How to tie the fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 3 to a smartphone: full instructions with solutions to problems

Why you need to tie Mi Band 3 to the phone

The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 fitness bracelet, released in 2018, is still one of the most popular activity trackers due to its reliability and availability. However, without proper synchronization with the smartphone, the device loses most of the functionality from displaying notifications to analyzing sleep and heart rate. Linking the bracelet to the phone opens up access to advanced features through the Mi Fit app (or its Zepp Life analog for new versions).

Many users have difficulty connecting for the first time: the bracelet is not detected, the application is faulty, or the sync is broken. In this article, we will analyze the step-by-step binding algorithm, discuss the features for Android and iOS, and give recommendations for solving typical problems. Particular attention will be paid to nuances that the manufacturer often misses in official instructions – for example, why the Mi Band 3 may not connect to an iPhone with the latest versions of iOS or how to reset the bracelet if it was previously tied to another device.

If you just purchased the wristband or want to reconfigure it after resetting, this guide will help you avoid common errors and save time. And for those who have tried to sync your device but have had trouble, we have prepared a section on the 10 most common problems, from lack of Bluetooth response to failures in the Mi Fit app.

What you need to do to tie the Mi Band 3

Before you start syncing, make sure you have everything you need.

• 📱 Smartphone on Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+ (iPhone requires a version not lower than iOS 12 for stable operation).
• 🔋 Charged bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 3 (charge level is not lower than 20%, otherwise there may be failures during the first synchronization).
• 📲 The official Mi Fit app (or Zepp Life – for users who have moved to the new Xiaomi ecosystem).
• 🔄 Bluetooth 4.0 enabled+ on the phone (the bracelet does not support outdated versions of the protocol).
• 🌐 Stable Internet connection (required to log in to Xiaomi account and download the bracelet firmware).

Also check that there is enough free space on your phone - the Mi Fit app weighs around 100-150MB, plus additional space for cache and sync data. If you're using an iPhone, make sure that notifications for the app are allowed in Bluetooth settings (this is a common cause of connection problems on iOS).

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Band 3 bracelet was previously tied to another phone, it must be reset to factory settings. Otherwise, the new synchronization may result in the error "Device is already tethered." Reset instructions can be found in the section "How to reset the bracelet settings".

How to tie Mi Band 3 to your phone

The synchronization process takes no more than 5-7 minutes, if you follow the algorithm, below is a universal guide for Android and iOS, taking into account the latest updates to Xiaomi applications.

Step 1: Install and configure the Mi Fit application

Download the official app from the store:

• 🤖 For Android: Google Play.
• 🍎 For iOS: App Store.

After installation:

1. Open Mi Fit and select the language (we recommend Russian or English for correct notifications display).
2. Click Sign up or Sign in if you already have a Xiaomi account (you can use Google, Facebook or phone number).
3. Fill out the profile: specify gender, age, height and weight – this is necessary for the correct calculation of calories and activity.

Install Mi Fit| Register your Xiaomi | Enable Bluetooth on your phone | Charge your bracelet to 50%+| Allow notifications for Mi Fit-->

Step 2: Connecting the bracelet via Bluetooth

Now add the bracelet to the app:

1. In the Mi Fit main menu, click "Add device" (the "+" icon in the upper right corner).
2. Select from the list of "Mi Smart Band 3" (if not, update the app).
3. Press "Connect" and wait for the phone to find the bracelet. Make sure that the Mi Band 3 is near (not further than 10 cm from the smartphone).
4. When the bracelet vibrates, confirm the pairing on the phone (on Android, you may need to allow access to contacts and location).

If the bracelet is not detected, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off/on in settings).
• 📱 Remove Mi Band 3 from the list of associated devices in Bluetooth settings and repeat the search.
• 🔋 Remove the bracelet from the charger (sometimes it does not respond to the connection if connected to the charger). USB).

Mi Band 3|Mi Band 4|Mi Band 5|Mi Band 6|Other model-->

Step 3: Set up notifications and synchronize data

After successful connection:

1. In the Mi Fit app, go to the "Device Profile" section" → "Notifications".
2. Turn on the option "Show notifications" and select the applications from which you want to see alerts on the bracelet (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, VKontakte).
3. Set up "Alarm clocks" and "Inaction reminders" in the appropriate sections.
4. Run the first data synchronization by clicking "Sync" in the main menu.

Important: On iPhone, to properly work notifications, you need to manually allow access to alerts for the Mi Fit app in iOS settings (Settings → Notifications → Mi Fit). Without this, the bracelet will not vibrate when incoming calls or messages.

How to Reset Mi Band 3 Settings Before You Beat Your New Phone

If the bracelet has previously been synced to another device, it needs to be reset, which will also help if the Mi Band 3 is glitching or not connecting to the phone.

Method 1: Reset via Mi Fit application

If the bracelet is connected to the phone:

1. Open Mi Fit and go to the device profile.
2. Select "Untie Device" (or "Delete Device" in newer versions of the app).
3. Confirm the action – the bracelet will be disconnected from the account.

Method 2: Hardware reset (if you don't have access to the phone)

If the bracelet is not tied to any device or the phone is lost:

1. Charge the Mi Band 3 to at least 30%.
2. Press and hold the touch button of the bracelet for 10-15 seconds until you feel the vibration and see the words "Reset" on the screen.
3. Release the button and the bracelet will reset and be ready for a new binding.

⚠️ Warning: After the hardware reset, all the data on the bracelet (steps, sleep, workouts) will be deleted. If you want to save the statistics, first sync it with the Mi Fit app.

Common Mi Band 3 binding problems and solutions

Even if you follow instructions correctly, users often encounter errors, and we have compiled the TOP-10 problems and ways to fix them:

If your problem is not in the table, try:

• 📵 Reinstall the Mi Fit app (sometimes cleaning the cache in your phone settings helps).
• 🔄 Update the bracelet firmware through the device settings → Update to Mi Fit.
• 📡 Connect to another Wi-Fi network or use mobile internet (sometimes problems are caused by the Xiaomi servers being blocked by the provider).

💡

If the bracelet is connected but the data is not synchronized, try manually running sync: open Mi Fit, pull the screen down (as when updating the page) and wait for the inscription “Sync is complete”.

How to check the success of the binding and configure Mi Band 3

After synchronization, make sure that the bracelet is working correctly:

1. Connection check: The Mi Fit app should display the bracelet charge level and current data (steps, pulse). If you see the sign "Plug the device" instead, repeat the pairing.
2. Notification test: Ask a friend to send you a message to WhatsApp or Telegram – the bracelet should vibrate and show text (if the feature is enabled).
3. Sensor Check: Start measuring your pulse (Settings → Heart Rhythm) – if the bracelet gives an error, it may not fit tightly to your wrist.

For fine tuning:

• 🎨 Change the dial: Device profile → Display. → Select a dial (more than 50 options available).
• 🔔 Set up alarm clocks: Device profile → Alarm clocks → Add (up to 10 signals can be set).
• 🏃‍♂️ Activate training tracking: Device profile → Training. → Choose sports.

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet discharges quickly after setting up, check if unnecessary features such as "Constant pulse" or "Sleep Auto Tracking" are included.

💡

For maximum autonomy, turn off the “Raise your hand to activate the screen” and reduce the frequency of data synchronization in the Mi Fit settings.

Alternative ways of binding: Zepp Life and third-party applications

From 2022, Xiaomi will gradually move users from Mi Fit to a new app, Zepp Life (formerly Amazfit), if you have problems with Mi Fit, you can try to tie the bracelet through Zepp Life:

1. Download Zepp Life from Google Play or App Store.
2. Sign in via Xiaomi account (you can use the same as in Mi Fit).
3. Add the device: "Add the device" → "Mi Smart Band 3".
4. Follow the instructions on the screen (they are similar to Mi Fit).

The benefits of Zepp Life:

• 📊 More detailed sleep and activity analytics.
• 🔄 Fast data synchronization.
• 🎨 More dial options.

However, note that some features (such as Smart Phone Unlock) may not work as well as third-party apps like Notify & Fitness or Mi Band Master, but they require root rights to Android and are not recommended for beginners.

FAQ: Frequent questions about binding Mi Band 3