Is Samsung Watch Compatible with Xiaomi Phones: A Complete Guide to Setup

Samsung’s smartwatches and Xiaomi’s smartphones are products of two different ecosystems, but many people wonder if they can be combined. At first glance, this seems impossible: Google’s Wear OS and Xiaomi’s MIUI are built on different principles, and proprietary applications (Galaxy Wearable and Mi Fitness) are not designed for cross-platform work. However, with some caveats and additional settings, synchronization is still possible.

In this article, we’ll look at what Samsung watch models (including the Galaxy Watch 4/5/6 and Galaxy Fit) can work with Xiaomi phones (Redmi, POCO, Mi series), what features will be available and what won’t. You’ll also learn about workarounds to connect through third-party apps, limitations in health data transfers, and how to optimize the battery in this tandem. If you’re only planning to buy a watch and are doubtful about compatibility, here are the answers to key questions.

What Samsung watches can be connected to Xiaomi: a list of compatible models

Not all Samsung smartwatches are equally compatible with Xiaomi, and the main division is based on the operating system of the watch:

  • πŸ”Ή The Wear watch. OS (For example, the Galaxy Watch. 4/5/6, Galaxy Watch Active 2): Officially require a smartphone on Android 8.0+ Google services, but can work with Xiaomi through the Galaxy Wearable app (with limitations).
  • πŸ”Ή Watches on Tizen (Galaxy Watch 3, Galaxy Watch Active, Gear) S3): Only connect to Samsung phones or devices with Samsung Accessory Service support (Xiaomi does not work).
  • πŸ”Ή Galaxy Fit (Galaxy Fit 2): partially compatible with the Galaxy Wearable app, but without synchronization with Mi Fitness.

Important: Even if the watch physically connects to a Xiaomi phone, some features (such as Samsung Pay or Bixby) will be blocked, and there may be no synchronization of sleep, stress and ECG data with Xiaomi apps.

πŸ“Š What Samsung watches are you using?
Galaxy Watch 4/5/6
Galaxy Watch 3 or older
Galaxy Fit/Fit 2
Other models
I haven't bought it yet.

Samsung’s Wear OS watches (like the Galaxy Watch 6) can only work with Xiaomi when you install the Galaxy Wearable app and disable the MIUI energy-saving features for that app.

Official way to connect: Galaxy Wearable app

The only legal way to sync a Samsung watch (on Wear OS) with a Xiaomi phone is to use the Galaxy Wearable app.

  1. Download Galaxy Wearable from Google Play (not from the Mi App Store!).
  2. Install additional plugins: Galaxy Watch Plugin and Samsung Accessory Service.
  3. Turn on the watch pairing mode (Settings β†’ Connection β†’ Bluetooth).
  4. In the Galaxy Wearable app, select your watch model and follow the instructions.

After you have connected, you will be able to:

  • πŸ“± Call and Message Notifications (WhatsApp, SMS, Telegram).
  • πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ Tracking steps, pulse and workouts (but without exporting to Mi Fitness).
  • βš™οΈ Customization of dials and fast buttons.

Disable power saving for Galaxy Wearable in MIUI|

Install all updates for the watch via Wi-Fi|

Reset the clock to factory settings (if previously paired with another phone)|

Enable geolocation and Bluetooth on your phone-->

⚠️ Note: Galaxy Wearable app may conflict with MIUI Optimization is Xiaomi’s optimization system. If the clock goes off after 10 to 30 minutes, add the app to the exception list: Settings β†’ Battery β†’ Optimizing the battery β†’ All applications β†’ Galaxy Wearable β†’ No restrictions.

Alternative ways of connecting: bypassing restrictions

If the official method doesn’t work or you need additional features (e.g. synchronizing health data with Mi Fitness), you can try alternative solutions:

1. Wear OS by Google (for Wear OS watches)

This app allows you to manage your watch on Wear OS without the Galaxy Wearable, but with limited functionality:

  • πŸ”„ Synchronization of notifications and basic data (steps, pulse).
  • 🚫 No access to Samsung’s proprietary features (e.g., BioActive Sensor for body composition analysis).
  • πŸ“² The ability to install apps directly from the Play Market on your watch.

2. Notify & Fitness App (for fitness data)

This tool allows you to redirect data from Samsung watches to Google Fit, and from there to Mi Fitness through third-party services like Health Sync.

Samsung Watches β†’ Galaxy Wearable β†’ Google Fit β†’ Health Sync β†’ Mi Fitness

The disadvantages of the method are: delay in synchronization (up to 1 hour) and possible errors in the transmission of sleep data.

How to transfer health data to Mi Fitness?
1. Install Health Sync on your phone from Google Play. 2. In the app settings, select the Google Fit source and Mi Fitness receiver. 3. Set up sync rules (e.g., steps and pulse only). 4. Run manual sync in Health Sync. ⚠️ Stress and ECG data are not portable! What features will be unavailable when connecting to Xiaomi Even if you managed to connect a Samsung watch to a Xiaomi phone, some features will remain blocked due to ecosystem limitations.Here is the full list: Is the feature available on Xiaomi? Reasons for the restriction of Samsung Pay ❌ No Requires a Certified Samsung ECG Measurement ❌ No Works Only on Samsung Phones with Samsung Health App Bioelectrical Impedance) ❌ No Requires Samsung Branded Call Notifications (with Response Option) ⚠️ Partially You Can Accept Calls, But Mi Mi Mi Mi Mi Mi Mi Mitness May Not Work ⚠️ There is no direct integration, only through Google Fit ⚠️ Attention: On the Galaxy Watch 4/5/6 When you connect to Xiaomi, the automatic training detection function may disappear. To return it, update the watch firmware via Wi-Fi (not Bluetooth!). How to extend battery life when you connect to Xiaomi Due to the features MIUI (Samsung Watches Can Deplete Faster Than With Original Phone. Here's how to fix it: πŸ”‹ Turn off automatic sync in Galaxy Wearable and update data manually. πŸ“΄ In Xiaomi settings, disable Background Limitation for Galaxy Wearable and Google Play Services apps. ⚑ Use the energy saving mode on the clock (in Settings) β†’ Battery). πŸ”„ Reduce the refresh rate to 1Hz (in the watch display settings). Also, turn off unnecessary notifications. For example, if you are not using Samsung Health, remove it from the watch through Settings. β†’ Applications: This will save up to 15-20% of charge per day. Frequent problems and solutions When connecting Samsung watches to Xiaomi, users experience typical errors. Here are the most common and ways to fix them: 1. The watch turns off after 5-10 minutes: MIUI Optimization kills background processes of Galaxy Wearable. Solution: Add Galaxy Wearable to Secure Apps (Settings) β†’ Battery β†’ Battery optimization. Turn off Auto Cleanup. RAM In Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ Optimization. 2. No notifications are received Reason: Conflict between Galaxy Wearable and Mi Push Service.Solution: In Settings β†’ Notifications β†’ Additionally, turn on Display notifications on the locked screen. Reboot the watch and phone. 3. Health data is not synced Reason: No direct integration with Mi Fitness. Solution: Use Health Sync (described above) or export data to Google Fit. πŸ’‘If Samsung watches don’t connect to Xiaomi even after all the manipulations, try resetting them to factory settings (Settings) β†’ General. β†’ Reset) and repeat the pairing procedure. Should you buy a Samsung watch for a Xiaomi phone: pros and cons If you haven’t bought a watch yet and are in doubt, here are the arguments for and against such a combination: βœ… Pluses: πŸ† Build and display quality: Samsung Watches (especially Galaxy Watch 6) outperform most Xiaomi smartwatches in materials and screen. πŸ“Š Sensor accuracy: BioActive sensors (pulse, ECG, body composition) are more accurate than those of the Mi Band or Amazfit. πŸ”„ Wear OS: More apps in the Play Market than in Xiaomi’s closed ecosystem. ❌ Cons: πŸ”Œ Limited compatibility: No full sync with Mi Fitness and other Xiaomi services. πŸ’° Samsung watches are more expensive than Xiaomi counterparts (for example, Galaxy Watch 6 vs Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro). ⚑ Battery: When connected to Xiaomi, the discharge occurs faster due to software conflicts. If you want full integration with the Xiaomi ecosystem (smart home, Mi Home, Mi Fitness), it is better to consider the watch of the same brand, for example, Xiaomi Watch. S3 or Amazfit GTR 4.If sensor quality and design come first, Samsung is still a good choice even for Xiaomi phones. FAQ: Answers to popular questions Can I connect the Galaxy Watch 3 to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12? No. The Galaxy Watch 3 runs on Tizen, which requires a Samsung phone or a device with Samsung Accessory Service support. Xiaomi does not support this technology. Will notifications from Viber and WhatsApp work on Samsung watches if Xiaomi phone? Yes, but with the caveat: Notifications will come, but not always stable (depending on optimization) MIUI). Answering messages by voice or through the keyboard will not work – only viewing. WhatsApp may need to enable Notifications Shower in the app settings. Can you flash Samsung watches to work with Xiaomi? It's technically possible to install custom firmware (e.g. Wear) OS without the shell of Samsung, but it is: 🚫 Takes you out of your guarantee. πŸ”§ It will require unlocking the bootloader and technical skills. ⚠️ It can cause sensors to work in an unstable way. We recommend that you don't do this, you use workarounds (e.g. Health Sync). How do you reset a Samsung watch if it's not connected to Xiaomi? Do a hard reset: On the watch, go to Settings. β†’ General. β†’ Reset. Choose Reset and confirm. If the watch doesn't respond, press the Home button" + Lower button on 10 Seconds (for Galaxy Watch) 4/5/6). After reset, try to connect again by previously turning off the energy saving for Galaxy Wearable in the MIUI. What Xiaomi watches are an alternative to Samsung?If you are looking for similar functionality, pay attention to the new Samsung watches: πŸ”Ή Xiaomi Watch S3 β€” Wear OS, but with better integration in MIUI. πŸ”Ή Amazfit GTR 4 – Autonomous for up to 14 days, accurate sensors. πŸ”Ή Huawei Watch GT 4 β€” if not the basic ecosystem of Xiaomi. they are cheaper than the Galaxy Watch and free of compatibility issues.