How to connect Xiaomi watches with your phone: full instructions from A to Z

Xiaomi’s smartwatch is not just an accessory, but a full-fledged assistant for health tracking, notification management, and even contactless payments, but many users face difficulties already at the first connection stage: The device does not find the phone, the application gives an error, or the sync is interrupted halfway through the process. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to connect Xiaomi watches (including Mi Band models). 7/8 Pro, Watch 2/3, Smart Band Pro with Android and iOS phones, and recommendations for fixing typical problems.

It’s important to understand that the connection process can vary depending on the firmware version of the watch, the phone model, and even the region of the device purchase. For example, Xiaomi watches purchased in China may require additional manipulation of the region in the application. We took all these nuances into account and prepared a universal manual that covers 95% of cases, from basic synchronization to solving rare errors like “code 10004” or Bluetooth 5.0 problems.

If you have just unpacked a new watch or want to reconfigure an old device, this article will save you time and avoid common mistakes.

1. Preparation of the watch and phone before connection

Before you start syncing, make sure both devices are ready to connect, and neglecting this step is the main reason for 70% of failed connections.

On the side of the smart watches, it is necessary:

• 🔋 Charge the device to at least 50% (at a charge below 20%, the clock may be turned off during setup).
• 📱 Make sure the watch is on (on the Mi Band – short press on the touch button, on the Watch – hold the side button for 3 seconds).
• 🔄 Reset to factory settings if the watch has already been used before (instructions in the next section).

On the phone side, check:

• 📲 OS version: Android 6.0+ or iOS 12.0+ (watch S3 And newer requires Android 8.0+).
• 📶 Stable Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data) – without it it is impossible to download the application and update the firmware of the watch.
• 🔳 Turn off power saving and battery optimization modes for the Mi app Fitness/Zepp Life (otherwise the connection will be broken).

💡

If you have Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro or Mi Band 8 Pro, update your phone’s firmware to the latest version before connecting – these models require Bluetooth support. LE Audio, which is not available on all smartphones.

If you bought a watch in China or on AliExpress and your phone is tied to a Russian/European region, you may need to change the location in your Xiaomi account settings.

2. Which application to use for connection?

Xiaomi regularly updates the app ecosystem for wearables, causing confusion among users, with two official apps relevant for 2026:

Important: If you're using the Mi Band 8 Pro or Watch 2 Pro, install only Zepp Life - Mi Fitness doesn't support these models.

• 🤖 Mi Fitness for Android
• 🍎 Mi Fitness for iOS
• 🌐 Zepp Life (official website)

Attention to regional restrictions: If your Xiaomi account is registered in China and your phone is used in Russia, the Zepp Life app may block access to certain features (e.g., to the Internet). NFC-indemnities, in this case:

1. Register a new account in the region of use.
2. Or change the region in your profile settings (but this can cause data loss).

3. Step-by-step connection instruction

Consider a universal algorithm for most models using the example of Zepp Life (for Mi Fitness, the steps are similar, but with a different interface).

Charge the watch to 50%+

Install the Zepp Life app

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone

Disable VPN (can block Xiaomi servers)

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Step 1: Launching the application and logging in to your account

Open Zepp Life and log in through:

• 📧 Email (recommended for stability).
• 📱 Phone number (may not work in some regions).
• 🔄 Account. Google/Apple (It is convenient, but sometimes synchronization errors occur).

Step 2: Adding a device

Click on the profile icon → Add the device → Choose a model from the list if there is no model:

• Update the app.
• Check if your model is supported (e.g. Mi Band 2 is no longer added to newer Zepp Life versions).

Step 3: Synchronize over Bluetooth

The app will offer Bluetooth and geolocation enabled (required for the Watch 2 Pro due to DualBand feature) GPS). Next:

1. Click Scan in the app.
2. On the watch, confirm the connection (on the Mi Band – tap on the screen, on the Watch – Pair selection).
3. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 5 minutes on the first connection).

Step 4: Set up notifications and permissions

After successful connection:

• 🔔 Allow the app to show notifications (in phone settings: Apps) → Zepp Life → Notifications).
• 🔒 Provide access to contacts, calendar and physical activity (optional but extends functionality).
• 📊 Select data for synchronization: steps, pulse, sleep, stress (configured in the profile of the device).

4. Solving common connection errors

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can have failures. TOP-5 errors and ways of eliminating them.

Error 1: "Unable to connect to the device" (code 10004)

Reasons:

• 📵 Unstable Internet connection (the app cannot verify the device certificate).
• 🔒 Blocking firewall or antivirus (for example, Kaspersky or Avast can block Xiaomi servers).
• ⏳ An outdated version of the app or firmware watch.

Decision:

1. Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile internet (or vice versa).
2. Add Zepp Life to the antivirus exceptions.
3. Update the firmware of the watch through Settings → About the device → Update of the PO.

Error 2: The clock is connected, but the data is not synchronized

This is most often related to:

• 🔋 Power saving mode on your phone (turn off optimization for Zepp Life).
• 📱 Google Play Services (update to Play Market).
• ⚙️ Incorrect permission settings (check access to Physical Activity and Notifications).

💡

If after connecting the Mi Band 8 watch does not display notifications, go to Settings phone → Annexes → Zepp Life → Notifications and manually enable notification display for each messenger.

Error 3: App asks for firmware update, but update hangs

This is a typical problem for the Watch 2 Pro and Mi Band 8.

• 📶 Weak Wi-Fi signal (upgrade weighs up to 50MB).
• 🔌 Battery rate of watches below 30%.
• 🚫 Blocking file uploads by the operator (for example, MegaFon or Beeline may restrict traffic to Xiaomi servers).

Decision:

1. Connect to another Wi-Fi network (or use mobile internet).
2. Charge the watch to 100%.
3. If the update is 99% down, reboot the clock (hold the 15-second button).

⚠️ Note: If during the firmware update, the Watch S3 Or Mi Band 8 Pro shut down, don't panic. Wait 10 minutes, then plug them into charging and try again.

5. Set up notifications and additional functions

Once you've successfully connected, you should optimize your watch to suit your needs. Let's look at the key settings in Zepp Life:

1. Notifications

To keep the clock vibrating when calling and texting:

1. Open your device profile in Zepp Life.
2. Go to Application Notifications.
3. Turn on the toggles for the desired messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, VK etc.).
4. Set up Silence Time (for example, 23:00 to 8:00) so that notifications don’t disturb you at night.

2. Health monitoring

In the Health menu, you can activate:

• 🩺 Monitoring of heart rate (recommended interval: every 10 minutes).
• 😴 Sleep tracking (enable Smart Mode to automatically detect sleep phases).
• 😓 Stress level (requires calibration – sit quietly for 5 minutes after activation).
• 🩺 Blood oxygen levels (SpO2) (Measure no more than 2 times a day to save charge).

3. Contactless payments (NFC)

Watch 2 Pro and Mi Band 8 Pro with Module NFC:

1. Add a map to Zepp Life (Profile) → Contactless payments).
2. Confirm the link via SMS from the bank.
3. Set up a PIN code for payments (required for security).

Supported banks in Russia (2026): Sberbank, Tinkoff, VTB, Alfa-Bank. Mir Pay is also available for Mi Band 8 Pro.

💡

To extend the Mi Band 8 to 14 days, turn off constant pulse monitoring and reduce the screen brightness to 50%, and it is also useful to turn off vibration for unnecessary notifications (for example, from games).

6. How to untie the watch from the old phone?

If you're selling a watch or want to connect it to another phone, you need to untie the device properly. Failure to do so could lead to a lock on the watch!

Method 1: Appendix (recommended)

1. Open Zepp Life or Mi Fitness.
2. Go to the profile of the device.
3. Select Unlock Device (in Zepp Life) → Remove the device).
4. Confirm the action by SMS or email.

Method 2: Reset in hours (if you don't have access to your old phone)

For the Mi Band 7/8:

1. On the clock, go to Settings → System → Reset settings.
2. Confirm the reset (the clock will reset).

For the Watch 2 Pro:

1. Hold the side button for 10 seconds until the menu appears.
2. Choose Reboot to Recovery → Wipe data.

⚠️ Note: After resetting, all data from the watch (steps, sleep history, settings) will be deleted without recovery. If the watch is linked to a Xiaomi account, the data can be returned after reconnecting (within 30 days).

7. Optimization of the hours after connection

To keep your watch stable and long, follow these guidelines:

1. Battery charge savings

• 🔋 Turn off the constant monitoring of the pulse (enough measurements every 30 minutes).
• 🌙 Use the Dark Theme on AMOLED-Watch 2 Pro, Mi Band 8 Pro).
• 📴 Reduce screen lighting time to 5 seconds.
• 🔔 Turn off vibrations for unnecessary notifications (e.g. from social media).

2. Firmware update

Regular updates fix bugs and add new features to check firmware relevance:

1. Open Zepp Life. → profile → Update of the PO.
2. If an update is available, connect the watch to charging and confirm the installation.

For the Watch. 2 Pro updates are released once in a while 1-2 For the Mi Band, once a month 3-4 month.

3. Synchronization with other services

Xiaomi watches can be integrated with:

• 🏃 Google Fit (for Android) or Apple Health (for iOS) – to combine health data.
• 🚴 Strava – for automatic loading of training.
• 💪 MyFitnessPal – for calorie synchronization and nutrition.

To connect the integration:

1. In Zepp Life, go to Profile → Accounts → Add an account.
2. Choose the service and log in.

💡

For accurate sleep tracking, wear the Mi Band 8 watch on your non-working hand (for right-handers – on the left) and tighten the strap so that the sensor is snugly attached to the skin (distance not more than 1 cm).

8. Frequent questions and answers