Xiaomi Watch 4: How to use a smart watch from A to Z

The Xiaomi Watch 4 is not just an accessory, but a full-fledged assistant for health, sports and everyday tasks. However, even experienced Xiaomi users have questions about how to properly sync a device with a smartphone, adjust notifications or activate hidden features like measuring stress or sleeping with phases. This article will help you understand all the nuances from the first turn on to advanced tricks that are not written in the standard instructions.

We're not going to recapitulate the obvious "press the power button" things, but instead we're going to focus on the practical scenarios: How to extend battery life, why the watch doesn’t count steps exactly, how to set up Mi Pay payment without errors, and what to do if the Xiaomi Watch 4 isn’t connected to the phone. And also – we will reveal a few unique features of the model 2023, which are not in previous versions (for example, integration with Zepp Life or automatic recognition 150).+ training).

First Installing and Basic Setup

Before you first start, make sure that the clock is at least 30% charged — the charging indicator will appear on the screen 5-10 seconds after you connect to the magnetic cable. To turn on, press the side button for 3 seconds. If the screen does not respond, check the density of the charging contacts — often the problem lies in the dust or moisture under the case.

Once you download, the system will suggest you choose a language, and here's an important nuance: if you don't have Russian on the list, update your firmware through the Mi Fitness app (instruction below).

• 📱 For Android: Mi Fitness (older versions) or Zepp Life (new ones).
• 🍎 For iOS: Zepp Life only (Mi Fitness app is not supported).
• ⚠️ Don’t use third-party programs like Notify for Mi Band, they block some features.

During synchronization, allow all access requests to:

• 📍 Geolocation (to calculate the distance of the running / cycling).
• 📞 Contacts (to display names in notifications).
• 💬 SMS and calls (so that the clock vibrates when incoming).
• 🏃 Health data (Apple Health or Google Fit for step/calorie synchronization).

⚠️ Warning: If the watch does not display notifications after you connect, check the energy saving settings on your smartphone. Xiaomi/Redmi Add Zepp Life to the AutoStart list and turn off battery optimization for this app.

Interface and control: gestures, buttons, voice

Xiaomi Watch 4 supports three controls: touch screen, physical button and voice commands. Let's go through each in detail.

The physical button (located on the right) is responsible for:

• 🔄 Short press: returns to the main screen (analogue of "Home" on the smartphone).
• 🔍 Long press (3 seconds): Calls the voice assistant (only works when connected to the phone).
• ⚙️ Double tap: opens the quick settings menu (brightness, Do Not Disturb mode, etc.).

The touch screen supports standard gestures:

• ➡️ Swipe to the right: transition between widgets (weather, pulse, calendar).
• ⬇️ Swipe down: notification panel.
• ⬆️ Swipe up: the main menu of applications.
• 🔄 Circular movement (on the dial): wallpaper change (does not work on all firmwares).

The voice assistant is activated by a long push of a button or by the command "Hey, Xiaomi" (you need to turn on the clock settings).

• 📅 Setting alarms and reminders ("Set the alarm for 7:00 am").
• 🏃 Starting training ("Start running training").
• 🌡️ Weather Request ("What Weather Tomorrow in Moscow?").
• ❌ Does not support smart home management or calls (unlike Xiaomi Watch) S3).

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To speed up your gesture response, turn off Battery Savings in the clock settings, which is a 1-second latency sensor.

Synchronization with the phone: solving problems

The most common problem of users Xiaomi Watch 4 — the watch does not connect to the phone or constantly break the connection.

1.The watch is not on the list of devices to connect

• 🔋 Check battery power (less than 15% – the watch does not broadcast a Bluetooth signal).
• 🔄 Reset the clock: Press the button 10 seconds before vibration.
• 📱 In the phone settings, turn off Bluetooth, then turn on again.
• 🚫 Remove the watch from the list of associated devices (on the phone: Settings) → Bluetooth → Xiaomi Watch 4 → Forget the device).

2.The connection breaks in a few minutes.

• 🔋 On your phone, turn off power saving mode for the Zepp Life app.
• 📶 Check the stability of the Internet (watches use the cloud to synchronize data).
• 🔄 Update the watch firmware and app to the latest version.

3. Notifications don't come in on the clock

• 📵 In the Zepp Life app, check the Profile section → Notifications – Turn on SMS, Calls and Applications Switches.
• 🔕 On the phone in the notification settings for Zepp Life, allow banners to be displayed.
• 📱 For Android: in the phone settings, find Special Access → Notifications and give Zepp Life read rights.

Checked clock charge (>15%)|Rebooted watch and phone|Updated firmware and app|Power saving mode is turned off for Zepp Life|Removed and added device again-->

⚠️ Warning: If the clock is connected but the data is not synchronized (steps, pulse), try resetting to factory settings. → System system → Reset. Once reset, you'll have to reconfigure all the parameters!

