How to connect a smart watch to a smartphone Xiaomi POCO: the full guide

The integration of wearables into the Android ecosystem offers Xiaomi POCO smartphone users enormous opportunities to track health and improve productivity. However, initial setup is often questionable, especially given the aggressive optimization of the battery in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS, which can prevent stable operation of background processes. Proper connection is not just a press of the “Pair” button, but a set of measures for the configuration of the system.

Owners of F, M, X or C series devices face the need to follow the steps accurately to ensure that pulse, step and notification data are seamlessly synchronized. Incorrect sequences of actions can cause the gadget to permanently shut down or stop transmitting sleep data. In this article, we will discuss a detailed algorithm of actions that ensures stable operation of the smartphone-watch link.

Whether you’re using the original Xiaomi Watch, Amazfit, or third-party Wear OS devices, the basic setup principles remain similar, but have their own nuances in the security menu. Ignoring specific energy saving settings is the most common reason for connection resets. Let’s get to the practical side and get the devices ready to go.

Preparation of gadgets for primary pairing

Before starting the procedure, make sure that both devices are in working condition and have sufficient power charge. It is recommended to charge the Xiaomi POCO smartphone and smartwatch to a minimum of 50% to avoid turning off at a critical time of service updates. Also check for a stable Internet connection, since most applications will need to download current device profiles.

It is important to clear the list of previously connected devices in Bluetooth settings if the watch has been previously used with another phone. Old profiles may conflict with the new connection, causing authorization errors. To do this, go to the Bluetooth menu, find the name of your watch in the list, and select the option “Forget the device” or “Unpair”.

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to connect the watch directly through the Bluetooth system menu in Android settings.This is a common bug that causes the watch to connect like an audio headset but not sync health data.

The next step is to reset the clock itself to the factory if it is not in the initial setup mode, ensuring that the device does not have any junk files or cache from the previous owner, which is done through the Settings → System → Disconnect or Factory Reset menu on most models.

☑️ Connection readiness

Charge devices more than 50%Bluetooth and GPS enabledRemoved old watch profilesReset hours to factory settings

Done: 0 / 4

Selecting and installing the right application

A key element of the ecosystem is software that acts as a bridge between the watch hardware and the smartphone operating system. For devices made by Xiaomi and its sub-brands, the Mi Fitness app (formerly known as Zepp Life for some models) is the main tool. Users of new models such as the Watch S1, S3 or Watch 2 Pro often require this software.

Wear OS-based watch owners (such as TicWatch or Pixel Watch) will need to install the Google Wear OS app from the Play Market Store. It’s important to understand the difference: Universal activity trackers can work through Google Fit, but full dial and settings management is only available in the manufacturer’s native app.

When downloading software, pay attention to the developer. Official applications from Xiaomi Inc. or Huami Inc. guarantee data security and the correct operation of push notifications. Third-party applications from unverified sources may request excessive permissions or work incorrectly with data transfer protocols.

Model clock	Recommended annex	Compatibility with POCO	Type of OS
Xiaomi Watch S1 / S3	Mi Fitness	Complete.	Proprietary
Mi Band 6 / 7 / 8	Mi Fitness / Zepp Life	Complete.	RTOS
Amazfit GTR / GTS	Zepp	Complete.	RTOS
Redmi Watch 3	Mi Fitness	Complete.	Proprietary

📊 What application do you plan to use?

Mi Fitness

Zepp Life

Google Wear OS

Third-party software

Step-by-step instructions for connecting

The pairing process begins with the launch of the installed application and registration or logging into an existing Mi Account. Without authorization in the account, data synchronization with the cloud and social functions will not be available. Once you log in, click the add a new device button, usually located in the upper right corner or in the center of the home screen.

The app will request permissions to use geolocation and Bluetooth. In Android 12 and higher, as well as new versions of HyperOS, geolocation permission is critical for Bluetooth Low Energy to work (BLE), Even if you don’t plan to use it. GPS-Without this item, the search for the device may not start.

Once you detect the device, you'll see a picture of your watch and a pairing request on your smartphone screen. A confirmation code may also appear on your watch screen — check the numbers and confirm the action. The process of installing the necessary components and initial synchronization can take 1 to 3 minutes.

Sequence of action:


1.Open Mi Fitness/Zepp Life




Press "+" (Add device)




3. Select a model from the list or wait for an auto search




4. Confirm the code on the watch and phone




5. Wait for the synchronization to be completed

Do not interrupt the process, even if it seems to be stuck by 90%, during which time the firmware update or sensor calibration is performed, which is a critical step.

What if the search does not find the clock?

Make sure the watch is not connected to another phone.If it was paired before, the app may not see it while it is busy connecting to the previous gadget. perform a full reset of the watch through the settings menu on the device itself. Also try rebooting Bluetooth on your smartphone by turning it on and off in the notification curtain.> Permissions and optimization in MIUI HyperOS is the most important stage for owners of Xiaomi POCO — This is the right setup of access rights. MIUI It kills the background processes of applications by default, considering them to be malicious or inactive, so that the clock does not turn off every couple of hours, you need to manually change the behavior of the system. Go to your smartphone settings, search for the Apps section, and select your watch app (like Mi Fitness). From the Battery or Energy menu, select No Limits mode». This will allow the application to work in the background constantly, without undergoing memory cleaning. ⚠️ Warning: Without setting the “No Limits” mode, notifications from messengers will stop coming to the clock through the 15-20 You need to turn on auto-start. In the same app settings menu, find Auto-Start and activate it. This ensures that the sync service will start immediately after you turn on the phone without waiting for the user to manually open the application.> Also check permissions under Other Permits. Make sure all items are allowed, especially "Display on top of other apps" and access to contacts if you want to see the names of callers on your wrist. Solving common synchronization problems Even with all instructions, technical difficulties may arise. One of the common problems is time desynchronization. If the clock is confused by time or date, this usually indicates problems with the permission to automatically adjust time over the network. Check whether the option "Autodate and time" is enabled in the Android system settings. If the notifications do not come, check the settings of the aggregator application itself. Inside Mi Fitness or Zepp there is a section "Application Notifications" where you need to manually turn on the ticks opposite the right messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber). Just having permissions in the main application is not enough. Connectivity problems can be caused by the Bluetooth process, "Oply switching to the system to the Bluetooth system." Sometimes reconnecting through developer mode helps. Turn on developer mode (7 times click on the build number in About Phone), then find Bluetooth Audio Codec or Bluetooth Map version. Changing the codec or protocol version can reanimate the "glutty" connection, although this is an extreme measure. 💡90% of the time-out problems are solved by setting the “No Limits” mode for the battery and enabling the auto-run of the companion application. Additional features and fine-tuning After successful configuration, you can access the advanced functionality. You can customize dials by downloading them from the store or creating your own from photos.For Xiaomi POCO brightly AMOLED or IPS It's a great way to personalize with screens, and it's a very important function to find your phone. By setting up this option, you can find your own. POCO You can also set up the control of music and the camera (remote shutter function) and it's very useful in noisy places or when the phone is deep in the bag. The smartphone acts as a data processor, analyzing information from the clock sensors. Regular synchronization allows you to plot accurate progress graphs in the Zepp Life or Mi Fitness application, taking into account your individual metrics. Remember to check the watch firmware updates periodically through the app. Manufacturers often release patches that improve the stability of Bluetooth connections. 5.0/5.2 And they add new dials or health features, and why do they run out quickly after you've connected them to them? POCO? This is often due to high frequency sensor surveys or screen brightness. Try to reduce the Heart Rate Monitor from 1 minute to 10 or 30 minutes. Also turn off the permanent Wrist Raised mode if it's not critical. Can I respond to messages from a Xiaomi watch? The answer depends on the model. Budget trackers (Mi Band, Redmi Watch Lite) only display text. OS Or advanced Xiaomi Watch models allow you to use fast response, voice input, or even print text on the screen. What if the app doesn't see the watch, even though it's in pairing mode? Try temporarily disabling it? VPN, Also make sure you have the latest version of Google Play Services installed. In rare cases, cleaning up the Mi Fitness app itself helps (making sure your account data is stored in the cloud first). POCO? Yes, but they will require the Huawei Health app to work, which you need to download through the app. QR-code from the box or from third-party app stores, as Google Play may not have it.