Owning a modern wearable gadget involves constant data synchronization, and for owners of activity trackers from Xiaomi this process is critical. Many users, buying Xiaomi Mi Band 4, face the initial setup, where the most important step is the activation of the wireless module. Without Bluetooth, the transmission of data about the pulse, steps and notifications from the phone to the wrist is impossible, making the device almost useless in isolation from the smartphone.
Unlike smartphones, where you just swipe the notification curtain, fitness bracelets do not have a direct on/off switch for the radio module in the usual sense. Bluetooth connection here works in the background and activates automatically under certain conditions or through the device menu. Understanding the logic of this protocol in the Xiaomi ecosystem will allow you to avoid many errors when pairing.
This article is a comprehensive technical guide that will help you not only turn on data transfer, but also set up a stable connection. We will discuss the usual methods of activation through the menu of the bracelet itself, and also pay special attention to the settings in the mobile application, since it is the software layer that most often causes failures.
Bluetooth in the Mi Band 4
The fourth-generation fitness tracker from the Chinese giant is equipped with a Bluetooth 5.0 module that provides energy-efficient data transfer. It is important to understand that the device does not “broadcast” the signal constantly at maximum power, otherwise the battery would die in a couple of hours. Instead, it uses an algorithm of periodic polling and connection, which is activated when there are events or when an application is requested.
The user needs to be aware of the difference between the visibility of the device and its readiness to pair. When you pick up the bracelet for the first time after buying or dumping, it goes into advertising mode, becoming visible to the scanning smartphone. If the device has been paired before, it will try to reconnect with the last known phone automatically as soon as you lift your wrist or touch the sensor.
⚠️ Note: Do not try to search for the bracelet through the standard Bluetooth menu in the Android or iOS settings for primary pairing.This will lead to a connection error, since direct communication without the mediation of the Mi Fit (or Zepp Life) application is technically impossible to transfer user data.
Connection stability depends on the version of your smartphone’s operating system and the installed version of the tracker’s firmware. The BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) protocol requires certain permissions on the Android system, especially in versions 10, 11 and higher, where control over geolocation and access to devices has been significantly tightened by Google and Apple.
Activation through the device menu
In most cases, the user does not need to manually turn on anything, since the module is active by default. However, if the connection has been severed or you want to re-initiate the search for the phone, you need to use the interface of the Mi Band 4 itself.
The process is as follows: unlock the bracelet screen with a swipe or touch, then flip the menu to the right or left until you find the icon with the image of the smartphone. This is Add or Find the device (depending on the firmware version and interface language may be called "Add" or "Bind"). Pressing this item forcibly triggers visibility mode.
If you see a phone with a pulsating circle or countdown timer on the screen, the Bluetooth module has gone into active search mode, in which the device is available for detection by external gadgets for a limited time, usually about one minute, and if the pairing has not occurred during this time, the timeout will expire, and the procedure will have to be repeated.
☑️ Activation algorithm on the bracelet
It is worth noting that in some versions of the firmware, the menu can be hidden in deeper layers, especially if the tracker was already linked to another account, in which case the system may require you to first break the old connection. Resetting through the device menu also automatically activates the waiting mode for a new connection, which is equivalent to turning on Bluetooth for a new pair.
Connection settings in the Mi Fit application
The key link in the connection chain is software, and Mi Fit (or its new Zepp Life) is the Bluetooth connection manager, and without authorization in the app and adding the device to the list of My Devices, the bracelet will only work in clock mode, without synchronizing data.
To get started, you need to download the official app from Google Play or the App Store. After installing and registering an account, go to the profile and select the "Add Device" option. The system will request permission to use Bluetooth and geolocation – this is a mandatory requirement for Android smartphones, since scanning is a must for the user. BLE-Devices are linked to location services.
When the application goes into scan mode, it should detect Xiaomi Mi Band 4. If the device is found, its image and ID will appear on the smartphone screen. By clicking "Tie", you send a command to activate the connection. At this point, the vibration will appear on the bracelet screen and a confirmation request (check), which must be pressed.
| Parameter | Meaning/Action | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth resolution | Included in the OS settings | Critically. |
| Geolocation (GPS) | Included (for Android) | Tall. |
| Annex version | Actual (Zepp Life) | Medium |
| Battery charge | More than 20% | Medium |
Once paired successfully, the app will load the user profile and synchronize the time. From that point on, background synchronization will occur automatically when the app is opened or when notifications are received. If the connection breaks, first check the phone's power saving settings, which can kill the application process.
Problems with visibility and search
The fact that the bracelet is not displayed on the list of available devices is one of the most common. Often the reason is not a malfunction of the hardware, but in software conflicts or freezes the Bluetooth stack of the smartphone. The first thing you need to do is to reboot the smartphone, this clears the cache of communication services.
If the reboot didn't work, check if your Mi Band 4 is connected to another phone, the bracelet can only connect to one active device at a time, and if it's hanging on the old phone's Bluetooth list, the new gadget won't see it, or it will give an error when you try to connect.
⚠️ Attention: Removing the device from the list of conjugated Bluetooth phone settings is not enough. you must be sure to remove it from the Mi Fit application and reset on the bracelet itself before trying again.
Also worth paying attention to distance. For initial pairing, hold the bracelet close to the phone (literally 10-20 cm). The range of Bluetooth 5.0 is large, but in search mode, the sensitivity of the antenna can be limited software to save energy. Interference from Wi-Fi routers or microwave ovens can also temporarily disrupt the search.
Hidden causes of visibility problems
Specificity of connection on Android and iOS
Operating systems manage Bluetooth access rights differently. iPhone (iOS) owners are more fortunate: the system is less aggressive in restricting background processes, but requires strict adherence to the sequence of actions. On iOS, it is critical to avoid missing permission request pop-ups.
Android users face a wide variety of problems due to manufacturers’ shells (MIUI, OneUI, ColorOS). Xiaomi and Redmi phones with MIUI shell have a separate AutoRun setting. If the Mi Fit application is not allowed to autorun, the system will kill it after closing, and the bracelet will stop syncing data, although Bluetooth is formally enabled.
Android 10 and higher requires the included GPS (geolocation, even if you don't use maps, is a system limitation that many users ignore, wondering why the phone doesn't see the bracelet. GPS scan BLE-The devices just won't start.
- 📱 iOS: Requires a stable Internet connection to verify your Mi Account when you first sign in.
- 🤖 Android: You need to disable Smart Energy Saving for the tracker app.
- ⚙️ General: The Bluetooth version of the phone should be 4.0 or higher (for Mi Band 4, 5.0 is desirable).
💡
On Android, 90% of the success of the connection depends on the right power saving settings and permissions for the application, not on the performance of the bracelet itself.
Reset and re-activation
If none of the methods worked, and the Bluetooth module of the bracelet behaves incorrectly (heats, quickly puts the battery, does not see the phone), a complete reset is required. On Xiaomi Mi Band 4, this is done through the settings menu of the device itself: Settings → Unbind.
Once reset, the bracelet will return to factory settings. The screen will go out and light up again with the MI logo. At that point, the device is completely cleared of old profiles and ready for a new activation. Repeat the pairing procedure through the application, as in the first purchase. This solves 95% of software communication errors.
In rare cases, a deep reset may be required if the standard menu does not respond, sometimes by mounting a bracelet to charge during an attempt to reset or connect, and charging current can "wake up" the Bluetooth controller if it has gone into deep sleep due to an error.
⚠️ Note: Unbind resets will permanently lose all accumulated data that has not yet been synced to the phone. Try to sync the data before resetting if the bracelet reacts in any way.