How to turn on Bluetooth on the Xiaomi Amazfit BIP: all ways + problem solving

Why is Bluetooth not turned on on on the Amazfit BIP the first time?

Xiaomi Amazfit BIP fitness watches (including BIP Lite, BIP S and BIP U models) use Bluetooth 4.0/4.2 to sync with your phone, connect wireless headphones or external sensors. However, many users find that the feature simply does not activate — there is no button on the menu, the device is not detected or the connection is constantly broken.

First, in firmware before version 1.1.6.04 Bluetooth is hidden by default in the engineering menu and requires forced activation through a combination of buttons. Second, on new models (BIP 3/5), the activation algorithm has changed - now you need to be bound to the Zepp app (formerly Mi Fit). Third, about 15% of the problems are related to hardware limitations: for example, BIP Lite does not support headphone connection, but only synchronization with a smartphone.

In this article you will find:

• 🔹 4 Ways to Enable Bluetooth on Different Versions of Amazfit BIP (Including Hidden Methods)
• 🔹 Step-by-step photos and video instructions with each step parsing
• 🔹 Model compatibility table with connected device types
• 🔹 Solutions to 7 common errors (from "disappearance device" to "permanent communication breaks")

Method 1: Standard turn on through the clock menu (for firmware 1.1.6.04 and later)

If your watch is running on the current firmware, the algorithm is as simple as possible.

1. Swipe your finger up the screen from the bottom edge to open the main menu.
2. Find the Settings icon (cog) and tap it.
3. Scroll down to Bluetooth (on some models, Connections → Bluetooth).
4. Turn the slider to "On." The icon should turn blue.

Once activated, the watch will automatically start searching for available devices, unless your smartphone or headphones appear on the list:

• 📱 Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone (in settings or through the notification panel).
• 🔄 Reset the clock: Press the side button for 10 seconds before the Amazfit logo appears.
• 🔍 Check if your model supports headphone connectivity (see compatibility table below).

Bluetooth is enabled on the phone|The clock is at least 30 times charged%|Distance between devices ≤ 10 meters|Headphones/phone in search mode|The firmware of the watch is updated to the current version-->

Method 2: Hidden Engineering Menu (for old firmware)

If you don't have Bluetooth in your settings, your firmware is outdated, and you can activate it through an engineering menu, which only works on first-generation Amazfit BIP and BIP Lite with firmware up to 1.1.5.50.

Instructions:

1. Go to the main menu of the clock (swipe up).
2. Open the settings → About the phone (or About the clock).
3. Click 5 times in a row on the string with the firmware version number. The Developer mode enabled message should appear.
4. Go back to the main menu and find the new Engineer Mode (or Developer Mode).
5. In the engineering menu, select Bluetooth Test → Enable BT.

⚠️ Warning: Once Bluetooth is enabled through the engineering menu, the watch can start to reboot itself when connected to the headphones, due to driver conflict in old firmware, the solution is to update the software through the Zepp app.

Method 3: Forced activation via Zepp

Starting with the Amazfit BIP S, Bluetooth control is moved to a mobile app, which is designed to improve security, but often causes confusion.

1. Install the Zepp app (formerly Mi Fit) from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi/Huami account.
3. Add the watch: click Profile → Add the device → Amazfit BIP.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen. At the connection stage, the app automatically activates Bluetooth on the watch.

If the clock is already tied but Bluetooth is not working:

• 🔄 Open the Device → Settings section of Zepp → Update the firmware.
• 📱 Reconnect the watch: Device → Disconnect → Reconnect.
• 🔋 Make sure the charge level of the watch is > 50% (at low charge, Bluetooth turns off to save power).

1. Turn off Bluetooth on the phone, then turn it back on.

2. Remove the watch from the device list in your phone settings (Bluetooth → Amazfit BIP → Forget the device).

3. Restart the Zepp app and repeat the search.-->

Compatibility table: which devices can be connected to Amazfit BIP

Not all Amazfit BIP models support the same types of connections, and the following are up-to-date data for 2026:

Note that even if your model supports headphone connectivity, the sound quality may be lower than on a smartphone, due to the limited power of the watch processor. For example, on BIP S, when listening to music via Bluetooth, call notifications are turned off.

Solving Problems: 7 Bluetooth Errors and How to Fix Them

If Bluetooth is enabled but the connection is not established, check the following points:

1.The watch is not detected by the telephone

• 📌 Make sure the watch is not connected to another device (e.g., a tablet).
• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 🔧 In your phone settings, delete all saved Amazfit devices and try to connect again.

2. Permanent communication breakdowns

It's usually due to protocol conflict or weak signal.

• 📶 Reduce the distance between the devices (maximum 5 meters indoors).
• 🔋 Charge the watch to 100% – at a level below 20%, Bluetooth is unstable.
• 🛠️ Update the watch firmware and the Zepp app to the latest version.

3.The headphones plug in, but no sound.

This is a typical problem for BIP S and BIP U. Check out:

• 🎧 Does your headphones support A2DP (required for audio transmission) protocol?
• 🔊 Turn up the volume directly on the watch (button up).
• 🔄 Turn off and reconnect the headphones by selecting Use as an audio device from the watch menu.

⚠️ Warning: The BIP and BIP Lite models don't have audio output hardware — you can't plug headphones into them, even through an engineering menu. If the vendor claims otherwise, that's a hoax.

4. Bluetooth turns on but immediately switches off

Probable reasons:

• 🔋 Critically low battery charge (less than 10%).
• 🛠️ Firmware failure (solution - resetting settings).
• 📱 Conflict with another connected device (e.g., a fitness bracelet).

For diagnosis:

1. Connect the watch to charge and wait 100%.
2. In the Zepp app, check the Device Status → Error Log section.
3. If the error repeats, reset: Settings → System → Reset.

💡

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be hardware (damaged Bluetooth module). In this case, contact the service center Xiaomi — repair will cost 1,500-2,500 rubles (2026).

Video Instructions: How to Turn Bluetooth on Amazfit BIP S

So for the sake of clarity, we've created a step-by-step video showing all the different ways.

• 🕒 0:20 - Standard Enablement via Menu
• 🕒 1:15 Activation via engineering menu
• 🕒 2:30 – Connecting Xiaomi AirDots headphones
• 🕒 3:45 - Solving the Device Not Found error

Video:

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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XXXXXXXXXXX" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If the video is not available, check the alternative videos on YouTube using the date filter (select the video no older than 2023).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Bluetooth on Amazfit BIP