Wearable electronics from Xiaomi deservedly enjoys great popularity due to the excellent ratio of price and functionality. Model Mi Band 3 became a real hit, offering users OLED-screen, improved sleep tracker and the ability to control notifications, but to fully work the gadget must be properly synchronized with the smartphone, which often raises questions for beginners.
The initial setup process can seem confusing due to the peculiarities of the Android operating system and the MIUI interface. Many users are faced with the fact that the tracker is not visible in the Bluetooth search or the application cannot complete the pairing. It is important to understand that standard system tools are not enough, you need to use specialized software.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the stages of connecting a fitness bracelet to a smartphone released under the Xiaomi or Redmi brand. You will learn about preparing the device, installing the necessary applications, as well as how to avoid typical errors that prevent the stable operation of the device.
Preparatory stage before interface
Before you try to find the device in the Bluetooth menu, you need to make sure that the tracker itself is ready to go. Mi Band 3 often goes on sale with a discharged battery, so the first step should be to charge. Connect the bracelet to the cable and wait for the image of the battery to appear on the screen.
The next important step is to install the official Mi Fit app (or its Zepp Life analogue), without which the smartphone will not be able to “understand” the data transmitted from the bracelet, and will not allow you to configure the interface.
Also, you should pay attention to the version of your phone's operating system. The app requires Android 4.4 or higher, or iOS 9.0 or later, to work correctly. If the device has an too old version of the software, the synchronization process may not be possible or work unstable.
☑️ Preparation for connection
Make sure that geolocation services are enabled in the phone's settings. While this seems odd for a fitness tracker, modern versions of Android require access to GPS to scan Bluetooth low-power devices.
Installation and configuration of the Mi Fit application
Once the installation file is uploaded, you need to start the installation. During the installation process, the application will request a number of permissions: access to contacts, call log, location and notifications. Allow all requests, otherwise you will not be able to receive notifications of calls and messages on your wrist.
When you start Mi Fit, you need to create an account or log in to an existing one. You can use a phone number, email, or social media accounts like WeChat or Facebook. Registration is mandatory, because all the statistics are stored in the cloud.
⚠️ Note: When registering, include real data (height, weight, date of birth), as it depends on the accuracy of calorie and step calculation.
Once you log in, the app will suggest adding the device. Don't rush to look for the bracelet in the general list of Bluetooth devices on the phone, which is a common mistake. Search and pairing should occur strictly within the application interface.
Why do you need a Mi Account?
The app interface is divided into several tabs: Profile, Statistics and Mine. It is in the Profile section that the new gadget add button is located. Click the plus in the upper right corner of the screen to start your search.
Step-by-step instruction for connecting the bracelet
In the add-on menu, select the category “Fitness trackers” or immediately find the Mi Band 3 model in the list. The application will go into scan mode. At this point, a vibration or Bluetooth icon may appear on the tracker screen, signaling readiness to.
When your bracelet appears on the list of devices found (usually designated as MI Band 3 with the color of the strap), click on it. The tracker screen will request confirmation of pairing with the Bluetooth symbol.
It takes 10 to 30 seconds, and then you exchange encryption keys and you synchronize the time, and if you're connected successfully, you'll hear a beep (if it's on) or you'll feel a vibration, and the bracelet settings menu will open in the app.
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The main rule: Never try to pair Mi Band 3 through the standard Bluetooth menu in the Android or iOS settings. This will cause a connection error and the app will not see the device. Only through the Mi Fit interface!
After successful pairing, the app will suggest updating the tracker firmware. It is highly recommended to update immediately, since the factory version of the software often contains errors that affect the pedometer accuracy and connection stability.
Solving the visibility problems of the device
Quite often, users are faced with a situation where the application does not see the bracelet, although it is charged and on. One of the common reasons is the “hang” of the Bluetooth module in the phone itself, in which case a simple restart of the Bluetooth adapter or a full reboot of the smartphone helps.
Another common problem is that the bracelet was previously paired with another phone. The Mi Band 3 can only store one active connection in memory. If you change your phone, you need to untie the device in the app on the old gadget or reset the settings of the tracker itself.
- 📱 Check if the bracelet is connected to another phone in the background.
- 🔄 Perform a tracker reset via the “Settings” menu» → «Untie" (if available) or press the button before the reset menu appears.
- 🔋 Make sure that the battery charge of the tracker is at least 20%.
It’s also worth checking your power saving settings. On Xiaomi phones with MIUI shells, aggressive optimization can block Mi Fit background processes. Go to the battery settings, find the app, and select No Limits mode.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Method of decision |
|---|---|---|
| The bracelet doesn't vibrate. | Vibration turned off in the settings | Include in the appendix Mi Fit |
| No notifications. | Closed app in the background | Lock the application in memory (Lock) |
| Time is not updated. | No synchronization with the phone | Open the application for auto-synchronization |
| The connection is dropped. | Unstable Bluetooth | Reboot both devices |
Configure notifications and functions
Once you've successfully connected, you'll have a wide range of settings» → «You can customize the information you're displaying, and you can choose which data you're going to display when you lift your wrist, whether it's time, footsteps, pulse, or weather.
Special attention should be paid to the notification section, where you can select applications that will duplicate messages on the wrist, and important: for this function, the Mi Fit application must have permission to read notifications and be permanently in RAM.
⚠️ Warning: Don't turn on notifications from all apps at once.The abundance of vibrations and screen switches will quickly land the tracker's battery and it will have to be charged every time. 3-4 a day instead of the two weeks stated.
Sleep and heart rate monitoring is also available in the settings, and it is recommended that you enable automatic pulse measurements at intervals of 10 or 30 minutes, which will allow you to get a more accurate picture of the cardiovascular system during the day.
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Tip: Turn on the wrist-lifting feature during the daytime only. At night, a glowing screen can interfere with sleep if you turn your hand while you're resting.
Update of firmware and calibration
Regular software updates are key to stable operation. Developers periodically release patches that improve pedometer accuracy and correct menu translation errors. Update is done through the application: if there is a new version, a notification will appear.
The firmware process takes a few minutes, during which time the bracelet screen will burn and the phone should be nearby, interrupting the process (turning off the phone or leaving the Bluetooth range) can cause the device to break, so do not touch the gadget during the upgrade.
The pedometer calibration is done automatically in the background, however, if you notice a strong error, you can try resetting the statistics or recalibrating the device by going a known distance with GPS on the phone (if the application supports this feature).
What to do if the firmware is “stuck”?
For owners of Xiaomi with a MIUI shell, there is a caveat: the system can force the background applications to save energy. To avoid disconnection, open the menu of running applications, find Mi Fit, click on the lock or select "Secure" This will prevent the system from unloading the application from memory.