How to connect Xiaomi Mi Band 3 with your phone: full instructions with pictures and tips

Why is Mi Band 3 still relevant in 2026?

Fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 3, released 2018 It remains one of the most popular wearables of the year due to its optimal combination of price and functionality. 4/5/6/7/8), The third version continues to be in demand among those who appreciate simplicity, reliability and long work without recharging (up to the current version). 20 In this article, we will discuss how to connect the Mi Band correctly. 3 with modern smartphones on Android and iOS, avoiding typical mistakes.

It's important to understand that the connection process can vary depending on the firmware version of the bracelet and the phone's operating system. For example, iPhone owners with iOS 16+ face restrictions on the background of applications, which requires additional settings. And on Android 12/13/14, aggressive battery optimizations sometimes work, which break the connection to the bracelet, and we took all these nuances into account and prepared a universal instruction.

If you bought Mi Band 3 used or after a long downtime, before connecting, we recommend you to reset to factory settings - this will save you from synchronization problems.

Which phones support Mi Band 3?

Officially, Xiaomi Mi Band 3 is compatible with smartphones on Android 4.4+ and iOS 9.0+. However, in practice there are nuances:

• 📱 Android: It works best on versions 6.0–12.0. Android. 13/14 Notifications may be problematic due to new privacy policies, such as manually configuring permissions for Mi Fit or Zepp Life.
• 🍎 iOS: On iPhone with iOS 15+ The bracelet is connected, but data synchronization is less frequent (once every 1-2 hours instead of 5-10 minutes.
• ⚠️ Incompatible devices: Phones without Bluetooth 4.0 (for example, older models on Android 4.4 with hardware limitations) will not be able to work with the bracelet stably.

Before buying, check for BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) support in the specifications of your smartphone. For example, even some budget Xiaomi Redmi models from 2017-2018 release (for example, Redmi 4A) may not work correctly with the Mi Band 3 due to a weak Bluetooth module.

Preparing for connection: what to do before synchronization

To avoid connection errors, follow these steps:

Charge Mi Band 3 to 100% (minimum 50%)

Install the official application (Mi Fit or Zepp Life)

Enable Bluetooth and geolocation on your phone

Update the bracelet firmware (if available)

Disable VPNs and antiviruses (they can block the connection)

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Pay special attention to the choice of application:

• 🔹 Mi Fit: Xiaomi's classic app, supports all the features of the Mi Band 3, but has an outdated interface.
• 🔹 Zepp Life (formerly Amazfit): More advanced software with improved sleep and exercise analytics, but some users complain about losing touch with the wristband after the updates.
• 🔹 Notify & Fitness (for Android): Third-party app for advanced notifications. ROOT or ADB-commands for full functionality.

Important: If you have previously used another Xiaomi fitness bracelet (such as the Mi Band 2), remove it from the app before adding the Mi Band 3.

⚠️ Attention: On iPhone with iOS 16+ The Zepp Life app may not display notifications due to Apple restrictions. Use Mi Fit or set up Notification Repeat in iOS settings.

How to connect Mi Band 3 to your phone

Consider the process using the example of the Mi Fit application (current version 4.6.0+):

1. Step 1. Install the application Download Mi Fit from the official store: 📲 Google Play for Android) 🍎 App Store (for iOS)

Avoid third-party APKs – they may contain viruses or outdated versions.

Step 2: Registration of an account

When you first start up, the app will suggest you create a Xiaomi account or log in via Google/Facebook. Without an account, data sync is impossible! If you already have a profile (for example, for a Xiaomi phone), use it.

Step 3: Adding a device

Click Profile → Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 3. Wait for the app to find the bracelet (can take up to 2 minutes).If the Mi Band 3 doesn't appear in the list, update the app or restart the phone.

Step 4: Synchronization

Once successfully connected, the bracelet vibrates, and the phone screen will display a message saying, "Device ready to use." You can now set up notifications, alarms and other functions.

If the bracelet doesn’t connect for more than 5 minutes, try turning off Bluetooth on your phone for 10 seconds, then turn it on again and repeat the search.

