Xiaomi smartwatches are no longer just accessories, they are a full-fledged assistant in everyday life. Health tracking, call notifications, music management and even contactless payments are all available in a compact case on your wrist, but before you use all these features, you need to connect the device to your smartphone correctly.
In this article, we will break down the synchronization process by steps, from installing the necessary software to setting up notifications, focusing on typical errors (for example, when the clock is not determined by the phone) and nuances for different models: Mi Band 7/8, Redmi Watch 3/4, Xiaomi Watch S3 and others, you will also learn how to reconfigure the connection if something went wrong, and what settings should be changed immediately after connecting for maximum convenience.
What Xiaomi smartwatches support phone connection?
Before you start setting up, it’s important to make sure your watch model is compatible with your smartphone at all. Xiaomi releases several lines of smartwatches and fitness bracelets, each with its own features:
- 📱 Mi Band (all generations) – budget fitness trackers with basic features (stepmeter, pulse, notifications) connect via Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit).
- ⌚ Redmi Watch (1/2/3/4) — More advanced watches with color screen, GPS They're demanding Zepp Life (new name Mi Fitness).
- 💎 Xiaomi Watch (S1/S2/S3) — flagship models with AMOLED-display, NFC for payments and support for eSIM. using the Xiaomi Wear app.
- 🏃 Amazfit (brand partner) – some models (e.g. Amazfit) GTR 4) also synced via Zepp or Mi Fitness.
Note: Watches in the Xiaomi Watch S3 series and later require a smartphone on Android 8.0+ or iOS 12.0+ with Bluetooth 5.0 support. If your phone is older (for example, Redmi 5A or iPhone 6), there may be connection problems or functionality limitations.
Preparing for connection: what to do before synchronization
To make the process go smoothly, follow a few preliminary steps, which will save you from most common mistakes like "device fails" or "connection interrupted."
Download the official app for your model
Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone
Charge the watch to at least 50%
Update the firmware of the watch (if it has already been used)
Make sure your phone has enough free memory (minimum 200MB)-->
The first and most important thing is to install the right app. For most Xiaomi models, it's:
- 📲 Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit) – for Mi Band and Redmi Watch.
- 📲 Xiaomi Wear – for the flagship Xiaomi Watch S1/S2/S3.
- 📲 Zepp – for some Amazfit models and older Mi Band versions.
Download the program only from official sources:
- 🤖 For Android: Google Play (Mi Fitness) or Xiaomi Wear.
- 🍎 For iOS: App Store (Mi Fitness) Xiaomi Wear app for iPhone is not available - Xiaomi Watch flagship watches do not officially support iOS!
The second is to check the Bluetooth version. Modern watches (Redmi Watch 3, Xiaomi Watch S3) require Bluetooth 5.0 or later. You can find out the Android version through the AIDA64 app (System → Bluetooth section). On iPhones, all models since the iPhone 8 support Bluetooth 5.0.
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If you have a Xiaomi Watch S3 and an iPhone, try connecting through the Zepp Life app — sometimes it works despite official restrictions.
Step-by-step: how to connect Xiaomi smart watch to the phone
Now, to the process itself, the instructions are universal for most models, but we'll give you some nuances for specific devices, and let's take a look at the Redmi Watch 3 connection over Mi Fitness.
Step 1. Turn on the clock and activate the pairing mode
- 🔋 If the watch is new, charge it to 100% (there is a magnetic cable in the set).
- 🔘 Press and hold the side button (or touch zone on the Mi Band) for 3-5 seconds until the Xiaomi logo appears.
- 📶 The screen should show a message about the search device or QR-code (on Xiaomi Watch) S3).
Step 2. Launch the application and start pairing
- Open Mi Fitness (or Xiaomi Wear)
- Click "Add device" (the icon "+" in the upper right corner).
- Choose your model from the list. If you don't have one, select "Other Device" and type the name manually.
- Follow the instructions on the screen. The app may ask:
Step 3: Update the firmware (if required)
Once connected, the app will automatically check for updates. for Redmi Watch 4 and Xiaomi Watch S3 It is critical to install the latest firmware - otherwise it may not work NFC-payment GPS. It takes 5-15 minutes to update, and don't interrupt or turn off Bluetooth!
Step 4: Set up the basic parameters
After successful connection:
- ⏰ Set the right time (the clock syncs it to the phone, but sometimes the time zone is lost).
- 🔔 Set up notifications: Select which apps to show alerts (calls, SMS, messengers).
- 🏃 Select the sports modes you will use (running, cycling, swimming, etc.).
- 🔒 Activate unlocking your phone (if supported) – the watch will unlock your smartphone when approaching.
What if the app doesn’t see the clock?
Features of connection for different models
Although the general principle of synchronization is the same, some devices have their own "chips." Let's take a closer look at them.
| Model clock | Annex | Features of connection | Compatibility with iOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 7/8 | Mi Fitness | Supports fast binding through QR-You can connect to two phones at the same time. | Yes (limited) |
| Redmi Watch 3 | Mi Fitness / Zepp Life | It requires a firmware update to run GPS. Zepp Life has more training settings. | Yes. |
| Xiaomi Watch S3 | Xiaomi Wear | Supports eSIM (Android only). NFC-payments need to link a bank card in the application. | No. |
| Amazfit GTR 4 | Zepp | You can connect to Strava directly. There's a dual connection mode (to your phone and headphones at the same time). | Yes. |
The Xiaomi Watch S3 and Redmi Watch 4 have a dual connection feature, which allows the watch to be paired with a phone and wireless headphones (e.g. Redmi Buds 4) at the same time, allowing you to control music directly from the watch without taking out your smartphone.
Owners of the Mi Band 8 should pay attention to the "Always-on Display" mode, activated in the settings of the watch through the app, but significantly reduces battery life (from 16 to 5-7 days).
Typical Connection Errors and How to Fix Them
Even with the right instructions, sometimes there's a failure, and here are the most common problems and solutions.
⚠️ Attention, if the Xiaomi Watch S3 Don't connect to an iPhone, don't waste time, it's a hardware limitation. The manufacturer doesn't officially support iOS for this model.
- 🔴 "Cannot find device": Make sure the clock is paired (flashing the indicator or displaying) QR-Disable Bluetooth on other devices nearby (laptop, tablet) that may have previously connected to the clock.Reboot your phone and watch.
- 🔴 "Connection interrupted": Check if antivirus (such as Avast or 360 Security) blocks access to Bluetooth. Turn off power saving mode for the Mi Fitness app in your phone settings. If you use Xiaomi Watch S3, Update your phone to the latest version MIUI (Android 12+ other-brand).
- 🔴 "Device connected but not synced": In the Mi Fitness app, go to the device profile → "Sync data. Check if sync is enabled in the background (Android: Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Battery → Background activity. On your iPhone, go to Settings. → Confidentiality → Bluetooth and make sure that Mi Fitness has access.
If you watch Redmi Watch 3 Mi Band. 8 They shut down all the time after a few minutes, and the problem might be the phone's power saving settings, not the watch itself. Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco smartphone:
- Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management applications.
- Find Mi Fitness and select "No Limits".
- Activate Auto Start and Background Activity.
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If the Xiaomi Watch S3 is not defined by your phone, try connecting via another device (like a tablet), updating your firmware, and then returning it to your phone.
How to Reset Your Connection if Something Goes Wrong
If the watch has already been connected to another phone or has a problem, you may need to reset the connection.
Method 1. Resetting through an application
- Open Mi Fitness (or Xiaomi Wear)
- Go to your device profile (slip it at the top of the screen).
- Select "Disable Device" or "Delete".
- Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
- Reset the clock (hold the 10 seconds button) and reconnect.
Method 2: Completely reset the clock to factory settings
If the watch is glitching or does not respond to commands, perform a hard reset:
- For the Mi Band. 7/8 Redmi Watch 3: Go to the Settings of the clock → System system → Reset. Confirm the selection (entry may be required) PIN-code, if it is installed).
Xiaomi Watch S3
- Press and hold both side buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds.
- After vibration, let go - the clock will reset and reset.
⚠️ Attention! After a full reset, all data on the watch will be deleted, including training history and notification settings. However, information synchronized with the Xiaomi account will remain in the cloud and recover when you reconnect.
If you sell or transfer a watch to another person, you must:
- Reset them to factory settings.
- Remove your device from your Xiaomi account (in Mi Fitness → “Account” → “Device Management”).
- Untie your bank cards (if you used them) NFC-payment).
Useful settings after connection
Now that the clock has been successfully synchronized, set it up for maximum convenience.
- 🔔 Notifications: Enable alerts for important applications (calls, SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram. Turn off unnecessary notifications (e.g. from games or advertising mailings). Set up vibration: in Mi Fitness → "Notifications" → "Vibration force".
- 🏃 Sports modes: Add frequently used activities to Favorites (running, walking, cycling) Activate automatic recognition of workouts (in the clock settings) → "Training" → "Autodetermination").
- 🔋 Energy saving: Set up sleep mode: turn off overnight notifications (e.g. 23:00 to 7:00); reduce screen brightness to 50-70% to save battery; turn off Always-on Display if autonomy is more important than constant time display.
- 💳 NFC Payments and payments for Xiaomi Watch S3): Link your bank card in the Xiaomi Wear app (Backage section) and set up quick access to payments (double press the button).
Redmi Watch 4 and Xiaomi Watch S3 have Music Control, which allows you to control playback on your phone right from the clock (pause, next track, volume) to make it work:
- Enable permission for Mi Fitness to access media (on Android: Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Permissions → Music and audio).
- In the settings of the watch, activate the option "Music Management".
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If you have a Mi Band 8 with NFC, You can use the watch as a pass in the subway (in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities with Troika support). → "Transportation".