How to tie Xiaomi watch to your phone: full instructions with photos and tips

Xiaomi smartwatches are some of the most popular activity tracking gadgets, but without the right link to a smartphone, they lose most of the functionality. Many users face problems when they first connect: the device does not find the watch, the application gives an error, or synchronization is interrupted halfway through the process. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of binding for different models, from the budget Mi Band to the flagship Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, and also tell you how to avoid typical errors.

It’s important to understand that the synchronization process depends not only on the watch model, but also on the phone’s operating system. Android and iOS use different versions of the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit), and some new devices (such as the Xiaomi Watch S3) may require Xiaomi Wear. We’ll detail each scenario so you can plug in the gadget the first time – even if you have outdated firmware or a non-standard purchase region.

1. What apps are needed to tie Xiaomi watches

The first step is to choose the right software. Xiaomi is gradually moving all wearable devices to a single ecosystem, but there are still three main synchronization apps:

• 📱 Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit) is a universal solution for most models, including the Mi Band. 3/4/5/6/7/8, Xiaomi Watch S1/S2 And Amazfit, a brand partner, supports both Android and iOS.
• ⌚ Xiaomi Wear – a new app for flagship watches (Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, Watch) S3). It has advanced management features, but only works on Android 8.0+.
• 🔄 Zepp Life (formerly Amazfit) is an alternative for devices released under the Amazfit brand (e.g. Amazfit). GTR 4), but sometimes it is suitable for some Xiaomi models.

How do you determine which application you want? Use the compatibility table:

If your model is not listed in the table, check the official Xiaomi website or the instructions in the box. For example, for the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active, only Xiaomi Wear will work, and trying to use Mi Fitness will lead to the error "Device is not supported."

2. Step-by-step instructions: how to tie the clock to the phone on Android

The sync process on Android is usually easier than on iPhones, thanks to the open architecture of the system. We'll look at the universal algorithm for Mi Fitness, since it covers most devices.

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone

Charge the watch to at least 50%

Install the latest version of Mi Fitness from Google Play

Allow the app to access geodata and notifications

Turn it off. VPN (It can block Xiaomi servers)-->

Step 1: Installation and configuration of the application

1. Download Mi Fitness from Google Play (avoid third-party sources!).

Step 2. Connect the clock

1. Activate Bluetooth on your phone and place the watch next to you (no more than 10 cm away).
2. In Mi Fitness, click "Add device" (the "+" icon in the upper right corner).
3. Choose your model from the list. If you don't have one, try the "Other Device" option.
4. On the watch, confirm the pairing (usually you need to click on the touch button or select "Confirm" on the screen).

Step 3: Set up notifications and permissions

After successful connection:

• 🔔 Allow Mi Fitness to show notifications on top of other apps (Android Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Notifications).
• 📶 Enable auto-start the application (in the phone battery settings), otherwise sync will be interrupted.
• 🔒 Provide access to Contacts and Call Log if you want to see incoming calls on your watch.

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If the clock is not, try rebooting the phone’s Bluetooth module: turn off and turn on Bluetooth again, then restart the Mi Fitness app.

3. Features of binding to the iPhone (iOS)

On the iPhone, the synchronization process has several key differences:

1. Limited functionality: Apple blocks access to certain features (e.g., you can’t answer calls through Xiaomi watches).
2. Only Mi Fitness: Xiaomi Wear is not available for iOS, so even new watch models (Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro) will have to connect through Mi Fitness with reduced features.
3. Background problems: iOS aggressively closes apps in the background, which can delay data synchronization.

Instructions for iPhone:

1. Install Mi Fitness from the App Store.
2. In the iPhone settings, go to Bluetooth and make sure the feature is enabled.
3. Start Mi Fitness, sign up and select "Add Device".
4. When the watch appears on the list, confirm pairing on both devices.
5. In your iPhone settings, allow Mi Fitness to access Notifications, Health (to sync steps) and Geolocation.

On iOS, it is also worth considering that:

• 📵 No Call Support: Even if the Watch Is Technically Able to Accept Calls (Like Xiaomi Watch) S2), On the iPhone, this feature will be blocked.
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge: due to iOS restrictions, the watch will be more often synchronized over Bluetooth, which increases power consumption.
• 📊 Not all data is exported: sleep scores may not be shared with Apple Health, for example.

4. Solving common problems in binding

Even if you follow instructions correctly, users often encounter errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

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90% of connection problems are due to outdated firmware of watches or applications. Always update the software before pairing!

The watch is not in the annex

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🔌 Watch discharged: Connect it to charge for 10-15 minutes, even if the indicator shows charge. Sometimes the device does not turn on Bluetooth when the battery level is low.
• 📡 Bluetooth interference: Disable other devices connected to the phone (earphones, speakers.
• 📱 Outdated version of the app: Remove Mi Fitness, clear the cache and install the latest version.
• 🌍 In Mi Fitness settings, select “China” (sometimes this helps with new models).

Error "Device not supported"

This error occurs if:

• You try to connect the watch through Mi Fitness, but they require Xiaomi Wear (like Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro).
• You have an outdated version of the app (update it).
• The watch is designed for a different region (for example, the global version is not compatible with the Chinese firmware of the phone).

Decision:

1. Check the compatibility of your model in the first section.
2. If the watch is new, try installing the Xiaomi Wear beta (available on APKCombo).
3. Reset the watch to factory settings (Clock settings → System → Reset) and repeat pairing.

Synchronization is interrupted or data is not updated

The problem is typical for Android phones with aggressive battery optimization (for example, Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO).

What to do:

• ⚡ Turn off optimization for Mi Fitness: Go to Phone Settings → Annexes → Application management → Mi Fitness. Select Battery and turn off Optimization. Turn on Autostart and Background Activity".

Mi Fitness

Xiaomi

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If you have a Xiaomi/Redmi phone, add Mi Fitness to the list of "Secure Apps" in the battery settings, which will prevent the program from automatically closing.

5. Additional settings after binding

Successful connection is only half the battle, so to make the watch work as efficiently as possible, set the following parameters:

Personalization of screen and dials

Depending on the model, you can:

• 🎨 Install third-party dials: In Mi Fitness go to Profile → My devices. → Dials." For Xiaomi Watch S2 More than 100 options are available, including animated.
• 🔧 Set up the information displayed: In the menu of the clock, select "Settings" → Screen. → Dial elements and add widgets (pulse, weather, steps).
• 🖼️ Some models (for example, Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro) allow you to install personal wallpaper on the dial through Xiaomi Wear.

Only call notifications and SMS are available for iPhones (due to iOS restrictions).

5.3 Health tracking setup

Xiaomi watches can monitor pulse, blood oxygen levels (SpO₂) And sleep, so that the data is accurate:

• 🩺 Calibration of the heart rate sensor: Put on the watch tighter (but not too tight) and start the manual pulse measurement in the device menu.
• 😴 Sleep mode: Turn on automatic sleep tracking in the clock settings ("Health" → Sleep. Activate Sensitive Mode for greater accuracy".
• 🏃 In Mi Fitness, set goals for steps and calories ("Profile") → Goals.The clock will vibrate when it reaches 50% and 100% of the daily norm.