Connecting your phone to the Xiaomi Watch 4: full instructions with solutions to typical errors

The Xiaomi Watch 4 became one of the most popular wearables of 2023-2026 thanks to a combination of stylish design, advanced health features and affordable price. However, many users have difficulty connecting their watches to a smartphone for the first time, especially when it comes to switching from older models (Mi Band or Watch). S1). In this article, we will discuss all the ways of synchronization, including the nuances of working with Mi Fitness and Wear. OS, and solve typical problems such as the β€œfailed to connect” error or the lack of notifications.

Specifically, the Xiaomi Watch 4 supports two official phone communication apps, and the choice depends on the firmware version and the region of sale. It is important to understand that incorrect configuration at the initial stage can lead to the loss of some features (for example, the inability to install third-party dials or use Google Assistant).

If you’ve just unpacked the Xiaomi Watch 4 and want to set them up quickly, start with the β€œFast Connection in 5 Minutes” section. For power users who want to get a handle on the intricacies (like how to migrate data from an old watch or set up automatic workout sync), we’ve prepared advanced instructions with screenshots and explanations.

Fast connection in 5 minutes: minimal steps

If you need to sync your watch to your phone, follow this algorithm. It's suitable for most Android 8.0 smartphones.+ or iOS 12+ (restrictively).

1. Install the Mi Fitness app (for most regions) or Wear OS by Google (for global watches) Links to official stores:

  • πŸ“± Mi Fitness for Android
  • πŸ“± Mi Fitness for iOS
  • πŸ“± Wear OS Android

2. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and launch the app. in Mi Fitness, click Profile β†’ Add the device β†’ The clock β†’ Xiaomi Watch 4. In Wear. OS Select Set up a new clock.

3. Follow the instructions on the screen: the watch should appear in the list of available devices. If this does not happen, reboot the Xiaomi Watch 4 (press the power button for 10 seconds) and repeat the search.

Bluetooth enabled on your phone|The latest update to Mi has been installed Fitness/Wear OS|The clock is charged at least 50%|The distance between the phone and the clock is no more 1 square-->

4. Confirm pairing on both devices. Mi Fitness may need to enter PIN-code (usually 0000 or 1234), in Wear OS β€” agree to notification and geolocation permissions.

5. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (usually takes 2-5 minutes), and then the notification of the successful connection will appear on the clock.

⚠️ Note: If the watch is not specified in Mi Fitness, check the Xiaomi account region. For some countries (e.g. India) you need to use Wear OS Even on the Chinese version of the watch.

App selection: Mi Fitness vs Wear OS

Xiaomi Watch 4 is the first model of the company that officially supports Wear OS (This opens up access to Google Play, voice assistant and third-party apps, but creates confusion when choosing the software to connect to.

CriteriaMi FitnessWear OS by Google
Region of clocksChina, Russia, CISGlobal version (EUR, USA)
Health functionsFull support (HRC, SpOβ‚‚, stress)Limited (requires additional applications)
Third-party annexesNo.Yes (Google Play on the clock)
NotificationsSMS and calls onlyAll notifications (like on the phone)
Synchronization with iOSYes (limited)No.

How do you identify your firmware?

Go to the clock in Settings β†’ About the clock β†’ Software version. If there are letters in the firmware number CN (for example, 1.2.3.CN) β€” You have a Chinese version, and you need to use Mi Fitness. EUR β€” Wear's fine. OS.

Can I switch between applications?

Technically yes, but it requires a complete clock reset (Settings) β†’ System system β†’ After resetting, you can choose another app when you reconnect.However, note that your workout and health data will be deleted from the clock (but will remain in the Xiaomi cloud if sync is enabled).

Mi Fitness|Wear OS by Google|I tried both.|Not yet plugged in.-->

Connection through Mi Fitness: step-by-step instructions

This method is suitable for most users in Russia and the CIS. Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit) is optimized to work with the Xiaomi ecosystem and provides maximum functionality for health monitoring.

1. Create or sign in to a Xiaomi account:

    2. Add the watch to the appendix:

    • πŸ“² Open Mi Fitness and click on the profile icon in the upper right corner.
    • πŸ” Select Add the device β†’ The clock β†’ Xiaomi Watch 4.
    • πŸ“± Allow the application to access notifications, geolocation and contacts (this is necessary for the correct operation of calls and contacts). SMS).

    3. Set up the main parameters:

    • βš™οΈ In Device Management, activate: – Automatic Data Sync (every 30 minutes) – Call Notifications and SMS β€” Sleep tracking (recommended to enable Smart mode to save battery life)
    • πŸ”‹ Enable Fast Charging (if supported by your charger model).

    4. Update the firmware of the watch (if available):

    • πŸ”„ Go to the Device Profile β†’ Update of the PO.
    • ⚠️ Do not interrupt the upgrade process - this can lead to a breeze (inoperability) of the watch.
    What to do if the update is suspended?
    If the update progress has stopped at 0% or 100% for more than 10 minutes: 1. Reset the watch (press the power button for 15 seconds). 2. Remove the watch from Mi Fitness and add again. 3. Check the stability of the Internet connection (better use Wi-Fi). If the problem recurs, reset the clock to factory settings (Settings) β†’ System system β†’ Reset).

    5. Personalize the watch:

    • 🎨 Set the dial: in Mi Fitness go to Dials β†’ Shop (there are free and paid options).
    • πŸƒ Set up activity tracking: add sports to your workouts β†’ My sports.

    ⚠️ Note: If your Mi Fitness does not display pulse or oxygen levels after you connect, check the resolution settings on your watch: β†’ Annexes β†’ Mi Fitness β†’ Permissions (must be included Body Sensors and Physical Activity).

    Connection via Wear OS: empowerment

    Wear OS Google allows you to turn the Xiaomi Watch 4 into a full-fledged smart device with support for Google Assistant, Google Pay and installing apps directly on the clock.

    1. Check compatibility:

      2.Install and configure Wear OS:

      • πŸ“₯ Download Wear OS by Google.
      • πŸ”— Launch the app and select Set up a new clock β†’ Xiaomi Watch 4.
      • πŸ”„ Wait for the synchronization to be completed (may take up to 10 minutes).

      3. Set up Google Services:

      • πŸ—£οΈ Activate Google Assistant: Go to Settings on the clock β†’ Google β†’ Assistant and follow the instructions.
      • πŸ’³ Add a card to Google Pay: Open the Google Wallet app on your watch and link your bank card.
      • πŸ“¦ Install additional apps: Open the Play Store on your watch and download, for example, Spotify, Telegram or Strava.

      4. optimize the battery performance:

      • πŸ”‹ Turn on Power Saving Mode in the clock settings (disables the background activity of applications).
      • ⏱️ Set the screen time to always be on (we recommend only when raising your hand).

      πŸ’‘

      If you have connected to Wear OS The clock is rapidly discharged, turn off automatic synchronization of unnecessary applications. β†’ Annexes β†’ Auto sync and leave only critical services (e.g. Google Fit and Weather).

      5. Solve notification issues:

      • πŸ”” If notifications do not arrive, check the settings on your phone: Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Wear OS β†’ Notifications (should be included).
      • πŸ“΅ On the clock, open Settings. β†’ Connections β†’ Notifications and make sure to include Show Notifications.

      ⚠️ Attention: When using Wear OS Some Xiaomi features (such as Mi Band-compatible dials or Chinese health services) may become unavailable.

      How to update the firmware on Xiaomi Watch 4

      Regular firmware updates fix bugs, add new features and improve stability. Xiaomi Watch 4 gets updates both through Mi Fitness and through Wear OS, But the process is different.

      Update via Mi Fitness:

      1. Open the app and go to the watch profile.
      2. Press Software Update.
      3. If a new version is available, click Download and Install.
      4. Wait until the clock is finished (the clock will reset automatically).

      Update via Wear OS:

      1. On the clock, open Settings. β†’ System system β†’ Updating the system.
      2. If there is an update, click Download.
      3. After downloading, select Install and Reboot.

      What to do if the update is not available?

      • πŸ”Œ Make sure your watch is connected to Wi-Fi (not just your Bluetooth phone).
      • πŸ“Ά Check if your phone is on mobile internet or Wi-Fi.
      • ⏳ Wait 24 hours – sometimes updates are delayed for different regions.

      πŸ’‘

      If the watch starts to glitches after the firmware update (for example, does not respond to touch or quickly discharges), reset to factory settings. This will solve most software problems.

      Solving Typical Connection Problems

      Even if you follow instructions correctly, users often encounter errors, and we've collected the most common problems and ways to solve them.

      1.The watch is not on the device list

      • πŸ”„ Restart the clock and phone.
      • πŸ“± Remove the Mi app cache Fitness/Wear OS (Android: Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Warehouse β†’ Clear the cache).
      • πŸ”— Try connecting via another app (for example, if Mi Fitness doesn't work, try Wear). OS, vice versa).

      2. "Unable to connect" error

      • πŸ“Ά Turn it off. VPN or the flight mode on the phone.
      • πŸ”’ Make sure the screen is unlocked on the watch (sometimes the lock interferes with pairing).
      • πŸ”„ Reset network settings on the clock: Settings β†’ System system β†’ Resetting the network.

      3. Notifications don't come in on the clock

      • πŸ”” Check on the phone what is for Mi Fitness/Wear OS Notifications allowed (Settings) β†’ Notifications β†’ Application authorizations).
      • πŸ“΅ On the clock, turn on Settings. β†’ Notifications β†’ Showing notifications.
      • πŸ”• For Wear. OS Set up synchronization in Settings β†’ Connections β†’ Bluetooth β†’ Settings (βš™οΈ) β†’ Notifications.

      4.The watch discharges quickly after being connected

      • πŸ”‹ Turn off the permanent pulsemeter (Settings) β†’ Health β†’ Heart rate β†’ Mode: Manual measurement).
      • ⏱️ Reduce the time of the active screen (Settings) β†’ Display. β†’ Time to shutdown).
      • πŸ“΄ Disable unnecessary notifications from apps (such as games or social media).

      5. Training data are not synchronized

      • πŸ”„ In Mi Fitness, check if automatic synchronization is enabled (Device Profile) β†’ Synchronization of data).
      • πŸ“Š For Wear. OS Install Google Fit and connect it to Mi Fitness in your account settings.
      • πŸ”— Reconnect the watch: remove it from the app and add it again.
      How to reset your watch if it is dependent on the connection?
      If the watch doesn’t respond to touch and doesn’t turn off: 1. Connect it to charge for 10 minutes (sometimes helps unlock). 2. Press the physical button for 20 to 30 seconds before vibration. 3. If it doesn’t work, use an emergency reset: connect the watch to charging and simultaneously press the button for 15 seconds (recovery menu will appear).

      Transfer data from old Xiaomi watches

      If you upgrade with Mi Band 7, Xiaomi Watch S1 Or another model, you can transfer your exercise history and your health data:

      1. synchronize data from the old clock:

      • πŸ“± Open Mi Fitness and wait for full sync (the cloud icon in your device profile should be green).
      • πŸ”„ If the data is not updated, manually start sync: pull down the device profile screen.

      2. Add a new watch:

      • πŸ”— In Mi Fitness, click Profile β†’ Add the device and select the Xiaomi Watch 4.
      • πŸ“‹ After connecting, all data from the Xiaomi account will automatically be pulled up to the new hours (training history, weight, activity goals).

      3. Move the dials (if possible):

      • 🎨 In Mi Fitness go to Dials β†’ My dials.
      • πŸ”„ Click on the dial from the old watch and select Apply on the Xiaomi Watch 4 (not working for all models).

      4. Set new goals:

      • πŸ† In the profile of the device, update daily goals (steps, calories, activity time) to suit your needs.
      • πŸ“Š Check that sleep and stress data are correctly displayed in Statistics β†’ Sleep/stress.

      ⚠️ Note: If you used third-party apps (like Notify & Fitness or Tools & Mi Band) for your old watch, your settings won’t change.

      FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi Watch 4

      Can I connect Xiaomi Watch 4 to my iPhone?
      Yes, but with limitations. You can use Mi Fitness for basic functionality (stepmeter, pulse, call notifications), but some features (like Google Assistant or installing apps through Wear). OS) Also, iOS does not synchronize notifications from third-party applications (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram).
      The watch is plugged in, but it doesn't show notifications. What do we do?
      The problem is usually related to phone settings: On Android: check out what for Mi Fitness/Wear OS Notifications included (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Notifications. On iOS: go to Settings β†’ Bluetooth, find the Xiaomi Watch 4 And turn on the Display Notifications. On the watch, make sure that in Settings β†’ Notifications included Show notifications. If the problem persists, reconnect the watch (remove it from the app and add it again).
      How to reset Xiaomi Watch 4 to factory settings?
      Follow the following steps: On the clock go to Settings β†’ System system β†’ Reset. Select Reset all data. Confirm action (may require input) PIN-Once the clock is rebooted, it will be like a new one, you have to reconnect it to the phone!
      Can you use both apps (Mi Fitness and Wear)? OS) simultaneously?
      No, it's going to lead to sync conflicts, and the watch can only work with one app at a time, if you want to switch from Mi Fitness to Wear. OS (or vice versa), first perform a factory reset of the clock, and then connect them through the new app.
      The watch is connected, but it doesn't update your health data. What's the matter?
      Possible causes and solutions: πŸ”‹ Low battery (less than 20%) – recharge your watch. πŸ“΅ Poor Bluetooth connection – reconnect the clock. βš™οΈ Automatic synchronization is disabled in Mi Fitness – turn it on in your device profile. πŸ”„ Outdated firmware β€” check for updates in the watch settings. If the problem persists, try removing the watch from the app and adding it again.