How to connect Xiaomi Smart Band 8 to a smartphone: instructions with photos and tips

Preparing for Connection: What You Need to Know Before Starting

The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 fitness bracelet became one of the most popular gadgets of 2023-2026 thanks to a combination of compact design, advanced health features and affordable price. However, even experienced users sometimes have difficulties with the first connection to the phone. In this article, we will discuss not only the standard synchronization procedure, but also hidden settings that will help to avoid typical errors.

Before you start, make sure your smartphone meets the minimum requirements. The bracelet is compatible with Android 6.0+ or iOS 12.0+ devices, but some features (such as quick notification response) may require a more recent version of the OS to work properly. Also check that Bluetooth and GeoData are enabled on the phone - without them, synchronization is impossible.

Important: Xiaomi Smart Band 8 uses Bluetooth 5.2 protocol, which provides a more stable connection, but can conflict with some older smartphones (for example, models from 2017-2018 on Qualcomm Snapdragon 4xx processors).If you have such a device, update the phone’s firmware to the latest version before connecting.

Step 1: Install and configure the Mi Fitness app

The official bracelet management app is called Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Band), which can be downloaded for free from Google Play or the App Store. Note that in some regions (e.g. Europe), Xiaomi Wear can be used instead of Mi Fitness, which is the same functionality, but the interface is slightly different.

After installation:

• 📱 Launch the application and select the language (Russian supported).
• 🔑 Sign up or sign in through your Xiaomi account (required! without it, the bracelet won't sync).
• 🛠️ Provide all the permissions requested: Access to Contacts, Notifications, Physical Activity and Geodata.
• ⚙️ In the Profile menu → Settings enable Automatic Synchronization option.

⚠️ Note: If you use an iPhone, after installing Mi Fitness, go to iOS Settings → Bluetooth and manually connect the device MI Band 8 (it will appear in the list after the bracelet is turned on) on Android, this step is not required.

Download Mi Fitness/Xiaomi Wear| Register Xiaomi | Enable Bluetooth and GeoData | Grant all permissions to app | Charge bracelet to at least 20%

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Step 2: Turning on the bracelet and finding the device

Before the first activation of the Xiaomi Smart Band 8, you need to charge at least 15-20%.

1. Connect the bracelet to the magnetic charging cable (comes with the kit).
2. Connect the cable to the power source (USB-port 5V/1A).
3. Wait for the battery icon to appear on the bracelet screen (usually takes 10-15 minutes).

After charging:

1. Press and hold the touch button of the bracelet for 3 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
2. In the Mi Fitness app, click Add Device (+ icon in the upper right corner).
3. Select from the list of Xiaomi Smart Band 8 and confirm the connection.

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet is not detected, try restarting it by holding the 10 seconds button until vibration. Also check that the phone has turned off power saving mode - it can block the Bluetooth scan.

Sleep monitoring|Stepper|Notifications|Pulse control|Managing music|Other-->

Step 3: Synchronization and initial setup

After a successful connection, the application will offer to update the firmware of the bracelet. We recommend that you agree - the new version corrects errors and adds new features (for example, gesture support or additional dials).

• 📶 Stable Internet connection (better via Wi-Fi).
• 🔋 Bracelet charge of at least 50%.
• 📱 Active Bluetooth connection (don’t move far from your phone).

After updating, set the main parameters:

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If after updating the firmware bracelet began to discharge quickly, reset it to factory settings through the profile of the device → Settings → Reset and repeat the synchronization.

Solving Typical Connection Problems

Even with the right actions, users sometimes encounter errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

1.The bracelet does not find the phone (or vice versa)

• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 📱 On your phone, turn off and turn on Bluetooth again.
• 🔧 In bracelet settings (Profile) → Settings → Disable) remove it from the list of devices and reconnect.

2. the Mi Fitness app gives an error "Can't connect"

• 🌐 Check your internet connection (required for first synchronization).
• 🔐 Make sure you’re logged in to the correct Xiaomi account (sometimes users confuse accounts).
• 📦 Reinstall the app by pre-clearing the cache in your phone settings.

3.The bracelet is connected but does not show notifications

• 📋 In your phone settings, check that Mi Fitness has access to notifications (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Notifications).
• 🔕 On Android, also enable the option to Show notifications on a locked screen.
• 🔄 In the Mi Fitness app, go to the Device Profile → Notifications and select the right messengers.

Additional settings for experienced users

After the basic setup, you can activate hidden functions that are not enabled by default:

1. Control gestures

In the menu Device Profile → Gestures are available options:

• 👋 Raising your hand to wake up – the screen turns on when you move.
• 🎵 Music management – skipping tracks by double pressing.
• 📸 Remote camera shutter – bracelet can serve as a trigger button for a smartphone.

2. Customization of dials

By default, 5-7 dials are available, but they can be expanded:

1. In the app, go to Profile → Dials.
2. Click Get More – a store will open with free and paid options.
3. To install, select your favorite dial and click Sync.

3. Optimization of battery consumption

To keep the bracelet working longer:

• ⚡ Turn off the constant pulse (if monitoring is not required) 24/7).
• 🌙 Set a Dark Theme for AMOLED-screen.
• 🔔 Turn off vibrations for unnecessary notifications (e.g., from social media).

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For maximum autonomy (up to 16 days), turn off all background measurements except the pedometer and use the minimum brightness of the screen.

Compatibility with other devices and services

Xiaomi Smart Band 8 can integrate not only with smartphones, but also with other ecosystems.

1. synchronization with Google Fit and Apple Health

To automatically transmit step, sleep and pulse data to standard health applications:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Settings → Data Synchronization.
2. Select Google Fit (for Android) or Apple Health (for iOS).
3. Log in and allow access.

2. Connect to Xiaomi Home for a Smart Home

The bracelet can serve as a control panel for Xiaomi devices (lamps, sockets, robot vacuum cleaners):

• 🏠 Install the Mi Home app.
• 🔗 In the bracelet settings, activate the Smart Home option.
• 💡 Now, double-pressing the bracelet can turn on/off the tied devices.

3.Use with Strava and other fitness apps

To transfer training data to Strava, Endomondo or MyFitnessPal:

1. In Mi Fitness, export data to GPX or TCX format.
2. Import the file to the target application.
3. Or use connector services like SyncMyTracks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Smart Band 8