How to connect Xiaomi Mi Band 4 to Android: full instructions with solutions

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular wearables even years after its release, thanks to a combination of affordable price, reliability and wide functionality. However, many users face difficulties when connecting to an Android smartphone for the first time, especially if it comes to unofficial firmware or outdated versions of the application. In this article, we will examine not only the standard synchronization procedure, but also the nuances that the manufacturer does not say: from choosing the right version of the Mi Fit to avoiding errors like “can’t find the device.”

It's important to understand that the Mi Band 4 is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE 4.2), and the connectivity issues often lie not in the bracelet, but in the phone's settings or conflicts with other gadgets. We tested the instruction on 15 smartphone models (from the Redmi Note 8 to the Samsung Galaxy S23) and identified universal solutions that will work even if your phone is not from Xiaomi. Ready?

1. Preparation of the phone and bracelet before connection

Before you start syncing, make sure your smartphone meets the minimum requirements. Mi Band 4 officially supports Android 5.0 and higher, but in practice, stable work is observed only with versions of 7.0+. If you have an outdated OS, consider upgrading or use alternative applications like Notify & Fitness (more about this below).

Also check:

• 📱 Bluetooth version: should be at least 4.0 (optimally 4.2+). Check in Settings → About Phone → Software details.
• 🔋 Bracelet charge: minimum level - 20%. With a lower charge, the connection may be interrupted.
• 📲 Free space: The Mi Fit app weighs ~100MB, plus cache space will be required.
• 🌐 Internet connection: The first synchronization requires network access (Wi-Fi or mobile data).

Pay special attention to permissions: Mi Band 4 requires access to contacts, notifications, location and phone. Without these permissions, some features (such as incoming calls or SMS) will not work. Android 10+ may also require background activity permission for the app.

2. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fit application

The official Mi Band 4 management app is Mi Fit (Humami developer), but there are multiple versions available on Google Play, and here lies the first trap. Download only the original version at this link: Mi Fit on Google Play. Avoid clones like Mi Band Master or Mi Fit Pro — they may contain ads or not support all the features.

After installation:

1. Open Mi Fit and select the language (Russian is available).
2. Click Sign up or Sign in if you already have a Xiaomi account.Without account binding, the bracelet will be reset every time you disconnect from your phone.
3. In the Profile menu → Settings → Region set Russia (important for the correct display of weather and steps).
4. Allow all permissions requested (see list above).

If the application does not start or gives an error "no connection to the server", try:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone and turn Bluetooth on/off.
• 📡 Switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi (or vice versa).
• 🛠️ Clear the app cache in Settings → Applications → Mi Fit → Memory → Clear the cache.

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

Now, to the synchronization process itself, follow the instructions carefully, and even one step can fail.

Step 1: Activate Bluetooth on your phone and make sure the bracelet is close (no further than 1 meter).The Mi Band 4 should have a green charging indicator on it or a white flash when searching.

Step 2. In the Mi Fit app, click Add Device (+ icon in the upper right corner). Select Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 4.

Step 3. QR- code will appear on the screen. Hold the bracelet to the camera of the phone so that the code is framed.

• 🔦 Increase the brightness of the phone screen.
• 📸 Try another angle or distance (optimally 10-15 cm).
• 🔄 Press Pass and enter the code manually (it will appear on the bracelet screen after you press the sensor).

Step 4: Once the scan is successful, the synchronization process will begin. It can take up to 2 minutes -- don't interrupt it! The bracelet will show a tick, and the app will show the main menu with the data.

4. Set up notifications and basic functions

Once you connect the Mi Band 4, you have to customize it to your needs, and let's start with notifications, which is the most popular feature.

In the Mi Fit app, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications. Here you can:

• 📞 Enable call alerts (with number display).
• 💬 Activate notifications from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, etc.).
• 📧 Set up impressions of SMS and mail (Gmail, Outlook).
• 🚫 Add apps to the blacklist (e.g., games or social media).

For the correct operation of notifications on Android 8.0+, you must:

1. Enable Special Access for Mi Fit in your phone settings (Settings → Applications → Mi Fit → Additional → Special Access → Notifications).
2. Disable battery optimization for Mi Fit (Settings → Applications → Mi Fit → Battery → No restrictions).

If notifications do not arrive:

💡

If you have Android 12+, add Mi Fit to the Allow Background Activity list in your battery settings, which will prevent connection breaks to the bracelet.

5. Solving common connection errors

Even if you follow the instructions accurately, users are faced with errors. Let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Error 1: "Can't find the device"

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet has previously been connected to another phone, it should be reset. Press and hold the Mi Band 4 10-15 sensor for seconds until you feel the vibration and see the Mi logo.

Also check:

• 📵 Is the phone running flight mode or power saving mode?
• 🔄 Is the bracelet connected to another device (e.g., a tablet)?
• 📱 If you are using custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS), a patch for BLE may be required.

Error 2: "Synchronization interrupted"

Most often it occurs due to:

• 🔋 Low-charge bracelet (less than 15%).
• 📶 Unstable Internet connection (especially on mobile data).
• 🛡️ Antivirus connection blocking (e.g., Avast or 360 Security).

Solution: Reboot your phone and bracelet, then reconnect indoors with a good Wi-Fi signal.

Error 3: "Incompatible version of the application"

If you see this message, it means:

• 📱 You have an outdated version of Mi Fit installed (update to Google Play).
• 🌍 The region in the appendix is incorrectly set (must be Russia).
• 📦 You downloaded a fake version of the app (remove and install the original).

💡

If the bracelet doesn’t connect despite all the effort, try using the Notify & Fitness for Mi Band alternative app, which supports all the features of the Mi Band 4 and often works more stable than the official Mi Fit.

6.Alternative applications for Mi Band 4

The official Mi Fit app isn't always perfect: it can slow down, not show all the data, or conflict with the phone's firmware, and third-party software will help in these cases. We tested the top 3 alternatives:

1. Notify & Fitness for Mi Band

Advantages:

• 📊 Detailed sleep statistics (including deep and superficial sleep phases)
• 🔔 Flexible notification settings (you can choose which apps to show).
• 🔄 Support for unofficial bracelet firmware.

Disadvantages: Some features (such as weather) require a premium version.

2. Mi Bandage

It's different.

• 🎨 The ability to change dials without restrictions.
• 📈 Extended activity schedules.
• 🔧 Customize gestures (e.g., raising your hand to light up).

Cons: the interface is in English, but intuitive.

3. Tools & Mi Band

Suitable for:

• 🔧 Advanced users (access to hidden bracelet settings)
• 📱 Owners of custom firmware phones.
• 🔄 Export data to Google Fit or Apple Health.

To switch to an alternative application:

1. Untie the bracelet in Mi Fit (Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Disable).
2. Install a new app from Google Play.
3. Follow the connection instructions (similar to Mi Fit, but with advanced options).

7. Bracelet Optimization: Battery and Performance

The Mi Band 4 is famous for its long lifespan of up to 20 days with moderate use, but some settings can significantly shorten that lifespan.

What to disable for savings:

• 🔦 Lighting up when raising your hand (if not needed).
• 📶 Constant monitoring of heart rate (only during exercise).
• 🔔 Vibration for unimportant notifications (leave only calls and SMS).
• 🌡️ Automatic weather detection (manually update).

How to speed up synchronization:

• 📱 Keep Mi Fit on the list of recently used apps (Android kills background processes).
• 🔄 Enable autosynchronization in the bracelet settings.
• 📶 Use Wi-Fi instead of mobile internet for updates.

If the bracelet is rapidly discharged:

💡

If the bracelet stopped syncing after the Mi Fit update, try rolling back the app to the previous version. To do this, download APK from the APKMirror website (choose a version not newer than 4.6.0).

8.Mi Band 4 firmware update

The manufacturer periodically releases firmware updates for Mi Band 4, which fix bugs and add new features (for example, support for new dials). You can check the relevance of the version in Mi Fit: Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Firmware update.

How to update:

1. Make sure the bracelet is charged at 50%+.
2. Connect your phone to Wi-Fi (update via mobile internet may be interrupted).
3. Click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t turn off Bluetooth!).

If the update is hanging:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone and bracelet.
• 📱 Remove the Mi Fit cache in your phone settings.
• 🔌 Connect the bracelet to charging and try again.

⚠️ Warning: Don't interrupt the upgrade process, it can lead to "bricking" of the bracelet (loss of performance). If the Mi Band 4 stopped turning on after a failed update, try resetting it with a sensor hold for 20 seconds. If this does not help, you will need to flash it through the Mi Fit or service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Band 4