Synchronization Xiaomi Mi Band with the phone: full instructions from A to Z

Why you need to sync Mi Band and how it works

The Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets have long been an integral part of the daily lives of millions of users, with compact devices that track steps, pulse, sleep quality, and even alert incoming calls, but all of these features are only available after proper synchronization with the phone, without which the bracelet becomes a regular pedometer with an alarm clock.

Synchronization is the process of connecting the bracelet to a smartphone via Bluetooth, which allows you to transfer data to the Mi Fitness application (formerly Mi Fit) or Zepp Life. Depending on the model (Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7/8/9) and the phone operating system (Android/iOS), the process may be slightly different, but the overall scheme remains the same, the main thing is to avoid typical errors that cause devices to “not see” each other.

In this article, you'll find step-by-step instructions for all current models, troubleshooting tips, and answers to frequent questions. And if you've just unpacked your bracelet, start with Preparing for Sync to make sure you don't miss anything.

Preparing for synchronization: what to do before connecting

Before you start connecting the bracelet to your phone, make sure all the prerequisites are met, which will save time and eliminate the need to reconnect the device.

1. Check device compatibility. Xiaomi Mi Band bracelets work with Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+ phones. For Mi Band 7/8/9 models, Android 6.0+ or iOS 12+ are recommended due to the features of the firmware. If your smartphone is older, you will have to update it or use third-party applications (but this is fraught with loss of functionality).

2. Make sure the bracelet is charged. Minimum charge level for first synchronization — 20%. If the indicator on the bracelet screen shows red or the device does not respond to touch, connect it to charging on the device. 30-60 For the Mi Band. 8/9 s AMOLED-The display is recommended charge not lower 50%, to avoid failures when updating the firmware.

• 📱 Update your phone’s operating system to the latest version (especially for iOS).
• 🔄 Turn on Bluetooth and make sure it works consistently (check the connection to other devices).
• 🌐 Connect your phone to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data) – without this it is impossible to download the application and update the bracelet firmware.
• 📦 Remove old versions of Mi Fit or Zepp Life apps if they were installed earlier.

Charge the bracelet to 50% |

Update the phone OS |

Remove old versions of Mi Fit/Zepp Life|

Turn on Bluetooth and Internet |

Prepare a Xiaomi account (or create a new one)-->

Important: If you are using Mi Band 6 or newer with NFC, contactless payments will require you to link your bank card to the Mi Pay app (not available in all regions) to work fully.

Installation and configuration of the application: Mi Fitness vs Zepp Life

Since 2023, Xiaomi has officially switched to the Zepp Life app (formerly Amazfit) for all new bracelet models, but Mi Fitness still supports older devices.

For Mi Band 3/4/5/6 models: both applications can be used, but Mi Fitness offers more stable work with these bracelets. For Mi Band 7/8/9: be sure to install Zepp Life, as Mi Fitness may lack key features (e.g., training management or dial settings).

After installation of the annex:

1. Open it and select the language (Russian is available in all versions).
2. Sign in with your Xiaomi account (or Zepp for new models) if you don’t have an account, sign up in advance.
3. Allow all permissions (access to notifications, location, contacts – this is necessary for proper operation).
4. In the main menu, click Add device ("+" or Profile → Add device).

Mi Fitness|

Zepp Life|

Both in turn |

Other (write in the comments)|

Step-by-step: how to sync Xiaomi Mi Band with Android

The process of connecting the bracelet to the Android phone takes no more than 5 minutes, if you follow the instructions. We will consider a universal algorithm suitable for all models of the Mi Band (from the 3rd to the 9th version).

Step 1 Activation of the bracelet

Turn on the bracelet by pressing the touch button (for Mi Band 3/4) or touching the screen (for Mi Band 5/6/7/8/9). The Mi logo or greeting will appear on the screen. If the bracelet does not respond, plug it into charging for 10-15 minutes.

Step 2. Search for the device in the application

In the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app, click Add Device, then select your bracelet model from the list. Make sure your phone is enabled with Bluetooth and Geodata (which are needed to find the device).

Step 3: Confirmation of connection

When the bracelet appears on the list of available devices, click on it. The bracelet will display a 4-digit code on the screen - compare it to the code in the application and confirm the pairing. If the codes do not match, reboot the bracelet (press the touch button for 10 seconds).

Step 4: Update the firmware

Once you've successfully connected, the app will suggest you update the bracelet firmware, and don't give up the upgrade, because it'll fix the bugs and add new features, and it'll take 2-5 minutes, and don't interrupt it, and don't turn off Bluetooth.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Android 12+, Before connecting, disable the Automatic Disconnection of Unused Devices function in Bluetooth settings. Otherwise, the bracelet will permanently break the connection.

Synchronization with iPhone: features and possible problems

Connecting the Xiaomi Mi Band to the iPhone has its nuances due to the limitations of iOS. The main problem is an unstable connection due to the background limitations of the system.

Step 1: Set up your iPhone

Before connecting, perform the following actions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Bluetooth and make sure the function is enabled.
• 🔄 B Settings → Confidentiality → Geolocation Services Enable Geolocation for the Mi Application Fitness/Zepp Life.
• 🔔 B Settings → Notifications Allow Notifications for the Bracelet App.

Step 2. Connect the bracelet

The algorithm is the same as for Android, but after pairing:

1. Close all background apps on your iPhone (double pressing the Home button or swiping up on models without a button).
2. Open Mi Fitness/Zepp Life and wait for full data synchronization (up to 10 minutes).
3. In the bracelet settings in the application, disable the option "Battery Saving" (it interferes with a stable connection).

Step 3: Solving connection problems

If the bracelet is permanently switched off:

• 🔋 Reboot your iPhone and bracelet.
• 📴 In the iPhone settings, find the bracelet in the list of Bluetooth devices and click “Forget this device”, then connect again.
• 📲 Install Notify for Mi Band (available in the App Store) – it helps to stabilize the connection.

💡

If after the iOS update, the bracelet stopped syncing, try rolling back the Mi Fitness version of the application via TestFlight (you need to have a backup of the old version).

⚠️ Note: You can’t use the “Search for Bracelet” feature on iPhone (as on Android) because iOS restricts access to Bluetooth in the background.

Configure notifications and additional functions after synchronization

Once you've successfully connected the bracelet, you have to customize it to your needs, and the right configuration will determine how comfortable you'll be with the device.

1. Notifications

To make the bracelet vibrate when incoming calls and messages:

1. In the app, go to Profile → Your device → Notifications.
2. Turn on the "Notification" switch.
3. Select applications that must be duplicated on the bracelet (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).
4. Set up "Do Not Disturb" mode on a schedule (for example, during sleep).

2. Tracking sleep and activity

For accurate monitoring:

• 🛌 Turn on "Sleep Monitor" in the bracelet settings and specify the time of going to bed.
• 🏃‍♂️ Activate Auto-Definition Training (available for Mi Band 5 and later).
• ❤️ Set up the “Pulse Frequency” (optimum: every 10 minutes to save battery life).

Dials and interface

Zepp Life has over 100+ free dials available to install:

1. Go to Profile → Your device → Dials.
2. Select your favorite design and click "Install".
3. Synchronize the bracelet (the data will be updated within 1-2 minutes).

💡

For the Mi Band 7/8/9 models with Always-On Display (AOD), set the dial display time in standby mode to save battery power.

Common Errors and Their Solutions: Why the Bracelet Doesn't Sync

Even if you do all the steps right, sometimes you have problems, and let's look at the typical mistakes and how to fix them.

If nothing helps:

• 🔧 Remove the bracelet from the list of devices in the application and connect again.
• 📱 Check if the antivirus or “power saving mode” block Bluetooth.
• 📞 Contact Xiaomi Support via the App (Feedback section").

FAQ: answers to frequent questions about synchronization Xiaomi Mi Band