How to sync Xiaomi smartwatch with your phone: full instruction 2026

Xiaomi smartwatches and fitness bracelets have long been an integral part of everyday life. They help monitor activity, monitor health and receive notifications right on the wrist. However, the first connection to a smartphone often raises questions — especially for beginners. Why is the device not detected? How to set up data synchronization? And what to do if the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) refuses to see the gadget?

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to synchronize Xiaomi smartwatches with your phone, from basic settings via Bluetooth to solving typical errors. Particular attention will be paid to the Mi Band 8, Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro and Smart Band 7 Pro models, but the instruction will also be suitable for other devices of the brand. If you’ve tried to connect, but something went wrong, you’ll find it at the end of the article. FAQ with solutions to the most common problems.

Before you start, make sure your smartphone meets the minimum requirements: Android 6.0+ or iOS 10.0+. Also check whether your watch model supports your version of the OS – this information can be clarified on the official Xiaomi website or in the documentation for the device.

Preparation for synchronization: what to do before connecting

Many users miss this stage, and it is in vain that proper preparation will save most problems in the future.

Download the official Mi Fitness app (for Android/iOS)

Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone

Charge your smartwatch to at least 50%

Make sure there is enough free space on your phone (minimum 100MB)

Turn it off. VPN Proxies (they can block the connection to Xiaomi servers)-->

Pay special attention to the version of the app. If you have an outdated version of Mi Fit, you need to upgrade it to Mi Fitness, which is the app that now supports all new Xiaomi devices, and you can download it for free on Google Play or the App Store.

Another important point is the compatibility of operating systems. For example, the Xiaomi Watch S3 requires Android 8.0+, and for the Mi Band 7, Android 6.0 is enough. If your smartphone is outdated, some features may not be available. For a full list of compatibility, see the table below:

Important: If your phone is running custom firmware (like LineageOS or MIUI Global on unofficial devices), sync may not work due to lack of Google certificates.

2. Step-by-step instructions: how to connect Xiaomi smart watch to the phone

Now, to the synchronization process itself, we'll look at the standard way through the Mi Fitness app, which is 90% of the models, and if you have a Xiaomi Watch with Wear OS (like the Watch 2 Pro), the instruction is a little different, and you'll find that in the next section.

Step 1. Launch the Mi Fitness app and click on the profile icon in the top right corner. Then select Add Device (or Add Device in English).

Step 2. Choose your smartwatch model from the list. If your model is not available, try to choose the one that is the closest in specs (for example, Mi Band 8 will be the right option for the Mi Band 8 Pro).

Step 3. Follow the instructions on the screen. The app will suggest:

Step 4: Wait until the synchronization is complete. It can take 1 to 5 minutes, depending on the clock model and the speed of the Internet connection, and the device is connected to the phone.

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If the app is looking for a device for a long time, try rebooting Bluetooth on your phone: turn it off for 10 seconds, then turn it on again. This often helps with the process hanging.

After a successful connection, we recommend you immediately update the firmware of the watch (if an update is available). To do this, go to the Device Profile → Software Update in the Mi Fitness application.

3. Features of connecting Xiaomi Watch on Wear OS

Xiaomi’s Wear OS smartwatches (like the Watch 2 Pro or Watch S3) are synchronized slightly differently, using not only Mi Fitness, but also the standard Wear OS by Google app.

Installation of two annexes:

• 📱 Mi Fitness – for fitness functions and updates
• 📱 Wear OS by Google – for basic synchronization with Android

Procedure for connection:

1. First, install both applications.
2. Turn on the clock and select the language.
3. On your phone, open Wear OS and follow the connection instructions.
4. After successfully syncing with Wear OS, open Mi Fitness and add the watch as a new device.

Additional settings:

• 🔄 Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro is available with standalone eSIM (operator support required).
• 🎵 You can control music on your phone right from the clock (for example, pause/play in Spotify).
• 📞 Support for Google Assistant (configured in Wear) OS).

4. Notification setting and data synchronization

Once the connection is successful, it’s time to set up notifications and synchronize data, which will allow you to receive messages from messengers, track calls and automatically save training data in the application.

How to enable notifications:

1. Open your Mi Fitness and select your watch.
2. Go to Application Notifications (or App Notifications).
3. Turn on the switch next to the desired applications (WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS, etc.).
4. Set up the notification style: vibration, sound, text display.

How to synchronize health data:

• 🩺 Automatic synchronization is included in the settings → Synchronization of data.
• 📊 To export data to Google Fit or Apple Health, go to Profile → Integration with other services.
• ⏱️ The sync frequency varies by model: for example, the Mi Band 8 updates data every 5 minutes, and the Xiaomi Watch. S3 — hourly.

An important nuance: if you use two phones (for example, a work phone and a personal phone), the watch can only be synchronized with one device.

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To save battery life, turn off background data synchronization for applications you don’t use regularly, especially for the Mi Band with a small battery capacity.

5. Typical errors and their solutions

Even with the right connection, there are some failures, and we've collected some of the most common errors and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, try resetting the clock to the factory.

1. On the clock go to Settings → System → Reset.
2. Confirm the action (usually hold the button for 5-10 seconds).
3. After resetting, repeat the connection procedure again.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting to factory settings will delete all data from the watch, including workout history and personal settings. Pre-export important data to Mi Fitness or Google Fit.

6.How to sync Xiaomi smartwatch with iPhone

iPhone owners can also use Xiaomi’s smartwatches, but with some limitations, with the main difference being that there is no support for offline calls (even on eSIM models) and fewer notification features due to iOS limitations.

Step-by-step instructions for the iPhone:

1. Download Mi Fitness from the App Store.
2. Turn Bluetooth on in Settings → Bluetooth.
3. Start Mi Fitness, click Add Device and select your model.
4. Confirm the pairing on the clock (usually you need to press the screen or button).
5. Allow notifications for Mi Fitness in Settings → Notifications.

Restrictions on use with iPhone:

• 🚫 No way to answer phone calls from a clock (even on Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro).
• 🚫 Some dials may not display correctly.
• 🚫 Synchronizing Health Data with Apple Health is Unstable.

If you have a Xiaomi Watch on Wear OS, the iPhone will only require the Mi Fitness app – Wear OS by Google does not support iOS. Functionality will be greatly curtailed: for example, there will be no work with Google Assistant or music management.

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To work with your iPhone consistently, disable the Low Bluetooth Power feature in the iOS settings (Settings → Bluetooth).

7 Additional functions after synchronization

When the watch is successfully connected, you can configure advanced features that will make use of even more convenient:

1. Music management:

• 🎧 On Mi Band 8 and newer, you can switch tracks directly from the watch screens.
• 🎵 Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro supports standalone music playback (you need to download files via Mi Fitness).

Contactless payments:

• 💳 In the models with NFC (For example, Xiaomi Watch S3) You can link your bank card via Mi Pay.
• ⚠️ In Russia, the function may be limited due to sanctions.

Voice assistant:

• 🎤 On a Wear watch. OS Google Assistant is available.
• 🗣️ You can configure fast voice commands on Mi Band via Mi Fitness.

Automatic training:

• 🏃‍♂️ The watch can automatically recognize the beginning of running, walking or cycling.
• 📊 Training data synced with Strava, Apple Health or Google Fit.

⚠️ Attention: Automatic training recognition can quickly drain the battery. If you are critical to autonomy, turn it off in the settings of the clock (Workouts) → Autodetermination).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions