How to connect to Xiaomi fitness bracelet: full instructions for all models

The Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets remain among the most popular wearables due to the combination of affordable price, long battery life and wide functionality. However, many users have difficulties already at the first connection stage - the bracelet does not find the phone, the application gives errors, and data synchronization is incorrect. This article will help to understand all the nuances of pairing any Mi Band model (from Mi Band 3 to Mi Band 8) with Android and iOS devices, as well as solve typical problems.

We will look in detail at not only the standard connection procedure through the official Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit), but also alternative methods for older phone models, as well as recommendations for setting up notifications, pedometers and other functions.

Whether you’ve just unpacked the new Xiaomi Smart Band or are trying to reconnect your old bracelet to a new phone, this guide will save you time and nerves.All steps are illustrated with up-to-date screenshots and supplemented with tips from power users.

1.Preparation for connection: what to do before pairing

Before you start connecting, make sure that all the preconditions are met, which will save you most of the problems during the pairing phase.

Requirements for a smartphone:

• 📱 Android version 5.0 and higher or iOS 10.0 and later
• 🔋 Phone battery charge of at least 20% (Bluetooth errors can occur at low charge)
• 📶 Stable Internet connection (required to download the application and update the bracelet firmware)
• 🔄 Power saving and battery optimization modes disabled for Mi Fitness application

Bracelet requirements:

• 🔋 Battery charge of at least 50% (at a discharge below 15%, the pairing may be interrupted)
• 📦 Bracelet removed from packaging, protective film on charging contacts removed
• 🔄 If the bracelet has already been used, reset to factory settings (instruction below)

Pay special attention to your smartphone’s Bluetooth version. Mi Band 7/8 bracelets require Bluetooth 5.0 to work properly, and you can find out the version in your phone settings (Settings → Phone → Software Information) or through special applications like Bluetooth Checker.

2. Installation and configuration of the official Mi Fitness application

To connect the bracelet Xiaomi requires the official application Mi Fitness (formerly called Mi Fit).

• 🤖 For Android: Google Play or Huawei AppGallery
• 🍎 For iOS: App Store

Important: Do not use third-party APK- files or modified versions of the application - they may contain malicious code or do not support the latest models of bracelets. Also make sure that you have the latest version of the application installed (update it through the app store).

After installation, follow the following steps:

1. Open Mi Fitness and select the region of Russia (or your country).
2. Sign in through your Xiaomi, Google, Apple ID account or create a new profile.
3. Accept the terms of the user agreement and allow all requests to access: 📍 Geolocation (needed for jogging tracking) 📱 Notifications (to display incoming calls and messages) 📁 Warehouse (to back up data)

Profile → Add the device

Note for iOS users: On iPhone, after installing the application, you must manually enable Bluetooth access in your system settings (Settings → Mi Fitness → Bluetooth). It is also recommended to disable the Local Networks feature for this application if you are not using Xiaomi smart scales.

3. Step-by-step instructions for pairing the bracelet with the phone

When the app is ready, you can start plugging in the bracelet, and the procedure is slightly different depending on the Mi Band model, but the overall algorithm is as follows:

For the Mi Band 3/4/5:

1. Turn on the bracelet with a long press on the touch button (about 3 seconds).
2. In the Mi Fitness app, select Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 5 (or your model).
3. Press Hide and confirm the action on the bracelet (short press of the button).
4. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 2-3 minutes).

For the Mi Band 6/7/8:

1. Charge the bracelet to 100% and turn it on (on the Mi Band 8 – automatically when you connect charging).
2. In the app, select Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 7 Pro (or your model).
3. Scan the QR- code from the bracelet screen or enter the 6-digit code that appears on the display.
4. Confirm the pairing on the phone and bracelet (click the tick on the device screen).

Activity tracking

3. Security and unlocking of the phone

On Android devices, the Mi Band bracelet can unlock your phone without entering a password.

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Device Profile → Unlock your phone.
2. Follow the instructions on the screen (you will need to provide administrator rights of the device).
3. Set the range (by default 1 meter).

💡

If the unlock function of the phone does not work, check whether the Power Saving mode for the Mi Fitness application is turned off in the battery settings.

5. Solving common connection problems

Even if you do all the steps right, you can make mistakes, and let's look at the typical situations and the ways that you can solve them.

Problem 1: The bracelet is not in the app

• 🔌 Check that the bracelet is charged (the battery icon should be on the screen).
• 📱 Reboot phone and bracelet (for Mi Band 8: press the 15-second button until double vibration).
• 🔄 In your phone settings, remove the bracelet from the list of associated Bluetooth devices.
• 📲 Try connecting via another app (like Notify & Fitness for Mi Band for Android).

Problem 2: The connection is constantly breaking.

⚠️ Attention: On phones Xiaomi/Redmi shelled MIUI Aggressive battery optimization may work. To fix this, go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Mi Fitness → Battery and select No Limitations.

Problem 3: Notifications are not received

• 🔔 Check that Mi Fitness has enabled notifications for the right applications.
• 📵 Make sure the phone is not on Do Not Disturb mode.
• 🔄 Reconnect the bracelet (remove it to Mi Fitness and add it again).
• 📲 For iPhone: In your phone settings, go to Mi Fitness → Notifications and turn on the option to Show on the Lock screen.

Problem 4: The bracelet is not synchronizing data

• 🔄 Manually update the data in Mi Fitness (pull the screen down in the main menu).
• 📶 Check your internet connection (synchronization requires networking).
• 🔋 Charge the bracelet to 50% – with a low charge, synchronization may not work.
• 📲 Update the bracelet firmware (Device Profile → Software Update).

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If none of these methods worked, try resetting the bracelet to factory settings. To do this, go to "Device Profile → Untie the Device" and confirm the reset.

6. Alternative ways of connecting (without Mi Fitness)

In some cases, the official app may not be suitable — for example, if you have an outdated phone or want to use advanced features.

1.Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (Android)

This third-party app supports all Mi Band models and offers advanced settings:

• 🔔 Flexible notification settings (you can select vibration, backlight color, icons).
• 📊 Detailed statistics of export activity in Google Fit.
• 🎨 Customization of dials (even for older models like the Mi Band 3).

You can download it on Google Play.

1. Open the application and provide all permissions.
2. Select Connect the device and follow the instructions.
3. If the bracelet has already been paired through Mi Fitness, first untie it there.

2. Mi Band Master (Android/iOS)

Another popular alternative with support:

• 🔄 Automatic data sync with Apple Health and Google Fit.
• 📱 Remote control of music and camera phone.
• 🔋 Advanced battery monitoring bracelet.

3. Connect via Tools & Mi Band (for older phones)

If your phone doesn’t support Mi Fitness (like Android 4.4 or lower), you can use a stripped-down version of the Tools & Mi Band app.

• 🔗 Connect to Mi Band 1/2/3.
• 📊 Read basic statistics (steps, sleep).
• 🔔 Set the vibration for the alarm clock.

Restriction: Does not support notifications and extended health monitoring.

⚠️ Warning: When using third-party applications, there is a risk of data loss when reconnecting to the official Mi Fitness. It is recommended to back up to Profile → Backup before changing the application.

7. Update of the firmware bracelet: when and how to do it

Regular firmware updates fix bugs, add new features and improve stability. However, an incorrect update can lead to a "bricking" of the bracelet (completely inoperable), so follow the instructions carefully.

How to check the current version of the firmware:

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Your Device.
2. Scroll down to the firmware version section.
3. Compare it to the latest version on the support website.

How to update firmware:

1. Connect the bracelet to charge and make sure the charge is at least 50%.
2. In Mi Fitness, go to Device Profile → Software Update.
3. If an update is available, click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t interrupt the process!).
4. After the upgrade, the bracelet will reboot automatically.

What to do if the update is suspended:

• 🔌 Don't turn off the bracelet from charging.
• 📱 Restart your phone and check your internet connection.
• 🔄 If the process doesn't progress for more than 30 minutes, cancel the update and try again later.

Forced update via file:

If the automatic update does not work, you can install the firmware manually:

1. Download the firmware file for your model from mi-band.ru.
2. Place the file in the Download folder on your phone.
3. In Mi Fitness, select Software Update → Local Update and specify the downloaded file.

8.Resetting the bracelet to factory settings

If the bracelet is not working properly, does not connect or you want to transfer it to another user, reset.

For the Mi Band 3/4/5:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Device Profile → Untie the device.
2. Confirm the action – the bracelet will be reset and disconnected from the account.

For the Mi Band 6/7/8:

There are two ways:

1. Through the app: Open Mi Fitness → Profile → Your device → Untie. Choose Reset.

Hardware discharge:

• On the bracelet, go to Settings → System → Reset.
• Confirm the action by swipe or pressing a button.

What happens after the discharge:

• 📱 The bracelet is untied from the Xiaomi account.
• 🔄 All settings are back to factory.
• 📊 Activity data (steps, sleep) are removed without recovery.

⚠️ Warning: On the Mi Band 8, after reset, you may need to re-assign it through the QR- code that will appear on the screen. If the code is not scanned, try manually entering it in the app.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions