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

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular gadgets for monitoring activity despite the release of new models, its main advantages are sensor accuracy, 20-day autonomy and waterproof housing (up to 50 meters). However, many users face difficulties when connecting the device to a smartphone for the first time. In this article, we will discuss not only the basic procedure for synchronization, but also the nuances of working with different operating systems, as well as solving common errors.

It is important to understand that the Mi Band 4 connection process differs from newer models (such as the Mi Band 7 or Smart Band 8) due to the firmware features and compatibility with the Mi Fitness app. If you purchased a used bracelet or after prolonged storage, you may need to reset to factory settings, which we will also talk about.

1.Preparation for connection: what to check before starting

Before you start syncing, make sure your smartphone and bracelet meet the minimum requirements. Mi Band 4 is compatible with Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+ devices, but more recent OS versions are recommended for stable operation.

• 📱 Bluetooth Version: Bracelet Requires Bluetooth 4.2 LE (Low Energy: Outdated Bluetooth 4.0 smartphones may not work properly.
• 🔋 Bracelet charge: battery level should be at least 20%. If the discharge is less than 10%, the connection may be interrupted.
• 🌐 Internet connection: to download the Mi Fitness application and update the bracelet firmware, you need stable Wi-Fi or mobile Internet.
• 📦 Completeness: the box must contain the bracelet itself, a charging cable (with a magnetic socket) and instructions in Chinese / English.

The Chinese versions (CN) may have limitations in interface language and functionality (e.g., no Russian in the bracelet menu). Global versions (Global) are free of these problems, but their firmware cannot be "flashed" into Chinese and vice versa.

2. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application

The official Mi Band 4 management app is called Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), which can be downloaded for free from Google Play or the App Store. APK-Files – they may contain malicious code or outdated versions that are incompatible with the bracelet.

After installation, follow the following steps:

1. Open the application and select the interface language (Russian is available).
2. Sign up or sign in through your Xiaomi, Google, Facebook or Apple ID account. Without an account link, data synchronization will not be possible.
3. Click Add Device → Select Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 4.
4. Allow the app to access Bluetooth, Notifications, and Physical Activity (in your smartphone settings).

If the app does not find the bracelet, check:

• 🔄 Bluetooth is enabled on your smartphone and the bracelet is within a radius of 1 meter.
• 🔋 The bracelet is charged and on (the screen displays the time or Mi logo).
• 📵 Power Saving mode is turned off on the smartphone – it can block the background work of Bluetooth.

3. Step-by-step instructions for synchronization with Android

The process of connecting to Android smartphones usually goes smoothly, but there are nuances for devices from different manufacturers. For example, on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phones, additional permission may be required to auto-run the Mi Fitness application.

Follow the algorithm:

1. Activate Mi Band 4 by clicking the touch button below the screen. The Mi logo should appear.
2. In the Mi Fitness app, click Connect and wait until the bracelet appears in the list of available devices.
3. Choose your Mi Band. 4 — The name will contain the last 4 figure MAC-addresses (e.g., Mi Band) 4_A1B2).
4. Confirm the pairing on your smartphone and bracelet (on the screen of the bracelet will appear a tick or confirmation code).
5. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 2 minutes). After the successful connection, the current time will be displayed on the bracelet screen.

If the bracelet is not detected, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your smartphone (Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth → Reset).
• 📱 Remove the bracelet from the list of conjugate devices in Bluetooth settings and reconnect.
• 🔋 Remove the bracelet from the charger (if it was connected) – sometimes this interferes with the search.

💡

On Samsung smartphones, before connecting, disable the dual Bluetooth connection function in the settings - it can cause conflicts with the Mi Band.

4. Synchronization with iPhone: features and limitations

Connecting the Mi Band 4 to an iPhone is possible, but with some limitations, such as iOS does not have the ability to unlock your phone with a bracelet, and notifications are displayed only from standard applications (Calls, Messages, Calendar), and data synchronization can take longer due to the peculiarities of Bluetooth in the background on iOS.

Instructions for iPhone:

1. Install Mi Fitness from the App Store and sign up.
2. Turn on Bluetooth at the iPhone Control Point.
3. In the app, click Profile → Add Device → Mi Smart Band 4.
4. When the bracelet appears on the list, tap it and confirm the pairing.
5. Allow notifications for Mi Fitness in iOS settings (Settings → Notifications → Mi Fitness).

Important nuances for iPhone users:

• 📱 The function of the Bracelet Search (via the app) is unstable due to the limitations of iOS.
• 🔋 Automatic data synchronization is less common than on Android (once every 1-2 hours instead of 10-15 minutes).
• 🔄 To update the firmware bracelet will need to temporarily disable Low power mode.

5. Setup of the bracelet after connection

After successful synchronization, it is recommended to immediately configure the basic parameters of the Mi Band 4 for comfortable use. Open the Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 tab in the Mi Fitness app and pay attention to the following sections:

Pay special attention to the setting of the dials. In Mi Band 4, 5 options are preinstalled, but you can download additional ones through the application:

1. Open Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Display and brightness → Dials.
2. Select a category (Sports, Classics, Digital).
3. Download your favorite option (file size up to 1 MB).
4. Apply the dial - synchronization will take up to 30 seconds.

💡

To save charge, turn off automatic data synchronization (in bracelet settings) and set manual update mode 1-2 times a day.

6. Solving typical connection problems

Even with the right actions, users often encounter errors, and let's look at the most common cases and how to fix them.

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet does not turn on after long storage, connect it to charging for 30-40 minutes. The charging indicator (red LED) should light up within 5 minutes. If this does not happen, check the cable and contacts on the bracelet.

Problem 1: The bracelet is not in the app

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and bracelet (to reboot the bracelet, hold the touch button for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Remove the bracelet from the list of Bluetooth devices in the smartphone settings.
• 🔧 Update the Mi Fitness app to the latest version.
• 🌐 Check if the antivirus is blocking or VPN Access to Xiaomi servers.

Problem 2: Connection is cut off in seconds

• 🔋 Charge the bracelet to 100% – low charge can cause connection breaks.
• 📵 Turn off Charge Saving or Battery Optimization on your smartphone for the Mi Fitness app.
• 🔄 In the Bluetooth settings of the smartphone, disable the audio function via Bluetooth (may conflict with the bracelet data).

Problem 3: The firmware is not updated

• 🌐 Connect your smartphone to Wi-Fi – update via mobile Internet can be blocked.
• 🔋 Make sure the bracelet charge is above 50%.
• 📱 Reinstall the Mi Fitness app if the update hangs on 0%.

⚠️ Warning: If after updating the firmware bracelet stopped responding to touch, reset to factory settings: Bracelet settings → Additionally. → Reset: Activity data will not be deleted (it is stored in the app).

7. Resetting the bracelet to factory settings

If Mi Band 4 is unstable or you transfer it to another user, a complete reset may be required, which removes all settings but does not affect the data in the Mi Fitness app (they are linked to the account).

Resetting methods:

• 📱 Through the application: Open a profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Select to turn off the device. Confirm the action and wait for the process to complete.
• 🔧 Through the bracelet menu: Scroll through the bracelet screen to the optional item (icon) ⚙️). Select Reset and confirm by pressing the touch button.
• 🔋 Hardware reset (if bracelet fails): Connect the bracelet to charge. Press and hold the touch button for 20–30 seconds until the Mi logo appears.

Once reset, the bracelet will return to factory settings and can be reconnected, as described at the beginning of the article. If the reset didn't solve the problem, check the bracelet on another smartphone - the device's Bluetooth module may have malfunctioned.

8 Additional features and hidden capabilities

Mi Band 4 supports a number of useful features that are not always obvious to users.

• 🎵 Music management: from the bracelet you can pause music or switch tracks (works with Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music).
• 🏊 Swimming mode: activated manually before swimming, automatically synchronizes distance traveled after exiting the water.
• 🔦 Lantern: Hold the touch button for 3 seconds to turn on the screen backlight at maximum brightness.
• 🚶 Training without a smartphone: the bracelet can record data about running or walking on its own (up to 10 hours), and then sync them with a smartphone.