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

The Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular wearables due to its combination of functionality and affordable price, and even in 2026, it is a popular model among users who want to monitor activity, sleep and receive notifications without unnecessary costs.

In this article, we will analyze the step-by-step process of connecting the Mi Band 5 to Android and iOS smartphones, consider common errors and give tips for optimizing work. We will pay special attention to setting up notifications, synchronizing data and solving problems with Bluetooth. If you just unpacked the bracelet or encountered difficulties after resetting, this guide will help you understand all the nuances.

1.Preparation for connection: what to check before starting

Before you start pairing the Mi Band 5 with your phone, make sure all the preconditions are met, which will save you most of the problems during the setup phase.

First, check the compatibility of your smartphone. The bracelet works with:

• 📱 Android 5.0 and higher (with Bluetooth 4.2 or later)
• 🍎 iOS 10.0 and higher (iPhone) 5s newer)
• 🔄 Operating system MIUI (owner Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco) — recommended 10 and above for full functionality

Second, prepare the bracelet itself:

Download the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) from the App Store/Google Play

Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone

Charge the bracelet to at least 20% (charge indicator – flashing battery icon)

Remove the bracelet from the package and remove the protective film from the charging contacts (if any)

Make sure there is enough free space on the phone (the app weighs) ~100MB)-->

Pay special attention to the application permissions. On Android, after installing Mi Fitness, you must manually allow:

• 📍 Geolocation (for accurate tracking of activity)
• 📱 Notifications (to have the bracelet show incoming calls and messages)
• 🔋 Auto-run (for stable synchronization in the background)

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If you have Xiaomi or Redmi on MIUI, activate the Developer Mode and enable Bluetooth Debugging in the settings, which will help avoid connection problems on custom firmware.

2. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application

The official Mi Band 5 management app is called Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), which can be downloaded for free from Google Play or the App Store. It is important to use only official sources to avoid viruses and unstable work.

After installation, follow the following steps:

1. Open the app and select the region "Russia" (or your country).
2. Sign in through your Xiaomi account (if not, sign up). Without an account binding, the bracelet won’t sync your data to the cloud!
3. Click "Add device" (the icon "+" in the upper right corner).
4. In the list, select "Breasurement" → "Mi Smart Band 5".

The connection instruction will appear on the screen, and it’s important to follow the app’s prompts, rather than trying to connect through the phone’s Bluetooth settings manually, which often leads to errors.

Mi Band 5|Mi Band 6|Mi Band 7| Another model |I'm planning to buy-->

3. Step-by-step connection of Mi Band 5 to the phone

Now, to the pairing process itself, make sure the bracelet is charged and is located near the phone (no more than 1 meter away).

Instructions for Android:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone.
2. In the Mi Fitness app, click “Connect” and wait until the bracelet appears in the list of available devices.
3. Click on the name of your Mi Band 5 (It is usually displayed as "Mi Band". 5_XXXX").
4. Confirm pairing on your phone and bracelet (it will show vibration and connection request – tap the sensor for confirmation).

Instructions for iOS (iPhone):

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth and make sure the feature is active.
2. Return to Mi Fitness and select "Connect device".
3. Wait for the bracelet to appear on the list and tap it.
4. On the iPhone may appear system window with the request “Allow connection” – confirm.
5. On the wristband, touch the sensor to complete the process.

If the bracelet is not listed, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone.
• 🔋 Remove the bracelet from the charger and insert it back (this will reset its Bluetooth module).
• 📱 Reinstall the Mi Fitness app.

4.Initial setting of the bracelet after connection

Once paired successfully, the application will suggest that you perform the initial setup, which includes:

1. Firmware update

The system will automatically check for updates. We recommend installing the latest version of the software, which will fix bugs and add new features. It will take 2-5 minutes. Do not interrupt the update and turn off Bluetooth!

2. User profile setting

• 👤 Indicate gender, age, weight and height – this is necessary for accurate calculation of calories and steps.
• 🏃‍♂️ Select the goal by step (default 10 000, but you can change it).
• ⏰ Set alarms and reminders of inactivity.

Activation of notifications

To have the bracelet show incoming calls and messages:

• 📱 On Android: Go to your phone settings → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Notifications and enable all permissions.
• 🍎 On iOS: Open Settings → Notifications → Mi Fitness and activate the option "Show on the lock screen".

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If notifications don’t come, check to see if you’ve added Mi Fitness to your list of “optimized” apps (on Xiaomi/Redmi, this is done in battery settings).

5. Solving common connection problems

Even with the right setup, users are faced with common errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

If none of these methods worked, try a complete reset of the bracelet:

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Settings → Reset.
2. Confirm the action and wait for the bracelet to reboot.
3. Reconnect it as you did in the first setup.

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On some firmware, the Mi Band 5 may conflict with other wearable devices (such as smartwatches).If you have a second gadget, temporarily turn it off before plugging in the bracelet.

6. Additional settings for maximum functionality

Once connected successfully, you can optimize your wristband to suit your needs, and here are some useful features that many people don't know about:

1. Screen settings

On the Mi Band 5, you can add up to 5 different screens with information (time, steps, pulse, weather, etc.).

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Screen settings.
2. Select "Add Screen" and adjust the displayed data.
3. Change the order of the screens by holding and dragging them in the list.

Activation of gestures

• 🙌 Raising your hand to turn on the screen – activated in Settings → Display. → Raising your hand.
• 📷 Music management – allows you to switch tracks directly from the bracelet (setting in Settings) → Music).
• 🔍 Phone search – if the phone is lost, you can make it ring from the bracelet (included in Settings) → Phone search).

3.Setup sleep tracking

For accurate sleep analysis:

• 😴 Turn on “Sleep Mode” in the bracelet settings (it automatically turns off notifications at night).
• ⏰ Set "Go to bed time" and "wake up time" in Settings → Son.
• 📊 Activate Daytime Sleep Analysis to Track Short Rest.

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For maximum accuracy of the pulsemeter, wear the bracelet 2-3 cm above the wrist and tighten the strap so that the sensor is snugly attached to the skin, but does not pass the hand.

7.How to reset Mi Band 5 settings to factory

If the bracelet is unstable or you want to transfer it to another user, perform a complete reset. This will delete all data and untie the device from the account.

Method 1: Through the Mi Fitness app

1. Open the application and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5.
2. Select "Settings" (the pin pin pin in the upper right corner).
3. Scroll down and press "Reset."
4. Confirm the action and wait for the bracelet to reboot.

Method 2: Through the bracelet itself (if you don't have access to the phone)

1. On the bracelet, go to the menu, flipping the screens to the right.
2. Find the "Settings" item (cog icon) and select it.
3. Scroll to Reset and confirm the selection.
4. The bracelet vibrates and reboots - after that it can be reconnected.

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Once reset, the bracelet automatically goes into pairing mode, and if it doesn't connect, remove it from the charger and insert it back in to activate the Bluetooth module.

8. Frequent Questions and Answers (FAQ)