How to connect Xiaomi Smart Band to a smartphone: instructions for Mi Band 6, 7 and 8

Xiaomi Smart Band fitness bracelets (Mi Band 6/7/8) remain among the most popular wearables due to the combination of functionality and affordable price. However, new users often have difficulties with the first connection: the bracelet is not detected by the phone, the application does not see the device, or the pairing process is interrupted in half. In this article, we will analyze all the stages of connection from installing the application to setting up notifications, and also consider typical errors and their solutions.

It is important to understand that the connection process for the Mi Band 6, 7 and 8 models is almost identical, but there are nuances with support for operating systems. For example, the Mi Band 8 requires Android 7.0+ or iOS 12.0+, while the Mi Band 6 still works with Android 5.0. The application versions also differ: for new bracelets you need to use Mi Fitness (formerly Zepp Life), not the outdated Mi Fit.

If you've tried to plug in the bracelet and you've encountered an error, skip the basic steps and go straight to the Problem Solving section, which contains the actual troubleshooting methods, and for the rest, start with preparation.

Requirements for phone and bracelet before connection

Before pairing, make sure your device meets the minimum requirements, which will eliminate most problems during the connection phase.

For Android smartphones:

• 📱 OS version: Android 7.0 and higher (for Mi Band 8 - Android 8.0)+).
• 🔄 Bluetooth: version 4.2 or later (check in phone settings).
• 📶 Internet: stable Wi-Fi or mobile network connection for downloading an application.
• 🔋 Bracelet charge: at least 20% (at low charge connection may be interrupted).

For iPhone (iOS):

• 🍎 OS version: iOS 12.0 and higher.
• 🔵 Bluetooth: must be enabled in the “Settings» → Bluetooth.
• 📱 Permissions: Mi Fitness application needs to be given access to notifications and geolocation.

If your account is registered in China and the bracelet is intended for the global market (or vice versa), there may be problems with data synchronization, in which case you will need to change the region in your account settings or create a new one.

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware on your phone (like LineageOS), some of the bracelet features may not work properly due to lack of Google certificates.

Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application

The official Xiaomi Smart Band bracelet management app is Mi Fitness (formerly Zepp Life), which can be downloaded for free from Google Play or the App Store. Avoid third-party sources: fake versions of the app may contain malicious code.

Installation instructions:

1. Open the Google Play (Android) or App Store (iOS).
2. Type in Mi Fitness and select an app from developer Huami Inc.
3. Click “Install” and wait for the download to be completed.
4. Once installed, open the app and sign up (or sign in to an existing Xiaomi account).

If you already have an outdated Mi Fit app installed, you need to remove it, as it does not support new bracelet models. Data from Mi Fit can be transferred to Mi Fitness through the export profile (in account settings).

After you log in, you'll be asked to add a device, and at this point, it's important to choose the right bracelet model, for example, for the Mi Band 7, you'll need to choose the Mi Smart Band 7 instead of the Mi Band 6, even if they look similar.

⚠️ Note: On some Huawei or Honor phones, the Mi Fitness app may not see the bracelet due to manufacturer restrictions.In this case, try turning off Energy Saving for the app in your phone settings.

Step-by-step pairing the bracelet with the phone

Now, to the process of connection, make sure the bracelet is unlocked (if it's new, just tap the sensor). If the bracelet has already been used, reset to factory settings (instructions in the next section).

The interface algorithm:

1. Open the Mi Fitness app and click "+ Add Device".
2. Choose your bracelet model from the list (e.g. Mi Smart Band 8).
3. Click “Connect” and allow the app to access Bluetooth and geodata.
4. Wait for the phone to find the bracelet. The bracelet will have a 4-digit code on its screen.
5. Confirm the code in the application (it must match the code on the bracelet).
6. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 2 minutes).

If the bracelet is not detected, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off/on).
• 📱 Re-launch the Mi Fitness app.
• 🔋 Remove the bracelet from the charger (sometimes the connection is blocked during charging).

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If the bracelet is not visible in the list of devices, try to bring it as close to the phone as possible (5-10 cm) and repeat the search.

After successful pairing, the app will offer to update the firmware of the bracelet. Update is necessary for the correct operation of all functions, especially for models of the Mi Band 8 with support for Always-On Display.

Resetting the bracelet to factory settings

If the bracelet has already been connected to another phone or is not working properly, a hard reset may be required, which removes all data from the device, including notification settings and activity history.

Resetting methods:

• 📱 Through the app: Open Mi Fitness → Choose a bracelet → «Settings of the device. Scroll down and click "Untie the device." Confirm the action and wait until it's done.
• 🔧 Through the bracelet (hardware reset): On the bracelet, go to Settings (scroll the screen to the right to the icon). ⚙️). Select "Reset" (icon) 🔄) And you can confirm by tapping the sensor.

Once reset, the bracelet will automatically reboot (the Mi logo will appear on the screen) and can now be connected to a new phone as described in the previous section.

⚠️ Note: On Mi Band 6 and older models, the hardware reset may not work if the bracelet is discharged below 10.

Configure notifications and additional functions

Once connected, the bracelet will only show basic data (time, steps, pulse) and to activate notifications about calls, messages and other events, you need to configure them in the Mi Fitness app.

Instructions for setting up notifications:

1. In the application, select your bracelet → «Notifications».
2. Turn on the "Call Notifications" switch.
3. Click on Notification Management and select the apps you want to see alerts from (such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).
4. Set up the Notification Style (full text or app icon only).

Additional functions that should be activated:

For Mi Band 8 models, gesture settings (such as double tap for switching screens) and assistant voices (works only with Xiaomi or Google Assistant on Android) are available.

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To keep notifications steady, in your phone settings, turn off battery optimization for the Mi Fitness (Android) app or allow background work (iOS).

Solving Connection Problems

If the bracelet is not connected or is not working properly, check the following points:

Problem 1: The bracelet is not on the list of devices

• 🔌 Make sure the bracelet is charged (the charging indicator should flash when connected to the device). USB).
• 📵 Check that Bluetooth is on the phone and the bracelet is within a radius of 10 meters.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone and bracelet (to reboot the bracelet, hold the sensor pressed for 10 seconds).

Problem 2: Connection is terminated during synchronization

• 📱 Update the Mi Fitness app to the latest version.
• 🚫 Remove the bracelet from the list of conjugate devices in your phone’s Bluetooth settings and try to connect again.
• 🌐 If you use VPN Or proxies, disable them – they can block access to Xiaomi servers.

Problem 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 iPhone, additionally enable “Push notifications” for the app in Settings → Notifications.
• 🔄 Reconnect the bracelet (untie and tie again).

If none of these methods worked, try resetting the bracelet (the “Factory Reset” section) and reconnecting it. At the very least, contact Xiaomi for support through the Mi Fitness app (the “Help” section).

Optimization of the battery consumption of the bracelet

The life of Xiaomi Smart Band from one charge depends on the model and settings:

• 🔋 Mi Band 6: Up to 14 days in baseline mode, 5-7 days with active monitoring.
• 🔋 Mi Band 7/8: before 15 (a) days without always-on display, or 7 days (from Always-On).

To extend the working hours:

• ⏱️ Reduce the frequency of pulse measurement (in bracelet settings) → «Heart monitoring» → Choose 10 minutes instead of 1 minute).
• 🌙 Turn off Always-On Display if you don’t need it.
• 📵 Disable notifications from unnecessary applications.
• 🔕 Use the flight mode on the bracelet at night (slip down on the bracelet screen and select the ✈️).

Use the original cable (or certified analogue) to charge the bracelet; charging from powerful adapters (5V/2A) can shorten battery life; the optimal voltage is 5V/0.5A.

Frequent questions about Xiaomi Smart Band