How to tie a fitness bracelet Xiaomi to a smartphone: instructions for Mi Band 5, 6, 7 and 8

Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets remain among the most popular wearables due to the combination of functionality and affordable price. However, new users often have questions about how to properly tie the bracelet to the phone, what applications are needed and what to do if the device does not connect. This article will help you understand all the nuances from installing the Mi Fitness app to solving typical synchronization problems.

We will look at the binding process for all current models (Mi Band 5, 6, 7, 8), including the features of working with Android and iOS. Particular attention will be paid to setting up notifications, permissions and ways to restore connection if the bracelet suddenly turned off. All instructions are relevant for firmware 2023-2026 and the latest versions of proprietary software.

1.What apps are needed to tie the Xiaomi bracelet

The bracelet pairing with the phone requires an official application from Xiaomi, depending on the device model and region, this can be:

  • 📱 Mi Fitness is the main application for Mi Band 5/6/7/8 (Previously known as Mi Fit)
  • 🌍 Zepp Life – alternative software for international versions of bracelets
  • 🇨🇳 — Chinese version (requires registration in Mi Account with Chinese number)

Important: from 2022, Xiaomi gradually replaces Mi Fit with Mi Fitness. If you have an older version, the system will offer to upgrade. For bracelets Mi Band 8 and newer Mi Fit is not supported.

📊 What app do you use for Xiaomi bracelet?
Mi Fitness
Zepp Life
Mi Fit (old version)
Other

Applications are available in official stores:

  • 🤖 Google Play for Android
  • 🍎 App Store for iOS

⚠️ Note: Do not install applications from third-party sources (APK-This may lead to account data leakage or bracelet malfunction.

2. Step-by-step instructions for linking the bracelet to the phone

The pairing process takes no more than 5 minutes if you follow the instructions.

Download the official annex

Charge the bracelet to at least 20%

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone

Allow the app to access notifications and geodata-->

Next, follow the steps:

  1. Open Mi Fitness and create a Xiaomi account (or sign in through an existing one).
  2. Add Device Press + Add Device → Select Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 6 (or your model).
  3. Bluetooth pairing Make sure the bracelet is on (click on the touch button). The app will show the name of the device — tap it to connect.
  4. Setting up your profile, and you need to specify your gender, age, weight, and activity target, and you need that data to help you count your steps and calories correctly.

If the bracelet doesn’t appear in the list of available devices, reboot it: press the touch button for 10 seconds before the Mi logo appears.

3. Features of binding for iPhone (iOS)

On the iPhone, the pairing process is identical to Android, but there are a few nuances:

  • 📱 Mi Fitness application requires permission to: Notifications, Bluetooth, Geolocation (for accurate jogging tracking)
  • 🔄 Data synchronization occurs only when the application is open (background synchronization on iOS is limited)
  • 🔋 Notifications of calls and SMS come late 1-2 seconds

For stable work on the iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings → Mi Fitness → Notifications and turn on all switches.
  2. In iPhone settings → Bluetooth Find the bracelet and press"ℹ" →"Forget this device, then re-attach it.

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On iOS 16+, reboot your phone after you tie your bracelet, which eliminates the problem with a missing connection in 80% of cases.

4. Set up notifications and permissions

Once you pair successfully, you need to configure what notifications will arrive on the bracelet.

  1. Open Mi Fitness → Profile → “Mi Smart Band 6” (or your model).
  2. Go to Notifications and turn on: Incoming calls, Messages, Applications (select the desired messengers).
  3. In "Permissions" activate: Auto Run (for Android), Display over other windows.

Android 12+ requires additional:

Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Permissions → Notifications → Include all categories
Type of notificationAndroidiOSNotes
Incoming calls✅✅Subscriber number/name is displayed
SMS✅✅Shows the text of the message (up to 120 characters)
Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)✅⚠️ Only a notice without textOn iOS text hidden by Apple policy
Calendar✅❌Not supported on iOS

5. Solving bracelet binding problems

If the bracelet is not connected to the phone, check the following points:

What to do if the bracelet is not visible in Bluetooth?
1. Make sure the bracelet is charged (the indicator should flash when pressed). 2. Reset the bracelet (press the 10 seconds button). 3. In the phone settings, remove all previously conjugated Mi Band devices. 4. Disable VPN/proxy - they can block the connection to Xiaomi servers. 5. Try to tie the bracelet through another application (Zepp Life instead of Mi Fitness).

Common mistakes and ways to eliminate them:

  • 🔴 "Unconnected" Error Check if Bluetooth and geolocation are enabled. Android also requires permission".
  • 🔴 The bracelet is connected, but the data is not synchronized Reinstall the Mi Fitness app and log in again. This will reset the sync cache.
  • 🔴 The app does not see the bracelet after updating Remove the device from the list in Mi Fitness → Profile → Devices, then re-attach them.

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware on your phone (like LineageOS), some of the bracelet features may not work properly due to the lack of Google Play services.

6 How to tie a bracelet to a new phone

When changing your smartphone, you do not need to buy a new bracelet - just transfer the binding:

  1. On your old phone, open Mi Fitness → Profile → Mi Smart Band → Untie the device.
  2. On the new phone, install Mi Fitness, log in to the same Xiaomi account and follow the standard binding procedure.

All your data (steps, sleep, workouts) will be stored in the cloud and automatically uploaded to the new device. If your activity history is not displayed, manually update the data:

Mi Fitness → Profile → Mi Smart Band → Synchronize data

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Linking to a new phone does not reset the bracelet settings (alarm clocks, notifications) and they are stored in the device’s memory.

7. Additional settings after binding

After successful pairing, it is recommended to configure:

  • 🛌 Sleep tracking Include in Mi Fitness → Son → Auto-tracking: The bracelet will automatically detect sleep phases (light/deep)/REM).
  • 🏃 Sports modes Add frequently used activities (running, cycling, swimming) to "Exercise" → My regimes".
  • 🔋 Disable "Raise your hand to activate the screen" (section "Display") - this will increase the time of operation on the screen 2-3 day-day.
  • 🔒 On Android, you can configure unlocking your phone using a bracelet (Mi Fitness) → Unlocking the device).

The Mi Band 7/8 features are available for the following:

  • 📊 Stress analysis (requires inclusion in Health) → Stress")
  • 🩺 Measurement SpO₂ (oxygenation by hand or on schedule
  • 🎵 Music management (switching tracks from the bracelet)

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi bracelet binding

Can I tie one bracelet to two phones at the same time?
No, the Mi Band bracelet only supports binding to one device, and if you try to connect it to a second phone, the connection to the first phone will automatically break, but you can use one Xiaomi account on multiple phones, the data will be synchronized.
What if the bracelet is tied to someone else’s account?
If you bought a used bracelet that is tied to the previous owner, reset: 1. On the bracelet, go to Settings → Reset (for Mi Band 6/7/8). 2. For Mi Band 5, press the touch button 15 seconds before vibration. After reset, the bracelet will be ready for a new binding.
Why is the bracelet constantly disconnected from the phone?
The reasons may be as follows: - Energy saving Android: add Mi Fitness to battery optimization exceptions. - Bluetooth interference: other devices (earphones, smart watches) can create conflicts. - Outdated firmware: update the bracelet through Mi Fitness → Device profile → Software update. Check also distance - the connection is terminated at a distance of more than 10 meters.
How to tie a bracelet without a phone (to a tablet or PC)?
Officially, Xiaomi does not support binding to tablets or computers. However, there are workarounds: - For Android tablets: install Mi Fitness from the APK (But keep in mind that the activity sensors will not work properly (Windows/Mac): Use Android emulators (BlueStacks), but the synchronization of the data will be unstable.
Can I use a Xiaomi bracelet without being tied to my phone?
Yes, but with serious limitations: - Only pedometer, pulsemeter and alarm clock will work. - Not available: notifications, activity history, sleep analytics, firmware updates. - Data will not be stored - when the bracelet is reset, all statistics will be deleted.