Fitness and health: training, pulse, sleep

Xiaomi Watch 4 is equipped with 14 sensors, including optical sensors for measuring the pulse and SpO₂ (But the accuracy of the reading depends on the right setup. Here's how to make the most of your fitness:

1. Set-up of training

• 🏃 Automatic recognition: The watch itself determines running, walking, cycling and swimming. To turn it on, go to Settings. → Training. → Autodetermination.
• 📊 Manual start: swipe up on the main screen → Choose a sport. To calculate your calories accurately, enter your weight in your Zepp Life profile.
• 🎯 Training goals: Before starting, you can set a goal for time, distance or calories.

2. Monitoring of the heart and stress

• ❤️ Pulse measurement: By default, the clock measures the pulse every 10 minutes. To change the interval, go to Settings → Heart monitoring.
• 😓 Stress level: measured by heart rate variability. To calibrate, sit quietly for 5 minutes - the watch will remember your "normal" level.
• 🛌 SpO₂ (Oxygen in the blood: measured only by hand (in the Health menu) → Oxygen in the blood. Normal: 95-100%.

3. Sleep tracking

• 🌙 Automatic mode: the clock determines sleep by movement and pulse. To improve accuracy, go to bed at the same time.
• 📉 Sleep phases: Zepp Life shows a graph of deep/light sleep and wakes. For detailed analysis, sync the data with Google Fit.
• 🛏️ Daytime naps: If you take a nap during the day, add a recording manually in the app.

For maximum accuracy:

• Wear the watch on the non-dominant hand (for right-handed - left, for left-handed - right).
• Tighten the strap so that there is no gap between the sensor and the skin.
• Avoid wearing a wrist watch with tattoos or scars – they distort the sensor signal.

Battery and Autonomy: How to Extend Your Work

Officially, the Xiaomi Watch 4 lasts up to 10 days, but in practice, it varies from 3 to 7 days depending on usage.

1. Optimization of settings

• 🌓 Screen brightness: set automatic adjustment or lower to 50%.
• ⏱️ Active display time: reduce to 5 seconds (Settings) → Display. → Lighting time).
• 📡 Data Synchronization: Turn off automatic backset synchronization (Settings) → Synchronization → Only manually).
• 🔋 Power saving mode: activates automatically at charge below 5%, but it can be turned on forcibly.

2.What's most draining the battery

3. How to properly charge

• 🔌 Use only the original magnetic cable. Cheap analogues can damage contacts.
• 🔋 Do not keep your watch charging for more than 2 hours – after 100% micro-recharge begins, harmful to lithium polymer batteries.
• 🌡️ Avoid charging at temperatures below 0°C or higher than 40°C.

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The most effective way to extend autonomy is to disable continuous pulse measurement and SpO₂. This will save up to 40% of the charge per day.

Hidden functions and life hacks

Xiaomi Watch 4 They hide some useful things that are not mentioned in the official manual.-5:

1. Quick access to the latest annex

Swipe left twice on the home screen and the last used application (similar to the “recent” on the smartphone) will open.

The secret regime "Theatre"

If you turn on the settings → Display. → Theatre mode, the clock will only show the time when you press a button, useful for movies or meetings.

3. Set up vibration for different notifications

In Zepp Life, you can set unique vibration patterns for calls, SMS and apps, such as two short WhatsApp signals and one long one for calls.

4.Use of the watch as a camera remote

On the Tools menu → The camera can be remotely controlled shooting on a smartphone (delay) 3 or 10 It only works with Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco.

5. Hidden dials

In addition to the standard wallpaper, the clock has hidden dials with animations (for example, "Fire" or "Water"), to see them:

1. Open the menu of changing the dial (long touch on the main screen).
2. Scroll through to the end and click on the icon More.
3. Enter the code 202308 (does not work on all firmware).

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To find your phone quickly, swipe down on the watch's home screen and click the "Phone Search" icon. The phone will start ringing at full volume, even if it's silent.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even reliable Xiaomi Watch 4s have crashes, and we’ve collected the typical issues and proven ways to fix them.

1.The watch does not count steps or show unrealistic values

• 👟 Check if the height and weight are listed correctly in the Zepp Life profile.
• 📏 Calibrate the pedometer: walk 20 steps, the clock should show 18-22 steps. If the difference is greater, reset the pedometer data in the settings.
• 🔄 Restart the watch and smartphone.

2 Mi Pay Pay Pay is not working

• 💳 Make sure your bank supports Mi Pay (list on Xiaomi website).
• 📱 In the Mi Pay app on your phone, check if the card is tied.
• 🔐 Put it on the clock. PIN-Reconfirmation code (default 1234 if you have not changed it).

3.The watch overheats or discharges quickly

• 🔥 Check if it's always on. GPS pulse-measurement.
• 📴 Turn off unnecessary notifications (they make the clock sync frequently to your phone).
• 🔄 Reset to factory settings if the problem doesn't go away.

4.The screen light does not work when raising your hand

• ✋ Enable the function in Settings → Display. → Raising your hand to activate.
• 🔦 Check if the belt covers the light sensor (located on top of the screen).
• 🔄 Recalibrate the sensor: in the same settings, select "Calibration".

⚠️ Warning: If the watch doesn't respond to a touch or a button, try to force it to reset. Connect to charge and press the button for 20 seconds.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions