How to turn on the fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 4: instructions with photos and videos

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness tracker remains one of the most popular trackers even years after its release, thanks to its balance of price, functionality and reliability. However, new users often have questions about how to turn the device on correctly, what to do if it does not respond to pressing, and how to avoid typical errors when first launched. In this article, we will analyze the process of turning on by steps, from charging to syncing with a smartphone, and give recommendations for setting up for maximum efficiency.

It's important to understand that the Mi Band 4 is not just a smartwatch, but a full-fledged activity tracker with a pulse monitor, notifications and even music control. So, properly switching on and setting it up is a guarantee of its long service. If you bought a used bracelet or it was lying idle for a long time, the process can be slightly different - this, too, will be discussed below.

Preparing for the first turn on: what to do before launch

Before you press the button on the bracelet, make sure that all the preliminary steps are followed, which will save you from common problems such as a lack of response to touch or quick discharge.

Key requirements for successful inclusion:

• 🔋 At least 20% charge. If the bracelet is discharged to zero, it will not turn on even after connecting to the charge - it will take 5-10 minutes to set the minimum charge.
• 📱 Smartphone with Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+. For sync, you will need the official Mi Fit app (or Zepp Life for new versions).
• 🔄 Turn off Bluetooth on other devices.If the bracelet was previously paired with another phone, it could interfere with the new connection.
• 🛠️ Check the physical condition. The body should be free of cracks and the charging contacts should be clean (wipe them with alcohol if necessary).

If the bracelet was stored for more than a year without use, its battery could go into "sleep mode." In this case, it will require a long charge (1-2 hours) before it responds to the button. Don't worry if the indicator does not light up immediately - this is normal for deep-discharged devices.

Step 1: Charging the bracelet before first switching on

Xiaomi Mi Band 4 comes with a minimum battery life of only a few hours, so the first switch on always starts with charging.

1. Remove the bracelet from the package and remove the protective film from the screen (if any).
2. Connect the charging cable to USB-port of the computer, charger (5V/1A) Do not use fast charging, it can reduce the battery life.
3. Put the bracelet in the charging cradle so that the contacts on the back side match the cable connectors.
4. The charge indicator (battery icon) will appear on the bracelet screen. If there is no indicator, check the density of the contacts or try another one. USB-port.

The full charge time is about 1.5-2 hours, but for the first turn on, 20-30 minutes is enough. If the bracelet shows no signs of life after 10 minutes on charging, try the following steps:

Check the integrity of the cable (try charging another device)

Wipe the contacts of the bracelet and charging with an alcohol napkin

Connect to another power source (for example, to a PC instead of an outlet)

Turn the bracelet over in charge – sometimes the contacts don’t match the first time-->

⚠️ Warning: Never use a wireless charging station or a higher voltage adapter to charge the Mi Band 4 5V. This can damage the power controller and cause the device to fail completely.The original cable has a current restriction that protects the battery.

Step 2: Turn on the bracelet - button vs touch screen

Unlike previous models, the Mi Band 4 has a touch button under the screen, rather than a physical one. This often confuses new users.

1. Make sure the bracelet is at least 20% charged (the screen displays the battery icon when connected to the charge).
2. Remove the bracelet from the charger.
3. Touch the touch area under the screen (where the circle is depicted) and hold your finger for 3-5 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
4. Let go of your finger. The bracelet will start loading, which takes about 10 to 15 seconds.

If the screen does not respond to touch:

• 🔄 Try double-touching (quickly touch twice).
• 🧼 Wipe the screen with a dry wipe – sometimes fat or moisture interferes with the sensor’s operation.
• 🔋 Connect the bracelet to charging for 5 minutes, then try again.

Important: if the bracelet does not turn on even after a long charge, this may indicate a hardware malfunction of the power controller, in which case contact the service center - self-repair is almost impossible due to the miniature size of the board.

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If the bracelet is turned on but the screen is dim or does not display colors, check the brightness settings in the Mi Fit app.

Step 3: Sync with Mi Fit or Zepp Life

Without a smartphone connection, the Mi Band 4 will only work like a pedometer clock, and to unlock all functions (notifications, sleep monitoring, pulsemeter), you need to sync it with the official app.

1. Download and install the app: For Android: Mi Fit (Google Play) or Zepp Life (new name). For iOS: Mi Fit (App Store).

Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (via Google/Facebook).

Click "Add device" → "Breasure" → "Mi Smart Band 4".

Allow the app to access Bluetooth, Notifications and Geodane (required to work correctly!).

On the bracelet will appear a request for pairing - confirm it by touching the touch button.

If the app does not find the bracelet:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your smartphone (Settings) → Bluetooth → Off/On).
• 📱 Make sure there are no active phones on the phone. VPN or firewalls blocking the connection.
• 🔋 Reset the bracelet: Hold the touch button for 10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.

Step 4: Initial setting of the bracelet through the app

Once you've successfully connected, the app will suggest you set up the basic settings.

• ⏰ Time and Date: Automatically synced to your smartphone, but if you crash, you can manually update to your Device Profile → Time settings.
• 🏃 Activity goals: Set realistic goals by steps (recommended starting with 6,000–8,000 per day).
• 💤 Sleep monitoring: Turn on the Smart Alarm to wake up in light sleep.
• 🔔 Notifications: Select apps whose notifications will be duplicated on the bracelet (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, etc).
• 🔒 Unlock your phone: Activate the "Brecelet Unlock" feature (requires Android 5.0)+ and settings in the phone settings → Security).

Please note the section "Display and brightness":

• 🌓 Adjust autobrightness or set a fixed level (recommended 3-4 divisions out of 5).
• ⏱️ Set the backlight time (by default 5 seconds, you can increase to 10 seconds).
• 🔄 Turn on "Raising your hand to activate" (comfortable but slightly shortens the working time).

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Band 4 from your iPhone, Unlock Phone will not be available due to iOS restrictions. Also, the iPhone does not display emoji in notifications - instead of them there will be empty squares.

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After the first sync, the bracelet will automatically update the firmware to the latest version. Do not interrupt the process, this can lead to the "bricking" of the device.

Typical Errors When Enabled and How to Avoid Them

Even when you turn on correctly, users face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

1. The bracelet turns on, but the screen doesn't respond to touch. Reason: Sensor contamination or firmware failure. Solution: Rub the screen with alcohol, reset the bracelet (hold the 10 sec button). If it doesn't, reset it to factory settings through the app.
2. The bracelet discharges quickly (less than a day) Reason: Active pulse monitoring 24/7 or autobrightness turned on. Solution: Turn off Continuous heart rate monitoring in the bracelet settings and set a fixed brightness.
3. No notifications come in. Reason: No permissions for Mi Fit or Do Not Disturb mode on the phone. Solution: Check notification settings in Phone Settings → Apps → Mi Fit → Notifications.
4. The bracelet shuts down on its own. Cause: Critically low charge or battery damage. Solution: Charge to 100% and watch. If the problem recurs, contact the service.

If the Mi Band 4 bracelet previously belonged to another user, it may be linked to another Xiaomi account.

1. Hold the touch button for 10 seconds to reset.
2. Connect to charging for 1 minute, then reset.
3. If it doesn’t work, contact the previous owner and ask them to remove the device from their Mi Fit account.

Additional Features: What Can Be Configured After Enabling

After successful activation and synchronization, we recommend configuring the following options for maximum convenience:

• 🎵 Music Management: Include bracelet settings → Music control, you can now switch tracks right off the bracelet.
• 🔍 Phone search: Activate the “Find the phone” function – the bracelet will vibrate when you lose communication with your smartphone.
• 🏊 Swimming mode: Include in Profile → Bracelet settings → Swimming mode to turn off sensor while swimming.
• 🔋 Energy saving: If you want to extend the operating time, turn off "Raising your hand for activation" and "Auto-brightness".

For athletes, it is useful to set up activity profiles:

1. Open Mi Fit. → "Training".
2. Choose the sports you practice (running, cycling, swimming, etc.).
3. Set goals for each type of workout (e.g., burn 300 calories per run).

If you use a sleep monitoring bracelet, pay attention to:

• 🛏️ "Smart alarm clock – wake you up in the optimal sleep phase 30 minutes before the set time.
• 📊 "Sleep analysis – shows the duration of deep, light sleep and awakenings.
• 😴 "Daytime naps – turn on if you sleep during the day (by default, sleep tracking works only at night).

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To extend the life of the Mi Band 4 battery, turn off Continuous Heart Rate Monitoring and use manual heart rate measurements to reduce battery consumption by 30-40%.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Including Xiaomi Mi Band 4