The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet has become a hit among sports and active lifestyle enthusiasts. Despite its compact size and modest technical characteristics, this device can do much more than just count steps or measure pulse. One of the most popular questions among owners is how to listen to music directly from the bracelet or control it through a connected smartphone. In this article, we will analyze all the available methods, including official functions and workarounds for those who want to squeeze the most out of the gadget.
It's important to understand that the Mi Band 4 is not a full-fledged music player as we know it, it doesn't have a built-in memory for storing tracks, and the speaker is only for alerts, but that doesn't mean listening to music is impossible! With a smartphone, special apps and small tricks, you can control playback, receive notifications about tracks, and even use the bracelet as a remote for a player. Next, detailed instructions for different scenarios.
Mi Band 4 features for music work
The manufacturer has laid in Mi Band 4 basic features for interacting with music apps on a smartphone, these options are available out of the box and do not require the installation of additional software.
- 🎵 Player control: playback / pause, switching tracks, volume control (via smartphone).
- 📱 Track notifications: display of the name of the composition and the artist on the bracelet screen.
- 🔊 Vibrational alerts: The bracelet vibrates when you change track or pause.
- 🚫 Limitation: No way to download music directly to your device, only smartphone control.
To activate these features, you need to link the Mi Band 4 to your smartphone via the official Mi Fit app (or its Zepp alternative for newer firmware versions). After synchronization, the Music Management section will appear in the bracelet settings, where you can turn on notifications and controls. Important: the function only works with supported music applications (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, VK Music, etc. – Android system player may not be displayed.
If you don’t see the music management option, check:
- Bracelet firmware version (update via Mi Fit) → Profile → Mi Band 4 → Firmware update).
- Permissions for Mi Fit (access to notifications and media)
- Compatibility of your smartphone (on some models with custom firmware, the function may not work).
Step-by-step: how to connect music management
Activating control of the player through the Mi Band 4 is simple, if you follow a clear algorithm, and below is a universal instruction, suitable for most smartphones on Android and iOS.
Download and install the latest version of Mi Fit/Zepp
Connect Mi Band 4 to your smartphone via Bluetooth
Open notification settings in Mi Fit
Enable access to media notifications for the app-->
Step 1 Synchronize the bracelet with the smartphone
If you haven’t connected your devices yet, do so through the Mi Fit app:
- Open Mi Fit and go to Profile → Add the device.
- Select Mi Band 4 from the list and follow the instructions on the screen.
- After successful connection, update the bracelet firmware (if available).
Step 2: Set up music notifications
To the bracelet display information about the tracks being reproduced:
- In Mi Fit, go to Mi Band 4. → Notifications.
- Activate the Music Notification Switch.
- In the list of apps, mark the ones you want to see notifications for (such as Spotify or Apple Music).
Step 3: Control the player from the bracelet screen
Now, when playing music on your smartphone:
- 🎶 On the screen of Mi Band 4 will appear the name of the track and control buttons.
- 🔄 Swipe up/down - switching tracks.
- ⏯️ Touching in the center of the screen - pause / playback.
- 🔊 Holding the button on the bracelet - volume control (on some firmwares).
💡
If the control buttons don’t appear, try restarting the music app on your smartphone or reconnecting the bracelet.
Related: How to listen to music without a smartphone
Many people are wondering if you can use the Mi Band 4 as a standalone player without being tied to your phone, but there are a few workarounds:
Method 1: Connect Bluetooth headphones to a bracelet
Technically, the Mi Band 4 supports Bluetooth connectivity, but only for synchronization with a smartphone. Direct headphone connectivity is not possible due to firmware limitations.
- 🔌 Use a Bluetooth transmitter (for example, TWS-Adapter that connects to the bracelet as a “smartphone” and then relays the signal to the headphones.
- 🛠️ Install custom firmware (for example, Amazfit Bip Mod), but this is risky and deprives of warranty.
Risks of custom firmware
Method 2: Storing music on a micro-SD (informally)
In some versions of the Mi Band 4 (For example, the Chinese version of NFC) There is a socket for a memory card, but it is designed to pay through NFC, But there are adapters that allow you to connect micro-sensors.-SD, but:
⚠️ Note: Memory card use is not officially supported, it can cause the bracelet to overheat or damage to the contacts, and there is no built-in player for playing files.
Method 3: Online radio through notifications
Some radio stations (such as Radio Record or Europe Plus) send notifications with direct links to streaming, and if you set them up on the bracelet, you can:
- Get alerts about the start of the broadcast.
- Open the link on the smartphone with one touch on the notification on the Mi Band 4.
It’s not a full-fledged listening session, but it’s convenient for quick access to the radio.
| Method | Pluses | Cons | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphone control | Official function, stable operation | Requires constant communication with the phone | ⭐ |
| Bluetooth transmitter | Allows you to listen without a phone | Additional device, possible lags | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Custom firmware | Extended functions | Risk of Bracelet Damage, Loss of Warranty | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Micro.-SD adapter | In theory, you can store music. | Unstable work, no player | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Problems and Solutions: Why Music Doesn’t Work
Even with the right setup, users sometimes find that the music management on the Mi Band 4 is not working properly.
Problem 1: Control buttons don’t appear
If there are no controls when playing music on the bracelet screen:
- 📱 Check if notifications for the music app are enabled in the Mi Fit settings.
- 🔄 Restart the app-player on your smartphone.
- 📲 Update your bracelet firmware and Mi Fit app to the latest version.
- 🔌 Reconnect the bracelet to your phone (Mi Fit) → Mi Band 4 → Disable the device, then reconnect).
Problem 2: The track title is not displayed
If instead of the title of the composition you see an empty field or error:
- 🎵 Make sure the music app is supported (the list of compatible services is available in Mi Fit).
- 📝 Check if the track metadata (name, performer) is correctly specified in the files.
- 🔄 Try another application (for example, instead of the built-in player use it). VLC poweramp).
Problem 3: The bracelet doesn't vibrate when you change tracks
Vibrational alerts are set separately:
- In Mi Fit, go to Mi Band 4. → Vibration.
- Make sure that the alerts for Music Notifications are enabled.
- Check the charge level of the bracelet - at low charge, the vibration can turn off.
⚠️ Note: Some Mi Band 4 firmwares have music control that conflicts with alarm or timer functions.If you notice that the player is not responding to commands during training, try disabling background notifications from other apps.
Comparison with other Xiaomi fitness bracelets
If the Mi Band 4 features don’t suit you, consider the newer Xiaomi models, which have expanded the functionality for working with music.
| Model | Managing music | Built-in player | Support for Bluetooth headphones | Memory for music |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 4 | ✅ (basic) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Mi Band 5 | ✅ (extended) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Mi Band 6 | ✅ (widgeted) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Mi Band 7 | ✅ (full-fledged) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Xiaomi Smart Band 8 | ✅ (gestured) | ✅ (narrowly) | ✅ (firmware) | ❌ |
As you can see from the table, even the new Mi Band models do not fully support autonomous music listening. If this functionality is critical for you, consider the Xiaomi Watch or Amazfit smartwatch. GTS/GTR, where there is built-in speakers and memory for tracks.
💡
The Mi Band 4 is not designed for autonomous music listening – its main task is to control the player on the smartphone. For a full musical experience, it is better to choose a smartwatch with Bluetooth headphones.
Life hacks for convenient use of music
Here are some tips that will make music experience through Mi Band 4 more comfortable:
- 🔀 Fast track switching: Set up double tap on the bracelet screen to switch tracks (in some firmware, this works instead of swipe).
- 🎧 Autoplay: In Bluetooth headphone settings, enable Autoplay when connected so that music starts immediately when connected to your smartphone.
- 📱 Player widget on your smartphone: Add the music app widget to the phone’s home screen so you can quickly control playback without opening the app.
- 🔋 Power savings: Disable unnecessary notifications in Mi Fit to keep the bracelet running longer when you’re actively using music features.
If you are a sportsman, we recommend creating a separate playlist with motivating music and fix it at the top of the smartphone screen, so you can quickly start tracks without distraction from training, and Mi Band 4 will duplicate control on the wrist.
💡
For running or cycling, use the “Sports Mode” setting in Mi Fit – in this mode, music notifications are displayed larger, and control buttons become more sensitive.