How to turn on Bluetooth on the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet: detailed instructions with problem solving

Xiaomi Mi Band 4 remains one of the most popular fitness bracelets even years after its release, due to the balance of price, functionality and reliability. However, many users face difficulties when connecting the device to a smartphone for the first time. The main problem lies in the incorrect activation of the Bluetooth module, without which the bracelet simply cannot sync with the Mi Fit or Zepp Life application. In this article, we will analyze not only the basic steps of turning on Bluetooth, but also nuances that are not written in the official instructions.

It's important to understand that the Mi Band 4 uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), an energy-efficient protocol that automatically shuts down when you disconnect, which means that once you first connect, the bracelet will only wake up the module when you need it. But what if the smartphone doesn't see the device at all? Or the connection is permanently reset? The answers are below.

Preparing for Connection: What to Do Before Turning On Bluetooth

Before you try to activate Bluetooth on the wristband, make sure that the preconditions are met, and ignoring them is the cause of 70% of failed connections.

First, check the battery power of the Mi Band 4. At levels below 10%, the bracelet may not turn on the communication module to save energy. Connect the device to charge for 15-20 minutes - the indicator on the screen should show at least 20%. Second, update the Mi Fit or Zepp Life app to the latest version. Older versions often contain bugs that interfere with synchronization.

• 🔋 Bracelet charging: at least 20% for stable Bluetooth operation.
• 📱 Update of the smartphone: on Android, check the version in Settings → The phone.
• 🔄 Rebooting devices: Sometimes helps to reset temporary communication errors.
• 🛡️ Application permissions: give Mi Fit access to location and contacts (required for the application) BLE).

The critical detail is that if you've previously connected the bracelet to another smartphone, you'll need to reset it to factory settings, otherwise the new phone won't be able to initialize the connection.

Step-by-step: how to turn Bluetooth on Mi Band 4

Unlike smartphones, the Mi Band 4 doesn’t have a separate Bluetooth switch on the menu, and it activates automatically when you try to connect through the app, but there are nuances that depend on the current state of the wristband.

If the bracelet is new or dropped:

1. Install Mi Fit (Android/iOS) or Zepp Life (recommended for new firmware).
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi/Zepp account.
3. Click Add Device and select Mi Smart Band 4.
4. The bracelet vibrates - confirm the connection by pressing the touch button.

If the bracelet has already been used:

• 🔄 Go to Bracelet Settings → Reset (click the touch button 5 times until the menu appears).
• 📱 Remove the device from the list of connected in the Mi Fit app.
• 🔋 Reset the bracelet (press the touch button for 10 seconds).

Charge level of Mi Band 4 ≥ 20%|Bluetooth on your smartphone is enabled|Mi Fit app updated|The bracelet is not connected to another device-->

⚠️ Note: if the bracelet does not vibrate when touched after reset, this indicates a hardware malfunction of the touch button, in which case the connection is only possible through a replacement module at the service center.

What to do if Bluetooth is not turned on: diagnosing problems

If the smartphone doesn't find the Mi Band 4 despite all the manipulations, the problem could be one of three components: the bracelet, the smartphone, or the software.

Pay particular attention to the power saving settings on your smartphone. Many manufacturers (especially Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung) aggressively restrict the background of applications. Add Mi Fit to the list of exceptions:

• 🔋 On Xiaomi: Settings → Annexes → Mi Fit → Battery → No restrictions.
• 🔋 On Samsung: Settings → Caring for the device → Battery → Background constraints.
• 🔋 On iPhone: Settings → Mi Fit → Background update → On..

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If the bracelet is connected but the data is not synchronized, try manually updating the firmware through the Device Profile → In-app Software Update. Sometimes the automatic update gets stuck.

Bluetooth on your smartphone for stable work with Mi Band 4

Even if the bracelet is successfully connected, an unstable connection can negate all the benefits of the device, most often the problem lies in the Bluetooth settings on the phone.

For Android:

1. Open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
2. Find the Mi Band 4 in the list of conjugate devices and click on the gear next to it.
3. Make sure the Auto Connection and Background Usage options are enabled.
4. Turn off (and turn on) Bluetooth – this will reset the cache of connections.

For the iPhone:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Bluetooth.
• 🔄 Click on the "i" next to the Mi Band 4 and select "Forget this device».
• 🔋 Reboot your iPhone and repeat the connection procedure.

⚠️ Attention: iPhone with iOS 16+ You may experience a “Device Not Supported” error when using Mi Fit. In this case, install the Zepp Life app, which is better optimized for newer versions of iOS.

Firmware Update: Why it’s important for Bluetooth

Many users are unaware that the bracelet’s firmware directly affects the stability of the Bluetooth connection.The manufacturer regularly releases updates that fix communication bugs, especially for iOS-based devices.

To update the firmware:

1. Open Mi Fit and go to your Mi Band 4 profile.
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner and select “Firmware Update”.
3. Make sure the bracelet is at least 50% charged and is placed next to the smartphone.
4. Confirm the update and wait until the process is completed (don’t interrupt!).

The latest stable firmware version for the Mi Band 4 is 1.0.9.58 (at 2026).If your version is older, make sure to upgrade.

• 🔄 Spontaneous breaks of communication.
• 📱 Incorrect synchronization of steps and pulse.
• ⚡ Fast battery discharge due to Bluetooth module errors.

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Updating your firmware through the app is the only official way. Do not use third-party utilities (such as Notify & Fitness) if you are not sure about their security: this can “brick” the bracelet.

Alternative ways to connect if Bluetooth is not working

If standard methods have not worked, there are a few non-obvious solutions that often save in desperate situations.

Method 1: Using the Developer Mode

On Android, you can turn on Developer Mode and activate the Bluetooth Debugging option:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Assembly number and tap 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → System system → For developers.
3. Find Bluetooth Debugging and turn it on.
4. Reboot the phone and reconnect.

Method 2: Reset the network settings of the smartphone

Sometimes Bluetooth errors are linked to conflicts in network configurations.

Settings → System → Reset → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth

On the iPhone:

Settings → Main → iPhone transfer or reset → Reset → Network settings reset

Method 3: Connecting through third-party software

If the official apps refuse to work, try:

• 📱 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (Android) – supports manual Bluetooth setup.
• 🍎 Mi Bandage (iOS) – an alternative for iPhone users.

⚠️ Note: Third-party apps may require additional permissions (such as access to notifications.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users make mistakes when setting up the Mi Band 4, and here are the most common ones – and how not to repeat them.

Another common problem is that the bracelet connects but doesn't show notifications, and this is due to the Android resolution settings:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Mi Fit → Notifications.
• 🔄 Enable the option to “Show notifications».
• 🔋 In the bracelet menu in the application, activate “Notifications” and select the desired applications.

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If notifications come with a delay, turn off the power saving mode for the applications from which you want to receive alerts (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions