Step-by-step connection of Xiaomi smart bracelet to Android over Bluetooth: from pairing to synchronization

Xiaomi Mi Band smart bracelets have long been an integral part of the health and fitness gadget ecosystem. These compact devices are able to track pulse, analyze sleep, count steps and even alert incoming calls - but all of these features are only available after connecting to a smartphone correctly. If you first encounter setting up wireless pairing via Bluetooth, the process can seem complicated: from finding a wristband in a list of devices to logging in to the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit).

In this article, we'll look at not only the basic steps of connecting, but also the nuances that are often overlooked in standard instructions. 7 It may not appear in the list of available devices on Android 13, How to reset the bracelet to the factory if it was already paired with another phone, and what to do if the app constantly gives an error "failed to connect." 5/6/7/8 — Their firmware has key differences in the pairing algorithm.

Important: If your bracelet has been used on an iPhone before connecting to Android, you need to untie it from your Apple ID account through the original application, otherwise you will get an error “Device is tied to another account”, and further configuration will be impossible without resetting.

1. Connection Preparation: What to Check Before Pairing

Before you start looking for a bracelet in Bluetooth settings, make sure all the prerequisites are met. Experience shows that 90% of connection problems are due to missed preparatory steps.

• 📱 Update your smartphone firmware. 10 There may be conflicts with the Mi Band. 7/8 Because of outdated Bluetooth drivers 5.0.
• 🔋 Charge the bracelet to at least 20%. At a charge level below 15%, the device goes into power saving mode and may not appear in the list of available gadgets.
• 📲 If you have Mi Fit and Mi Fitness installed on your phone at the same time, you will have a synchronization conflict.
• 🔄 Reboot both devices. This will reset the Bluetooth module cache and eliminate temporary crashes.

Pay special attention to application permissions. After installing Mi Fitness, you must manually allow access to:

• 📍 Geolocation (for proper pedometer operation and GPS-tracking).
• 📁 Storage (for backup of data).
• 📞 Contact and SMS (display).
• 🔕 Phone (to manage calls from the bracelet).

If you connect to the Mi Band 8 or later, note that these models require authorization through a Xiaomi account (even if you previously used it without it).

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If your phone supports Dual Bluetooth (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro), turn off the second device (headphones, speaker) before connecting.

2. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application

Xiaomi’s official bracelet management app is Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), which can be downloaded from Google Play, but there’s a caveat: in some regions (e.g. Europe), only the global version is available, which may not support all the features of Chinese bracelet firmware. If you purchased the device in China or on AliExpress, you may need to install the Chinese version of the app via APK.

After installation, follow the following steps:

1. Open Mi Fitness and select the interface language (Russian is available in the global version).
2. Click "Profile» → «Add the device».
3. In the list, select your bracelet model (e.g. Mi Smart Band 7).
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to confirm permissions.

At the authorization stage, the system may request:

• 📧 Email or phone number to create a Xiaomi account.
• 🔐 Confirmation code sent by mail or SMS.
• 🌍 Region (select "Russia" or "Global" if your bracelet is not Chinese).

It's important if you use a bracelet with NFS-chip (e.g. Mi Band 7) NFC), In the app, an additional item will appear “Configure contactless payments” to activate this feature, you will need to link a bank card via Mi Pay (available in not all countries).

3. Step-by-step pairing via Bluetooth

Now, to the actual connection process, make sure that the bracelet is near the phone (no more than 1 meter away) and not coupled to other devices.

1. Activate Bluetooth on your phone: go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth and turn on the switch.
2. On the Mi Band bracelet, swipe up the screen to unlock it, then go to Settings. → Bluetooth (badge) 📶).
3. In the Mi Fitness app, click “Connect” and wait until the bracelet appears in the list of available devices (can take up to 30 seconds).
4. Select your Mi Band from the list and confirm pairing on both devices.

If the bracelet is not listed, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the bracelet: Press the touch button for 10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
• 📱 Clear Bluetooth cache on your phone: go to Settings → Annexes → Bluetooth → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🔌 Disable charge saving: some firmware (for example, MIUI) limit the operation of Bluetooth in power saving mode.

Critical detail: Mi Band 8 and later bracelets require confirmation of connection directly on the device screen (a request with the code will appear), If you do not confirm pairing within 30 seconds, the process will stop, and you will have to start again.

4. Solving common connection problems

Even with the correct following of the instructions, users often encounter errors, and consider the most common of them and how to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, try an alternative method of connecting:

1. Remove the bracelet from the list of conjugate devices in the Android settings.
2. In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → Settings → Disable the device.
3. Reset the bracelet (press the button for 15 seconds).
4. Repeat the process of pairing from scratch.

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If the Mi Band 6/7/8 bracelet was previously synced with the iPhone, it must be untie via the original Mi Fitness app on iOS.Mere resetting the bracelet settings is not enough - you need to remove the binding to the Apple ID.

5. Notification setting and data synchronization

Once you have successfully connected, you need to configure notifications and data synchronization, otherwise the bracelet will only work as a pedometer. In the Mi Fitness app, go to your device's section and activate:

• 📞 Call notifications: Enable the Incoming Calls option and select the vibration style.
• 💬 SMS Add apps (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram) to the list of allowed apps.
• 🔔 Inactivity reminders: adjust the interval (e.g., every 60 minutes).
• 🌙 Sleep mode: Specify the time to go to bed to automatically switch to "Do not disturb».

To correctly synchronize health data (pulse, steps, sleep) do:

1. Turn on “Continuous Heart Rate Monitoring” (reduces battery life but improves accuracy).
2. Activate “Autosync” in the application settings.
3. Allow Mi Fitness to work in the background (in the phone battery settings).

If the data is not synchronized, check:

• 🔄 Update of the bracelet firmware (Mi Fitness will be notified if a new version is available).
• 📶 Bluetooth connection quality: Walls and other interference can interrupt synchronization.
• 📱 Android Version: Android 8.0 and below may crash due to outdated Bluetooth protocols.

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To ensure that notifications are displayed correctly, in your phone settings, turn off battery optimization for the Mi Fitness app. On Xiaomi/Redmi, this is done in Settings → Battery → Optimization → Mi Fitness → No restrictions.

6. Optimization of the bracelet after connection

To ensure that the bracelet works stably and does not discharge in one day, adjust the following parameters:

• 🔋 Energy saving: Turn off the “Constant pulse” if you do not need high accuracy (saves up to 30% of charge).
• 🌈 Screen brightness: set automatic adjustment or reduce brightness to 50%.
• 🔔 Vibration: Select a short vibration pattern for notifications.
• 🔄 Autosynchronization: set the interval no more than 1 time per hour.

For models with Always-On Display (such as the Mi Band 7 Pro), it is recommended to:

• 🕒 Set up a schedule: activate the “Always on screen” only during daytime.
• 🎨 Choose a minimalist dial: complex animations quickly drain the battery.

If the bracelet starts to discharge too quickly (less than 3 days of operation), check:

• 🔍 Background Processes: Some apps (like Google Fit) may conflict with Mi Fitness.
• 📡 Constant phone connection: If the bracelet often loses touch and reconnects, this increases battery consumption.
• 🛠️ Battery damage: If the bracelet is older than 2 years, a battery replacement may be required.

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For maximum operating time, turn off the "Raise your hand to activate the screen" feature, which consumes up to 15% of the charge per day due to the constant operation of the motion sensor.

7. Resetting the bracelet to factory settings

If you encounter insurmountable errors (e.g., the bracelet does not respond to touch, fails to connect or shows incorrect data), a complete reset may be required.Be aware that this will delete all data from the device, including:

• 📊 Activity statistics for the last 7 days.
• ⚙️ Individual settings (dials, notifications).
• 🔑 Link to Xiaomi account (re-authorization required).

To drop the bracelet:

1. On the bracelet, go to Settings → Additional → Reset.
2. Confirm the action by pressing and holding the touch button for 5 seconds.
3. After rebooting, the bracelet will return to factory settings.

If the bracelet screen does not respond to touch, perform a hardware reset:

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger.
2. Press the touch button for 20-30 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the button - the bracelet will reboot in factory condition.

8. Alternative ways to connect (if Bluetooth does not work)

In rare cases, Bluetooth connectivity may not be possible due to hardware constraints (such as a broken module on a phone) or software conflicts, and alternative methods may be used in such situations:

• 🔌 Mi Band Master Connection: A third-party Xiaomi bracelet management app (requires root rights on some firmware).

Example of commands to check Bluetooth connection via ADB:

adb shell


dumpsys bluetooth_manager

If the output has a line with the name of your bracelet (for example, Mi Band 7), but the connection does not occur, the problem lies in the firmware or drivers.

For models with NFC (such as Mi Band 7 NFC), additional configuration may be required via the Mi Pay app. If the payment feature is not activated, check:

• 🏦 Does your bank support contactless payments through Xiaomi.
• 📍 Are you in a region where Mi Pay is available (supported in Russia, Europe and China as of 2026).
• 🔒 Is the card blocked for online payments.

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Alternative applications (such as Notify & Fitness) can provide advanced features but do not guarantee stable operation, and official Mi Fitness software remains the most reliable option for synchronizing health data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Mi Band to Android