Connecting smartwatches to Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: full instruction with solutions to problems

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 remains a popular smartphone even years after the release, and owners often face the need to connect to it smartwatches – whether it’s fitness tracker Mi Band, smart watch Amazfit GTS It would seem that the process should be intuitive, but in practice users face synchronization errors, problems with Bluetooth or application incompatibility.

In this article, we will analyze all the stages of connection - from preparing a smartphone to setting up notifications, as well as consider typical errors and ways to fix them. 8 (including versions MIUI 12/13/14), Because its firmware and hardware constraints can affect connection stability, and if you've tried to synchronize your watch before, but you've failed, here you'll find unique solutions for this model that are not in the standard instructions.

1. Preparation of the smartphone Redmi Note 8 to connect

Before you start syncing, make sure your Redmi Note 8 is ready to work with wearables.

• 📱 Android Version: Not Lower 9.0 Pie (on Redmi Note) 8 Android is installed out of the box 9 shelled MIUI 10/11). Check in Settings → The phone.
• 🔄 Software Updates: Install the latest security patches. Go to Settings → Updating the system.
• 📶 Bluetooth: Should support Bluetooth BLE 5.0 (Redmi Note 8 uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chip with this technology).
• 🔋 Battery charge: At least 50% on smartphones and watches. Low-charge connection may be interrupted.

Redmi Note 8 feature: some users face Bluetooth issues after upgrading to MIUI 12.5+. If you have errors when searching for devices, try resetting your network settings:

⚠️ Attention: Network reset will delete all saved Wi-Fi passwords and associated Bluetooth devices. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

It is also recommended to turn off the power saving mode for the watch app (more on this in the section on setting up notifications).If you are using Mi Band or Amazfit, download the official apps in advance:

• 🔗 Mi Fitness (for Mi Band)
• 🔗 Zepp (for Amazfit)
• 🔗 Huawei Health (for Huawei Watch)

2. Selection of the application for synchronization

Not all smartwatches are compatible with the Redmi Note 8 out of the box.For example, the Apple Watch is not officially supported, but for Wear. OS (For example, Fossil Gen 5 will require a separate Google Wear app. OS. Below is the compatibility table of popular models:

If your watch model is not listed in the table, check the official website of the manufacturer. For example, for Honor MagicWatch 2 you need to use Huawei Health, despite different brands. S1 Chinese market may require a Chinese account Mi Account.

For devices on Wear OS (For example, TicWatch Pro 3 will require additional setup of Google Play Services. Make sure that your Redmi Note 8 has updated them:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google Play Services and check the version (must be at least 22.30)+).
3. If there are no updates, download APK from the official APKMirror website.

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If you connect the watch to Wear OS, before synchronization, turn off VPN and clear the Google Play Services cache, which eliminates the "failed to connect to Google servers" error on the MIUI.

3. Step-by-step connection instruction

Consider the process using the Mi Band 7 example (for other models, the steps are similar to the application interface adjustment).

Turn Bluetooth on on the Redmi Note 8|Charge the Mi Band to 100%|Install the Mi Fitness app|Register a Xiaomi account (if not)|Allow all application requests (geodata, notifications)-->

Step 1: Activate Bluetooth and search for the device

1. Open Mi Fitness and click Add Device.
2. Select the Mi Smart Band 7 from the list.
3. Press Hide - the watch should appear in the list of available devices. If the Mi Band does not appear, reboot Bluetooth on the phone (Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth → Reset).

Step 2: Synchronizing accounts

The app will request a sign-in to Mi Account. If you don't have one, register via email or phone number. The Chinese versions of the Mi Band may require an account with China region, in which case use the Mi Unlock Tool service to change region.

Step 3: Set up notifications

After successful connection:

1. Go to the Device Profile → Notifications.
2. Turn on the Display Notifications switch.
3. Select apps that need to be duplicated by the clock (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram).
4. In Phone Settings → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Permissions enable Display over other windows and Auto Run.

For stable operation of notifications on Redmi Note 8 also need to:

• 🔋 Disable battery optimization for Mi Fitness (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Mi Fitness → No restrictions).
• 🔔 Enable auto-start the application (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Mi Fitness → Auto-start).

4. Solving common mistakes

Even with the right connection, Redmi Note 8 users may encounter problems.

🔴 Error: “Unable to connect to the device"

Causes and solutions:

• 📵 Bluetooth is unstable: on the Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 12.5+ may help to roll back MIUI 11 or use the Bluetooth Auto Connect module from Magisk.
• 🔄 Conflict with other devices: Remove all associated gadgets in Settings → Bluetooth and reconnect.
• 🔒 Limitations MIUI: Some firmware versions block the background of applications. Check the battery settings (see Section 3).

🟡 Error: “Notifications do not arrive at the clock"

Frequent problem on MIUI. Check it out:

1. Whether notifications for the watch application are included in Settings → Notifications → Mi Fitness.
2. Are there any restrictions on background activity (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).
3. Does Second Space block notifications (if you use them)?

⚠️ Attention: Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 13 may trigger a bug where notifications are duplicated with a delay of up to 10 minutes.

🟢 Error: “The clock discharges quickly after connection"

If the Mi Band or Amazfit discharge in 1-2 days instead of the declared 7-14:

• ⚡ Turn off constant heart rate monitoring in the clock settings.
• 📊 Reduce the frequency of data synchronization in the application (for example, once every 30 minutes instead of 5).
• 🔌 Check if the watch is warming up when charging – this may indicate a battery malfunction.

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If no solution worked, try connecting the watch to another phone (like a pure Android phone). If the problem persists, it's a malfunction in the watch itself, not in the Redmi Note 8.

5. Alternative ways of connecting

If the standard method does not work, you can use workarounds:

🔧 Connect via Notify & Fitness (for Mi Band)

This third-party app offers advanced features, but requires additional permissions:

1. Download Notify & Fitness from Google Play.
2. Connect the Mi Band through the original Mi Fitness app, then untie the device.
3. In Notify & Fitness, select Connect Mi Band and follow the instructions.

For full functionality (for example, answering calls) you will need to perform ADB-team:

adb shell pm grant com.mc.miband1 android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

Instructions for setting up ADB For the Redmi Note 8:

🖥️ Connect via Gadgetbridge (for open firmware)

If your Redmi Note 8 runs on custom firmware (like LineageOS), you can use Gadgetbridge’s open source software:

• 🔗 Download. APK official website.
• 🔄 Enable Developer Mode on the Watch (for Amazfit: Settings) → About the device → Press 5 times on the firmware number).
• 📱 Connect the watch through Gadgetbridge by manually selecting the model.

The advantage of this method is the lack of dependence on cloud services Xiaomi or Huami.

6. Optimization of smart watches with Redmi Note 8

To keep your watch running smoothly, follow these tips:

• 🔄 Regularly update the watch firmware: check for updates in the companion app (e.g. Zepp for Amazfit).
• 📵 Turn off Bluetooth when you are not using your watch: it saves your phone power.
• 🔋 Use the original charging cable: Unoriginal cables can damage the Mi Band or Amazfit battery.
• 🛡️ Set up screen locking: in Settings → Lock and protect add the watch to the list of trusted devices to unlock your phone.

For users of Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 12.5+ So the problem is that you automatically shut down Bluetooth in power-saving mode:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Energy Saving Mode.
2. Select No restrictions for the application of the watch.
3. Turn off the adaptive battery function (if it interferes with the work of gadgets).

If you use a watch to track your sleep, consider that you are MIUI It can trigger a background restriction, so that the data is synchronized correctly:

• 🔄 Enable Auto Sync in your account settings Mi/Xiaomi.
• 📊 In the application of the clock set the synchronization interval at least 1 time per hour.

7. Resetting and reconnecting the clock

If the watch has started to glitches (not synced, not showing notifications, quickly discharged), a complete reset may help.Instructions for Mi Band and Amazfit:

🔄 Resetting the Mi Band 5/6/7:

1. On the clock go to Settings → About the device → Reset.
2. Confirm the action by pressing the screen.
3. In the Mi Fitness app, delete the device (Profile) → Remove the device).
4. Repeat the connection process from scratch.

🔄 Amazfit reset GTS/GTR:

1. Go to Settings → System → Reset.
2. Choose Reset all settings.
3. In the Zepp app, remove the watch from the list of devices.

⚠️ Note: After resetting all data from the watch (steps, sleep history, workouts) will be deleted. If it is important, pre-export it in the application (for example, in Mi Fitness click Profile). → Export of data).

If the reset did not help, the problem may be:

• 📱 Phone firmware: on the Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 13 has Bluetooth bugs. Try rolling back on. MIUI 12.5.
• 🔋 Watch battery: If the watch runs out in a few hours, you may need to replace the battery.
• 🔌 Charging port: oxidation of contacts can lead to unstable operation.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)