The Mi Band 4 remains one of Xiaomi’s most popular fitness bracelets, thanks to its combination of functionality and affordable price. However, even experienced users sometimes have trouble connecting it to the brand’s smartphones — especially those with MIUI or custom firmware. In this article, we’ll look at not only the standard synchronization procedure, but also the nuances that the manufacturer keeps silent, from choosing the right version of the app to avoiding typical errors like “can’t find the device” or “persistent communication breaks.”
It’s important to understand that the process of connecting the Mi Band 4 to Xiaomi phones (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 or Mi 11) has its own peculiarities. Unlike other brands, it may require additional adjustment of Bluetooth permissions or even manual updates to the bracelet firmware. We tested the instructions on current versions of MIUI 14 and Android 13, so all the steps are guaranteed to work in 2026.
1. Preparing Xiaomi phone for connection
Before you start syncing, make sure your smartphone meets the minimum requirements. Mi Band 4 officially supports Android 5.0+, but for stable operation with MIUI, a version at least Android 8.1 is recommended. Problems often occur on devices with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), where there may be no support for BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy).
Check the following parameters:
- 📱 Android Version: Go to Settings → The phone. → Android version: Minimum version is Android 5.0, optimal version is Android 10+.
- 🔄 Updates MIUI: In Settings → The phone. → Update the system and install the latest security patches.
- 🔒 Application authorizations: in MIUI By default, the background processes are blocked, which can interrupt the connection to the bracelet.
Pay special attention to Bluetooth settings. Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 9A) have BLE 5.0, the default protocol for stable operation of the Mi Band 4, disabled by default.
- Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
- Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Additional Settings.
- Enable the option of Dual Mode or BLE (if available).
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If there is no BLE option in Bluetooth settings, try turning on Developer Mode (7 times clicking on the MIUI version in About Phone) and activating Debugging over Bluetooth in the developer menu.
2. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application
The official Mi Band 4 management app is called Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), and it’s important to use it, rather than third-party alternatives like Notify & Fitness or Tools & Mi Band, which may not work smoothly. Download the app from Google Play or AppGallery (for devices without Google services).
After installation:
- Start Mi Fitness and register with Mi Account (required! without an account, data sync will be limited).
- Choose Russia or Global (not China, otherwise some features may not be available).
- Click Add Device and select Mi Smart Band 4 from the list.
At this point, many users experience a "Can't find the device" error, and the reasons are different.
- 🔌 Bluetooth is turned off or works in energy saving mode.
- 📵 Bracelet discharged (charge it to at least 20%).
- 🚫 Another application blocks access (e.g. Clean Master or Security from Xiaomi).
Charge the bracelet to 50% |
Turn on Bluetooth and GPS on your phone |
Remove old versions of Mi Fit/Mi Fitness|
Disable VPN and proxy |
Reboot your phone and bracelet-->
If Mi Band 4 is still not available, try an alternative way to connect:
- Close Mi Fitness through the multitasking menu.
- Turn on Flight Mode on your phone for 10 seconds, then turn it off.
- Run the app again and repeat the search.
3. Step-by-step synchronization of Mi Band 4 with Xiaomi phone
When the preparation is complete, we will start the direct connection. Follow the instructions carefully - skipping at least one step can cause a failure.
Step 1 Activation of the bracelet
Press the Mi Band 4 touch button (under the screen) and hold it for 3 seconds until the display appears. QR-If the screen is not responding, connect the bracelet to charge for 5 minutes - sometimes a discharged battery blocks the activation.
Step 2. Scanning. QR-code
In the Mi Fitness app, click Scan QR-code and point the phone camera at the bracelet screen if the scan fails:
- 🔦 Increase the brightness of the phone screen to the maximum.
- 📱 Turn off the protective film or cover – they can create glare.
- 🔄 Try entering the 6-digit code manually (it appears under the code). QR-bracelet-code).
Step 3: Confirmation of connection
After a successful scan, the phone will be asked to confirm a pair of devices. Press Connect, then the bracelet will show vibration and a tick, which means that the sync was successful. If at this stage there is an error "failed to connect", follow the following steps:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Fitness.
- Enable all permissions: Location, Bluetooth, Auto Run, Background.
- In Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management add Mi Fitness to the list No Limits.
MIUI 14|
MIUI 13|
MIUI 12.5|
MIUI 12|
The other one/I don't know-->
4. Set up notifications and basic functions
Once you connect the Mi Band 4, you need to configure notifications to receive alerts for calls, messages and calendar events, and in MIUI, this process has its own nuances due to system limitations.
How to enable notifications:
- In Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications.
- Turn on the Call Notification and Notifications from the apps switch.
- Select the apps you want to see on your bracelet (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).
On Xiaomi phones, you additionally need:
- 📲 B Settings → Notifications and status bar → Notification management find Mi Fitness and enable all types of alerts.
- 🔕 B Settings → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Notifications disable the option Sound notifications, if you do not want to duplicate the sound on your phone and bracelet.
Additional settings:
| Function | How to set up | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm clock | In Mi Fitness → Alarm clocks add the time and days of the week. on the bracelet will appear the bell icon. | You can set up to 10 alarm clocks. The vibration lasts 10 seconds. |
| Sleep monitoring | Include in Profile → Sleep settings → Sleep monitoring. Automatically detects sleep phases. | For accuracy, wear a bracelet on your non-working hand. |
| Heart rate control | Activate in Profile → Heart Rate Monitoring. You can set up an automatic measurement. | Frequent measurements reduce battery life. |
| Phone search | In the bracelet menu, select More → Find the phone. The phone will beep. | It only works with an active Bluetooth connection. |
Important: On Xiaomi phones with MIUI 12+, notifications may not arrive if the battery settings for Mi Fitness set to "Energy Saving" mode. Be sure to transfer the application to the "No Limits" category.
5. Solving common problems
Even after a successful connection, users face common errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.
Problem 1: Bracelet shuts down in a few minutes
The reason is usually to optimize the MIUI battery, which is forced to shut down the background processes of Mi Fitness.
- Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management.
- Find Mi Fitness and select Without Limits.
- In Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Battery turn off Battery Optimization.
Problem 2: Step/sleep data is not synchronized
This is due to a failure in the cache of the application or incompatibility of firmware versions.
- 🔄 Reboot your phone and bracelet.
- 🗑️ Clear the Mi Fitness cache in Settings → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
- 📥 Update the bracelet firmware: in Mi Fitness go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Firmware update.
Problem 3: Notice vibrations are not working
Check it out.
- 🔊 In the bracelet settings (Mi Fitness) → Notifications) whether the Vibration parameter is enabled.
- 📵 Bracelet charge level – when the discharge is below 10%, the vibration is turned off.
- 🔧 In Phone Settings → Sound and vibration are not turned off Do not disturb.
What if Mi Band 4 is not detected after the MIUI update?
6. Alternative ways of connecting
If the standard method didn't work, you can use workarounds, which are suitable for devices with unofficial firmware or if Mi Fitness refuses to see the bracelet.
Method 1: Connecting with Notify & Fitness
Notify & Fitness for Mi Band supports Mi Band 4 and is often more stable than the official software.
- Remove Mi Fitness and download Notify & Fitness from Google Play.
- Turn on Developer Mode on your phone and activate Debugging over Bluetooth.
- In the app, select Add Device → Mi Band 4 and follow the instructions.
The advantage of this method is advanced notification settings and support for custom dials.
Method 2: Manual pairing via Bluetooth
If the bracelet is determined by the phone, but not connected via the app:
- Turn on Search Mode on Mi Band 4 (hold the 5-second button until the Bluetooth icon blinks).
- On the phone go to Settings → Bluetooth and find the device MI Band 4_XXXX.
- Connect to it manually, then open Mi Fitness and repeat the sync.
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If none of the methods worked, check if they are blocked. MAC-The bracelet address is in your phone's Bluetooth settings. To do this, delete all the stored devices called the Mi Band and try to connect again.
7.Mi Band 4 firmware update
Regular firmware updates fix bugs and add new features, but on Xiaomi phones, this process may be interrupted due to energy-saving settings.
Steps to update:
- Make sure that the Mi Band 4 is at least 50% charged.
- Connect your phone to Wi-Fi (update via mobile internet may be interrupted).
- In Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Firmware Update.
- If the update is available, click Download and wait until it is completed (don’t interrupt the process!).
What to do if the update is suspended:
- 🔌 Do not turn off the bracelet from charging during the process.
- 📶 Switch your phone from Wi-Fi to mobile data or vice versa.
- 🔄 Restart your phone and try again.
After a successful upgrade, the bracelet will reboot automatically. If the firmware version does not change, check:
- 🌍 Region in Mi Fitness (should be Global or Russia).
- 📱 Compatibility of the application version and firmware (for example, Mi Fitness 5.0)+ requires firmware 1.0.9.54+ For the Mi Band 4).
8.Reset Mi Band 4 to factory settings
If the bracelet is unstable (for example, does not sync data or permanently shut down), a complete reset may be required, which will remove all settings, including saved dials and sleep data.
How to drop an bracelet:
- On the Mi Band 4 itself, go to Settings → More → Reset (scroll the screen with swipes up and down).
- Confirm the action by clicking the tick.
- After the reboot, reconnect the bracelet via Mi Fitness.
Alternatively, if the screen is not responding:
- Connect the bracelet to the charger.
- Press and hold the touch button for 15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
- Release the button and the bracelet will reset.
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After resetting the Mi Band 4, it may be necessary to re-activate through the QR-If the code doesn't show up, charge the bracelet to 100% and try again.
⚠️ Warning: Reset removes all the data from the bracelet, including the past 30 days of footstep and sleep history. If you care about this information, pre-sync it with Mi Fitness (open the app and wait until sync is complete).