Xiaomi Mi Band 3 remains one of the most popular fitness bracelets even years after its release, thanks to its reliability, long work time and wide functionality. However, many users have difficulties with the first connection of the device to a smartphone, especially if it is a used gadget or changing the phone. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of synchronization (including bypassing typical errors), and also tell you how to set up notifications, pedometer and pulsemeter after connection.
It’s important to consider that since 2023, the official Mi Fit app has been replaced by Zepp Life (formerly Amazfit), but Mi Band 3 is still supported in both apps, although the functionality in them is slightly different. We tested both options on Android 13/14 and iOS 16/17 – the instructions below are relevant for all modern versions of the OS.
1. Preparation of the bracelet and smartphone before connection
Before you start syncing, make sure your Mi Band 3 is ready to go.
- 🔋 Charging the bracelet: Connect the bracelet to the charger (magnetic connector) and wait for the charging indicator to appear on the screen. Minimum level for connection is 20%, but it is better to charge to 50%.
- 📱 Phone compatibility: Make sure your smartphone runs Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+. On older versions of the application may not be installed.
- 🌐 Internet connection: To download the application and synchronize data, you will need stable Wi-Fi or mobile Internet (3G/4G/5G).
- 🔄 Reset bracelet: If the Mi Band 3 was already in use, reset to factory settings (press the touch button for 10 seconds until vibration appears).
Also check if the phone is on:
- 📶 Bluetooth (required!)
- 📍 Geolocation (required for accurate weather display and some features)
- 🔔 Notifications for the Zepp application Life/Mi Fit (in the phone settings).
⚠️ Note: If you use an iPhone, turn off the “Tracking Limit” function in your privacy settings before connecting (Settings) → Confidentiality → Geolocation services → Otherwise, the bracelet will not be able to synchronize location data for weather.
2. App selection: Zepp Life vs Mi Fit - which is better for Mi Band 3?
Xiaomi has been gradually moving all wearable devices to the Zepp Life platform (formerly Amazfit) since 2023, but Mi Fit is still working with the Mi Band 3.
| Function | Zepp Life | Mi Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Support for Mi Band 3 | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. |
| Interface. | Modern, with an emphasis on health | Outdated but familiar |
| Synchronization of data | Faster, fewer mistakes. | Sometimes it hangs. |
| Notifications | Flexible customization for each application | Limited options |
| Firmware updates | ✅ Automatic. | ❌ Only manually. |
We recommend using Zepp Life for new users, as the app is being updated and offers more opportunities for health analysis, but if you want to use the familiar Mi Fit ecosystem (for example, to sync with Mi Home), you can stay on it. Both apps are free and available on the App Store and Google Play.
How do you know which app is already installed on the bracelet? When you connect to Zepp Life, the bracelet will suggest updating the firmware if you have previously used Mi Fit. That's fine - agree to an upgrade.
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If you already have one of the apps installed, be sure to delete the bracelet from your account in the first application before switching to another. Otherwise, synchronization conflicts may occur.
3. Step-by-step: how to connect Mi Band 3 via Zepp Life
Consider the connection process using the example of Zepp Life (for Mi Fit, the steps are similar, but with a different interface).
- Installation of the application: Download Zepp Life from the official store: 📱 Google Play (Android) 🍎 App Store (iOS)
Account registration
Xiaomi
Apple
Addition of a device
"Add device"
"Breasure"
"Mi Smart Band 3"
Bluetooth pairing
"Plug in."
Confirmation on the bracelet
Mi Band 3
Firmware update
Charge the bracelet to 50% |
Install Zepp Life/Mi Fit|
Enable Bluetooth and geolocation |
Reset the bracelet (if used)|
Register an account in the application-->
Once successfully connected, the bracelet vibrates, and the main menu with steps, pulse and sleep data will appear in the app. If the connection fails, go to the section "Prevalent Errors and Their Solutions".
⚠️ Note: If you use an iPhone, go to Settings after you connect. → Bluetooth and make sure the Mi Band 3 is displayed on the device list.Sometimes iOS automatically breaks the connection with "uncertified" gadgets.
4. Set up notifications, alarm clocks and other functions
Once you connect the Mi Band 3, you need to customize it to your needs.
Notifications from the phone
To receive alerts about calls and messages:
- In Zepp Life, go to Device Profile → Notifications.
- Turn on the "Notification" switch.
- Select the apps you want to see on your bracelet (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber).
- Set up the Notification Style (full text or app icon only).
