Xiaomi smartwatches are not just accessory, but a full-fledged assistant for tracking health, managing notifications and even paying for purchases, but for all these features to work, you need to properly link the device to the phone. If you have a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone based on Android, the synchronization process can have nuances: from the firmware version MIUI Up to the watch model (Mi Band 7, Redmi Watch 3, Xiaomi Watch) S3 etc.).
In this article, weβll look at all possible ways to connect, from standard synchronization via the Mi Fitness app to manually adding a device in Bluetooth settings. You will also learn what to do if the phone does not see the watch, how to update the firmware of the gadget and why there may be errors when pairing. MIUI 14 and newer where the connection algorithm has changed.
1.What Xiaomi smartwatch is compatible with Redmi phones
Before buying or trying to connect, itβs important to make sure your watch model is supported by a phone. Xiaomi releases multiple lines of wearables, and not all of them work equally well with Redmi:
- π± Mi Band (all generations) β from Mi Band 3 to Mi Band 8. The most budget and versatile, fit all Redmi on Android 6.0+.
- β Redmi Watch Series: Redmi Watch Series 2/3/4. Optimized for Xiaomi phones, but require MIUI 12.5+.
- π Xiaomi Watch β flagship models (Watch) S1/S2/S3, Watch 2 Pro. Full-fledged smart watch with Wear OS, compatible with any Android device, but for full functionality you need a phone MIUI 13+.
- π Specialized models β for example, Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro GPS. Require Android 8.0 and higher.
If your watch isnβt on this list (like Amazfit or Haylou), the connection algorithm may be different. 4/5 Bluetooth 4.0 Can not support new watches with Bluetooth 5.2.
β οΈ Note: Watch series Xiaomi Watch (on Wear) OS) They are linked to a Google account, not a Mi Account, which means that once reset, they cannot be re-associated with the same phone without factory flashing.
| Model clock | Minimum version of Android | Required version of MIUI | Synchronization application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 6/7/8 | 6.0 | 11 | Mi Fitness (Zepp Life) |
| Redmi Watch 3 | 7.0 | 12.5 | Mi Fitness |
| Xiaomi Watch S3 | 8.0 | 13 | Wear OS + Mi Fitness |
| Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro | 8.0 | 12.5 | Zepp Life |
2. Preparing Redmi phone for connection
Before you connect the watch to the phone, you need to follow several mandatory steps on the Redmi itself, skipping any of them can lead to pairing errors or unstable operation of the gadget.
First, check the version. MIUI and Android: Settings β The phone. β Version. MIUI. Most modern watches are required. MIUI 12.5 or later. If you have an older version, update your phone via Settings. β Updating the system.
Second, activate Bluetooth and geolocation:
- π΅ Turn Bluetooth on in the notification panel or through Settings β Connections β Bluetooth.
- π Activate GeoData in Settings β Confidentiality β Geodata. Without this, the clock will not be able to locate functions like weather or weather. GPS-tracking.
- π Allow all rights requests for the Mi Fitness (or Zepp Life) app: access to contacts, notifications, phone and storage.
β οΈ Attention: Redmi with MIUI 14+ You have the "Automatic Bluetooth Connection" feature in your device settings, and you have to turn it off, otherwise the phone might conflict with the clock when you reconnect.
It is also recommended that:
- π Charge the clock to 50% or higher β with a low charge, synchronization can be interrupted.
- π± Reboot your phone before connecting (especially if youβve tried to connect other devices before).
- π« Delete from your phoneβs memory information about your old watch (if it was previously connected) via Settings β Connections β Bluetooth β [Name of the clock] β Forget the device.
3. Step-by-step instructions: how to link the clock to the phone
Now, to the synchronization process itself, we'll look at two main ways: through the official Mi Fitness app (for most models) and through Bluetooth settings (an alternative method).
Method 1: Connecting via Mi Fitness (recommended)
This method is suitable for all Mi Band, Redmi Watch and Xiaomi Watch models (except for devices on Wear). OS).
- Download the app: Install Mi Fitness (or Zepp Life for new models) from Google Play. Don't use third-party APK β They may be outdated or contain viruses.
- Sign up or sign in: When you first start up, the app will prompt you to sign in via Mi Account, Google or Apple ID. Choose Mi Account (if you donβt have one, create it through Settings) β Accounts. β Mi Account on your phone).
- Add the device: Click "Profile" β"Add device" and select your watch model from the list. If there is no model, select "Other device" and enter the name manually.
- Activate Bluetooth on your watch: On most models, you need to tap the sensor (on the Mi Band) or press the button (on the Redmi Watch) before the vibration and connection indicator appear.
