Connecting Xiaomi Watch 5 to a smartphone: full instructions with nuances

The Xiaomi Watch 5 became one of the most popular gadgets of 2026 thanks to a combination of stylish design, advanced health features and affordable price. However, many users face difficulties when connecting a device to a smartphone for the first time — especially if we are talking about models on Android 14 or iOS 17, where the pairing algorithms have changed.

Unlike previous generations (such as the Mi Band 7), the Xiaomi Watch 5 requires not only the installation of the official Mi Fitness app, but also the pre-setting of the permissions on the smartphone. We will analyze all the steps from preparing the phone to synchronizing health data, and also consider the unique problems specific to the 5th version of the watch, such as the error “Device not found” when Bluetooth 5.2 is turned on.

If you’ve already tried to connect your watch and you’ve received an error message, don’t rush to reset your settings. 90% of the time, the problem is solved by adjusting your phone’s settings or reinstalling the app, followed by a step-by-step algorithm based on the latest firmware updates on Xiaomi Watch 5 (version 1.7.84 at the time of writing).

1. Preparation of the smartphone before connection

Before you start pairing, make sure your phone meets the minimum requirements. Xiaomi Watch 5 officially supports:

• 📱 Android: 8.0 and higher (10 recommended)+ steady-work)
• 🍎 iOS: 12.0 and higher (iPhone requires additional notification settings)
• 🔄 Bluetooth: version 5.0 or later (at 4.2, synchronization delays are possible)

Pay particular attention to the following points:

• 🔋 Phone battery charge: at least 30% (at low charge, the system can interrupt pairing).
• 📶 Stable Internet connection: required to download firmware updates.
• 🚫 Absence VPN: Some Xiaomi servers block connections via virtual networks.

⚠️ Note: If your Android smartphone is installed MIUI 14 Or, later, pre-disable the Battery Optimization feature for the Mi Fitness app. Otherwise, the clock will disconnect from the phone via the phone. 10-15 minutes of inactivity.

2. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application

The official management app for the Xiaomi Watch 5 is Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Wear).

• 🤖 For Android: from Google Play or via AppGallery (for Huawei devices).
• 🍏 For iOS: from the App Store.

After installation, follow the following steps:

1. Open the app and sign up (or log in) to your Xiaomi account. Use the same account you have on your phone to avoid data conflicts.
2. In the main menu, click Add Device → select Smart Watch → Xiaomi Watch 5.
3. Allow all application requests: access to contacts, notifications, geolocation and fitness data.

Register with Mi Fitness|Update the application to the latest version|Turn on Bluetooth and GPS phone-on|Charge the clock to 50% or higher-->

The iPhone additionally requires:

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth and manually select Xiaomi Watch 5 from the list of devices.
2. In Settings → Notifications allow you to show alerts for Mi Fitness.

⚠️ Note: On iOS, the watch will not display notifications from messengers (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) unless the Mi Fitness app settings include the option “Sync Notifications.” → Settings of the device → Notifications.

3. Step-by-step pairing Xiaomi Watch 5 with a phone

When the application is ready, start pairing:

1. On the Xiaomi Watch 5, swipe your finger up the screen to open the menu and select “Connect”.
2. On the phone in the Mi Fitness app, click "Start Connection." Make sure the watch screen displays QR-code.
3. Put the phone camera on QR-code (if the scan doesn’t work, enter the 6-digit code manually).
4. Confirm the pairing on both devices.

The process can take up to 2 minutes – at this time:

• 🔄 Don't close the Mi Fitness app.
• 📱 Don't block the phone screen.
• ⚡ Don’t turn off the Xiaomi Watch 5 (even if the screen goes out, wait for the vibrations to go out).

💡

If the Xiaomi Watch 5 is not defined on the Samsung Galaxy with One UI 6+, try disabling the dual Bluetooth feature in the developer settings.This option can block the connection to Xiaomi devices.

4. Notification setting and data synchronization

Once you've successfully connected, you need to configure the notification display and the synchronization of your health data.

1. In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → Xiaomi Watch 5 → Notifications.
2. Turn on the switches for the desired applications (for example, Incoming calls, SMS, WhatsApp).
3. In the section "Data Synchronization" activate the options: 🩺 Heart rate (automatically every time) 10 minute) 😴 Sleep monitoring (including daytime naps) 🏃 Steps and Activity (Sync with Google) Fit/Apple Health)

On Android, for full synchronization, additional configuration is required:

1. Go to Phone Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Permissions.
2. Enable permissions for Physical Activity, Phone and Contacts.
3. In the Special Access menu, allow “Display on top of other windows” and “Autostart”.

5. Updating firmware and optimizing work

After the first connection, it is recommended to update the firmware of the watch to the latest version.

1. Make sure your watch is over 50% charged.
2. Connect your phone to Wi-Fi (update via mobile internet may be interrupted).
3. In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → Xiaomi Watch 5 → Firmware Update.
4. If a new version is available, click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t interrupt the process!).

After the update, reset the clock settings (if required):

1. On the clock, go to Settings → System → Reset.
2. Select Reset Settings (health data will be saved in your Xiaomi account).

🔴 Notifications don't come in on the clock.

For Android:

1. Check if notifications for Mi Fitness are turned off in your phone settings.
2. In the Settings menu → Applications → Mi Fitness → Notifications, include all categories.

For iOS:

1. Go to iPhone Settings → Notifications → Mi Fitness and activate “Allow Notifications”.
2. In the Mi Fitness app itself, in the Notifications section, enable synchronization for each messenger separately.

🔴 The clock is running out fast.

Optimize your battery consumption:

• ⏱️ Reduce your pulse rate to “every 30 minutes” (instead of 10 minutes).
• 🌙️ Turn off automatic sleep monitoring if you are not using the function.
• 📵 Turn off your phone’s constant search (“Settings» → «Connections» → «Phone search»).

7 Additional features and hidden capabilities

Xiaomi Watch 5 supports a number of hidden features that are not activated by default:

🎵 Managing music

To use the watch as a remote for the player:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Music → Player Control.
2. Select the default app (like Spotify or YouTube Music).
3. On the clock, swipe down the screen to open the music control panel.

🏠 Smart home management

If you have a Xiaomi Smart Home device:

1. In the Mi Home app, connect the watch to your account.
2. On the watch in the Smart Home menu, add shortcuts to control lamps, sockets, etc.

🏃 Running with Coaching mode»

For activation:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to “Training” → “Running” → “Settings”.
2. Turn on the option of “Voice coaching” and select the level of training.

💡

To enable Do Not Disturb mode on the clock, swipe down the screen with your finger, then tap the icon. 🌙️. In this mode, all notifications are turned off, except alarms and reminders of a high pulse.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Watch 5