How to turn Bluetooth on Xiaomi Smart Band 8: full instruction with tips for setting up

The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 fitness bracelet has become one of the most popular wearables thanks to its combination of compactness, functionality and affordable price. However, many users face difficulties when connecting the device to a smartphone for the first time — especially when it comes to setting up a Bluetooth connection. Without an activated wireless module, the bracelet will not be able to synchronize steps, pulse or notifications, turning into a normal watch.

In this article, we will not only discuss the basic process of turning Bluetooth on the Smart Band 8, but also nuances that are often overlooked in standard instructions, such as why the bracelet may not appear in the list of available devices, how to reset the connection settings when crashes, and what parameters in a smartphone affect the stability of communication.

Preparing for Connection: What to Do Before Turning On Bluetooth

Before you activate Bluetooth on your wristband, make sure that the preconditions are met, and ignoring them is the main reason users experience errors such as "Device not found" or "Disabled to connect."

First, check the battery power of Xiaomi Smart Band 8. If the charge level is below 20%, the bracelet can automatically turn off power-intensive modules, including Bluetooth, to extend the time of operation. Connect the device to charge for 10-15 minutes if the indicator shows low charge. Second, update the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for new versions) to the latest version - outdated software often does not support communication protocols of new devices.

• 📱 Smartphone: Make sure your phone is Bluetooth enabled (Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth) and notifications for Mi Fitness app are allowed.
• 🔋 Bracelet: Charge at least 30% (optimally 50% or higher) and Bluetooth can be unstable when charged low.
• 🌐 Internet: For the first synchronization, you will need access to the network (Wi-Fi or mobile Internet) - the bracelet downloads current data about the firmware.
• 🔄 Reboot: If the bracelet has previously connected to another device, reboot it (press the touch button for 10 seconds).

Also worth considering is that the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 supports Bluetooth 5.3, but is compatible with older versions (4.2 and higher).If your smartphone Released before 2018, there may be connection problems - check the phone specifications on the manufacturer's website.

Step-by-step: how to turn on Bluetooth on Xiaomi Smart Band 8

Unlike smartphones where Bluetooth is manually activated, the Smart Band 8 wireless module is automatically activated when you first connect to your phone, but there are nuances that depend on whether the bracelet is new or has been used before.

If the bracelet is new (never connected to devices), follow these steps:

1. Download Mi Fitness (for Android) or Zepp Life (for iOS) from the official store (Google Play or App Store).
2. Sign up for an account: Sign in with Mi Account (or create a new account if you don’t have one) is a must for data synchronization.
3. Add the device: In the app, click Add Device → Bracelet → Xiaomi Smart Band 8. The bracelet should be near the smartphone (no more than 1 meter away).
4. Confirm Connection: A pairing request will appear on the bracelet screen - tap the touch button for confirmation. Bluetooth will turn on automatically.

If the bracelet has been used before, but has been reset or disconnected from the previous phone, reset the settings:

On the bracelet: Go to Settings → System → Data Reset (flick the swipe menu up/down).


Confirm the reset by pressing the touch button.

After reset, repeat the connection procedure as for a new device. Note: when reset, all data from the bracelet (steps, sleep history, alarm settings) will be deleted, but it will be stored in the Mi Account cloud if synchronization was previously performed.

Bracelet charge ≥30%|Bluetooth on your smartphone is enabled|Application Mi Fitness/Zepp Life updated|The bracelet is reloaded (if used previously)|Mi Account is created and authorized-->

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even if you follow instructions correctly, users sometimes run into problems, and let's look at the common mistakes and how to fix them.

Particularly noteworthy is the problem of persistent communication breakdowns, if the bracelet is disconnected 1-2 minutes after connection, the cause may be:

• 🔄 Power saving mode on your smartphone (disables Bluetooth in the background).Add Mi Fitness to the exclusion list.
• 📶 Interference from other devices (Wi-Fi routers, microwaves). Try connecting elsewhere.
• 🔋 Bracelet battery failure (if it is quickly discharged) In this case, a replacement of the battery in the service center is required.

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If the bracelet is not connected to the iPhone, try turning off the Bluetooth Connection Limit feature in iOS settings (Settings → Bluetooth → i (information) → Limit the number of connections).

The difference between Xiaomi Smart Band 8 and Smart Band 8 Pro

Users often confuse the standard Smart Band 8 model and the Pro version, which have different connection protocols.

Xiaomi Smart Band 8 (standard version) uses the classic Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which provides minimal power consumption but is limited in data transfer speed. while Smart Band 8 Pro supports dual mode: BLE for battery saving and standard Bluetooth for fast synchronization (for example, when transferring music to headphones).

⚠️ Note: If you are trying to connect the Smart Band 8 Pro as a regular bracelet, the app may not recognize all the features (such as music control or voice assistant.

Another key difference is the offline Wi-Fi connection in the Pro version, which allows the bracelet to update weather and notifications without being tied to a smartphone, but requires a separate setup in the Settings menu → Connections → Wi-Fi. The standard model does not have Wi-Fi, and all data is transmitted exclusively over Bluetooth.

Optimizing Bluetooth: How to Reduce Battery Consumption

A continuously active Bluetooth module can significantly reduce the life of the bracelet from a single charge, but there are ways to optimize power consumption without losing functionality.

First, turn off background data synchronization if you don't need it. By default, the bracelet sends data to the smartphone every 5 to 10 minutes, which consumes a charge.

In the Mi Fitness app:


1. Go to the profile of the bracelet.




2. Select "Device settings" → "Data synchronization".




3. Set the interval "Manual synchronization" or "Every hour".

Second, limit the number of notifications sent to the wristband. Each alert (call, SMS, messenger) activates the Bluetooth module.

Mi Fitness → Notifications → Select applications from which you do not need to receive alerts.

Also, you should pay attention to the “Do not disturb” regime" (DND). Activate it while you sleep or work, so that the bracelet does not waste energy on unnecessary connections. → crescent.

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Turning off automatic synchronization and limiting notifications can increase the bracelet’s life by 20–30% without recharging.

What to do if Bluetooth on Xiaomi Smart Band 8 is not turned on

If the Bluetooth bracelet module is inactive after all the manipulations, the problem could be hardware or software.

Programmatic failures are eliminated in the following order:

1. Reboot the bracelet: Press the touch button for 10-15 seconds before the Xiaomi logo appears.
2. Resetting: As described earlier, via Settings → System → Data Reset.
3. Reinstall the application: Remove Mi Fitness, clear the cache and install again.
4. Firmware update: Check the relevance of the bracelet software in the Settings menu → About the device → Firmware update.

If the software methods do not help, a hardware malfunction is possible:

• 🔌 Damage to charging contacts: If the bracelet is not charging properly, it can affect Bluetooth performance.Specify contacts for oxidation.
• 📡 Bluetooth antenna malfunction: More common after falls or moisture (despite claimed 5) ATM).
• 🔋 Battery wear: At critically low battery capacity, the bracelet can block energy-intensive modules.

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet fell into water or was mechanically damaged, do not try to disassemble it yourself - this will lead to loss of warranty.

Important: In 2026, Xiaomi released a firmware update for the Smart Band 8, fixing the bug with spontaneous Bluetooth shutdown at low signal level.If your bracelet is released before June 2026, be sure to update the firmware through the official app.

Additional Bluetooth features on Xiaomi Smart Band 8

The Bluetooth module in Smart Band 8 is used not only for data synchronization, but also for a number of additional features that many users are unaware of.

One of the most useful is to control the camera of your smartphone, and you can use the bracelet as a remote for taking photos.

1. Open the camera on your smartphone.


2. On the bracelet, swipe up, select "Camera Control".




3. Press the touch button to take a picture.

Another hidden possibility is to find a smartphone, and if you lose your phone at home, you can make it sound right off the wristband.

On the bracelet: Swipe up → “Find the phone” → Confirm the action.

The Smart Band 8 Pro also has a feature to transfer music to wireless headphones connected to the bracelet.

1. Connect the headphones to the bracelet through Settings → Bluetooth.
2. In the Mi Fitness app, select the sound source – the bracelet.
3. Start playing music on your smartphone – the sound will be broadcast through headphones connected to the bracelet.

These features require a stable Bluetooth connection, so make sure that the bracelet and smartphone are within a radius of 5–10 meters of each other before using them.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Bluetooth on Xiaomi Smart Band 8