How to connect Xiaomi Mi Band 4 to a smartphone: instructions with pictures and tips

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular gadgets for monitoring activity even years after its release, its simplicity, long autonomy and rich functionality (from pedometer to notifications) attract users, but many face difficulties when connecting to a smartphone for the first time – especially if it is a transition from Android to iOS or vice versa, using informal firmware or Chinese versions of the application.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions that take into account all the nuances from installing Mi Fit to solving typical errors like “does not see the bracelet” or “the connection is constantly broken.” We will also reveal hidden settings of the Mi Band 4, which Xiaomi does not advertise in the official documentation – for example, how to turn on the weather display or adjust the vibration for specific contacts.

If you've tried to plug in the bracelet and you've encountered a problem, skip the basic steps and go straight to Troubleshooting. For beginners, we've prepared visual tips and checklists to make sure the process takes no more than 5 minutes.

Requirements for a smartphone and bracelet before connecting

Before you start syncing, make sure your device meets the minimum requirements.The Mi Band 4 is compatible with most modern smartphones, but there are nuances:

✅ Operating system:

• 📱 Android: Version 5.0 and higher (Recommended 6.0)+). On older versions (4.4 and below), Mi Fit may not be installed or may work with errors.
• 🍎 iOS: iPhone with iOS version 10.0 or later. For iPad, connection is possible, but not officially supported by Xiaomi.

✅ Hardware requirements:

• 🔵 Bluetooth: Module 4.0 or higher (BLE — Low Energy. Check in the phone settings: Settings → The phone. → Bluetooth version.
• 📶 Internet: to download Mi Fit and update the bracelet firmware will require a stable connection (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔋 Bracelet charge: Mi Band 4 battery level should be at least 20.

⚠️

If you use custom firmware on Android (like LineageOS), check compatibility with Mi Fit. Some builds block background processes, which will shut down the bracelet after 10-15 minutes.

🔹 Additional conditions for the Chinese version of the bracelet: Mi Band 4 for the Chinese market (marked with the name of the bracelet) XMSH08HM) requires registration in Mi Account with reference to the phone number +Without this, some features (such as Mi Pay) will not be available".

💡

Before connecting, reboot your smartphone. This will clear the Bluetooth cache and reduce the risk of synchronization errors.

Installation and configuration of the Mi Fit application

Mi Fit is Xiaomi's official fitness management app, which is free to download, but there are regional restrictions. Let's take Android and iOS separately.

📌 For Android:

1. Open the Google Play Store and type in “Mi Fit” search.
2. Make sure the developer is Xiaomi Inc. (there are clones with viruses!).
3. Click "Install" and wait for the download to be completed.
4. After installation, open the application and allow all requests: access to contacts, geodata, notifications.

📌 For iOS (iPhone):

1. Go to the App Store and find Mi Fit.
2. Check that the app is optimized for your iPhone model (the description indicates supported devices).
3. Click Download and confirm installation via Face ID/Touch ID.
4. After launch, allow access to Bluetooth, HealthKit, and Notifications.

⚠️

If you are in China, download Mi Fit only from official sources (e.g. Xiaomi App Store) and third-party versions may contain spyware.

🔹 Alternative methods of installation:

• 🌐 If Mi Fit is not available in your area, download APK from the official Xiaomi website: https://app.mi.com/global (section").
• 🔄 For jailbreak iPhones, you can install Mi Fit via AltStore or Sideloadly if the app is blocked in your country.

Once installed, the app will suggest you create a Xiaomi account or log in through an existing one. If you don't already have an account, register with an email or phone number. Without an account, you won't be able to sync data to the cloud and use features like "Bracelet Search."

Download Mi Fit from the official store|Registering a Xiaomi account|Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone|Charge the bracelet to 50%+|Allow all access requests to Mi Fit-->

Connecting Mi Band 4 to the phone

Now, to the most important thing, synchronize your bracelet with your smartphone, follow the instructions carefully to avoid common mistakes.

🔘 Step 1: Activate Bluetooth and start Mi Fit

• 🔵 Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone: on Android – swipe down and tap on the icon, on iOS – Settings → Bluetooth.
• 📱 Open Mi Fit and click "Add Device" (Icon "+" top-right).
• 🔍 In the list of devices, select "Brecelet" → "Mi Smart Band 4".

🔘 Step 2: Preparation of the bracelet

• 🔋 Make sure that the Mi Band 4 is charged (the indicator burns when connected to the charger).
• 🔄 If the bracelet has already been connected to another phone, reset it: press the touch button for 10 seconds until the vibration appears.
• 📶 Place the bracelet next to the smartphone (at a distance of no more than 10 cm).

🔘 Step 3: Synchronize devices

• 🔍 In Mi Fit, click "Start Search." The app will start scanning the nearest devices.
• 📌 When your Mi Band 4 appears on the list (the name will be in Mi Band format) XXXX), tap him.
• 🔐 Confirm the pairing on your smartphone (entry may be required) PIN-code - by default 0000 or 1234).
• ✅ Wait for the message "Device connected." The bracelet vibrates once.

🔘 Step 4: Set up the main parameters

• 👤 Enter your data: sex, age, weight, height (this is necessary for accurate calorie counting).
• ⏰ Set up alarm clocks and activity goals (steps, sleep, pulse).
• 🔔 Allow notifications for calls and messages (in Bracelet Settings) → Notifications).

⚠️

If the bracelet does not display time or date after you connect, check the automatic sync settings in Mi Fit: Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Synchronize data. Enable the option "Autosynchronization".

📊 Table: Frequent Connection Errors and Their Solutions

💡

If the Mi Band 4 doesn’t connect the first time, try rebooting your smartphone and bracelet (press the button for 5 seconds). 80% of the time, this solves the problem.

Features of connecting the Chinese version of Mi Band 4

Chinese version of Mi Band 4 (model) XMSH08HM) There are a number of restrictions associated with Xiaomi’s regional settings, and if you bought the bracelet in China or on AliExpress, you’ll probably encounter the following nuances:

🔴 Problems with the Chinese version:

• 📵 Accounts blocked: without a Chinese phone number (+86) Mi Pay and certain health functions cannot be linked.
• 🌐 Limited language: the default interface is in Chinese, and Mi Fit may not display Russian/English.
• 🔄 Firmware updates: Chinese bracelets get updates later than global versions (sometimes with a delay of 1-2 months).

🟢 How to get around restrictions:

1. Change your account region: If you already have a Xiaomi account, change your region to Russia or Singapore in your profile settings.
2. Use of alternative firmware: Using the Mi Band utility 4 Tools (available on GitHub) can be flashed to a global version. Risk! Wrong firmware can brick a device. How to flash Mi Band 4 global? 1. Download the Mi Band 4 Tools with GitHub (check reviews!). 2. Connect the bracelet to the PC via Bluetooth adapter. 3. Select a firmware file for your model (for example, XMSH08HM_ru.fw). 4. Follow the instructions of the program. Do not turn off the bracelet during the process!
3. VPN For updates: If Mi Fit can’t download the firmware, connect to the VPN It's a server in Singapore or Hong Kong, and it often solves the problem.

⚠️

Attention! Firmware bracelet through third-party utilities is not warranty. If you are not sure about your skills, better use the Chinese version of "as is" or buy a global model (XMSH09HM).

Set up Mi Band 4 after connecting

Once synchronized successfully, you can customize the bracelet to suit your needs. Mi Band 4 supports customization of dials, notifications and even control gestures.

🎨 Change of dial:

• 🖼️ In Mi Fit go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Dials.
• 🔍 Choose your favorite design from the collection (there are animated options).
• 💰 Some dials are paid (cost) ~1–3$). Free updates are made once a month.

🔔 Notifications and vibrations:

• 📱 Enable the "Notifications" option in the bracelet settings.
• 🔕 Select applications that will be duplicated on the bracelet (WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS etc.).
• 🔊 Set up vibration intensity (weak/strong) and repeat reminders.

🏃 Health and activity functions:

• ❤️ Turn on pulse monitoring (automatically every 30 minutes or manually).
• 😴 Activate sleep tracking (the bracelet itself determines the phases of deep / light sleep).
• 🚶 Set a daily goal by steps (8000–10,000 recommended).

🔧 Hidden functions:

• 🔍 Phone search: double-press the bracelet and the smartphone will sound (if lost in the house).
• 🔋 Battery savings: Turn off automatic pulse monitoring if autonomy is more important than accuracy.
• 🌧️ Weather: in some firmware you can output a forecast on the dial (requires synchronization with Mi Fit).

📌 Autonomous tip: Mi Band 4 holds charge for up to 20 days under standard settings:

• 🔕 Turn off constant pulse monitoring (leave only manual measurements).
• 📵 Reduce the brightness of the screen to 50%.
• 🔔 Disable notifications from unnecessary applications.

💡

If the bracelet starts to discharge quickly, check if background sync with Google Fit or Apple Health is running. Turn it off in the Mi Fit settings.

Troubleshooting: Bracelet fails to connect or works incorrectly

Even when you're fine-tuned, you can have problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them.

🔴 Problem 1: Mi Fit can't see the bracelet

• 🔵 Make sure Bluetooth is on and the bracelet is charged.
• 📱 Reboot your smartphone and bracelet (press the button for 5 seconds).
• 🔄 In Mi Fit, click "Update the list of devices".
• 🚫 If nothing helps, remove the bracelet from the Bluetooth device list in your phone’s settings and reconnect.

🔴 Problem 2: The connection is constantly breaking.

• 🔋 Check the bracelet charge (below 15% - connection unstable).
• 📵 Turn off Battery Savings mode on your smartphone (it can block background Mi Fit work).
• 🔄 In Android settings, add Mi Fit to optimization exceptions: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Mi Fit → Not optimize.

🔴 Problem 3: Notifications are not received

• 🔔 In Mi Fit, check if notifications are included for the right apps.
• 📱 On Android: Settings → Annexes → Mi Fit → Notifications → Permission.
• 🍎 On iOS: Settings → Notifications → Mi Fit → Allow alerts.
• 🔄 Reconnect the bracelet: Remove it in Mi Fit and add it again.

🔴 Problem 4: The bracelet doesn't vibrate when notified

• 🔊 In Mi Fit, check the vibration settings: Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications → Vibration.
• 🔕 Make sure the bracelet does not turn on "Do Not Disturb" (tap the screen three times to check the screen).
• 🔄 Reset the bracelet settings to factory (in Mi Fit: More) → Drop it).

🔴 Problem 5: Mismapping steps or pulse

• ❤️ Make sure the bracelet fits tightly to the wrist (gap 1-2 mm).
• 🚶 Reset activity data in Mi Fit: Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Reset the data.
• 🔄 Update the bracelet firmware (if a new version is available).

⚠️

Attention! If the bracelet stops working after the firmware update (it doesn't turn on, it doesn't vibrate), do a hard reset: Connect the bracelet to charging. Press the touch button for 20 to 30 seconds until the vibration appears. Disconnect from charging and reconnect to the phone. This method works in 90% of bricking cases after a failed update.

Alternative applications for Mi Band 4

The official Mi Fit app doesn’t always suit users because of limited settings or regional locks, and fortunately there are more advanced options.

📌 1. Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (Android)

• ✅ Support for custom dials (more than 1000 designs).
• ✅ Flexible notification setting (keyword filtering).
• ✅ Automatic sync with Google Fit, Strava, Apple Health.
• ❌ Disadvantages: Some functions are paid (subscription) ~2$ monthly).

📌 2. Mi Band Master (Android/iOS)

• ✅ Advanced vibration settings (different call patterns)/SMS).
• ✅ Export of data to CSV for analysis in Excel.
• ✅ Support for informal firmware.
• ❌ Disadvantage: interface in English, no Russian language.

📌 3. Tools & Mi Band (Android only)

• ✅ Editor of dials (you can create your own designs).
• ✅ Customize gestures (for example, shake to turn on the flashlight).
• ✅ Locking the screen when removing the bracelet from the hand.
• ❌ Cons: a complex interface for beginners.

⚠️

Warning! When using third-party apps, turn off automatic sync in Mi Fit to avoid data conflicts, and be careful with firmware from unknown developers - they may contain malicious code.

🔹 How to Switch to an Alternative App:

1. Untie the bracelet in Mi Fit (Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Delete the device).
2. Install a new app (e.g. Notify & Fitness).
3. Follow the connection instructions (similar to Mi Fit).
4. Set up notifications and dials to your liking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)