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-term autonomy and wide functionality. However, many users have difficulties already at the first connection stage: the gadget is not detected by the phone, the application emits errors, and the instructions out of the box contain only basic steps. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to synchronize the Mi Band 4 with Android and iOS, including solutions to typical problems and hidden settings, which even the official guides do not speak about.

It's important to understand that the connection process depends not only on the bracelet model, but also on the firmware version, the smartphone operating system, and even regional settings. For example, users in Russia may face restrictions when using the Chinese version of Mi Fit, and iPhone owners may face problems synchronizing notifications. We took all these nuances into account and prepared a universal guide that will help even if standard methods do not work.

Preparing for connection: what to do before synchronization

Before you start pairing the Mi Band 4 with your phone, follow a few mandatory steps, and ignoring them is the main cause of 70% of connection errors.

First, check the compatibility of your smartphone:

• 📱 Android: version 5.0 and higher, with Bluetooth 4.0 (or higher) support. On older devices (e.g. Redmi) 3S) There may be problems with sustainable synchronization.
• 🍎 iOS: iPhone 5S or newer with iOS 10.0+. On iPad, sync is possible, but notifications won’t work.
• 🚫 Incompatible devices: phones without Google Play Services (such as some Chinese brands) or custom firmware require additional manipulation.

Second, update the bracelet firmware to the latest version. Even if the Mi Band 4 is new, factory firmware is often outdated. → Firmware updates.Bracelets with firmware below 1.0.9.54 may not support Russian in the menu.

Download the official Mi Fit app (not Mi Wear!)

Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone

Charge the bracelet to at least 20%

Make sure your phone has enough free memory (100)+ MB)

Turn off VPN and energy saving modes

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Finally, choose the right app: the official software for the Mi Band 4 is Mi Fit (not to be confused with Mi Wear or Zepp, which are intended for other Xiaomi models).

• 🤖 Android: Google Play or AppGallery for Huawei).
• 🍏 iOS: App Store. versions from third-party stores may contain viruses.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously used a different brand of bracelet (e.g. Honor Band or Huawei Band), remove the relevant apps (Huawei Health, Honor Health, etc.) that may conflict with Mi Fit and block the connection.

Step-by-step: how to connect Mi Band 4 to Android

The sync process with Android devices usually goes smoothly, but there are a few critical points that are often overlooked.

Step 1. Activate the bracelet. Press the Mi Band 4 touch button (round touchpad below the screen) and hold for 3 seconds until the vibration and the Mi logo appear. This signals the device to turn on. If the screen does not respond, check the charge: Connect the bracelet to the charger (magnetic connector must be pulled automatically) charging up to 5% takes ~10 minutes.

Step 2. Launch Mi Fit. Open the application and click "Add device" (Icon"+" In the list, select "Brecelet" →"Mi Smart Band 4" If this model is not listed, upgrade to the latest version of the Mi Fit or reinstall it.

Step. 3. Bluetooth interface. The app will offer you to turn on Bluetooth and provide access to geodata (required for the pedometer to work correctly). Press "Connect" and wait for the paired code to appear on the bracelet screen (4-6 Enter it in the app if the code doesn't appear:

• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (hold the 10 seconds button until double vibration).
• 📱 Restart Bluetooth on your phone (turn off/on in settings).
• 🚫 Make sure the bracelet is not connected to another device (e.g., a tablet).

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If Mi Fit doesn’t see the bracelet, try disabling Developer Mode in Android settings (if it’s enabled), a feature that sometimes blocks new Bluetooth devices from being detected.

Step. 4. Setting up a profile. Once you're connected successfully, the app will ask you to enter your personal data: gender, age, weight and activity purpose, these parameters affect your calorie intake and your sleep recommendations. Fill them in as accurately as possible. 10 If the weight is less than real, the bracelet will underestimate the data on calories burned on the body. 15-20%.

Step. 5. Update the firmware. Immediately after connecting, Mi Fit will offer to update the firmware of the bracelet. Don't refuse - new versions fix synchronization errors and add features (for example, support for the new version). SpO₂ — It's gonna take a while to get the oxygen in the blood. 5-10 You can't interrupt the process, it can lead to a "brick" of the bracelet).

Android smartphone (Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor, etc.)

iPhone (iOS)

Tablet (Android/iPad)

Other (specify in the comments)-->

Synchronization with iPhone: features and limitations

Connecting the Mi Band 4 to the iPhone has several key differences from Android, related to Apple’s policy: the main limitation is the lack of support for notifications from third-party applications (for example, Vkontakte or Telegram, SMS calendar.

Step 1: Set up Bluetooth on your iPhone. Go to Settings before connecting → Bluetooth and make sure the feature is enabled. Unlike Android, you don't have to pre-forget old devices on iOS, it manages the connection priorities.

Step 2. Permissions for Mi Fit. When you first start the application, give access to:

• 📍 Geolocation (necessary for the correct operation of the pedometer).
• 📞 Notifications (to make the bracelet vibrate when calling).
• 💾 Photo (if you plan to use an avatar in your profile).

Without these permissions, the Mi Band 4 will be limited to the operating system.

Step 3. Device pairing. In Mi Fit, click Add Device and select Mi Smart Band 4. On iPhone, the pairing code may not appear on the bracelet screen — instead, it will appear in the app. Enter it and wait for confirmation.

⚠️ Attention: On iOS 16+ When the bracelet is connected, a system notification may appear: "Mi Fit wants to use Bluetooth to connect to devices on the local network." Allow this access, otherwise the data synchronization will be interrupted every time. 5-10 minute.

Step 4: Set up notifications. Go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications and enable options:

• 📞 Incoming calls (the bracelet will vibrate and show the number).
• 💬 Communications (only) SMS iMessage).
• 📅 Calendar (reminders of events).

For other messengers (WhatsApp, Viber) notifications come only if they are duplicated through the SMS (setting up in the messenger application itself).

Setup of the bracelet after connecting: what to do first

Successful synchronization is only half the battle, so to make the Mi Band 4 work as efficiently as possible, just do the basic setup right after you connect.

1. Selection of dial: The standard dial displays the time, steps and battery charge, but you can set alternatives:

• 🌈 Colored themes: in Mi Fit go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Dials. Free options are updated once a month.
• ⚙️ Custom dials: Download.bin files from sites like AmazonFit and download them via Mi Fit ("More" section").
• 🔋 Economy mode: dials with minimal animation (e.g., "Classic") extend autonomy by 2-3 day-day.

Activation of sensors. By default, only the pedometer and the pulsemeter are turned on.

1. Open Profile. → Mi Smart Band 4 → Monitor your heart rate and select Auto mode (measurement every 30 minutes) or Manual mode".
2. Turn on "Sleep Monitoring" (See "Sleep") to track the phases of deep and superficial sleep.
3. Activate the Smart Alarm – it will wake you up in the optimal sleep phase 30 minutes before the set time.

Notifications personalization: On Android, you can set the vibration for individual applications:

• 📱 Go to Profile. → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications of annexes.
• 🔍 Select messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) and turn on the option “Show content” to display text messages.
• 🔕 Set up "Silent Mode" on a schedule (for example, during sleep).

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The more often the bracelet syncs with the phone (defaulting every 30 minutes), the faster the battery drains, the optimal interval for balancing autonomy and data accuracy is 1 hour.

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even with the right connection, users are experiencing Mi Band 4 malfunctions, and we’ve collected typical issues and proven ways to fix them.

1. The bracelet is not synchronized with the phone:

• 🔄 Restart Bluetooth on your phone and bracelet (hold the 10 sec button).
• 📱 Clear the Mi Fit cache (Phone Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fit → Memory. → Clear the cache).
• 🔌 Check the energy saving: Xiaomi/Redmi Add Mi Fit to exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).
• 🌍 Change region in Mi Fit: go to profile, click on country and select "Russia" (if China is, synchronization may be blocked).

The bracelet discharges quickly:

• 🔋 Turn off constant pulse monitoring (leave only manual mode).
• 📴 Reduce the synchronization frequency to 1 time per hour (Profile) → Mi Smart Band 4 → Autosynchronization).
• 🌙 Use dark dials (AMOLED-Mi Band 4 screen consumes less energy on a black background).
• 🚫 Disable notifications from unnecessary applications.

Normal charge flow rate — 5-7% If the bracelet sits on the day. 20%+ Overnight, the battery is likely to be malfunctioning.

3. The pulsemeter or pedometer is not working:

• 🩺 Check the density of the fit: the pulse sensor on the back should touch the skin. 2-3 wrist-wise.
• 🔄 Update the firmware through Mi Fit (older versions have sensor failures).
• 🧘 Reset the pedometer calibration: walk 20 steps, then go to Profile in Mi Fit → Settings → Resetting the steps.
• 🩹 Eliminate interference: Tattoos, scars, or hair on your arm can block the sensor.

The bracelet does not vibrate when notified:

• 🔔 Check the phone’s audio settings: notifications should be enabled for Mi Fit.
• 📵 Make sure the phone is not in silent mode (on Android, some manufacturers block the vibration of gadgets in this mode).
• 🔧 Reconnect the bracelet: remove it from Mi Fit and pair it again.

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If the bracelet has stopped responding to touch, try to "wake" it with a magnet from charging: bring the connector to the screen (without connecting to the screen). USB) And hold on for 3 seconds. That'll drop the hung touchpad.

How to Reset Mi Band 4 to Factory Settings

If the bracelet is unstable or you plan to sell it, perform a complete reset, which will delete all data (steps, sleep, settings) and return the device to the “out of the box” state.

Method 1: through the bracelet menu:

1. On the Mi Band 4 screen, swipe right to open the menu.
2. Select "Settings" (cog icon).
3. Scroll down to the "Reset" (circle arrow icon).
4. Confirm the action by clicking the tick. The bracelet vibrates and reboots.

Method 2: Hardware reset (if the screen is unresponsive):

1. Unplug the bracelet from the strap.
2. Find a small hole on the back that says "Reset."
3. Take a paperclip or toothpick and press inside the hole for 5 seconds until you feel the vibration.
4. Wait. 1-2 minutes - the bracelet will reboot and return to factory settings.

⚠️ Note: After resetting, the bracelet automatically untie from your Mi Fit account. To connect it again, you will have to go through the pairing process from scratch (see section 2 or 3). If you are selling a device, remember to also remove it from the list of devices in your Mi Fit account (Profile) → Mi Smart Band 4 → Remove the device).

What does Mi Band 4 know besides pedometer?

Many users use the Mi Band 4 only to track steps, without even knowing the device’s hidden capabilities. Consider the less obvious features that make the bracelet a true “Swiss knife” for health and productivity.

1. Music management:

• 🎵 On the bracelet screen, swipe left to the point "Music".
• 🔄 Here you can switch tracks (swipe up / down), adjust the volume (touching the speaker icon) and pause (tap in the center).
• 📱 It works with any player (Spotify, Apple Music, VK Music) if the phone is Bluetooth enabled.

2. Phone search:

• 🔍 In the bracelet menu, select "Search for the phone" (the icon of the smartphone with waves).
• 🔔 The phone will start ringing at maximum volume, even if there is a silent mode.
• 📍 The function works up to 10 meters (Bluetooth limit).

3. Stress control:

• 🧠 Enable stress monitoring in Mi Fit (profile) → Mi Smart Band 4 → Stress).
• 📊 The bracelet will analyze heart rate variability and assign stress levels from 1 (relaxed) to 100 (severe stress).
• 💆 Based on the data, the app will offer breathing exercises (5-minute sessions to normalize the pulse).

Smart reminders:

• 🚶"Reminder of inactivity": the bracelet vibrates if you sit still for more than 1 hour (configured in Mi Fit).
• 💧"Water Reminder: Notifications to drink water every 2 hours (interval adjusts).
• 🌞"Weather reminder: if you set your location in Mi Fit, the bracelet will show the forecast for the day on the first morning turn on.

5 Hidden Workouts: Mi Band 4 supports 6 workout modes, but only 3 of them are visible by default.

1. In Mi Fit go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Training regimens.
2. Add the desired activities (e.g., “Swimming” or “Bicycle”).
3. 🏊 When swimming, the bracelet automatically recognizes the style (brass, crawl) and counts the length of the pool (set it in advance in Mi Fit).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions