How to connect the fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 5 to the iPhone: full instructions with pictures

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular activity-tracking gadgets, despite the release of new models, with its main advantages being affordable, long battery life and wide functionality from sleep monitoring to call notifications. However, iPhone owners often face difficulties when connecting a device for the first time. Unlike Android, where synchronization is almost automatic, iOS requires several additional steps.

In this article, we will not only discuss the standard pairing procedure through the official Mi Fitness app, but also consider typical errors (for example, when the bracelet is not detected by the phone or constantly breaks the connection). You will also learn how to set up notifications about calls and messages, update the firmware Mi Band 5 via iPhone and what to do if the gadget stopped syncing after updating iOS.

Preparation for connection: what to check before starting

Before you start syncing, make sure your Xiaomi Mi Band 5 and iPhone meet the minimum requirements.This will save you most of the problems during the connection phase.

First, check the iOS version: the bracelet officially supports iOS 10.0 and newer, but for stable operation, iOS 13+ is recommended. If your iPhone runs on an older firmware, update it through Settings → Main → Software Update. Second, download the latest version of the Mi Fitness app from the App Store - outdated versions may not recognize the bracelet or work with errors.

Also note the bracelet charge: if the battery level is below 20%, the Mi Band 5 can interrupt the pairing process. Charge the device to at least 50% before you start. And remember that you will need Bluetooth to connect - make sure that it is on on your iPhone and no other gadget (for example, headphones) interferes with the connection.

• 📱 iOS version: minimum 10.0, optimally 13+
• 🔋 Mi Band 5 charge: at least 20% (recommended 50%+)
• 📲 Mi Fitness app: latest version from the App Store
• 🔵 Bluetooth: enabled, with no active connections to other devices
• 🌐 Internet: stable connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data)

⚠️ Warning: If you've previously used an Android smartphone bracelet, reset it to factory settings. Click on the Mi Band 5 Settings screen → Reset → Confirm. Otherwise, the iPhone may not see the device.

Step-by-step: how to connect Mi Band 5 to iPhone

Now, to the synchronization process itself, follow the instructions carefully, and skipping even one step can cause a failure.

1. Install the Mi Fitness app. Download it from the App Store (free, weighing ~150MB). Once installed, open the app and allow access to Notifications, Bluetooth and Health (HealthKit). Without these permissions, the bracelet will not be able to display notifications and sync steps.

2. Registration or login to Xiaomi account. If you already have an account (for example, for a Redmi smartphone or POCO), sign in. You can create a new account directly in the application, you will need to specify an email or phone number. Without linking to a Xiaomi account, the bracelet will not save data in the cloud, and when you change the phone, you will have to reconfigure your activity history.

3. Add a device. On the home screen of the app, click Profile → Add a device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 5. The system will automatically start searching for available gadgets. Make sure that the Mi Band 5 is located near the iPhone (no more than 1 meter away).

4. Connection Confirmation. When the bracelet appears on the list, click on it. On the Mi Band 5 screen, you'll see a pairing request -- confirm it by ticking the tick. If the bracelet screen doesn't respond, reboot it by holding the touch button for 10 seconds.

5. Update the firmware (if necessary). Once connected, the app will suggest updating the firmware of the bracelet. Agree - this will fix possible bugs and add new features. Do not interrupt the process: disabling Bluetooth or closing the application can cause the bracelet to crash.

Install Mi Fitness from the App Store

Allow access to notifications and Bluetooth

Charge the Mi Band 5 to 50%+

Turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone

Click "Add device" in the app-->

Set up notifications about calls and messages

By default, Mi Band 5 only shows basic notifications (such as missed calls). To set up notifications from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) or email, follow the following steps:

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Notifications.

2. Turn on the Call Notification switch, the bracelet will vibrate when the call is incoming. To see the caller's name, activate the option to Show Contact Information.

3. To set up notifications from apps, click Notification Management. Here, select the messengers you want to receive alerts from. Note: Mi Band 5 supports text notifications only (without emojis and pictures).

4 To prevent the bracelet from vibrating at night, set Do Not Disturb Mode in the device settings, for example, you can set automatic notifications turning off from 23:00 to 8:00.

