Connecting Xiaomi Mi Band 4 to a smartphone: full instructions with pictures and tips

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular wearables due to its combination of affordable price, long autonomy and wide functionality. However, new users often have difficulties with the first connection to the phone — especially if it comes to unusual situations like changing a smartphone, resetting a bracelet or conflicts with other gadgets. This article will help you understand all the nuances of synchronization, from basic settings to solving rare errors.

We will look at the official way through the Mi Fit app (now Zepp Life), alternative methods for older versions of Android, and give recommendations for optimizing the bracelet after you connect. We will focus on the typical problems: why the Mi Band 4 does not find the phone, how to reset the settings to the factory and what to do if the application does not see the device. All instructions are relevant for 2026 and tested on the latest versions of firmware.

1.Preparation for connection: what to check before starting

Before you start pairing, make sure all the preconditions are met, which will save 90% of potential problems during the connection phase.

• 📱 Smartphone compatibility: Mi Band 4 works with Android 5.0+ iOS 10.0+. Errors on devices older than 2015 may occur due to outdated Bluetooth versions.
• 🔋 Bracelet charge: Battery level must be at least 20%.When the discharge is less than 10%, the bracelet can be turned off during synchronization.
• 📲 Free space on the phone: The Zepp Life app weighs ~100MB, plus space for the data cache (more) ~50MB).
• 🔄 No other connected gadgets: If another fitness bracelet is already tied to your phone (such as the Honor Band or Huawei Band), temporarily turn it off.

Important for iPhone owners: on iOS, Zepp Life does not support background data synchronization, which means that you will have to manually open the app to update the statistics (steps, pulse).

Also check if the phone is power-saving, which can block Bluetooth background work. On Android, this option is usually in Settings → Battery → Power-saving mode. On iPhone, a similar feature is called Low Power and is located in Settings → Battery.

2. Install and configure the Zepp Life app (formerly Mi Fit)

The official Mi Band 4 management app is called Zepp Life (formerly Mi Fit), which can be downloaded for free from Google Play or the App Store, and the name change is due to the rebranding of the Xiaomi ecosystem, but the functionality remains the same.

For Android:

1. Open the Google Play Store and search for the Zepp Life app (developed by Huami Inc.).
2. Click Install and wait for the download to be completed.
3. Once installed, open the app and allow all permissions requested: Location Access, Notifications, Contacts (to display incoming calls).
4. Sign up via Xiaomi, Google or Apple ID (for iPhone).

For iOS:

1. Go to the App Store and download Zepp Life.
2. After installation, open iPhone → Zepp Life Settings and enable options: Bluetooth, Notifications, Health (to sync with Apple Health).
3. In the app itself, allow access to Health Data (steps, sleep, pulse).

If the application does not start or gives an error when registering, try:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
• 🗑️ Clear the app cache (on Android: Settings) → Annexes → Zepp Life → Memory. → Clear the cache).
• 📥 Install an older version of the application (e.g. Mi Fit 4.6.0) if the new version is unstable.

Install Zepp Life| Register your account | Turn on Bluetooth on your phone | Charge your bracelet to 20%+| Turn off power saving mode-->

3. step-by-step connection of Xiaomi Mi Band 4 to the phone

Now, to the pairing process itself, make sure that the bracelet is near the phone (no more than 1 meter away) and is on.

Step 1 Activation of the bracelet

If you are connecting the Mi Band 4 for the first time, it should automatically turn on after charging. If the screen does not respond, reset:

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger.
2. Press and hold the touch button under the screen for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the button and the bracelet will reset.

Step 2: Search for a device in Zepp Life

1. Open the Zepp Life app and click Add Device (+ icon in the upper right corner).
2. Choose from the Mi Smart Band 4 list (not to be confused with the Mi Band 5/6/7!).
3. Press Hide and confirm access to Bluetooth.

Step 3: Synchronization and adjustment

After successful connection, the application will offer:

• 👤 Link the bracelet to the account (required!).
• ⏱️ Update the firmware (recommended, but not necessarily).
• 🔔 Set up notifications (calls, SMS, messengers).
• 🏃‍♂️ Enter personal data (height, weight, age) to correctly count calories.

If at the interface stage there is an error "Can not connect", try:

• 🔄 Reboot both the bracelet and the phone.
• 📱 Turn on/off Flight Mode on the phone for 10 seconds.
• 🔗 Remove the bracelet from the list of Bluetooth devices (on Android: Settings) → Connected devices → Mi Band 4 → Forget it).

4. Set up notifications and basic functions

Once connected successfully, you can customize the bracelet to suit your needs, and basic settings are available in the Device Profile section of the Zepp Life app.

1. Notifications

To make the bracelet vibrate when incoming calls and messages:

1. Go to Notifications. → Management of notifications.
2. Turn on the incoming call switch.
3. For instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.), click Add the app and select the desired ones.
4. Set up a time of inactivity (e.g., vibration every 30 minutes when sitting down).

2. Display of data on the screen

On Mi Band 4, you can configure the order of the screens that appear when swiping:

• 🕒 Time and date (main screen).
• 🏃‍♂️ Steps and activities.
• ❤️ Pulse (measured automatically or on request).
• 🌙 Sleep quality (only after synchronization with the app).
• 🔋 Charge level.

To change the order, go to Screen Settings → Screen Order and drag the items in the right order.

3. Alarm clocks and reminders

The bracelet supports up to 10 alarm clocks, including single and repeat alarm clocks.

1. Open the alarm clock. → Add an alarm clock.
2. Specify the time, days of the week and the type of vibration (short/long).
3. Activate the Smart Alarm – the bracelet will wake you up in the light sleep phase 30 minutes before the set time.

💡

If notifications come with a delay, in Android settings, turn off battery optimization for Zepp Life: Settings → Apps → Zepp Life → Battery → No restrictions.

5. Solving common connection problems

Even with the right setup, users are faced with common errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Error "Device not supported"

If this message appears when connecting, the reasons may be as follows:

• 📱 Outdated version of Android (below 5.0) or iOS (below 10.0).
• 🔄 The bracelet is already linked to another account (reset is needed).
• 🛠️ Bracelet firmware damaged (reflashing through Mi Band Tools required).

⚠️ Note: If you bought the Mi Band 4 from hand, the previous owner could not untie it from your account. → Reset to factory (must be confirmed in the appendix).

The bracelet connects but does not synchronize data

The problem often occurs on iPhones due to the limitations of iOS.

• 🔄 Forced update data in Zepp Life (pull the screen down).
• 📱 Reinstall the application, previously deleting its data.
• 🔗 Enable Background update of the application in the iPhone settings.

6. Alternative ways to connect (without Zepp Life)

If the official application is unstable, you can use third-party utilities, which are suitable for advanced users, because they require manual settings.

1 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band

This unofficial software supports all the features of the Mi Band 4, including:

• 🔔 Customization of notifications (icons, vibrations).
• 📊 Expanded statistics on sleep and activity.
• 🎨 Change of dials (including third-party themes).

Download from Google Play (not available for iOS) After installation:

1. Open the app and allow access to Bluetooth and Notifications.
2. Click Connect the device and select Mi Band 4.
3. Synchronize data manually (Update button).

2. firmware through Mi Band Tools

If the bracelet is not working correctly (for example, does not measure the pulse or discharges quickly), flashing will help.

1. Download Mi Band Tools with XDA Developers.
2. Connect the bracelet to your phone via Zepp Life, then open the Mi Band Tools.
3. Go to the firmware. → Select a file and download the current version for Mi Band 4 (e.g. 1.0.9.54).
4. Click Set and wait until it is completed (the bracelet will reboot).

⚠️ Warning: Continuous firmware through third-party tools can lead to a bracelet blink (completely inoperable). Use this method only if official methods have not helped and you have a backup of the data.

7. Optimization of the bracelet after connection

To ensure that the Mi Band 4 works stably and economically consumes charge, follow these recommendations:

• 🔋 Turn off unnecessary notifications – every vibrational call consumes ~1% charge.
• ❤️ Set up automatic pulse measurements no more than once every 30 minutes (default – every 5 minutes).
• 🌙 Activate Do Not Disturb at Night if you don’t need sleep monitoring.
• 📶 Update the firmware only through a stable Wi-Fi connection.

How to extend the life of the battery:

• 🔄 Turn off the Bluetooth bracelet while you sleep (if you don’t need tracking).
• 💡 Reduce screen brightness to 50% in Zepp Life settings.
• 🚫 Do not use animated dials - they consume charge 20-30% faster than static ones.

Synchronization with other services:

Data from Mi Band 4 can be exported to:

• 🍎 Apple Health (only for iPhone).
• 📊 Google Fit (Android).
• 🏃 Strava (via Zepp Life).

To do this, go to Zepp Life Account → Linked Accounts and select the service you want.

💡

For maximum data accuracy, wear a bracelet on your non-working hand (for right-handers - left, for left-handers - right) and tighten the strap so that there is no gap between the sensor and the skin.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)