How to Install and Configure Xiaomi Smartwatches on Smartphone: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s smartwatch is not just an accessory, but a full-fledged assistant for health tracking, notification management, and even contactless payments. However, many users face difficulties already at the stage of connecting the device to the phone. Synchronization errors, lack of connection, or malfunctioning of the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) can spoil the first impression of the gadget.

In this article, we will look at all the ways Xiaomi Watch is installed on Android and iOS smartphones, including the Watch 2 Pro, Watch S3, Watch S2 and earlier versions. You will learn how to properly download official software, bundle devices over Bluetooth, configure notifications and avoid typical errors. And if something goes wrong, at the end of this article there is a section with solutions to common problems.

Important: the connection procedure may vary slightly depending on the firmware version of the watch and the phone’s operating system, and all screenshots and instructions in this article are relevant for 2026 and the latest versions of the apps.

1.What Xiaomi watches support phone connection?

Not all Xiaomi smartwatches are compatible with smartphones, for example, the Mi Band fitness bracelets use other software (Mi Band), and some watch models are focused only on the Chinese market and require special firmware.

• 📱 Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro – flagship model with Wear OS support for eSIM
• ⚡ Xiaomi Watch S3 — premium design, AMOLED-screen, NFC payment
• 🏃 Xiaomi Watch S2 — Optimized for sports, 100+ training regimes
• 💰 Xiaomi Watch 1 (obsolete model, but still available for sale)
• ❌ Xiaomi Mi Watch Color – Requires Chinese version of Mi Fitness (unofficial support)

Before buying, check if your model supports global firmware.A watch marked with CN in the title (for example, Xiaomi Watch S3 CN) may not work with European Xiaomi servers, in which case you will need to manually change the region or install custom software.

2.Phone preparation: system requirements and settings

For Xiaomi to connect to the phone correctly, several preliminary steps must be taken, and neglecting these conditions often leads to synchronization errors or the inability to find the device in the list of available devices.

Minimum requirements for a smartphone:

• 🤖 Android 6.0 or later (for Watch 2 Pro – Android 8.0)+)
• 🍎 iOS 12.0 or later (only for models with Apple Health support)
• 📶 Bluetooth 4.2 or higher (Bluetooth 5.0 recommended)
• 📲 Free space on the phone: at least 500 MB (for installing the application and cache)

Also make sure that on the phone:

1. Bluetooth enabled (in the Quick Settings menu or in Settings → Connections).
2. Power saving mode is turned off (it can block the background work of Mi Fitness).
3. Geolocation is permitted (required for certain functions, such as weather).
4. The latest OS updates have been installed (check in Settings → Software Update).

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If you have a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone, update the Mi Services Framework system app via Google Play before connecting the watch.

3. Installation of the Mi Fitness application: step-by-step instructions

Xiaomi’s official watch management app, Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), can be downloaded for free from Google Play or the App Store. It’s important to use only the official version – third-party APKs may contain viruses or not support the latest watch models.

Instructions for Android:

1. Open Google Play and search for Mi Fitness.
2. Choose an app from the developer Xiaomi Inc. (the icon with the Mi logo).
3. Click Install and wait for the download to be completed.
4. After installation, open the application and accept the User Agreement.

Instructions for iOS:

1. Go to the App Store and find Mi Fitness.
2. Make sure that the developer is Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
3. Click Download and wait for installation.
4. When you first start, allow access to Notifications, Health and Geolocation.

If the app is not in your region (e.g., for the Xiaomi Watch S3 CN), try:

• 🌍 Change the region on Google Play to India or Singapore (required) VPN).
• 📥 Download APK From the official website of Xiaomi (Support section).
• 🔄 Use alternative launchers, such as Zepp Life (for some models).

Download Mi Fitness from the official store|Turn on Bluetooth on your phone|Turn off the power saving mode|Allow all application requests (geolocation, notifications)|Charge the clock to 50% or more-->

4.Pairing Xiaomi watches with a phone: a step-by-step process

Once the Mi Fitness app is installed, you can start pairing devices, which takes no more than 5 minutes if you follow the instructions, and it's important that the watch is at least 30 percent charged, otherwise the connection may be interrupted.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on the Xiaomi watch by holding the side button for 3 seconds.
2. In the menu of the clock, find the Settings → Bluetooth section and activate the device search.
3. Open Mi Fitness on your phone and click Add Device (+ icon in the upper right corner).
4. Select your watch model from the list (e.g. Xiaomi Watch S3).
5. Confirm pairing on both devices (the clock will show a code that should match the code on the phone).
6. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 2 minutes).

If the watch is not on the list of available devices:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off and turn on again).
• 📱 Remove the Mi Fitness app cache in your phone settings.
• ⚙️ Reset the clock settings to factory (Settings) → Reset).

5. Set up notifications, health and additional features

Once paired successfully, the watch’s key functions, such as notifications, health tracking, and personal data, must be configured, without which many of the gadget’s features will be unavailable.

How to set up notifications:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Device Profile → Notifications.
2. Turn on the Display Notifications switch.
3. Select applications that must be duplicated on the clock (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).
4. Set up vibration and sound signals (reminder option).

Adjusting health and activity:

For models with NFC (such as Xiaomi Watch S3), contactless payment settings are also available:

1. In Mi Fitness, select NFC → Add a card.
2. Follow the instructions for linking a bank card (Mastercard, Visa, Mir are supported).
3. Confirm the link via SMS from the bank.

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To properly monitor sleep and heart, the watch must fit tightly to the wrist, and a loosened strap can lead to inaccurate data.

6. Update of the firmware of the Xiaomi watch

Once connected, it is recommended to update the watch firmware to the latest version, which will fix possible bugs, add new features and improve compatibility with the phone. Importantly, do not interrupt the upgrade process, this can lead to the "bricking" of the device.

How to update firmware:

1. Make sure your watch is 50% or more charged.
2. Connect your phone to Wi-Fi (update via mobile internet may not work).
3. In Mi Fitness, go to Device Profile → Software Update.
4. If a new version is available, click Download and Install.
5. Wait until the process is complete (the clock will reset automatically).

If the update is hanging:

• 🔌 Connect the clock to charging and try again.
• 📶 Reconnect your phone to another Wi-Fi network.
• ⚠️ Do not try to roll back the firmware manually - this can disrupt the operation of sensors.

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Before updating, back up your data to Mi Fitness (Profile) → Backup. This will save your settings and activity statistics.

7.Typical errors and their solutions

Even with the right connection, users often face problems: clocks don't sync, apps crash or data doesn't update, and these are the most common bugs and ways to fix them.

⚠️ Note: If the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro doesn’t display notifications after pairing, check the power saving settings on the phone.Some manufacturers (such as Samsung or Huawei) block the background work of the Mi Fitness.

Table of errors and decisions:

If none of these methods worked, try:

1. Reset the clock to factory settings (Settings → Reset).
2. Remove and reinstall Mi Fitness.
3. Contact Xiaomi through the official website (Fedback section).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi Watch models S3 firmware-wise (CN) Google Assistant and some languages may not be supported, and the solution will require manual firmware of the global version (risk of loss of warranty!).

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions