Xiaomi fitness bracelets are among the most popular wearables on the market due to a combination of functionality, sensor accuracy and affordable price. However, many users face difficulties when connecting the Mi Band or Smart Band to an Android smartphone for the first time.
In this article, we will discuss the step-by-step process of pairing any Xiaomi bracelet models (from Mi Band 3 to Smart Band 8 Pro) with Android devices, including solutions to typical bugs. You will learn which application to use, how to update the bracelet firmware and why connection sometimes breaks down during the synchronization stage. And if you have already had experience connecting, please take our survey below!
What application you need to connect Xiaomi bracelet to Android
Xiaomi’s official bracelet management app is called Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), but since 2023, the company has been gradually moving users to a new Xiaomi Wear app that supports more features and is better optimized for modern bracelet models.
- 📱 Mi Fitness – Suitable for Older Models (Mi Band) 3/4/5), but may not support new functions, for example, SpO₂ or stress monitoring).
- ⚡ Xiaomi Wear – Recommended for Mi Band 6/7 Smart Band 8/8 Pro, has an updated interface and advanced notification settings.
- 🔄 Zepp Life is an alternative app (formerly Amazfit) that is compatible with some Xiaomi models, but may not work as well.
Important: If you use the Smart Band 8 Pro bracelet with GPS or NFC, install only Xiaomi Wear – Mi Fitness may not show these features. Also check that your smartphone is running Android 8.0 or later – older versions of the OS are not supported.
What is Xiaomi Wear different from Mi Fitness?
Preparation of the phone and bracelet for connection
Before pairing, make sure both devices are ready to go. Here's a checklist of mandatory actions:
☑️ Preparation for connection
Pay special attention to the application permissions. After installing Mi Fitness or Xiaomi Wear, you must manually allow:
- 📍 Geolocation (for accurate tracking of activity).
- 📱 Notifications (to have the bracelet show incoming calls and messages).
- 🔋 Auto-run (otherwise, the application may close in the background).
If you are connecting the bracelet for the first time, it should be in search mode (the Bluetooth icon is displayed on the screen or the indicator flashes).
- Press and hold the touch button of the bracelet for 3-5 seconds.
- Wait for the vibration and the appearance of the icon 🔍.
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If the bracelet does not respond to pressing, connect it to charging for 10-15 minutes. the discharged device may not turn on even at a minimum charge level.
Step-by-step: how to connect Xiaomi bracelet to Android
Consider the process using the Xiaomi Wear app (the steps are similar for Mi Fitness, but the buttons may differ).
- Open the app and click Add Device (+ icon in the upper right corner).
- Select the bracelet model from the list. If your model is not, update the app through Google Play.
- Allow access to contacts, notifications and geolocation (click Allow in all pop-ups).
- Turn on Bluetooth on your phone if it’s turned off (the app will prompt you to do this automatically).
- Wait for the bracelet to be discovered. The name of the model (e.g. Xiaomi Smart Band 8) will appear on the phone screen.
- Confirm pairing on both devices: On your phone, click Connect. On the bracelet, tap the ✓ tick or button (depending on the model).
Update the firmware
After successful connection, the application will offer to configure the main parameters:
- 👤 User profile (gender, age, weight – for accurate calorie calculation).
- 🛌 Targeted sleep time.
- 🏃 Daily goal by step.
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If the error “Can’t find the device” appears during the connection stage, restart the Bluetooth on the phone (turn off and turn on again) and try again.
Common mistakes and their solutions
Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can have failures, and here is a table of typical problems and ways to fix them:
| Mistake. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The bracelet is not detectable. | Bluetooth is disabled or the bracelet is discharged | Turn on Bluetooth, charge the bracelet to 50% and reboot it (hold the 10 sec button) |
| Connection is down 90% | Conflict with another device in the phone memory | Remove the bracelet from the list of conjugate devices in Bluetooth settings and reconnect |
| The app does not see the bracelet after the update | The Mi Fitness/Xiaomi Wear version | Update the app via Google Play and restart your phone |
| The bracelet connects but does not synchronize data | No geolocation permits or notifications | Go to Android settings → Apps → Xiaomi Wear → Permissions and enable all items |
| The connection is always missing. | Power saving mode limits Bluetooth operation | Add Xiaomi Wear to battery optimization exceptions (Settings → Battery → Optimization) |
Critical error: If the bracelet stops turning on after updating the firmware (black screen, no vibration), connect it to charging for 30 minutes, often helping to restore performance, 90% of the time the problem is solved without going to the service center.
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If nothing works, try connecting the bracelet to another phone (such as friends or relatives) to help determine if the bracelet or smartphone is having a problem.
Configure notifications and additional functions
Once successfully connected, it is recommended to configure notifications and additional features for maximum convenience. In the Xiaomi Wear app, it is done as follows:
- Go to the Device Profile section → Notifications.
- Turn on the Call Notification and Notifications from the apps switch.
- Select the apps you want to see on your bracelet (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).
- Set up the Vibration and Screenlighting at notifications.
For NFC models (such as Smart Band 8 Pro):
- 💳 Activate Contactless Payments in the section NFC.
- 🔐 Attach your bank card via Xiaomi Pay (registration is required in the service).
It is also useful to set up:
- 🌙 Automatic sleep tracking (included in sleep settings).
- 🏋️ Autodefinition of training (running, walking, cycling - in the section Sport).
- 🔋 Reminder of low charge (threshold set in Battery Settings).
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To ensure that notifications are displayed correctly, Android for Xiaomi Wear must have access to Special Features enabled (Notifications section).
How to update the firmware bracelet through Xiaomi Wear
Regular firmware updates fix bugs, add new features and improve sensor accuracy.
- Open Xiaomi Wear and go to your bracelet profile.
- Put three points on it. ⋮ in the upper right corner and select the firmware update.
- If a new version is available, click Download (requires a stable Wi-Fi connection).
- After download, click Update and wait for the process to complete (the bracelet will reboot automatically).
Important:
- 🔋 The charge level of the bracelet should be at least 50%.
- 📶 Do not interrupt the connection to your phone during the update.
- ⏳ It can take up to 10 minutes – don’t panic if the bracelet doesn’t react for a long time.
What to do if the update is suspended?
Resetting the bracelet to factory settings
If the bracelet is unstable (often shutting down, not syncing data or freezing), a factory reset can help.This will remove all data from the device, so pre-sync it with the application.
Resetting methods:
- 📱 Through the app: Open Xiaomi Wear → Bracelet profile → Select Reset and confirm action.
Through the bracelet
- On the bracelet, go to Settings (scroll the screen to the right).
- Find the Reset item (icon) 🔄) and confirm the choice.
⚠️ Warning: Once reset, the bracelet will automatically disconnect from the phone, you'll have to reconnect it, like when you first used it. If you've forgotten how to do it, go back to the instructions above.