Connecting Xiaomi Mi fitness bracelet to a smartphone: from pairing to fine tuning

The Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets remain among the most popular wearables due to the combination of functionality and affordable price. However, even experienced users sometimes have difficulties with the first connection of the device to a smartphone. In this article, we will analyze not only the basic steps of synchronization through the official Mi Fitness app, but also the nuances that the manufacturer does not mention in the instructions.

The Mi Band bracelets (from Mi Band 4 to the current Mi Band 8) feature cross-platform compatibility with Android 6.0+ and iOS 12.0+. However, the connection algorithm differs for different operating systems, and some features (such as Mi Pay) are only available on certain smartphone models. We have taken all these subtleties into account to make your bracelet work the first time.

1. Connection Preparation: What to Check Before Synchronization

Before you start pairing, make sure your smartphone and bracelet are ready to go, and connection problems often arise from basic omissions:

• 📱 Smartphone OS Version: Mi Fitness requires Android 6.0 or later / iOS 12.0 or later. On older devices, the app will either not install or will work with errors.
• 🔋 Bracelet charge: Minimum charge level for the first connection is 20%. At a lower value, the bracelet can be turned off during synchronization.
• 📶 Bluetooth and geolocation: On Android, you need to enable Bluetooth, Geodata, and allow the app to access the location (yes, this is mandatory for Mi Fitness to work).
• 🚫 Conflicting apps: Remove or disable other fitness trackers (e.g. Google Fit, Huawei Health) if they have been installed previously.

If your account is tied to China (region = CN), some features (such as Mi Pay or voice assistant) may not be available. In 2026, Xiaomi automatically determines the region by IP when registering, but older accounts (created before 2020) may require manual change through Account Settings → Region.

2. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application

The official Mi Band bracelet management app is Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit).

• 🤖 Google Play for Android)
• 🍎 App Store (for iOS)

After installation, follow the following steps:

1. Open Mi Fitness and click Sign in. Use an existing Xiaomi account or register a new one (via email/phone).
2. In the main menu, tap the + icon (add device) and select your bracelet model from the list.
3. Confirm permissions for the application: Bluetooth, Notifications, Location (on Android also Auto Run and Background).

Xiaomi account is registered|Bluetooth enabled on your smartphone|Bracelet charged at least 20 times%|The latest update to Mi Fitness has been installed-->

Important for iOS: On iPhone, after installing Mi Fitness, go to Settings → Privacy → Geolocation Services and select When in use mode for the app. Otherwise, the bracelet will turn off after 10-15 minutes.

3. Step-by-step instructions: how to uncouple a bracelet with a phone

The connection algorithm is the same for most Mi Band models, but there are nuances for newer versions (starting with the Mi Band 7).

1. Activate the bracelet: Press the touch button of the bracelet (or tap the screen on the Mi Band). 6/7/8) — should appear QR-pairing-code.
2. Scan. QR-Code: In the Mi Fitness app, click Add Device → Scan. QR-The other option is to manually enter the code and point the camera at the wristband screen. QR misspelled).
3. Confirmation: The bracelet will have a vibration and a request for confirmation — tick the tick. On the phone, allow permanent connection to the device.
4. Update firmware: After pairing, the application will offer to update the bracelet software - do not interrupt the process (it can take up to 10 minutes).

On the Mi Band 7 Pro and Mi Band 8 Pro models, you will need additional GPS settings after connecting (for tracking without a phone).

1. Go to the Device Profile → GPS settings.
2. Download current satellite data (file weight ~15 MB).
3. Activate the Energy Saving mode to extend autonomy.

4. Set up notifications and basic functions

Once you've successfully connected, customize the bracelet to your needs. The main settings are in the Device Profile section.

For Android owners: To ensure that notifications are displayed correctly, go to Apps → Mi Fitness → Notifications and enable the option to Show Notifications. Some firmware (such as MIUI or ColorOS) additionally require you to allow the application to autorun.

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If the bracelet doesn’t vibrate when notified, check the Do Not Disturb settings on the phone – they can block the transmission of signals to wearable devices.

5. Solving common connection problems

Even with the right setup, users are faced with typical errors, and here's how to fix them:

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Band bracelet connects but shuts down immediately after 1-2 seconds, the problem lies in the energy-saving Android settings. add Mi Fitness to the list of exceptions for Battery Optimization and Background Activity features.

• 🔄 Bracelet not on the device list: Reset the bracelet (hold the 10 seconds button).In the phone's Bluetooth settings, delete all devices with the prefix MI. Turn it off. VPN Proxies – they can block the connection to Xiaomi servers.
• ⚡ Bracelet discharges quickly after connection: Turn off constant heart rate measurement (set 30 minutes interval). Deactivate Hand Raising to activate screen. Update bracelet firmware via Mi Fitness.
• 📵 No data sync: Check your internet connection (required to upload data to the cloud). at Mi Fitness go to Profile → Sync data. Delete the app cache in your phone settings.

On the iPhone, a common problem is the lack of notifications from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).This is due to the limitations of iOS: Mi Fitness can only show notifications about calls and SMS. To circumvent the restriction, use third-party applications like Notify for Mi Band (available on the App Store), but they require a subscription.

6. Update firmware and reset settings

Regular firmware updates fix bugs and add new features to update the bracelet:

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to Device Profile → Firmware Update.
2. If an update is available, connect the bracelet to charge (charge level >50%) is recommended.
3. Click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t turn off Bluetooth!).

Forced resetting of the bracelet will help if the device freezes or does not respond to commands.

1. Unplug the bracelet from your phone in Mi Fitness (Profile → Disable the device).
2. On the bracelet itself, tap the touch button 3 times quickly (for Mi Band 6/7/8, hold the screen for 15 seconds).
3. Reconnect the bracelet as you did on the first run.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting the bracelet deletes all local data (steps, sleep, workouts) stored on the device. Synchronized data in Mi Fitness will remain, but unsynchronized data will be lost.

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Update the firmware of the bracelet only when you are stable with an Internet connection. Interrupted update can lead to "bricking" of the device (loss of performance).

7. Additional features: what your bracelet does

In addition to basic activity tracking, Mi Band bracelets support a number of hidden features:

• 🎵 Music Management: On the Mi Band 7/8 You can switch tracks and adjust volume directly from the bracelet (works with Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music).
• 🔦 Lantern: On the Mi Band 6/7/8 Available backlight mode - activated by swipe down the screen.
• 🏃 Automatic recognition of workouts: The bracelet itself determines running, walking, swimming and cycling (configured in Training) → Autodetermination).
• 💳 Contactless payments: Mi Band 7 Pro and Mi Band 8 Pro are supported by Mi Pay (requires a bank card binding in the app).

To activate Mi Pay:

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Mi Pay.
2. Add a bank card (Mastercard and Visa are supported by most Russian banks).
3. On the bracelet, hold the touch button for 2 seconds to open the payment menu.

Limit: Mi Pay only works on NFC bracelets (Mi Band 7 Pro, Mi Band 8 Pro) and requires a smartphone with Android 8.0+ (on the iPhone feature is not available).

8.Alternative applications for Mi Band

The official Mi Fitness app doesn't always suit users because of limited customization.

To install alternative applications:

1. Turn off the bracelet from Mi Fitness.
2. Install a new app and follow its pairing instructions.
3. In some cases, you will need to manually add the device through MAC-address (indicated on the bracelet box).

⚠️ Note: Using third-party apps can lead to loss of warranty if the bracelet firmware is damaged.Before experimenting, back up your data in Mi Fitness.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions