Connecting Xiaomi Mi Band 4 to iPhone: full instruction with solutions

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular gadgets for tracking activity, despite the release of new models. iPhone owners often face questions such as “Can I connect Mi Band 4 to an iPhone?”, “What app to use?” or “Why is the bracelet not synchronized?”. In this article, a step-by-step instruction with illustrations of processes, analysis of typical errors and ways to fix them, as well as hidden settings that are not written in the official guides.

The contrast between the ecosystems of Xiaomi (or Android-focused) and Apple (with closed iOS) creates nuances when connecting. For example, Mi Band 4 does not support Apple Health directly, and for full operation requires third-party software. We will analyze all the steps from preparing the bracelet to setting up notifications for calls and messages, including bypassing the restrictions of iOS.

If you've used an Android bracelet before and now you've switched to an iPhone, some of the features (like unlocking your phone) will be out of reach, but the basic features -- sleep monitoring, pedometer, pulsemeter -- are stable, and the key is to set up the connection correctly.

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1.Preparation for connection: what to check before starting

Before syncing Mi Band 4 with iPhone, make sure that the basic conditions are met:

• 📱 iOS version is at least 12.0 (optimally 13.0 and higher) on older versions, the Mi Fitness app may not be installed or work with errors.
• 🔋 At least 20% charge, low battery, Bluetooth connection is interrupted.
• 📲 Free space on iPhone: the Mi Fitness app weighs ~150 MB, plus synchronization data.
• 🌐 Stable Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network) for downloading the bracelet firmware.

Mi Band 4 uses Bluetooth 4.2, and iPhone starting with the iPhone model 4S However, devices older than the iPhone 6 may have problems with connection stability due to the limitations of the chipset. 5S Or earlier, be prepared for periodic communication breaks.

Also check if the bracelet is connected to another device. If it was previously paired with an Android smartphone, reset:

1. On the bracelet, swipe down the screen before the menu appears.
2. Select Settings → Reset → Confirm (the wrench icon).

After resetting, the bracelet will reboot and it can be connected to the iPhone.

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2.Install the correct app: Mi Fitness vs Zepp Life

The official Mi Band 4 app on iOS is Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), but in 2023 Xiaomi started moving to the Zepp platform, and now two options are available on the App Store:

We recommend using Mi Fitness as it guarantees 100% compatibility with Mi Band 4. download it from the App Store:

1. Type in the search Mi Fitness (developer – Xiaomi Inc.).

Important: After installation, Mi Fitness will request access to:

Allow all requests, otherwise some of the bracelet functions will be blocked.

💡

If you don’t have Mi Fitness in the App Store, check your Apple region. ID. The app may not be available in some countries.Solution: temporarily change region to the US or Germany in the App Store settings.

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

Now, to the main process, follow the instructions carefully, because skipping the steps can lead to synchronization errors.

Step 1: Turning Bluetooth on your iPhone

Go to Settings. → Bluetooth and activate the switch. Make sure the iPhone is not connected to other devices (earphones, speakers), as this may interfere with the search for the bracelet.

Step 2: Start Mi Fitness and add a device

1. Open the Mi Fitness app.
2. Click Profile. → Add the device (badge "+" top-right).
3. Choose from the list of Mi Smart Band 4.

Step 3: Synchronize the bracelet

• 🔍 Click Scan - iPhone will start searching for the device.
• 📶 When a 6-digit code appears on the bracelet screen, confirm it in the application.
• ✅ Wait for the synchronization to be completed (may take up to 2 minutes).

Step 4: Update the firmware (if necessary)

Once connected, Mi Fitness will suggest updating the bracelet firmware. You agree, this will fix bugs and add new features. Don't interrupt the process: disabling Bluetooth or closing the application can lead to a "brick" of the bracelet (loss of performance).

The bracelet is displayed in Mi Fitness as "Connected"|Synchronized data on steps and sleep|The bracelet firmware has been updated to the latest version|Notifications of calls and messages are included-->

⚠️ Note: If the bracelet doesn’t vibrate when notified after you connect, check your iPhone settings: Settings → Notifications → Mi Fitness → Allow notifications. Also make sure that the Mi Fitness app itself has a Notification option enabled. → Vibration.

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4. Set up notifications and basic functions

By default, Mi Band 4 only shows the time and steps. To activate useful features, follow the following steps:

Notifications of calls and messages

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications.
2. Turn on the switches for Incoming calls and Messages.
3. Select applications that will duplicate notifications on the bracelet (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram).

Monitoring of sleep and pulse

• 💤 Turn on Auto-Sleep Tracking in Bracelet Settings.
• ❤️ Activate Continuous Heart rate Monitoring (reduces working time without recharging).
• 📊 For detailed statistics, use the Health tab in Mi Fitness.

Alarm clocks and reminders

The bracelet supports up to 10 alarm clocks and inactivity reminders:

1. Go to Profile. → Mi Smart Band 4 → Alarm clocks.
2. Click Add and set the time.
3. Choose the days of repetition and the type of vibration.

⚠️ Note: iPhone does not work with the “Unlock phone” function through Mi Band 4, as Apple blocks access to the device API It's a restriction of iOS, not a bracelet.

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5. Typical errors and their solutions

Even with the right connection, users face problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them:

Problem 1: Bracelet is not in the scan

• 🔄 Solution: Reset the bracelet (hold the 10 seconds button) and repeat the search.
• 📱 Make sure there are no active iPhones. VPN Firewalls (they can block Bluetooth connection).
• 🔋 Check the charge of the bracelet – at a level below 10%, it does not appear in the list of devices.

Problem 2: Synchronization is interrupted

If the steps or sleep data are not updated in the appendix:

1. Open Mi Fitness and manually start sync (pull the screen down).
2. Check that the iPhone has the background mode for Mi Fitness: Settings → Mi Fitness → Background update.
3. Reinstall the application if the error repeats.

Problem 3: Notifications are not received

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet stops turning on after the firmware update, reset the button with a hold of 20 seconds. If this does not help, connect the bracelet to charging for 1 hour - sometimes the firmware "hangs" when the charge is low.

💡

If no solution worked, try connecting the bracelet to an Android device (borrow from a friend), reset and re-synchronize with your iPhone, a method that solves 90% of "incurable" errors.

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6 Hidden features of Mi Band 4 you didn't know about

In addition to the standard features, the Mi Band 4 hides non-obvious chips that are rarely mentioned in the instructions:

1. Music management

The bracelet can switch tracks to the iPhone:

• 🎵 Turn on the player on your phone (Apple Music, Spotify).
• On the bracelet, swipe right to the music screen.
• Use the buttons. ▶️/⏸/⏭ steer.

2. Phone search

If you lost your iPhone, on the bracelet:

1. Swipe down the screen to the menu.
2. Choose the icon of the phone with waves (📱🔊).
3. The iPhone will start ringing at maximum volume, even if it was in silent mode.

3.Do not disturb mode

To disable notifications on the bracelet (e.g., in a meeting):

1. Swipe down the screen.
2. Select the bell icon with a crossed sign (🔔❌).

4.Secret dials

There are over 50 dials available in Mi Fitness, but some are hidden:

1. In the app, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Dials.
2. Scroll down and click Get More.
3. Some themes (such as animation) only appear after a firmware update.

⚠️ Attention: Third-party dials (downloaded from the Internet) can reset the bracelet settings or cause synchronization errors. Use only official versions from Mi Fitness.

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7. Alternative applications for enhanced capabilities

If Mi Fitness features aren’t enough, consider the side of the app that extends the Mi Band 4’s capabilities on the iPhone:

How do I switch to a third-party app?

1. Remove Mi Band 4 from Mi Fitness (in your device profile).
2. Install a new app (e.g. Notify & Fitness).
3. Connect the bracelet through it, following the instructions on the screen.

⚠️ Warning: If you change the app, all the data on the bracelet will be reset. Pre-export the story to Apple Health or take screenshots of the statistics.

💡

If you want to return the standard application, reset the bracelet (Settings) → Reset and reconnect it via Mi Fitness.

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FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions