How to pair Xiaomi smartwatch with phone: all ways 2026

Xiaomi smartwatches are not just accessories, but a full-fledged assistant for tracking health, managing notifications and even paying for purchases. But to unlock the full potential of the device, it must be properly linked to a smartphone. Many users face difficulties at this stage: the app does not find the watch, the synchronization is interrupted, the functions work incorrectly. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of connection (including models Mi Band, Watch S3, Watch 2 Pro and others), and also give a checklist to eliminate typical errors.

It's important to understand that the bundling process depends on the watch model, the phone's operating system (Android or iOS) and even the region of purchase of the device. For example, for the Xiaomi Watch S3 in China and the global version, different applications are used. We took into account all the nuances and put together a universal instruction that will suit both new and used devices. If you have tried to link the watch, but nothing has happened, do not rush to reset it to factory settings. In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by setting up the phone or reinstalling the application.

1.What apps are needed to pair Xiaomi Watch with your phone

The first step is to choose the right app. Xiaomi uses multiple platforms to manage wearables, and it's easy to get confused. Here's the current list for 2026:

• 📱 Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit) is a universal application for most fitness bracelets (Mi Band) 7/8, Smart Band Pro and Budget Hours (Watch) S1, Watch Lite. supports Android 6.0+ iOS 12+. You can download it from Google Play or App Store.
• ⌚ Zepp Life (formerly Amazfit) – used for premium watches Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, Watch S3 It has advanced sleep and exercise analysis features, available for Android and iOS.
• 🔄 Xiaomi Wear is an experimental app for new devices (like Watch 2 on Wear) OS). It's not stable yet, but it promises deep integration with Google's services, and is only officially available in some regions.

How to determine which app you need? Check the watch model on the box or in the device settings (Settings) → If your model is released after 2022 year and is in the premium segment (price from 15 000 ₽), You'll probably need Zepp Life for budget options (<5 000 ₽) Mi Fitness is fine.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Watch) S2 for the Chinese market) require the application Xiaomi Wearable, which is not available in Russian stores. APK Manually change the region of Google Play.

2. Step-by-step instructions: how to link Xiaomi watches with Android

If you have an Android smartphone (such as the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Samsung Galaxy), follow this instruction.

1. Install the app (Mi Fitness or Zepp Life) from Google Play, and if it’s already installed, upgrade to the latest version.
2. Sign up for an account or sign in via Xiaomi Account, Google, Apple ID or phone number. Zepp Life will require a separate registration.
3. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and unlock the watch (if new, perform the initial setup on the device itself).
4. Launch the application and click “Add device” (+ icon or Profile → Add device button).
5. Choose a model from the list. If you don't have one, try the "Other devices" option.
6. Confirm the bundle on the watch (it may be necessary to enter the code displayed on the watch screen in the application).
7. Wait for sync (usually takes 1-3 minutes) and then set up notifications and permissions.

If you have a “failed to connect” error during the device search phase, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (Settings) → Bluetooth → Off./On.).
• 📱 Remove the application cache (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness/Zepp Life → Memory. → Clear the cache).
• 🔋 Restart the clock (press the power button for 10 seconds).

The latest update of the application has been installed|Bluetooth is enabled and visible for other devices|The clock is at least 50 times charged%|Power saving mode on the phone is off|The devices are at a distance of less than 1 meter-->

⚠️ Attention: On phones Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO s MIUI Battery optimization can work, which blocks the background of applications. To avoid synchronization problems, add Mi Fitness or Zepp Life to the exception list: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Find the right one. → No restrictions.

3. How to connect Xiaomi Watch to iPhone (iOS)

Linking Xiaomi watches to iPhones is a bit more difficult due to Apple’s limitations, but it’s quite realistic.

1. Install Mi Fitness or Zepp Life from the App Store.Please note: some features (like answering calls) on iOS won't work due to Apple's policies.

2. Allow notifications for the app: iPhone settings → Notifications → Mi Fitness/Zepp Life → Allow notifications.

3. Turn on Bluetooth and launch the app. Click "Add device" and select your model.

4. Confirm the bundle on the watch. If you request access to contacts or health, allow (this is necessary for the correct operation of notifications and monitoring of the heart).

