How to connect iPhone with Xiaomi smartwatch: the complete guide

Xiaomi’s modern smartwatches have long since ceased to be exclusive to Android smartphone owners. Despite the fact that the brand belongs to the MIUI ecosystem, most watch models work successfully with the iPhone, however, with some limitations. If you just bought the Xiaomi Watch S3, Mi Band 8 or another model and want to sync it with the iPhone, this guide will help avoid typical errors and configure the device as efficiently as possible.

Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to enable Bluetooth on both devices to connect, but in practice the process requires installing special software, adjusting permissions and sometimes even resetting the clock to factory parameters. In this article, we will analyze the step-by-step algorithm for different Xiaomi models, talk about the nuances of compatibility with iOS, and provide recommendations for solving common problems, from lack of connection to failures in data synchronization.

It’s important to understand that the functionality of the watch when connected to an iPhone will be reduced compared to Android. For example, you will not be able to install third-party dials through the official app or use the voice assistant Xiao AI. However, the basic functions — notifications, health monitoring, music management — will work steadily if everything is configured correctly.

1. Compatibility of Xiaomi smart watches with iPhone: which models are supported

Not all Xiaomi smartwatches and fitness bracelets work equally well with iPhones.The main limitation is due to the data exchange protocol: some older models simply do not have drivers for iOS. Below is the current list of supported devices (as of 2026):

• 📱 Full support (all features except Android exclusive): Xiaomi Watch S3, Watch S2, Watch 2 Pro, Mi Band 8, Mi Band 7 Pro.
• ⚠️ Partial support (limited data synchronization): Xiaomi Watch S1, Mi Band 6, Amazfit GTR 4 (although the brand is different, it uses the same software).
• ❌ Not supported (officially): Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite, Mi Band 5 and older models.

To check your model’s compatibility, go to the official manufacturer’s website and find the Compatibility section. If your model is not listed there, this does not mean that connection is impossible – third-party applications like Notify & Fitness or Tools & Mi Band sometimes help, but they require additional manipulation of the iPhone settings.

Another nuance is the iOS version, which requires iOS 14 or later to run the watch, and older versions may have trouble syncing notifications or health data.

Preparing iPhone for connection: necessary settings

Before you start pairing, make sure your iPhone is ready to work with a smartwatch. Here is a checklist of mandatory actions:

Pay special attention to the permissions for the application. After installing Mi Fitness (which will be discussed later), go to Settings → Privacy → Geolocation Services and select the When-to-Use mode for the application. Without this, the watch will not be able to correctly display data about jogging or cycling routes.

We also recommend temporarily disabling the power saving mode on the iPhone, which can interrupt the background data synchronization. If you use iCloud for backup, make sure that the device has enough free space (at least 1 GB), otherwise the update of the firmware clock can end in error.

⚠️ Note: If your iPhone is jailbreaked or modified firmware, synchronization with Xiaomi watches may not work smoothly.

3. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application

The official Xiaomi smartwatch management app on the iPhone is called Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), which can be downloaded for free from the App Store. Importantly, use only the official version, as third-party builds may contain malicious code or not support the latest watch models.

After installation, follow the following steps:

1. Open Mi Fitness and register a Xiaomi account (or sign in through an existing one).
2. Click on the + icon in the upper right corner and select Add Device.
3. In the list, find your watch model (e.g. Xiaomi Watch S3) and confirm your choice.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen – the app will prompt you to turn on Bluetooth and allow notifications.

If your watch model doesn’t appear on the list, try updating the app or rebooting your iPhone. Sometimes it helps to reset the clock to factory settings: press the power button on the watch for 10-15 seconds until the Xiaomi logo appears.

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If the Mi Fitness app doesn’t find the watch, try turning off Bluetooth on your iPhone, then turn it back on and restart the app, and check if the watch is connected to another device (like a tablet).

Once you've successfully connected, the app will suggest you update your watch firmware, and always agree to upgrade, which will fix any bugs and add new features, and it will take you 5-15 minutes to do that, depending on your Internet speed.

4. Data synchronization and notification setting

After connecting the watch to the iPhone, you need to configure the data and notifications.

1. In the Mi Fitness app, go to the Device Profile section (watch icon at the bottom of the screen).
2. Select Notifications and activate switches for the desired applications (calls, SMS, instant messengers).
3. In the Data Sync section, enable automatic transmission of steps, sleep, and pulse information.

Note that on iPhones, Xiaomi watches cannot sync directly with Apple Health. Data sharing requires a third-party app like Health Sync or Apple Health Mirror. These utilities are paid, but offer a trial period.

Critical: Call notifications on Xiaomi watches when connecting to an iPhone are displayed with a delay of 2-5 seconds.This is due to iOS restrictions that prevent third-party apps from working in the background as freely as on Android. To reduce latency, add the Mi Fitness app to the list of Frequently used in iPhone settings.

5. Solving common connection problems

Even with the right setup, users often encounter errors, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 Watches are not in Mi Fitness: restart both devices, make sure the watch is paired (usually activated by long pressing on the screen).
• 📵 Connection is constantly broken: disable the autoconnection to Wi-Fi function on the iPhone in Bluetooth settings – it can interfere with stable operation.
• ⚠️ No notifications: check if notifications are allowed for Mi Fitness in Settings → Notifications. Also make sure the clock is not in Do Not Disturb mode.
• 🔋 Watch discharges quickly: turn off constant monitoring of the pulse in the clock settings (this is one of the most energy-consuming functions).

If none of these methods worked, try resetting your clock and re-connecting from scratch.

1. In the Mi Fitness app, select Disable the device.
2. On the clock, go to Settings → System → Reset.
3. Reconnect the watch as described in Section 3.

⚠️ Note: If the watch stops turning on or hangs on the logo after the firmware update, this may indicate that the software version is incompatible with your model. In this case, contact Xiaomi support with the firmware build number (you can find it in the clock settings before the reset).

6. Alternative ways of connecting (without Mi Fitness)

If the official Mi Fitness app is not suitable (for example, due to regional restrictions or incompatibility), you can use third-party solutions.

• 🔗 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band: Supports most features, including notifications and sleep monitoring. Requires Experimental Features setup in the app.
• 🔄 Tools & Mi Band: allows you to set unofficial dials and adjust vibration for different types of notifications.
• 📊 Amazfit: Suitable for some Xiaomi models (e.g. Amazfit) GTR 4), but has a stripped down functionality on iOS.

When using third-party applications, consider the risks:

1. There is no guarantee of stable operation - synchronization failures are possible.
2. Some functions (e.g. measurement) SpO₂) may not be available.
3. Applications often require a fee for advanced features.

To install unofficial dials through Tools & Mi Band:

1. Download the dial file (.bin format) from a trusted source (e.g., Amazfit Watch Faces).
2. In the app, go to Custom Faces → Add New and select the downloaded file.
3. Confirm the transmission to the clock and wait for the synchronization to be completed.

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The side of the application may offer more customization options, but the official Mi Fitness software remains the most stable option for the basic functionality.

7. Optimization of Xiaomi watches with iPhone: tips of experienced users

To make Xiaomi smartwatches work with iPhone as efficiently as possible, follow these guidelines:

• 🔋 Saving charge: Turn off automatic pulse measurements during the day (leave only night monitoring) this will increase the operating time by 20-30%.
• 📶 Stable connection: if the clock is often turned off, in the iPhone settings, turn off the Low Data Consumption feature for the Mi Fitness app.
• 🎵 Music management: Use the standard Music or Spotify app to control your watch player – they’re better integrated with iOS than Apple Music.
• 🛡️ Security: If you use a watch to pay in countries where Xiaomi Pay is supported, link the card via an Android device of friends or relatives – this is impossible on iPhone.

For advanced users: If you want to receive notifications about new emails on your watch, but do not want them duplicated on your iPhone, set up the rules in the Mail app.

1. Open Settings → Mail → Notifications.
2. Select an account and turn off the audible alerts.
3. In Mi Fitness, leave email notifications turned on.

If you’re an Apple Watch user and you want to switch to Xiaomi, you can’t connect both devices to the same iPhone at the same time, so you’ll have to choose one or use a second smartphone for one of the devices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)