Alarm clocks and reminders
The bracelet supports up to 10 alarm clocks and inactivity reminders:
- Go to the Device Profile → Alarm clocks.
- Click Add an alarm clock and set the time, days of the week and the type of vibration.
- For reminders of sedentary lifestyle, turn on the option “Movement reminder” (interval: 30-120 minutes).
Monitoring of sleep and pulse
By default, the bracelet automatically tracks sleep from 22:00 to 8:00 to change the schedule:
- Go to the device profile → Sleep monitoring.
- Set up Auto Tracking or turn on Manual Mode (for daytime sleep).
- For accurate pulse measurement, turn on "Continuous Monitoring" (but this will reduce the work time to 3-4 days).
How do you reset your steps?
5. Common Connection Errors and Their Solutions
If the Mi Band 3 is not connecting to your phone, check the following points:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The bracelet is not in the appendix | Bluetooth is disabled or the bracelet is discharged | Charge the bracelet, turn on Bluetooth and restart the application |
| The pairing code doesn't appear | Outdated bracelet firmware | Update your firmware via Mi Fit (if Zepp Life doesn’t offer an update) |
| Connection is terminated after synchronization | Conflict with another application (e.g. Mi Home) | Remove the bracelet from all Xiaomi apps and reconnect |
| The application freezes at the "Connection" stage | Incompatible version of the OS or account region | Try changing your account region to “China” or “Singapore” in your profile settings |
Specific errors for iOS:
- 🔄 "Unable to connect to device": Go to Settings → Zepp Life → Permits and enable "Local Networks".
- 📵 "Device not responding": Reboot iPhone and bracelet (press the button on the bracelet for 15 seconds).
Specific errors for Android:
- 🤖 "No Notification Rights: Find Zepp Life in your phone settings, open Notifications and allow access.
- 🔋 "Low charge" (at 30%): This is a false warning - ignore it or charge the bracelet to 50%.
⚠️ Note: If the bracelet was previously linked to another Xiaomi account, it must be untie via Settings → My devices are in my old account, otherwise the new connection will be impossible.
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If the bracelet doesn't connect despite all the effort, try using the Notify & Fitness for Mi Band alternative app (available on Google Play).It supports Mi Band 3 and often solves sync problems.
6.How to Update Firmware to Mi Band 3 in 2026
The firmware update fixes bugs, adds new features and improves stability. In Zepp Life, updates are automatically installed, but if you use Mi Fit, you'll have to do it manually.
Instructions for Zepp Life:
- Open the application and go to the Device Profile → Firmware Update.
- If a new version is available, click "Update".
- Wait for the process to be completed (the bracelet will reboot).
Instructions for Mi Fit (manual update):
- Download the latest firmware for Mi Band 3 from Xiaomi’s official website (select the “Mi Smart Band 3” model).
- Place the.fw file in the root folder of the phone.
- In Mi Fit, go to Profile → Firmware Update → Local Update and select the downloaded file.
Important:
- 🔋 Make sure the bracelet is 50 times charged%+ before updating.
- 📶 Do not interrupt the process – this can lead to a “brick” (breakdown) of the bracelet.
- ⏳ The update takes 3-7 minutes. If the process is delayed, reset the bracelet (press the button for 10 seconds).
What to do if the bracelet freezes after the update?
7. Alternative ways of connecting (without official applications)
If you can't connect through Zepp Life or Mi Fit, you can use third-party solutions.
Notify & Fitness for Mi Band
This app supports all the features of Mi Band 3, including:
- 🔔 Set up notifications for any application (including VK, Skype).
- 📊 Expanded statistics of sleep and pulse.
- 🔄 Manual control of vibration and screen.
How to connect:
- Remove Mi Band 3 from Zepp Life/Mi Fit.
- Install Notify & Fitness (Android only)
- Follow the instructions in the app (similar to the official synchronization).
Gadgetbridge connection (for advanced users)
Gadgetbridge is an open source application for wearable devices without Xiaomi cloud services, which is suitable if you do not want to register an account.
Instructions:
- Download Gadgetbridge (available for Android).
- Turn on Developer Mode on the bracelet (press the button for 5 seconds until the menu appears).
- In Gadgetbridge, select "Mi Band 3" and follow the Connection Wizard.
Limitations:
- ❌ No synchronization with Google Fit/Apple Health.
- ❌ Not all features (like weather) work without Xiaomi’s cloud.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party applications, disable automatic firmware updates in bracelet settings. Unofficial firmware can lead to unstable operation.