- Confirm pairing: The phone will request connection β click "Confirm." The clock may need to enter PIN-code (usually 0000 or 1234).
- Update the firmware: Once connected, the app will offer to update the watch firmware β agree, otherwise some features may not work.
Charge the watch to 50%+
Remove old devices from Bluetooth
Insert geolocation
Allow all rights for Mi Fitness
Reboot the phone-->
Method 2: Manual Bluetooth connection (alternative)
If Mi Fitness doesn't see the watch or there are bugs, you can try connecting directly via Bluetooth settings, which is less reliable, but sometimes helps:
- Open Settings β Connections β Bluetooth on your phone.
- Activate the search mode on the watch (usually hold the button for 5-10 seconds until the indicator blinks).
- In the list of available devices, find the name of your watch (for example, "MI Band 8 or Redmi Watch 3 and click on them.
- Confirm the pairing on the phone and on the clock (if required).
- After connecting, open Mi Fitness β the app should automatically detect the clock.
If the watch is connected via Bluetooth but does not appear in Mi Fitness, try:
- π Restart the application.
- π₯ Remove the watch from the Bluetooth list and reconnect.
- π§ Reset the clock to factory settings (instructions in the next section).
π‘
If the clock is not set, try turning on the phone Developer Mode and activate the option βBluetoothbugβ in Settings. β The phone. β Version. MIUI (press 7 times).
4. Common mistakes and their solutions
Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can have problems.-5 Mistakes faced by Xiaomi Redmi users and how to fix them.
Mistake 1: Phone can't see the Mi Fitness watch
Causes and solutions:
- π The clock is discharged β charge it to 30% at least.
- π± An outdated version MIUI β Update your phone through Settings β Updating the system.
- π« Conflict with other devices β delete all saved Bluetooth devices in your phone settings.
- π App crash β clear the Mi Fitness cache through Settings β Annexes β Application management β Mi Fitness β Warehouse β Clear the cache.
Error 2: The clock is connected but not synchronized
If the connection indicator is on, but the data is not updated:
- π Check the permissions for Mi Fitness β the app needs notification, contact and geolocation rights.
- πΆ Turn off power saving mode for Mi Fitness in Settings β Battery β Optimizing the battery.
- π Reboot both the watch and the phone.
- π§ Reset the clock to factory settings (instruction below).
Error 3: The connection is constantly broken
If the clock is off after a few minutes:
- π΅ Check distance - maximum distance for stable communication: 10 meters (no obstacles).
- π On Redmi phones with MIUI 14+ Turn on βConstant Bluetooth Connectionβ in your device settings.
- π« Remove the watch from the list of trusted devices in Settings β Connections β Bluetooth and reconnect.
Error 4: Notifications are not working
If you don't come by the clock SMS messenger:
- π Enable notifications in Mi Fitness: "Device profile" β Notifications β Turn on".
- π± In your phone settings, check that Mi Fitness is entitled to read notifications (Settings) β Annexes β Special access β Reading notifications).
- π Restart the messenger app (such as WhatsApp or Telegram).
Error 5: The watch does not update the firmware
If an error occurs when you try to update:
- πΆ Connect your phone to Wi-Fi (update via mobile internet may be blocked).
- π Make sure the charge of the clock is more than 50 hours%.
- π§ Try to upgrade with another phone (sometimes it helps).
- π₯ Download the firmware manually from the official Xiaomi website and install via Mi Fitness.
What to do if the watch is hung on the Xiaomi logo?
5.How to Reset Xiaomi Smart Watches to Factory Settings
If none of these methods worked, or you want to sell/transfer the watch to another person, do a full reset, which will delete all the data from the device and return it to its original settings.
Method 1: Through the Menu (for Mi Band and Redmi Watch)
- On the clock, go to Settings (scroll down the screen or click on the gear icon).
- Find Reset or Recovery (on Mi Band 8 it is System) β Reset").
- Confirm the action (usually hold the sensor for 5 seconds).
- After resetting, the clock will reset and be ready for a new connection.
Method 2: Through the Mi Fitness app
- Open Mi Fitness and select your watch from the device list.
- Go to "Device Settings" β"Additionally" β"Reset".
- Confirm the reset on your phone and on your watch (if required).
Method 3: Forced reset (if the clock does not react)
If the clock is stuck and does not respond to touch:
- Connect the watch to the charger.
- Hold the power button (or sensor) for 15-20 seconds until the screen goes out.
- After the reboot, try resetting through the menu or app.
β οΈ Note: On the Xiaomi Watch (on Wear) OS) Reset is performed through Settings β System system β Reset settings. After that, the device will be linked to the last used Google account, and you will need to enter a login / password to reconnect.
π‘
Resetting the clock deletes all data, including your training history and notification settings. Before reset, sync your data to the Mi Account cloud!
6. Additional settings after connection
After successful synchronization, it is recommended to adjust the clock for maximum convenience.
1. Set up notifications
To receive notifications about calls, SMS and messages from messengers:
- π In Mi Fitness, go to "Device Profile" β Notifications".
- π± Turn on the "Show notifications" switch".
- π¬ Select the apps you want to see notifications from on your watch (such as WhatsApp, Viber, Gmail).
- π Set up vibration and sound for different types of notifications.
2. Personalization of the dial
On most models, you can change the appearance of the screen:
- π¨ In Mi Fitness, open the "Dials" and choose your favorite option.
- π² Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Watch) S3) Support custom dials downloading through third-party apps like Amazfit Watch Faces.
- π§ Customize the displayed information (steps, pulse, weather, etc.) through "Edit the dial".
3. Health tracking setup
To ensure that the clock correctly records activity and health:
- β€οΈ Turn on heart rate monitoring in "Settings" β Heart monitoring" (recommended "Intelligent" mode to save battery life).
- π΄ Activate sleep tracking and set the alarm clock with a smart awakening (will wake up in the light sleep phase).
- π Include autodetection workouts for running, walking and cycling.
4. Music and camera control
Some models may include:
- π΅ Manage music on your phone right from the clock (play/pause, next track).
- πΈ Take photos from your phone in hours (remote shutter function in Mi Fitness).
- π Configure quick responses to messages (on Xiaomi Watch) S3).
5. Battery savings
To keep the clocks running longer:
- π Turn off constant pulse monitoring (leave only "During exercise").
- π Set a dark theme of the dial (saves charge on the dial) AMOLED-screen).
- π΄ Reduce the brightness of the screen and reduce the backlight time.
- π Turn off auto-weather update (renew manually).
π‘
Redmi Watch 3 and later has a Power Saving mode that disables all functions except time. β Battery.
7. How to update the firmware on Xiaomi smart watches
Regular firmware updates fix bugs, add new features and improve stability, and you can update your watch in two ways: through the Mi Fitness app or manually through the firmware file.
Method 1: Update with Mi Fitness (automatic)
- Make sure the watch is connected to the phone and is charged more than 50%.
- Open Mi Fitness, select your watch and go to Device Settings β Firmware update".
- If a new version is available, click Update and wait until the process is complete (donβt turn off Bluetooth!).
- After the update, the clock will reset automatically.
Method 2: Manual update via firmware file
If the automatic update does not work:
- Download the firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website or trusted sources (for example, 4PDA).
- Place the firmware file (usually with the.bin or.fw extension) in the phoneβs root folder.
- In Mi Fitness go to "Device Settings" β Firmware update β Local Update".
- Select the downloaded file and confirm the installation.
β οΈ Note: Don't interrupt the upgrade process! if the Xiaomi Watch S3 or Redmi Watch 4 is stuck in the installation phase, wait 10-15 minutes β sometimes the process takes longer than indicated. If after this time nothing has changed, perform a forced reboot (hold the button 20 seconds).
| Model clock | Current version of the firmware | Last available version (for 2026) | Refreshment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 8 | 1.16.0.14 | 1.18.5.20 | Through Mi Fitness. |
| Redmi Watch 3 | 1.7.32 | 1.9.64 | Through Mi Fitness or manually |
| Xiaomi Watch S3 | 2.21.0 | 2.26.3 | Through Wear OS Mi Fitness |
8. Alternative applications for clock management
If the standard Mi Fitness app doesnβt suit you (for example, due to limited features or bugs), you can use the side of the program. They offer advanced customization options, custom dials, and even integration with other services (for example, Google Fit or Strava).
1. Notify & Fitness for Mi Band
One of the most popular alternative apps for Mi Band and Redmi Watch:
- π Advanced notifications with a response option (on supported models).
- π¨ Castom dials with animation support.
- π Detailed statistics of training and sleep.
- π§ Customize gestures (for example, shake to turn on the backlight).
πΉ Cons: some features are paid, you may need to disable Mi Fitness for proper operation.
2. Tools & Mi Band
Another powerful application with unique features:
- π Backup of data from the clock.
- π± Managing the phone's music and camera.
- π Optimizing the battery with the disabling of unnecessary sensors.
- π Support for several languages, including Russian).
πΉ Important: Before using, untie the watch from Mi Fitness, otherwise conflicts may arise.
3. Amazfit Watch Faces
If you are missing standard dials:
- π¨ More than 10,000 free dials for Mi Band, Redmi Watch and Xiaomi Watch.
- ποΈ Editor of dials to create their designs.
- π <