First inclusion of Xiaomi Mi Band 4: full instruction from unpacking to setup

Where to start: Preparing the bracelet for the first inclusion

You just bought the Xiaomi Mi Band 4, one of the most popular fitness bracelets on the market, but you don't know how to activate it properly? The first turn on may seem like a trivial task, but beginners often have questions: whether to charge the device before first use, how to sync it with a smartphone, and what to do if the bracelet does not respond to pressing. In this article, we will analyze the process by steps, from unpacking the box to setting the basic functions.

It is important to understand that the Mi Band 4 comes with a minimum battery level — enough for the initial setup. However, the manufacturer recommends fully charge the device before active use. Also check the package: the box should contain the bracelet, charging cable (no power supply!) and a brief instruction in several languages. If something is missing, this is an excuse to go to the store.

Before you start setting up, make sure your smartphone meets the minimum requirements:

• 📱 Operating system: Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+
• 🔋 Free space: at least 100 MB for installing the Mi Fit app
• 📶 Internet connection: for downloading firmware and synchronizing data
• 🔒 Permissions: Access to notifications, geolocation and contacts (optional)

If your phone is older than 2015, there may be compatibility issues, so try using a newer model or check the list of supported devices on Xiaomi’s official website.

Step 1: Charging the bracelet before first switching on

The first thing to do after unpacking is to connect the bracelet to charging. Even if the indicator shows residual charge, full charging ensures stable operation in the first days of use. The Mi Band 4 uses a magnetic charging cable with a connector. USB Type-A. Connect it to anyone. USB-port (computer, charger or power bank).

How do you know if the bracelet is charging?

• 🔄 On the screen will appear charging animation (battery icon with lightning)
• 🔋 When fully discharged, it may take 5-10 minutes for the bracelet to “wake up” and show the indicator.
• ⏳ Full charge time: ~1.5-2 hours (battery capacity – 135 mAh)

⚠️ Note: Do not use chargers with higher voltage 5V/1A. Overheating or voltage changes can damage the battery.If the bracelet is not charging, check:

• Density of the contacts (the click of the magnet should be heard)
• Correction of the cable (try another one) USB-port)
• Cleanliness of contacts on the bracelet (wipe with an alcohol napkin)

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If the bracelet is dead and does not respond to charging, leave it plugged in for 30 to 60 minutes, often enough to reanimate the battery.

Step 2: Physically activate the bracelet

After charging, you can start to turn on. There is no traditional power button on the Mi Band 4 - it is controlled through the touch screen and gestures. To turn on the bracelet, do the following:

If the screen does not respond to touch:

• 🔋 Make sure the bracelet is charged (the indicator should show at least 10% charge)
• 👆 Try swiping up or down – sometimes a gesture is better recognized than a single touch.
• 🔄 Reset the bracelet: connect to charging and hold the screen pressed for 10 seconds

After successful activation, you will see the Mi logo, then the main menu with time (if the bracelet was already paired before) or the welcome screen with a suggestion to connect to the Mi Fit application. If the bracelet was previously used by another owner, reset to factory settings: go to Settings → Reset (icon with wrench wrench).

Step 3: Install and configure the Mi Fit application

Without the Mi Fit app, the bracelet will only work like a pedometer clock, and to unlock all functions (notifications, sleep monitoring, pulsemeter), you need to:

1. Download Mi Fit from Google Play or App Store.
2. Register a Xiaomi account (or log in through the Google/Facebook).
3. Add device: press «+» → «Bracelet» → Mi Smart Band 4.

During pairing, follow the instructions on the screen:

• 📱 Allow the app to access notifications, geolocation, and contacts (optional)
• 🔗 Bring the bracelet to the phone (distance not more than 10 cm) and confirm pairing on both devices
• ⏳ Wait for firmware updates (can take up to 10 minutes)

⚠️ Warning: If the application does not find the bracelet:

• Make sure your phone has Bluetooth enabled and geolocation enabled (necessary for device search)
• Reset the bracelet (hold the screen for 10 seconds)
• Try using another smartphone to pair up

After successful connection, the application will offer to configure the main parameters:

• 👤 User profile (gender, age, weight – for accurate calorie counting)
• 🏃‍♂️ Activity goals (steps, sleep, exercise)
• 🔔 Notifications (selection of applications for which notifications will be received)

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Without the Mi Fit app, the bracelet will not be able to sync data with the phone, show notifications and update firmware.

Step 4: Set up the basic functions of the bracelet

Now that the bracelet is paired with the phone, you can customize it to your needs. The basic functions are managed through the Mi Fit app in Profile. → Mi Smart Band 4: Let’s look at the key settings:

1. Screen and display

The Mi Band 4 has over 70 dials (you can download additional ones via Mi Fit or third-party apps like Amazfit) to change the dial:

1. Open Mi Fit. → Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Dials
2. Choose your favorite option and click “Install”
3. Wait for synchronization (bracelet vibrates after successful change)

Notifications

The bracelet can display notifications from messengers, social networks and other applications to configure:

1. Go to Profile. → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications
2. Enable the option to “Show notifications”
3. Select the apps you want to see notifications on your bracelet

⚠️ Note: On the iPhone for the correct operation of notifications is necessary:

• Enable Bluetooth and Notifications in iOS settings for Mi Fit
• Allow the app to access Contacts (to display callers' names)
• Reset the bracelet after setting up

3. Monitoring of sleep and pulse

By default, the bracelet automatically tracks sleep phases (deep, light, REM) It measures your pulse every 30 minutes:

• 💤 Sleep: Enable the “Sleep Tracking Auto” option in your Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Sleep monitoring
• ❤️ Pulse: Set the measurement interval (from 1 to 30 minutes) in Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Heart rate
• 📊 Data: View statistics in the Status section → Sleep or Status → Pulse.

Step 5: Update firmware and solve problems

After the first activation, Mi Fit will automatically prompt you to update the bracelet firmware, which is mandatory because it corrects errors, adds new features and improves stability. The process takes 5-15 minutes and consists of several steps:

1. The application downloads the firmware (Internet required)
2. The bracelet will reboot and start installation (don’t turn off Bluetooth!).
3. After the update, the bracelet will be rebooted again.

⚠️ Note: If the update is delayed:

• Do not disconnect the bracelet from your phone and do not interrupt the process.
• Make sure the bracelet charge level is above 50%
• If the update lasts more than 30 minutes, restart the bracelet and try again.

Frequent problems after updating and their solution:

• 🔄 Bracelet not synced: Reboot the bracelet and phone, then re-pair the devices
• 📵 No notifications: Check the permissions for Mi Fit in your phone settings
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge: Turn off constant pulse monitoring or reduce the frequency of measurements

Step 6: Advanced settings and life hacks

After a basic setup, you can optimize the bracelet to suit your needs. Here are some useful tips:

1. Battery charge savings

By default, the Mi Band 4 holds a charge of up to 20 days, but when used actively (constant pulse, notifications), the operating time is reduced to 7-10 days.

• 🔋 Turn off automatic pulse monitoring (leave only manual measurements)
• 🌙 Reduce the brightness of the screen to 2-3 divisions
• 🔔 Turn off vibration for unnecessary notifications
• 🛌 Turn on the "Do Not Disturb" mode for the night

2. Hidden functions

Few people know, but Mi Band 4 has undocumented features:

• 🎵 Camera control: In some firmware, you can start shooting photos from your phone through a bracelet (you need to include in Mi Fit)
• 🔦 Flashlight: Quick double-touch on the screen includes backlighting (does not work on all firmware)
• 🏊 Swimming mode: Turns on manually before training to accurately track swim length

3. Synchronization with other services

Data from Mi Band 4 can be exported to third-party applications:

• 🏃 Google Fit: In Mi Fit settings, enable sync with Google
• 🍏 Apple Health: iPhone data is automatically transferred to HealthKit
• 📊 Strava: Through Mi Fit or third-party apps like SyncSolver

1. Disable and turn on synchronization again in Mi Fit.

2. Clear the cache of the Google Fit app.

3. Reinstall Mi Fit (pre-data backup).-->

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even after you set it up properly, users are faced with typical problems, and we're going to look at some of the most common ones.

1.The bracelet is not switched on after charging

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🔌 Faulty cable: Try charging the bracelet from another source
• 🔋 Deep discharge: Leave 2-3 hours on charge, even if the indicator does not burn
• 🛠 Hardware malfunction: If the bracelet does not respond after a long charge - contact the service

2.The touch screen is not working

If the bracelet is on but does not respond to touch:

• 🧼 Wipe the screen with a dry wipe (sweat or moisture may block the sensor)
• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (hold the screen for 10 seconds)
• 🛠 Check the integrity of the screen (cracks or chips may disrupt the work)

3.The bracelet does not connect to the phone

Problems with pairing are solved as follows:

• 📱 Reboot your phone and bracelet
• 🔗 Remove the bracelet from the list of Bluetooth devices and re-coat
• 📋 Update Mi Fit to the latest version
• 🚫 Turn it off. VPN Firewall (they can block the connection)

⚠️ Note: If the bracelet was previously linked to another Xiaomi account, reset via Settings → Reset. Then you can hide it with a new phone.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions