How to connect Honor watch to Xiaomi phone: step-by-step guide

Owning smartphones from different ecosystems, such as the Xiaomi and Honor bundle, often raises questions about the compatibility of wearable electronics. After the separation of Huawei and Honor, the software situation has become even more confusing, as the old watch models are tied to Huawei services, and new ones use the Honor platform. Xiaomi owner who wants to use the Honor tracker faces the need to choose the right application and the right sequence of actions. The wrong approach can lead to the gadget not seeing the phone or refuse to transmit notifications.

Modern Android algorithms, mounted on the shell of MIUI or HyperOS, aggressively control background processes to save battery power. This means that even with successful initial pairing, the system can “kill” the application responsible for communication with the clock, and you will be left without notifications and pulse data. Which is why it is important not just to pair via Bluetooth, but also to properly configure access rights and background operation of applications. In this article, we will break down all the nuances to ensure that your smart watch works steadily.

The first step is to determine which line your watch belongs to, as this dictates the choice of software. Old models released under the auspices of Huawei require the installation of the Huawei Health app (formerly Huawei Wear), while new Honor devices move to the Honor Health platform or universal Mi Fitness. Error at this stage is the most common cause of problems, so we will pay attention to the identification of the model before setting up.

Model definition and application selection

Before you start actively searching for a device, you need to be clear about what software your model needs. The wearables market has split, and now the Honor Band 6 or Honor Watch GS 3 may require different approaches. If you have an older model released before 2021, it most likely runs on the basis of the Huawei ecosystem. In this case, you will need the Huawei Health app. For newer devices that are positioned as an independent brand, you may need the Honor Health app or even the standard Mi Fitness if the manufacturer has declared cross-platformability.

It is important to consider that the Google Play store on Xiaomi smartphones may not contain current versions of applications for wearable devices of competitors. Often versions in the Play Market are outdated and do not support new watch models. APK-A file from the manufacturer’s official website is the most reliable way to get working software, which ensures that you get the latest firmware version and all the necessary drivers for correct interaction.

Xiaomi users also have a strong interest in using the Mi Fitness app. Some Honor models, especially fitness bracelets, are officially supported by the app, which allows you to combine all the data in one place. However, the functionality in Mi Fitness is often stripped down compared to native Honor or Huawei apps. If you want full control over dial settings and sports modes, you better use native software.

• 📱 Huawei Health – Required for most older Honor models and all Huawei devices.
• ⌚ Honor Health – Required for new Honor flagship watches released after brand separation.
• 🏃 Mi Fitness is a universal application from Xiaomi, supporting some budget models Honor and Redmi.

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to connect the clock through the standard Bluetooth menu in the phone settings before launching the application.This will lead to a pairing error and the application will not be able to find the device.

Preparing Xiaomi smartphone for work

The MIUI shell is known for its strict energy saving policy, which often blocks background applications. To keep the Honor watch running properly, you must manually configure permissions for the chosen application (Huawei Health, Honor Health or Mi Fitness). Without this preparation, the phone will constantly break the connection, considering the application to be a “heavy” or unnecessary process, which will lead to loss of health data.

First of all, go to the battery settings and allow the application to autorun. Find your watch app in the installed program list and activate the Autostart switch. Next, go to Activity Control and select No Limits. This is a critical step that prevents Xiaomi from forcibly shutting down the synchronization process.

You also need to check permissions. The app must have access to location, Bluetooth, notifications and contacts. Without geolocation permission, some watches simply won't run device scans. Modern versions of Android (12 and above) may also require permission to search for devices nearby.

Remember, for the timing and weather to work properly, it's important that geolocation services are turned on on on your phone, GPS-The module must be active at least at the time of setting up. After the initial setup, you can turn off permanent geolocation search, but the basic resolution in the application should remain.

The process of pairing: step-by-step instructions

The connection process itself is linear enough, but requires care at every step: make sure that the Bluetooth on the phone is on and the watch is at least 20-30% charged; if the watch is new, it will automatically go into pairing mode when it is first turned on; if the device has already been used, it may need to be reset to factory settings via the watch menu.

Run the app you select on your Xiaomi smartphone. Sign in to your account (Huawei ID, Honor ID or Mi Account). Click Add Device or plus in the corner of the screen. The app will request permission to use Bluetooth and geolocation — agree with both requests. Device search will begin.

When your phone screen will show an image of your watch or bracelet from your phone MAC-Click "Connect." The watch screen will ask you to confirm that you have paired with or without the code. Confirm the action by clicking on the tick. The process of setting profiles and synchronizing time can take from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

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The key to successful pairing is to start searching for a device from the application, not from the Bluetooth settings of the Android system.

Set up notifications and permissions

After a successful connection, notifications become the most important feature for many users: In order for messages from WhatsApp, Telegram or SMS to come to the wrist, you need to manually activate them in the application. By default, often only system notifications are turned on, and third-party applications are ignored.

Go to the device profile in the app and look for the Notifications or Application Management section. Here you will see a list of all the programs installed on your Xiaomi. Turn on the switches opposite the messengers you want to see on the watch. Note that for this feature, an intermediary application (such as Huawei Health) must have constant access to system notifications.

There is a nuance with the display of text messages. On some Honor models, when connecting to Xiaomi, text messages may not come unless you give the application the appropriate rights in the Privacy section -> Permit Manager. It is also worth checking whether the watch is not on Do Not Disturb or Sleep mode, which blocks the vibration and screen.

• 🔔 Check if vibration is on in the profiles on the clock.
• 📩 Make sure the application allows access to “Notifications” for selected programs.
• 🌙 Turn off the "Do Not Disturb" mode during the test.

If notifications are late or not coming at all, try rebooting both devices. Often this helps to update background sync services. It's also worth checking if the phone is in the "Traffic Savings" mode for a particular application, as this can prevent instant delivery of push notifications.

Addressing common problems

Even if you follow all the instructions, you can have technical difficulties. One of the common problems is that the phone sees the watch but can't finish (pairing), giving an error or just turning the boot indicator. In this case, cleaning the Bluetooth cache helps. Go to Settings → Applications → System Processes → Bluetooth, select Memory and click Clear Cache.

Another common problem is not installing the watch firmware updates via the phone's Wi-Fi. The firmware can download, but the installation process is interrupted. In such cases, it is recommended to turn off mobile Internet and leave only Wi-Fi, or vice versa, try updating through the mobile network if Wi-Fi is unstable. Also make sure that the phone has enough free memory.

Sometimes users find that the steps and pulse are out of sync, often because the application has been "killed" by the system, check the battery settings as described above, and it also helps to periodically manually run the application to force data sync. If the problem persists, check the version of the application - maybe a new version with a bug fix has come out.

Ecosystem Comparison: Honor Health vs Huawei Health

Xiaomi users need to understand the difference between apps, because it depends on functionality. Huawei Health is a more mature platform with a huge database of dials and detailed statistics. It supports most old and many new Honor models. However, it requires the installation of Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), which adds extra steps when setting up on Xiaomi.

Honor Health is a lighter app that focuses on new devices, and it doesn't require Huawei to install heavy services, which has a positive effect on the phone's autonomy. But the library of dials and sports modes can be more modest. The choice depends on your model: if the app itself offers to switch to Honor Health, agree, if not, stay on Huawei Health.

The table below compares key characteristics for convenience of choice:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)