitness.

Additional settings:

On iPhones, some features may be restricted due to Apple's policy, such as not being able to display notification text (only the app icon and the fact of the message being received), not a lack of an wristband, but a limitation of iOS.

5. Update firmware and reset settings

Once connected, the system may suggest updating the bracelet firmware. Don't ignore this notification - updates fix bugs, add new dials and improve autonomy. The process takes 5-10 minutes and requires:

• 🔋 Bracelet charge over 50%.
• 📶 A stable Internet connection on your phone.
• 📱 The bracelet should be near the phone (no more than 1 meter).

If the update is hanging:

1. Reset the bracelet (press the touch button for 10 seconds).
2. Remove the bracelet from the Mi Fitness app and reconnect.
3. Check if the antivirus or VPN is blocking access to Xiaomi servers.

Resetting the bracelet to factory settings may be required if:

• 🔄 The bracelet is glitching or not synchronizing.
• 📱 You sell/transfer it to another user.
• 🔋 After the firmware update, errors appeared.

To reset the settings:

1. In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Untie the device.
2. On the bracelet itself, press the touch button for 15 seconds until the vibration and Mi logo appear.

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Resetting the bracelet erases all data (steps, sleep, settings) from the device. If you want to save statistics, export it first in the Mi Fitness app (Profile) → Export of data).

6. Solving typical connection problems

Even if you follow instructions correctly, users are likely to encounter errors, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

The bracelet is not defined by Bluetooth.

• 📱 Reboot your phone and bracelet (press the button on your bracelet for 10 seconds).
• 🔄 Remove all previously coupled devices in your phone’s Bluetooth settings.
• 🛠️ Update the Mi Fitness app to the latest version.
• 📡 Check if other Bluetooth devices (earphones, speakers) are in the way.

The app does not see the bracelet after the update

If after updating the firmware bracelet stopped showing in Mi Fitness:

1. Remove the bracelet from the list of devices in the app.
2. Reinstall Mi Fitness (re-download and re-download).
3. Connect the bracelet as a new device.

The bracelet vibrates but does not connect

This indicates a data conflict.

1. Reset the bracelet to factory settings (press the button for 15 seconds).
2. In the Mi Fitness app, clear the cache (Settings → Clear the cache).
3. Repeat the connection process.

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If the bracelet was previously tied to another phone, be sure to reset through the bracelet menu before connecting to the new device (press the button → select "Reset").

7.Alternative applications for Mi Band 4

The official Mi Fitness app isn't the only way to control the bracelet, but there are third-party programs with advanced functionality, such as:

• 📊 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (Android) – lets you customize vibrations for different notifications, add your dials and export data to Google Fit.
• 🔧 Mi Bandage (Android) – gives access to hidden bracelet features, such as changing menu order and customizing gestures.
• 🍎 Mi Fit for iOS (alternative version) – sometimes works more stable than the official application on the iPhone.

Warning: Third-party apps can be insecure if they break the bracelet, and they often require root rights to Android for full functionality.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)