After successful connection, we recommend:

• 🔗 Sync data with Apple Health: Profile in the app → Settings → Synchronization of data → Apple Health.
• 📵 Disable duplication of notifications if they come on the clock and on the iPhone.
• 🔋 Set up automatic firmware updates (in iOS it can be blocked by the background mode).

Important: You can’t install branded Xiaomi Watch faces on your iPhone through official apps, but you’ll need to use third-party utilities (like Notify & Fitness or Tools & Mi Band), but they require a subscription.

💡

If the Xiaomi Watch S3 isn’t connected to an iPhone, try first linking it to an Android device, updating the firmware, and then plugging it into an iPhone, which solves the compatibility problem 70% of the time.

4. Problem Solving: The watch does not communicate with the phone

If following the instructions did not work, check the typical causes of failures:

If nothing helps, reset the clock to factory settings:

1. On the clock, go to Settings → System → Reset settings.
2. Confirm the action (it may be necessary to enter) PIN-code).
3. After restarting, repeat the ligament procedure again.

5. Set up notifications and additional functions

After a successful bundle, adjust the watch to your needs. Here's what to do first:

• 📳 Notifications: In the app go to the Device Profile → Notifications and select which apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS) You want to get alerts. You can tune vibrations and sound on Android.
• ❤️ Health monitoring: Activate heart rate, blood oxygen and sleep tracking. For accuracy, include your age, weight and height in your profile.
• 🏃 Exercise: Add frequently used sports (running, cycling, swimming) to fast access on the clock.
• 🔒 Security: Set up a lock on the watch screen PIN-a code or pattern lock, and a "phone search" function (the clock will vibrate if the phone is lost).

For models on Wear OS (for example, Xiaomi Watch 2) there are additional features:

• Install apps from Google Play directly on your watch (like Google Maps or Spotify).
• Google Assistant voice assistant.
• Payment via Google Pay (if the watch supports NFC).

💡

To save battery life, turn off constant heart rate monitoring (leave only manual measurements) and reduce the brightness of the screen to 50-60%, which will increase the operating time by 20-30%.

6.How to update the firmware on Xiaomi watches after the bundle

Updating the firmware fixes bugs, adds new features and improves stability.

1. Open the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app.
2. Go to the profile of your watch.
3. Find the "Firmware Update" section.
4. If a new version is available, download it (preferably via Wi-Fi) and wait for the installation.

Important points:

• 🔋 The charge of the watch must be at least 50%, otherwise the update will be interrupted.
• 📶 Use a stable Internet connection (better Wi-Fi).
• ⏳ Don't interrupt! On the Watch models. S3 Watch 2 Pro update can last up to 20 minutes.

⚠️ Warning: If the watch stops turning on after the upgrade or a "brick" (black screen) appears, don't panic. connect the watch to charging and wait 30 minutes - often the device recovers automatically. If this doesn't help, contact the Xiaomi service center.

7. Alternative methods of bundling (without official annexes)

If official applications do not work (for example, due to regional restrictions), you can use third-party solutions:

• 🔧 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band – allows you to connect Mi Band and some watch models to iPhone with advanced notification settings (~300 ₽/month).
• 🌐 Gadgetbridge is an open source Android software that supports most Xiaomi devices without cloud sync.
• 🔄 Mi Band Master – Mi Fitness alternative with additional features (e.g. vibration customization).

Warning: Third-party applications may:

• Do not support all of the clock’s functions (e.g. measurement) SpO₂).
• Requires manual Bluetooth connection setting.
• Violate the privacy policy (health data may be shared with third parties).

If you decide to use Gadgetbridge, follow this instruction:

1. Download APK from the official website (Google Play does not exist).
2. Enable installation from unknown sources (Settings → Security → Unknown sources).
3. Launch the app and select Add device → Xiaomi Mi Band (even if you have a watch).
4. Follow the setup wizard by confirming the bundle on the clock.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the pairing of Xiaomi Watch with the phone