Modern wearables have long since ceased to be just a toy for enthusiasts and have become an indispensable tool for tracking the health and management of a smartphone. Owners of Xiaomi devices often wonder how to properly configure pairing to get the most functionality from the bundle of the phone and watch. The process of installing a connection can seem confusing due to the many versions of the Android operating system and various modifications to the MIUI interface.
In this detailed guide, we’ll take a look at how smartwatches sync with Chinese brand devices, learn about the specifics of Mi Fit, Zepp Life and Wear OS, and how to avoid common bugs when you first start. Proper setup at launch will save you from notification problems and loss of training data in the future.
It’s worth noting that the connection procedure depends not only on the phone model, but also on the manufacturer of the wearable device itself.Whether it’s the original Xiaomi Mi Band, Amazfit or third-party gadgets based on Google Wear OS, each case requires a personalized approach to customizing permissions and background processes.
Preparing the smartphone and watch for the first launch
Before trying to find a device via Bluetooth, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps: make sure that the clock is charged at least 20-30%, as the process of initial setting up and updating the firmware can require significant energy resources.
On a Xiaomi smartphone, you need to activate geolocation. This is a critical step that is often overlooked. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocols used in most fitness trackers require access to location to properly scan peripherals. Without GPS enabled, finding a gadget in an app may simply not be successful.
⚠️ Note: If you are using Android 12 or later, the system may request permission to use “Approximate Location.” For a stable operation of a smartwatch, it is better to provide access to accurate geo-position in the privacy settings.
It’s also worth checking the operating system version. Modern apps like Zepp or Galaxy Wearable may require Android 8.0 or higher to work. Update your phone through the Settings menu → About Phone → System Update to rule out software compatibility issues.
It is important to clear the list of previously paired devices if you have previously tried to connect the same watch to another phone. Go to Bluetooth settings, find your watch name in the list and click Forget the device or Unpair the pairing. This will prevent addressing conflicts when you try again.
Selecting and installing the right application
The smartwatch ecosystem is fragmented, and the choice of app depends on the brand of your gadget. Mi Band and Amazfit devices have historically used the Mi Fit app, which was later renamed Zepp Life. Newer and more advanced models like the Xiaomi Watch S1 or Watch 2 Pro often require a Zepp app or even Wear OS by Google.
Download apps exclusively from official sources: Google Play Market or GetApps (the built-in Xiaomi Store). APK-files from third-party sources can cause malware to infect your device or unstable data synchronization.In the store search box, type a name that matches your watch model.
- 📱 Zepp Life – the main application for Mi Band trackers 1-6 Amazfit Bip watches, GTS, GTR series.
- ⌚ Zepp – Necessary for new Amazfit models and some flagship Xiaomi watches.
- ⚙️ Wear OS by Google – used for watches based on the operating system from Google, for example, Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro.
- 🏃 Mi Fitness is a new app that is gradually replacing Zepp Life for Xiaomi and Redmi devices.
Once you install the application, take your time to open it right away. Give the system a few seconds to complete the background installation processes. When you first start, the application will request a number of permissions that you need to provide to work correctly.
Why are there so many apps?
Step-by-step instructions for pairing devices
The pairing process is started directly from the interface of the installed application, not through the standard Bluetooth menu of Android settings. Open the application, register an account (or log in via Google/Facebook), and click Add Device or + on the home screen.
The app will start scanning the space, at which point the watch screen may be asked to confirm pairing with a code or phone name, compare the codes on the displays and confirm the action with a button or touch. If the code does not appear, try pressing the button on the watch manually.
☑️ Connection checklist
In the initial synchronization process, an automatic firmware update can occur, which is normal, and can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, and keep the app as close to the clock as possible so that the data transfer is not interrupted.
| Phase | User action | Expected system response |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Search. | Click on “Add” in the annex | List of available devices |
| Identification | Selection of model from the list | Request for Bluetooth pairing |
| 3. Confirmation | Comparison of codes on screens | Successful connection |
| 4.Tune in. | Allowing access | Synchronization of time and data |
If there is a mistake during the process, try restarting both devices and repeating the procedure, sometimes by temporarily shutting down your phone’s Wi-Fi so that the system only uses mobile internet and Bluetooth.
Permissions and MIUI optimization
The MIUI shell and its successor HyperOS are known for aggressive energy saving systems that can kill application background processes to save battery power. To ensure that the notifications from the clock arrive on time and the pulse data are synchronized constantly, you need to properly configure autostart.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find your watch app (like Zepp Life) and go to Auto Run. Make sure the switch is activated. Next, in the Permissions section, grant all requested rights, including phone, contacts, SMS and geolocation.
⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 12/13/14 And HyperOS has a separate setting, "Restricting Background Activity," set "No Limits" for the watch management app, or the connection will break when the phone screen is locked.
It is also recommended to fix the application in memory. Open the list of running applications (multitasking menu), find the window of the application for the watch and pull it down or press the lock to lock. This will give the system a signal that the process is important to the user.
For users who want to receive notifications from messengers, you need to activate this item separately in the settings of the companion application itself. Usually this is the Profile section → Notification settings → Application management, where you need to tick Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber and others.
Solving Common Connection Problems
Even if you follow all the instructions, there can be technical failures. One of the common problems is that the phone sees the watch but can't pair. In this case, it helps to clear the Bluetooth cache. Go to Settings → Apps → Show all the applications, turn on the display of system processes (three dots in the corner) and find Bluetooth. Press Clear data and Clear cache.
Another common situation is that the clock is connected, but the data is not synchronized. This is often associated with time desynchronization. Make sure that the phone is automatically set to time and time zone over the network. The watch app should also tick "Sync time with the phone."
If the app crashes when you try to sign in, check for updates for Google Play Services. Google's legacy services may conflict with newer versions of the wearable app. Update them through the Play Market store.
- 🔄 Reset the clock – if nothing helps, perform a full clock reset to factory settings via the device menu or app.
- 📶 Interference – Move away from powerful Wi-Fi signal sources or microwave ovens, they can jam Bluetooth.
- 📱 Android version – on some custom firmware (Custom) ROM) Bluetooth can be unstable.
💡
If the watch is no longer responsive to presses, press the side button for 15-20 seconds before the forced reboot.This often solves problems with the hung interface.