How to tie the bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band to the phone: instructions with pictures and tips

The Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets remain among the most popular wearables thanks to a combination of affordable price, long autonomy and wide functionality. However, many users face difficulties already at the stage of the first setup — especially when it comes to linking the device to a smartphone. This procedure seems simple only at first glance: synchronization errors, Bluetooth problems or outdated software can turn the process into a real puzzle.

In this guide, we will discuss all the current ways to bind the Mi Band (including the Mi Band 7/8 Pro, Smart Band 7 Pro and earlier versions) to Android and iOS phones. You will learn how to properly prepare the bracelet for synchronization, which applications to use (and why Mi Fit is a thing of the past), and also get a checklist to eliminate typical errors.

If you've just unpacked a Mi Band box or are trying to revive an old gadget, this guide will help you avoid common mistakes and save time. And for those who have tried to tie a bracelet but have problems, we've prepared a section on fault diagnosis and how to fix them.

1.What apps are needed to tie the Mi Band in 2026

Until 2022, Xiaomi’s official bracelet management app was Mi Fit, but the company has gradually moved all devices to a new platform, Mi Fitness (formerly known as Zepp Life), a change that has caused confusion among many users, so let’s see what software is relevant today.

The Mi Band (all models including Mi Band 8 and Smart Band 7 Pro) are now used to link:

• 📱 Mi Fitness is the main app for Android and iOS, and supports all the relevant functions: sleep monitoring, pedometer, notifications, music management.
• 🔄 Zepp is an alternative software from the same developer (formerly Amazfit), suitable for advanced users, but may not support some of the features of the Mi Band.
• ⚠️ Mi Fit is outdated and has not been updated since 2022, and can only be used for older models (before the Mi Band 5), but we do not recommend doing so due to synchronization issues.

Important: If you download Mi Fit today, the system may suggest upgrading to Mi Fitness automatically. Don't ignore this notification - otherwise the bracelet will not be able to be tied to the new phone.

⚠️ Warning: On the iPhone, Mi Fitness will request access to Notifications, Bluetooth, and Health when it first starts, if you opt out of any of the permissions, the data synchronization (steps, pulse, sleep) will be incomplete.

2. Step-by-step instructions: how to link Mi Band to Android

Synchronizing the bracelet with your Android phone takes no more than 5 minutes, if you follow a clear algorithm, and we break it down into steps with explanations for each Mi Band model.

Before starting, make sure that:

• 🔋 The bracelet is charged at least 20% (at a discharge below 15%, synchronization may be interrupted).
• 📱 Bluetooth and Geodata are on (yes, they are needed for the first connection!)
• 📲 The latest version of Mi Fitness is installed (you can download it here).

Now let's get to the link:

1. Turn on the bracelet. For the Mi Band 8/7 Pro: press the touch button below the screen and hold for 2 seconds. For older models (up to the Mi Band 6), tap the screen or press the physical button.
2. Start Mi Fitness and create an account. If you already have a Xiaomi profile (like a phone), sign in. For new users, you will need to specify an email and create a password.

Charge the bracelet to 20%+

Install Mi Fitness from the official store

Enable Bluetooth and Geodata on your phone

Create/log in to a Xiaomi account

Confirm the pairing on the bracelet-->

If you have a “Can’t Find the Device” error at the connection stage, try:

• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (hold the 10 seconds button until vibration).
• 📱 Turn off/enable Bluetooth on your phone.
• 🚫 Remove the bracelet from the list of associated devices in Android settings (Settings) → Connected devices → Bluetooth).

💡

If you have Mi Band 8 Pro with NFC, after you have pegged, be sure to activate the contactless payment function in the Wallet section of the Mi Fitness app. This will require you to link your bank card via Mi Pay or Google Pay (depending on the region).

3. binding Mi Band to iPhone (iOS): features and nuances

Synchronizing Xiaomi’s bracelet with the iPhone has several key differences from Android, with Apple’s main problem limiting background processes, which can cause notifications and data synchronization to be unstable, and how to minimize risks.

The binding algorithm for iOS:

1. Download Mi Fitness from the App Store.Reference: Mi Fitness for iOS.Make sure the app version is no older than 2023.
2. Allow all system requests. iOS will request access to: 📍 Geodane (required to search for the bracelet). 🔔 Notifications (to see alerts on the bracelet). ⚕️ Apple Health (for exporting health data).

Add the device.

Press the + in the top right corner, select your Mi Band model and follow the instructions. On iPhone, pairing can take longer, up to 3-5 minutes.

Set up a background update.

Go to iPhone Settings → Mi Fitness → Background update and turn on the option. This will help avoid missed notifications.

Typical iOS problems and their solutions:

• 🔴 The bracelet is not visible on the device list: Turn off Bluetooth, reboot your iPhone and bracelet, then try again. If it doesn't work, remove Mi Fitness and reinstall it.

⚠️ Warning: On iPhones, the Mi Band bracelet cannot show notifications from WhatsApp and Viber due to Apple restrictions.This is not a bug, but a feature of iOS. Third-party apps like Notify for Mi Band (available on the App Store) can be used as a workaround, but they require a subscription fee.

4 How to re-connect Mi Band to another phone

If you change your smartphone or want to use a two-phone bracelet (such as a work phone and a personal phone), you will need to reset the binding to the old device, otherwise the new phone will not be able to connect to the Mi Band.

Methods of resetting:

Method 1: Through bracelet settings (recommended)

1. Open Mi Fitness on your old phone.
2. Go to Profile → My Devices → [Your Mi Band] → Untie the Device.
3. Confirm the action. The bracelet vibrates -- you can now tie it to a new phone.

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

For the Mi Band 6/7/8:

1. Charge the bracelet to 50%.
2. On the main screen of the bracelet, swipe to the right 5 times until the Settings menu appears.
3. Select Settings Reset (the wrench icon) and confirm the choice.
4. After rebooting, the bracelet will be ready for a new binding.

For Mi Band 5 and older:

1. Hold the touch button for 10 seconds until you feel the vibration.
2. Release the button - the bracelet will be reset to the factory settings.

Important: After the hardware reset, all the data from the bracelet (steps, sleep history) will be deleted, and if it is not synchronized with Mi Fitness before, you will not be able to restore it.

5. Solving common binding errors

Even with accurate follow-up, users experience sync errors, and we’ve compiled the most common issues and ways to fix them based on Xiaomi support data and user feedback.

If none of these methods worked, try:

• 📱 Install Mi Fitness on another phone and try to tie the bracelet to it.
• 🔧 Update the bracelet firmware through Settings → About the bracelet → Software Update (if it is already tied to another phone).
• 💬 Contact Xiaomi via the in-app chat (Profile → Help section).

💡

If the Mi Band bracelet was previously linked to an account on another phone, the new owner will not be able to use it without being reset. This is protection against theft. Always do the uncoupling before selling or transferring the gadget!

6.Setting up the bracelet after binding: what to do first

Once synchronized successfully, the bracelet is ready to work, but for comfortable use, you need to adjust several key parameters, which will take no more than 5 minutes, but will save you from problems in the future.

The basic settings in Mi Fitness:

• 👤 User Profile: Specify your age, weight, and height for accurate calorie and step counts.
• 🔔 Notifications: Select applications that will duplicate alerts on the bracelet (calls, SMS, messengers).
• 🌙 Sleep monitoring: Enable automatic sleep phase tracking (see Sleep section).
• 🔋 Screen: Adjust the backlight time and brightness to the Display and sound.
• 🏃 Activity goals: Set a daily rate of steps (recommended value is 8000–10,000).

Additional features (for advanced models):

• 🎵 Music Management: Enable Settings → Music to switch tracks straight from the bracelet.

Tips for Mi Band 8 Pro owners: If you use the continuous heart rate monitoring feature, charge the bracelet every 3-4 days, which greatly reduces battery life (from 16 to 7-10 days).

💡

To extend the life of the bracelet battery, turn off constant monitoring of the pulse at night. To do this, go to Profile in Mi Fitness → Device settings → Heart Rate Frequency and select Intelligent Mode instead of Continuous.

7 How to tie Mi Band to two phones at the same time

Officially, Xiaomi Mi Band bracelets do not support multiplayer — they can only be tied to one Xiaomi account and one phone. However, there are workarounds for those who want to use a gadget with two smartphones (for example, with a work and personal).

Method 1: Manual reconnection

The most reliable, but inconvenient method:

1. Untie the bracelet from the first phone via Mi Fitness.
2. Put him on the second phone.
3. If necessary, repeat the process in reverse order.

Disadvantage: Step and sleep data will be reset every time you reconnect.

Method 2: Using two Xiaomi accounts

If you have two Xiaomi accounts (for example, personal and work), you can:

1. Tie the bracelet to the first account on the first phone.
2. On the second phone, log into the second account and tie the bracelet again (pre-resetting it).

The downside: data will be shared between accounts and cannot be combined.

Method 3: Third-party applications (not recommended)

There are informal programs like Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (Android) or Mi Band Master (iOS) that allow you to connect the bracelet to multiple phones without waivers.

• 🔴 They require root rights (on Android) or jailbreak (on iOS).
• 🔴 May violate Xiaomi's privacy policy.
• 🔴 Often causes synchronization errors.

⚠️ Warning: Simultaneously connecting the Mi Band to two phones through unofficial methods may result in loss of warranty and locking of the Xiaomi account for breach of user agreement.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)