Modern wearables have become an integral part of the lives of many users who are watching their health. Fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 4 deservedly occupies a leading position in the market due to the excellent ratio of price and functionality. However, immediately after purchase, users often face the question of how to properly activate and configure the device for proper operation.
The installation process involves not only physically putting on the tracker, but also software synchronization with the smartphone. Errors at this stage can lead to the gadget not transmitting data or quickly discharging. In this guide, we will discuss in detail all the stages of connection, from preparing the smartphone to fine-tuning notifications.
To start, make sure your smartphone meets the minimum system requirements, usually Bluetooth 4.0 or higher, and the current version of the Android or iOS operating system. Before starting the procedure, it is recommended to charge the tracker capsule to a level of at least 20%, so that the initial setup process goes smoothly.
Preparation of the smartphone and installation of the application
The first step is to install special software that serves as a bridge between the wristband and the phone. For Xiaomi devices and most other Android smartphones, the main application has long been Mi Fit, but recently the company has been actively promoting a new application Mi Fitness (formerly Zepp Life).The choice of the specific application depends on the region and version of your tracker firmware, but the logic of their work is similar.
Download the app exclusively from official sources: Google Play Market or App Store. APK-files can lead to malware installation or unstable synchronization. After installing the application, you need to register an account or log in to an existing one using a phone number or email.
An important step is to provide the necessary permissions. The application will request access to geolocation, Bluetooth and notifications. Geolocation is mandatory for Bluetooth to work on Android devices, without this service, the phone will simply not see the bracelet. It is also recommended to remove restrictions on the application’s operation in the background in the battery settings of your smartphone.
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For stable operation, enable auto-start the application in the energy saving settings of your smartphone so that the system does not close the connection with the bracelet.
Once you register, the user profile must be filled in as accurately as possible, and height, weight, date of birth, and step length all affect calorie and distance calculations, and you should not ignore these parameters, because they determine the accuracy of the statistics you will see on the screen.
Device pairing and initial setup
The pairing process is a key point of installation. Unlike conventional Bluetooth headphones, the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 bracelet cannot simply be added through the standard Bluetooth menu in the phone settings. This often causes confusion for beginners. All search and connection activities must be performed strictly within the interface of the installed application.
Open the app and go to the user profile. At the top of the screen, there's usually a "Add Device" button or a plus icon. Click on it and select from the "Bracelet" or "Mi Band 4" list. The app will trigger the scanning space.
- 📱 Make sure that Bluetooth on your smartphone is on and visible to other devices.
- ⌚ Place the bracelet next to your phone, preferably no more than 1 meter away.
- 🔋 Check that the bracelet screen displays a Bluetooth icon or it vibrates when pressed.
- 🔄 If the device is not found, try restarting the smartphone and repeat the search.
When the app detects the tracker, a request for confirmation of pairing will appear on the smartphone screen, while the bracelet screen may display vibration and a Bluetooth icon, you need to tap the bracelet screen or press the touch button to confirm the connection, and after successful completion of the process, time and date synchronization will begin.
☑️ Pre-conjugation check
It is worth noting that the Mi Band 4 can only pair with one smartphone at a time. If the bracelet was previously used with another phone, it must be untie in the old application or reset to factory settings.
Configuring the interface and dials
One of the most pleasing features of the fourth model is the ability to change dials. The built-in store offers dozens of screen design options, from classic analog watches to large-digit sports interfaces. It takes a few seconds to install a new dial and changes the look of the device significantly.
To replace, open the app, go to the device profile and select dial settings or dial store. Here you can choose a free option from the cloud or upload your own photo from the smartphone gallery. After selecting, click "Install" and the image will be transmitted to the bracelet.
| Type of dial | Description | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| Classical. | Hand clocks or simple numbers | Standard. |
| Difficult (GIF) | Animated images | Elevated. |
| Informative | Lots of data (pulse, steps, date) | Standard. |
| Photo dial | Personal photos of the user | Standard. |
In addition to visual style, it is important to adjust the order of the displayed data. You can swipe left or right screens with pedometer, pulsemeter, weather and other functions. In the app, in the section "Display settings", you can turn off unnecessary widgets so that you do not flip them constantly, or change the order of their flow for convenience.
The secret of customization
Configuration of notifications and calls
The main reason many people buy fitness trackers is the ability to receive notifications without taking the phone out of their pocket. Xiaomi Mi Band 4 supports displaying messages from social networks, instant messengers, SMS and incoming calls. However, this feature requires the correct setting of permissions.
In the app, look for Notifications or App Settings, and here's a list of all the apps you've installed on your smartphone, and you need to activate switches in front of the apps you want to see on your wrist, like WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, or standard calls.
⚠️ Note: On Android devices, the notification text may not arrive unless you have permission to access the notification history. When you first turn on this feature, the system will redirect you to the appropriate security settings menu.
You can also adjust the vibration and the time of the message display. Some users prefer to turn off the vibration when incoming calls at night so as not to wake themselves. To do this, there is a Do Not Disturb mode in the application, which can be activated on a schedule, during which time the bracelet will only fix data, but not vibrate or shine with the screen.
For iOS users, the notifications are set up via the Bluetooth system menu, you need to go to the Bluetooth settings, find the connected bracelet, click on the "i" icon and make sure that the "Show Notifications" switch is activated, and then you control the specific applications through the settings of the iPhone itself in the "Notifications" section.
Health monitoring and sports regimes
The tracker's functionality goes beyond step counting, and it has algorithms inside it to measure your heart rate, analyze your sleep phases, and count calories, and to activate continuous heart rate monitoring, you need to include this option in the app, which will allow you to build more accurate workload schedules throughout the day.
There are several sports modes available in the bracelet: running, walking, cycling, swimming, etc. Before starting a workout, you can set targets in the app, for example, set a target by time or distance, while the bracelet is active, it will vibrate if the pulse goes beyond the established boundaries of the zone.
- 🏊♂️ Swimming: the device has moisture protection 5 ATM, which allows swimming in the pool.
- 🏃♂️ Running: used GPS smartphone.
- 🧘♀️ Yoga: Tracking Calorie Expenditure and Time of Class.
- 💤 Sleep: Automatic analysis of rest quality and REM-phase.
It's important to understand that the wristband sensors work optically. To get accurate pulse readings, the device must fit tightly to the skin, but not compress the wrist. If the tracker dangles, the diode light is scattered, and the readings may be wrong. During training, it is recommended to tighten the strap a little more than with a normal wear.
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For maximum measurement accuracy, wear a bracelet 2-3 cm above the wrist bone and regularly wipe the sensor on the back of sweat and dirt.
Updating firmware and solving problems
From time to time, Xiaomi releases software updates for its devices, which can fix bugs, improve the stability of Bluetooth connections or add new features, check for updates in the profile of the device in the application, if the new version is available, a notification will appear.
The update process requires a stable connection to the Internet and