⚠️ Note: If notifications don’t come, check Bluetooth settings in iOS: go to Settings → Bluetooth, find Mi Band 5 in the list of devices and click ℹ → Allow notifications. Also make sure that in the iPhone settings (Settings) → Notifications → Mi Fitness) alerts included.

Calls |SMS|Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)|Social Networks (VK, Instagram)|Calendar |I don't configure anything-->

Update firmware Mi Band 5 via iPhone

Regular firmware updates fix bugs, improve connection stability, and add new features (e.g. support for new workout types) to update Mi Band 5 via iPhone:

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger and make sure the charge level is above 50%.

2. Open Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Update firmware. The app will automatically check for new versions.

3. If the update is available, click Download. wait until the download is completed (may take up to 10 minutes depending on the Internet speed).

4. After download, click Update. Do not turn off Bluetooth or close the application until the process is complete (the bracelet screen will show progress). If the update is interrupted, the bracelet may stop responding to touch - in which case, reset via Settings → Reset.

The latest firmware versions for Mi Band 5 (current for 2026):

• 📌 1.0.6.54 – Sleep synchronization bugs fixed, iOS 17 support added
• 📌 1.0.5.48 - Improved stability of Bluetooth connection
• 📌 1.0.4.32 – new dials and training regimens added

Typical Connection Errors and Their Solutions

Even if you follow instructions correctly, iPhone users often face sync problems, and let's look at the most common errors and how to fix them.

1 iPhone doesn't find Mi Band 5

Reasons:

Bluetooth is off or the bracelet is too far away.

The bracelet is already paired with another device (reset is needed).

An outdated version of the Mi Fitness app.

Decision:

Reboot Bluetooth on your iPhone (Settings → Bluetooth → Turn off / Turn on).

Reset the bracelet to factory settings (Settings → Reset on the Mi Band 5 screen).

Remove and re-install Mi Fitness.

2.The bracelet plugs in, but immediately disconnects

Reasons:

Conflict with other Bluetooth devices (e.g. headphones).

Energy saving mode on the iPhone limits the background operation of the application.

Decision:

- Turn off the other Bluetooth gadgets.

- In iOS settings, go to Settings → Battery → Battery status and turn off Battery Optimization for Mi Fitness.

3. no synchronized data on steps or sleep

Reasons:

- No access to Apple Health.

The bracelet did not update the data due to weak Bluetooth signal.

Decision:

In Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Settings → Apps and Services and enable sync with Apple Health.

Manually update the data by pulling the screen down in the main menu of the application.

💡

If the bracelet is constantly losing connection, try "forgetting the device" in the Bluetooth settings of the iPhone, and then reconnect it via Mi Fitness. This will reset the pairing cache and often solves the problem.

How to transfer data from Mi Band 5 to new iPhone

If you change your iPhone or reset your settings, all of the Mi Band 5 data (training history, sleep, pulse) can be lost if you don't move it in advance.

1.Sync with Xiaomi Cloud. Make sure that Mi Fitness has Auto Sync (Profile → Settings → Data Sync) enabled. This automatically saves data to your Xiaomi account.

2.Export to Apple Health. Go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Sync with Apple Health and enable the transfer of data on steps, sleep and training.

3. Manual transfer via backup. If you backup your iPhone via iCloud or iTunes, the Mi Fitness app will save the bracelet settings. Once you restore the backup on the new device, just re-enter your Xiaomi account and the bracelet will connect automatically.

Important: If you haven't used cloud sync, your sleep and workout data for the past 30 days is stored only in your wristband memory, so you don't lose it, manually export your story to Apple Health before changing your phone, or take a screenshot of your statistics.

💡

The most reliable way to save data is to tie the bracelet to your Xiaomi account and enable autosynchronization, without which, when you change your phone, your activity history will be lost.

Mi Band 5 Comparison with New Models: Should You Upgrade?

Despite the release of the Mi Band 6, Mi Band 7 and even Mi Band 8, the fifth version remains popular due to the optimal price-to-function ratio, but the new models have advantages that may be important for iPhone owners:

You should update if you are missing:

- Larger screen (in Mi Band 7/8 it is easier to read notifications).

Extended training (automatic recognition of activities).

Additional sensors (e.g., blood oxygen levels in the Mi Band 7)

If you are satisfied with the basic functionality (stepmeter, pulse, notifications), Mi Band 5 remains a great choice.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions