How to use Xiaomi smart bracelet: from unpacking to hidden features

Xiaomi Mi Band smart bracelets have long been synonymous with affordable and functional fitness trackers. Even basic models can track steps, pulse and sleep, and flagship versions (such as the Mi Band 8 Pro or Smart Band 7 Pro) add GPS, NFC For contactless payments and advanced sports modes, however, many users use the device only at 30% of its capabilities — just like a watch with notifications.

This article will help you understand all the nuances: from the first turn on and sync with the phone to set up automatic sleep tracking, control music or even unlock your smartphone through a bracelet. 6/7/8), We will give specific recommendations for optimizing the work, especially focusing on typical errors that cause the bracelet to quickly discharge or lose contact with the smartphone.

1. Unpacking and first inclusion: what to do with the bracelet "out of the box"

The new Mi Band comes with a minimal set: the tracker itself, the strap (often already installed), the charging cable and a brief instruction in several languages (except Russian). Unlike a smartwatch, there are no buttons - the control is completely touch-sensitive.

🔋 Charging before use. Despite the declared battery supply, the manufacturer recommends recharging the bracelet before first turning on. USB-port (no adapter needed) and wait for the charging indicator to appear on the screen. ~2 hours.
📱 Download Xiaomi Wear (for Android) or Mi Fitness (for iOS) from official stores. Apps differ in interface, but the functionality is identical. Important: iPhone requires iOS 12.0 and higher, and Android version 6.0+.
🔄 Sync. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone, open the app, and select Add Device. The bracelet must be automatically determined — confirm pairing on both devices.

If the bracelet does not turn on after charging, check:

⚠️ Attention: Charging cable contacts must fit tightly to metal pads on the back of the tracker. A frequent mistake is the wrong installation of the bracelet in the docking station (turned upside down»).

📊 What Mi Band model do you use?

Mi Band 6

Mi Band 7

Mi Band 8

Another model

I haven't bought it yet.

2. Set up the main parameters through Xiaomi Wear

After synchronization, the app will offer basic settings: dial selection, Xiaomi account binding (required for data backup) and notification permissions.

Section	What can be customized	Recommendations
Device profile	Bracelet name, main arm, units of measurement (km/miles, kg/pounds)	Specify the “lead” hand – this will affect the accuracy of sleep tracking.
Notifications	Application selection, vibration, text preview	Turn off unnecessary notifications (such as games) to save charge.
Screen.	Brightness, lighting time, autoturn	Set the lights on. 3-5 Seconds – This is enough to view the data.
Fitness and health	Step goals, weight, automatic sleep/training	Turn on running/walking auto-tracking – the bracelet will recognize activity without manually starting.

Pay special attention to the section Lab (in some versions of the application called Additional), here are hidden useful features:

🔓 Unlocking the phone – the bracelet can unlock the Xiaomi smartphone at close proximity (required) MIUI 12+).
🎵 Music management – switching tracks straight from the bracelet (works with Spotify, YouTube Music and the standard player).
🌙 Do Not Disturb Mode – Disables notifications at a predetermined time (good for sleep).

💡

If the application does not have the desired function, update the bracelet firmware. To do this, go to the Device Profile. → Update of the PO.

3. Health tracking: pulse, sleep and stress

The main advantage of the Mi Band over the regular watch is health monitoring, so let's figure out how to use these features properly to get accurate data.

The pulse measurement is automatically taken every time. 5-30 minutes (tuning to fitness and health) → Heart rate. For manual measurement:

Tap the bracelet screen to activate the menu.
Choose an icon ❤️ (Pulse).
Do not move and keep your hand at heart level. 15-20 seconds.

No action is required to track sleep, as the bracelet automatically records phases (deep/light sleep, wake-ups).

⚠️ Attention: If you sleep less than 4 hours, the data may not be saved, and the bracelet does not recognize daytime naps shorter than 20 minutes).

The stress level function (available with Mi Band 6) measures heart rate variability, a score of 1 to 100, where:

🟢 1-39 — relaxation;
🟡 40-59 — mild-stress;
🔴 60-100 — High stress levels (recommended to take a break).

How can I improve the accuracy of measurements?

For accurate heart rate and sleep tracking: - Wear a bracelet on 2-3 finger above wrist (not too tight). – Avoid wearing on hand with tattoos or scars – this interferes with sensors. – Before bed, make sure the bracelet fits tightly but does not squeeze the skin.

4.Sports modes: how to correctly fix training

The Mi Band supports up to 30 sports modes (depending on the model), including running, cycling, swimming and even yoga.

On the bracelet, select an icon. 🏃 (Training).
Scroll through the list of modes (swipe up/down) and select the desired one.
Click on the screen to start the countdown (3-2-1).

During training, the bracelet fixes:

⏱️ Activity time;
🔥 Calories spent;
❤️‍🔥 Pulse (real-time);
📊 Rate (for running/walking) or speed (for cycling).

For swimming (Mi Band) 7/8 waterproof 5 ATM):

🏊‍♂️ Select the "Swimming" mode before diving in water.
🌊 The bracelet automatically recognizes the style (brass, crawl) and counts the circles in the pool (you need to specify the length of the track in the settings).
🚿 After exercise, rinse the device with fresh water and dry.

Charge the bracelet to at least 30%|Make sure you choose the right sports regimen|Turn on GPS on the phone (for accurate tracking of the route)|Wear the bracelet tightly, but without squeezing your hand-->

5.Smart Features: Notifications, Payments, and Device Management

Modern Xiaomi bracelets can do much more than just show the time.

Notifications:

The bracelet vibrates when incoming calls, SMS and messages from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) to respond:

📞 For the call: swipe up on the bracelet screen → “Deflect” button» (❌) or Quiet» (🔔).
💬 For messages: you can read the text (if preview is enabled) or send a quick response (on Android).

Contactless payments (only for Mi Band) 7 Pro/8 Pro NFC):

Add the map to the Xiaomi Wear app (Device) → Contactless payments).
When paying, bring the bracelet to the terminal (no need to press buttons).
PIN code is not required for amounts up to 1000₽ (The limit depends on the bank).

⚠️ Attention: NFC It only works in countries where Mi Pay is supported (Russia is included in the list). SberPay or Mir Pay will require binding through third-party applications (for example, PayBand).

Smart home management:

If you have Xiaomi Smart Home devices (lamps, sockets, robot vacuum cleaner), the bracelet can:

💡 Turn on/off lights (double tap on the screen in the device menu).
🔌 Run scripts (e.g., “Getting to Work” – turns off all lighting).
🤖 Manage the vacuum cleaner (start cleaning or return to the base).

💡

To manage a smart home, you need the Mi Home app and link devices to a single Xiaomi account.

6 Problems and their solutions: the bracelet does not synchronize, quickly discharges, etc.

Even the devices we've tested have failures, and we've collected the typical problems and the ways to fix them.

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
The bracelet does not connect to the phone.	Bluetooth Failure, Outdated Firmware	Reboot both devices, update Xiaomi Wear and bracelet software.
Battery goes down quickly (less than 2 days)	Constant synchronization enabled GPS	Turn off automatic sleep/pulse tracking, reduce the brightness of the screen.
No notifications coming.	There are no permissions for the application	Check Notifications settings in Xiaomi Wear and on your phone.
Inaccurate data on steps / pulse	Fragile fit, dirt on sensors	Rub the back with an alcohol napkin, tighten the strap.
Bracelet doesn't recognize training	Incorrect mode or weak signal GPS	Select the mode manually, turn on GPS phone-on.

If the bracelet is frozen (does not respond to touch):

Connect it to charging for 10 seconds – this often helps to “wake up” the device.
If it doesn’t help, reset: in Xiaomi Wear go to the Device Profile → Untie the device.
After unbundling, sync the bracelet as new again.

The bracelet is not charged:

🔌 Check the cable and USB-Port (try another charger).
🧹 Clean the contacts on the bracelet from dust / sweat with a cotton swab.
⚡ If the indicator does not burn, the device could fail – contact the service center.

7. Hidden functions and life hacks for power users

Many of the features of the Mi Band are not advertised, but can significantly improve the experience.

Alternative dials:

The official app offers a limited selection of dials to set custom:

Download the.bin file with the dial (for example, from the Amazfit Watchfaces website).
In Xiaomi Wear go to Dials → Add and select the downloaded file.

Control of the camera:

The bracelet can work as a remote for taking selfies:

📸 Enable the feature in Xiaomi Wear → Laboratory → Camera control.
Open the camera on your phone and double-press the bracelet screen to take a picture.

Alarm clock with a smart vibration:

Set up a Smart Alarm in the Alarms section, which will wake you up in the optimal sleep phase 30 minutes before the set time.

4. Savings in charge during travel:

If you are going away for a long time without the possibility of charging:

🔋 Turn off automatic pulse tracking (saves up to 40% charge).
✈️ Enable flight mode on the bracelet (swipe down) → plane icon).

How to turn on the developer mode?

To access hidden settings: 1. In Xiaomi Wear, go to Device Profile → About the program. 2. 5 times click on the firmware version. 3. Return to the main menu - the section For developers will appear (you can turn on debugging over Bluetooth here).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi smart bracelets

❓ Can I swim with the Mi Band? 7/8?

Yes, both models have 5 protections. ATM, This allows you to swim in the pool or open water at a depth of up to 50 meters, but it is not recommended to use the bracelet in hot water (bath, sauna) or under the shower stream (you can damage the strap).

❓ How to Reset the Bracelet to Factory Settings?

There are two ways: Through the app: Device profile → Untie the device. Through the bracelet: go to Settings → Reset (on Mi Band 8 path: swipe down) → ⚙️ → After the reset, all data will be deleted, but it can be restored from a Xiaomi Cloud backup.

❓ Why the bracelet shows fewer steps than the phone?

The difference in step counting is due to different algorithms: the phone uses data from the accelerometer + GPS (If it's on, the bracelet only relies on the motion sensor in the body. For greater accuracy: Wear the bracelet on a non-dominant hand. In the Xiaomi Wear settings, specify the correct height and weight.

❓ Can I change my band to Mi Band?

Yes, the straps on all Mi Band models are removable — 22 mm (for Mi Band) 6/7/8). We can use it: 🛒 Original straps from Xiaomi (silicone, leather, metal). 🔄 Third-party universal straps (check compatibility by width) To remove the strap, pull it away from the body with force (the latch is hidden inside).

❓ How to transfer data from one bracelet to another?

If you're changing the Mi Band to a new model: Sync your old bracelet with the app and wait for the cloud to update. Untie the old device in your Device Profile → Unplug. Connect the new wristband, your health and activity data will be automatically reset. If the data is not transferred, check that you are using the same Xiaomi account.