Integrating wearables into your smartphone ecosystem is the first step to fully exploiting the full capabilities of the activity tracker. Samsung smartphone owners often wonder how well Xiaomi devices will work on the Android operating system. Fortunately, compatibility is implemented at a high level, and the initial setup process takes only a few minutes even for inexperienced users.
The main difficulty often lies not in the pairing itself, but in choosing the right software, since Xiaomi in recent years has been actively transferring users to the new Mi Fitness app (formerly Xiaomi Wear). Older models may require Mi Fit, but for current bracelets like Mi Band 7 or Mi Band 8, fresh software is needed.
In this article, we will take a look at the whole process, from smartphone preparation to fine-tuning notifications. You will learn how to avoid typical connection errors and why you sometimes have to turn off certain energy saving features in the One UI shell.
Preparation of Samsung smartphone and choice of application
Before you start the pairing procedure, you need to make sure that your Samsung smartphone is ready to work with external devices. First of all, check the version of the Android operating system: for stable operation of modern Xiaomi bracelets, you need a version at least Android 6.0, although for all Mi Fitness functions it is better to have Android 8.0 and higher. Also make sure that the Bluetooth module is activated and visible to other devices.
The critical step is to install the right app. Today, the main tool for connecting most current models (starting with the Mi Band 5 and later, as well as the Amazfit and Xiaomi Watch) is the Mi Fitness app. It replaces the outdated Mi Fit and offers an improved interface and faster synchronization.
However, if you have an older model, such as the Mi Band 3 or earlier versions of the Mi Band 4, they may not be determined in the new application, in which case you will need to find and install the archive version of Mi Fit or use third-party utilities for emulation, but in 95% of cases, you need to download Mi Fitness from the official Google Play store for new purchases.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to connect the bracelet directly through the standard Bluetooth menu in your phone's settings before setting up in the app is complete.This can lead to a pairing error and the phone will no longer see the device in the list of available gadgets to set up.
Make sure that geolocation is enabled on your Samsung device (GPS). Although the bracelet does not use GPS-navigation directly (except for models with built-in module), the Android operating system requires the inclusion of geo-position for scanning Bluetooth devices to determine their location.
Step-by-step instructions for pairing devices
The process of connecting Xiaomi bracelet to Samsung smartphone is linear and requires no special technical knowledge, if you follow the algorithm. First, run the installed Mi Fitness app and log in to your Xiaomi Account. If you do not have one, it will take a couple of minutes to register and it will take you to save statistics in the cloud.
After authorization, go to the Devices tab (or Profile) and click Add Device. The app will request permissions to use Bluetooth and geolocation — be sure to agree to both requests. Then you will automatically search for devices within range.
If your bracelet is new, it's in default pairing mode. If it's been used with another phone beforehand, you'll need to pre-reset it to factory settings via the bracelet menu (Settings → Reset) or through the app on your old phone. When your bracelet name appears on the list of devices you found (e.g., Mi Smart Band 7), click on it.
☑️ Checklist of successful pairing
The bracelet screen and the smartphone screen will show a confirmation code. Check the numbers: if they match, confirm the action by clicking on the tick in the app and on the tracker screen. Then the process of synchronizing the time and setting the necessary profiles will begin, which can take from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
Permit settings and background work
Samsung smartphones are famous for their aggressive energy saving policy, which often causes a disconnection of the connection with wearable electronics. In order for the Xiaomi bracelet to work steadily, transmit notifications about calls and messages, and collect pulse data, you need to properly configure the permissions for the Mi Fitness application.
Go to Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness. Here you need to find the Mobile Data and Wi-Fi section and enable data transfer in the background. Next, go to the Permissions section and make sure that all the necessary rights are granted: access to location, Bluetooth, notifications, contacts and phone. Without access to contacts, the bracelet will not be able to display the names of callers.
Pay special attention to the Battery Optimization feature. On Samsung smartphones, it can “kill” the application’s background processes thinking they’re not being used. You need to choose the “Do Not Limit” or “No Limits” option for the Mi Fitness app, which ensures that the system won’t force the bracelet connection to be closed to save charge.
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To quickly find the battery optimization settings, type the phrase “Battery Optimization” or “Background restrictions” in the search for phone settings, this will save time on the search in the menu.
It is also recommended to fix the application in memory. To do this, open the menu of running applications (swipe from the bottom up and hold or menu button), find the Mi Fitness window and click on the application icon from above by selecting Lock or the lock icon. This will prevent the application from accidentally closing when cleaning RAM.
Comparison of the functionality of synchronization applications
Users are often confused about the names of applications developed for the Xiaomi ecosystem, and understanding the differences between them will help avoid installation errors, and the main difference lies in the supported device models and interface.
The Mi Fitness app (formerly known as Xiaomi Wear) is a modern standard that combines support for the Mi Band series bracelets (starting with version 5), the Xiaomi Watch smartwatch, and the Amazfit brand devices. The interface is more minimalistic, and data synchronization is faster thanks to new transmission protocols.
Zepp Life (formerly Mi Fit) is designed for older wristbands and watches, but some new users prefer it for more detailed statistics and a familiar interface. It is important to note that the same device usually cannot be used in both applications at the same time without complex manipulations with re-binding.
| Characteristics | Mi Fitness (Xiaomi Wear) | Zepp Life (Mi Fit) | Notify for Mi Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supported models | Mi Band 5/6/7/8, Xiaomi Watch, Amazfit | Mi Band 1-6, old watch models | All models of Mi Band and Amazfit |
| Interface. | Modern, minimalist | Classic, data-dense | Difficult, technical |
| Advanced settings | Basic | Average. | Maximum (paid) |
| Stability on Samsung | High (if properly set up) | Medium (requires exceptions) | Tall. |
There's also a third-party app called Notify for Mi Band, which is a powerful tool for advanced users, which allows you to change dials, adjust vibrations to specific events, and even respond to messages with templates, but for basic use, it can seem overly complex and expensive.
Can I use two apps at the same time?
Solving common problems when connecting
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, Samsung users may encounter a number of common problems: One of the most common is that the phone sees the bracelet but can't complete the pairing by giving a timeout error, in which case the first thing you can do is try to reboot both the smartphone and the bracelet, often clearing up temporary errors in the Bluetooth stack.
If the bracelet isn't on the list, make sure it's not connected to another phone. The bracelet can only broadcast to one device. Also check if the bracelet is "hanging": sometimes setting it up for a couple of minutes helps, which puts it out of deep sleep mode.
⚠️ Note: If the app says “Device found but connection impossible” when scanning, remove the device from the list of stored Bluetooth gadgets in the phone settings (forget the device), and then repeat the search inside the Mi Fitness app.
Another problem may be that notifications are not displayed correctly or completely absent. Check if the Notifications option is enabled in the device profile in the app, and allow the Mi Fitness app to access Notifications in the Android system settings. Also make sure that the sliders for the desired applications (WhatsApp, Telegram, Calls) are activated on the bracelet itself in the Settings → Notifications section.
In rare cases, the problem lies in the cache of the app itself: Try clearing the cache and data of the Mi Fitness app through the application management menu, and then re-entering the account. This will not delete your data from the Xiaomi server, but reset the local settings of the program.
Customization of dials and personalization
One of the most enjoyable features of Xiaomi bracelets is the ability to change dials. After successfully connecting in the Mi Fitness app, go to the Dials section (or Dial Market), which offers a huge selection of both free and paid screen design options.
Select your favorite design and click Download. The dial will be installed on the bracelet automatically via Bluetooth. Note that complex animated dials can consume more power, reducing the battery life of the device by 10-15%.
In addition to the look, you can customize the widgets you display. Swipe sideways on the main screen of the bracelet to see the available modules: weather, pulse, stress, blood oxygen (SpO2), music player. In the app, in the settings section of the device, you can change the order of these widgets by dragging them in the list to bring the most important to the foreground.
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Personalization of the dial and widgets is not just an aesthetic, but a way to bring important information (pulse, steps) to one swipe without diving deep into the menu.