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For stable operation, turn off the power saving mode for the Mi Fit application in the phone settings.

Configure notifications and additional functions

After connecting, we recommend setting up:

• 🔔 Notifications: In Mi Fit → Profile → Mi Smart Band 3 → Notifications: Select applications that will duplicate alerts on the wristband. Android requires permission to access notifications (includes in the system settings).
• ⏰ Alarm clocks: You can set up to 10 alarm clocks directly from the bracelet or through the app. The Mi Band 3 vibration will wake up even if the phone is silent.
• 🏃 Activity tracking: Enable automatic walking, running and cycling recognition in Settings → Monitoring of activity.
• 🌙 Sleep monitoring: For accurate sleep analysis, wear a bracelet on your non-working hand (left for right-handers, right for left-handers).

On iOS, notifications are limited: the bracelet will show only incoming calls or SMS, but not alerts from messengers (such as WhatsApp or Telegram), which is a restriction of Apple, you can only circumvent it through jailbreak.

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To prevent the bracelet from discharging too quickly, turn off the permanent pulsemeter in the settings. Measure your pulse manually as needed (press the button on the bracelet for 2 seconds).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even after a successful connection, users face problems. Let's look at the most common ones:

1.The bracelet shuts off on its own

Reason: Battery optimization on Android or background restrictions on iOS.

The Android solution:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Mi Fit → Battery.
2. Select "No restrictions" or "Allow background activity".
3. Add the app to auto-run exceptions (the path may differ depending on the firmware).

2. no notifications are coming.

Reasons:

• 📵 iOS does not give permission to notify in system settings.
• 🔕 Android has a "Do Not Disturb" mode on".
• 🔄 Mi Fit does not have apps for duplicate alerts.

3. The bracelet is not synchronizing the data

Decisions:

• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (press the button for 10 seconds before vibration).
• 📱 Reinstall the Mi Fit app.
• 🌐 Check your Internet connection – Network access is required to sync with Xiaomi’s cloud.

⚠️ Note: If after updating the firmware bracelet stopped displaying the time correctly, perform the time zone binding manually: Mi Fit → Profile → Mi Smart Band 3 → Time zone → Select by hand.

How to Reset Mi Band 3 to Factory Settings

Reset is required in three cases:

1. You have purchased a used bracelet and want to delete the previous owner’s data.
2. The bracelet is glitzy (does not synchronize, does not respond to touch).
3. You want to sell the device and clear your personal information.

Resetting instructions:

1. Disconnect the bracelet from the strap (pull the capsule up).
2. Find the reset button on the back (a small hole next to the charging contacts).
3. Take a paper clip or toothpick, press and hold the button for 5-7 seconds until you feel the vibration.
4. The bracelet will reset and return to factory settings.

After the reset, you will have to reconnect the Mi Band 3 to the phone as if you had just unpacked it. All data (steps, sleep, workouts) will be deleted from the device, but will remain in the Xiaomi account if you previously synced.

Alternative ways of connecting (without official software)

If you don’t want to use Mi Fit or Zepp Life, there are alternatives:

• 🔧 Notify & Fitness (for Android): Allows you to customize vibrations for individual contacts, change fonts on the bracelet screen, and even set custom dials. ADB-permissions: adb shell pm grant com.twofortyfouram.locale number Detailed instructions for setting up see XDA Developers.
• 🍎 Mi Band Master (for iOS): An unofficial app with advanced notification settings. works bypassing Apple's restrictions, but may be blocked after iOS updates.
• 💻 Gadgetbridge (for Android): Open-source alternative with Mi Band 3 support. does not require a Xiaomi account, but some features (such as Mi Pay) will not work.

Warning: The use of informal annexes may result in:

• Loss of warranty (if the bracelet is warranty).
• Unstable operation of sensors (for example, a pulsemeter will show incorrect data).
• Blocking your Xiaomi account for “suspicious activity” (if the app sends too many requests to servers)

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions