How to sync your Xiaomi phone and watch: A complete guide to error solutions

Xiaomi smartwatches and fitness bracelets have long been an integral part of the brand ecosystem, but their first sync with the phone often raises questions from users. Even experienced gadget owners can face connection errors, lack of notifications or problems with transferring health data. This article will help you understand all the nuances from choosing the right app (Mi Fit or Zepp Life) to fine-tuning the sync for specific watch models.

We’ll look at not only basic connectivity steps, but also rare cases — like what to do if the Mi Band 8 watch is not defined by the Redmi Note 12 phone, or how to restore the connection after resetting. Particular attention will be paid to Bluetooth problems that occur on devices with Android 13+ and MIUI 14. All instructions are relevant for 2026 and tested on the latest versions of firmware.

Which app to use: Mi Fit or Zepp Life?

From 2022, Xiaomi will gradually migrate all wearable devices to the Zepp Life platform (formerly known as Amazfit), but some models still require Mi Fit.

• 📱 Mi Fit – for older models: Mi Band 3/4/5, Mi Watch Lite, Amazfit Bip S. The app supports basic features, but has not received updates since 2023.
• ⚡ Zepp Life — for new devices: Mi Band 7/8, Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, Redmi Watch 3, Amazfit GTR 4. Advanced health metrics and integration with Apple Health/Google Fit are available here.
• ⚠️ Both applications are for transitional models: the Mi Band 6 and the Mi Watch (first generation) can work in both, but Zepp Life features more functionality.

Important: If you upgraded the watch firmware to the latest version and the app doesn't see the device, check compatibility in the official Xiaomi spreadsheet, as some older models stopped being supported in 2026. For example, the Mi Band 4 no longer receives updates through Zepp Life.

If in doubt, check the watch manual or check the model in the compatibility list on Xiaomi's support site.For devices released after 2021, Zepp Life is almost always needed.

Preparing the phone for synchronization

Before you plug in the watch, make sure your smartphone meets the minimum requirements. Here is a checklist of the mandatory conditions:

Bluetooth enabled (Visibility mode for all devices)

The latest version of MIUI (or Android 10+ for other brands) is installed

Power saving mode disabled for Mi Fit/Zepp Life

Notifications for the application are allowed in the system settings

Cache and application data reset (if the watch has already tried to connect)-->

Pay special attention to application permissions. On MIUI 14 and later, you must manually allow:

1. Access to geodata (to track activity);
2. Auto-run permission (so that notifications arrive without delay)
3. Exception from battery optimization (otherwise the connection will break).

On other brands (Samsung, Realme) additionally check the settings of the Adaptive Battery in the section Special Access. If the Xiaomi Watch S3 does not sync with the Galaxy S23, most likely, the problem is precisely in the background limitations.

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On Xiaomi phones with MIUI 14+, turn on the developer mode and activate the “Bluetoothbug” option – this will help stabilize the connection with the watch.

Step-by-step instructions for synchronization

Consider the process by connecting the Xiaomi Mi Band 8 to a phone via Zepp Life. For other models, the steps are similar, but menu items may differ.

1. Download Zepp Life from Google Play or App Store. Sign up via phone number, email or Xiaomi account.
2. Activate the watch Charge the watch to 50% or more. Click the touch button to turn it on. Wait for the QR- code to appear on the screen (for Mi Band 8) or go to the Connect Device menu.
3. Search Device In the Zepp Life app, click Add Device → Bracelet (or Watch). Select your model from the list. If there is no model, update the app.
4. Bluetooth pairing Bring the watch to the phone at a distance of <10 cm. On the phone screen, you will see a pairing request, confirm it. If the request does not appear, check if the phone is on Bluetooth and is not blocked by antivirus.
5. Once connected, the app will prompt you to update the firmware of the watch. Don't interrupt the process, which can lead to a "bricking" of the device. Average refresh time: 5-15 minutes.

If at the interface stage there is an error "Can not connect", try:

• 🔄 Reboot both the watch and the phone;
• 📱 Remove the watch from the list of associated devices in Bluetooth settings;
• 🔧 Reset the clock to factory settings (press the touch button for 10 seconds).

Setup of notifications and data synchronization

Once you've successfully connected, you need to set up notifications and automatically sync, otherwise the clock will just show the time.

For stable notifications on Android 13/14 additionally:

1. Open your phone settings → Applications → Zepp Life → Notifications;
2. Turn on the Allow notification switch;
3. In the Notification Categories section, activate Messages and Reminders.
4. In battery settings, add Zepp Life to the list with No Limits.

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On Xiaomi phones with MIUI 14+, notifications may not come due to the “Concentration” feature. Turn it off in Settings → Special. features → Concentration.

If notifications are late (like on the Redmi Note 11), check:

• 📵 Is not the Do Not Disturb on the Watch enabled?
• 🔋 Does the system optimize Zepp Life in the background?
• 📶 Bluetooth connection quality (reconnect the clock).

Solving common problems

Even after successful synchronization, users are faced with common errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

⚠️ Warning: If notifications stop working after the Xiaomi Watch S2 firmware update (or later), reset the clock to factory settings and repeat the synchronization. This is due to a change in the 2026 firmware data exchange protocol.

For devices with MIUI 14 and later, there is another common problem: the Mi Band 8 watch is connected, but after a few hours the connection is broken, due to aggressive background optimization.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Zepp Life;
2. Select Auto Launch and Without Restrictions;
3. In the section Additional → Battery, disable MIUI Optimization for the application.

If nothing works, try an alternative method of connecting through the Notify & Fitness for Mi Band app (available on Google Play).It supports most Xiaomi models and often runs more stable than official apps.

Synchronization with iPhone: features and limitations

While Xiaomi watches officially support iOS, the functionality on the iPhone is limited.

• 📱 Only models are supported: Mi Band 7/8, Xiaomi Watch S2/S3, Redmi Watch 3;
• ❌ Not working: phone answers, voice assistant, pay in hours
• ⚠️ Notifications only come if the Zepp Life app is open in the background.
• 🔋 Data synchronization is less frequent (once every 1-2 hours vs. 30 minutes on Android).

To connect the watch to the iPhone:

1. Install Zepp Life from the App Store
2. In the iPhone settings, open Bluetooth and Privacy → Location, allow access for the app;
3. In the settings of the clock, disable the Quick Connection function (if any) - it conflicts with iOS;
4. After connecting manually update the firmware through the Device Profile → Software Update.

⚠️ Warning: On iPhones with iOS 17+, Xiaomi watches may spontaneously shut down due to Apple's restrictions on Bluetooth background work.

If you have an iPhone 15 and Mi Band 8 watches don’t sync your sleep data, try:

• Turn off low power mode on the iPhone;
• Manually run synchronization in the application (Profile → Synchronize);
• Install a third-party Mi Fit app (sometimes it works more stable on iOS).

Additional functions after synchronization

Once successfully connected, Xiaomi watches open up hidden features that many people don’t know about.

• 🎵 Music control: on the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro you can switch tracks and adjust volume directly from the clock (set up in Device Profile → Music);
• 📸 Remote camera shutter: Zepp Life has a Camera option that lets you take photos from your smartphone by pressing your watch.
• 🔐 Phone unlock: MIUI can be set to automatically unlock the screen when the clock is approaching (Settings → Screen lock → Additional);
• 🏃 Voice-enabled training: In the training settings, turn on Voice prompts — the clock will voice pace and distance.

For owners of Xiaomi Watch S3 and newer, the Xiaomi HyperOS Connect function is available - it allows:

• Get weather notifications directly on the dial;
• Use your watch as a presentation console (PowerPoint/Google Slides)
• Configure Quick Responses to Messages (up to 5 templates)

To activate these functions:

1. Update the watch to the latest version;
2. In the Zepp Life app, go to the Laboratory → Experimental Functions.
3. Turn on the switches in front of the desired options;
4. Reset the clock (press the button for 10 seconds).

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The “Search for Phone” feature on Xiaomi’s watch works even if the phone is silent – the watch will make it vibrate at full volume.

FAQ: Frequent questions about synchronization