How to turn on the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet: from charging to first synchronization

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness tracker remains one of the most popular trackers even years after its release, thanks to its reliability, sensor accuracy and affordable price. However, new users often have questions about how to turn the device on correctly, what to do if the screen does not respond to touch, or how to sync the bracelet with the phone. In this article, we will analyze all the steps from the first charge to setting notifications, and also consider typical errors that may cause the Mi Band 4 to not turn on.

It is important to understand that the activation process is different from newer models (for example, Mi Band 6 or Mi Smart Band 7), since the fourth version does not have a touch button, and control is carried out exclusively through the touch screen. If you bought a used bracelet or it was lying idle for a long time, you may need to reset to the factory settings, which will also be discussed below.

Preparation for the first inclusion: charging and checking the completeness

Before you turn on the Mi Band 4, make sure the device is charged. Unlike smartphones, the bracelet comes with minimal battery life (or completely discharged), so the first step is to plug it into charging.

• 📦 The fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 4 (with a strap)
• 🔌 Magnetic connector charging cable (USB-Type-A)
• 📄 Short instructions in several languages (without Russian)

If you don't have a cable, you might be worried that you've been sold a non-original device, the original cable is clearly labeled MDY-08-EM and has magnetic contacts that are securely fixed on the bracelet, and fakes are often supplied with cheap, unreliable chargers.

How to charge Mi Band 4 correctly:

1. Remove the bracelet capsule from the strap, pulling it towards the screen.
2. Attach the magnetic cable connector to the contacts on the back of the capsule (they are asymmetrically arranged – do not confuse the sides!).
3. Connect the cable to the power source: adapter 5V/1A or USB-port.

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If the bracelet doesn't start charging, try cleaning the contacts on the capsule and cable with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Oxidation or dirt can block the current supply.

Charging takes about 1.5-2 hours. The completion of the process is signaled by a green indicator on the screen (if the bracelet has already been activated) or the constant burning of a red LED on the cable. Mi Band 4 can not be recharged - the controller automatically turns off power when it reaches 100%, so it is safe to leave it on charging overnight.

First turn on: screen activation and language selection

When the bracelet is charged, you can start to turn on. Unlike smartphones, there is no physical power button, all control is done through the touch screen. To turn on the Mi Band 4:

1. Put the capsule on the strap (if removed for charging).
2. Touch the bracelet screen with one finger and hold for 2-3 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Wait for the system to boot (about 10-15 seconds).

If the screen is not responding:

• ⚡ Check the charge level – at a discharge below 5%, the bracelet will not turn on.
• 🔄 Try rebooting the device by plugging it into charging for 10 minutes and then holding the screen for 10 seconds.
• 🧴 Make sure there is no protective film on the screen (sometimes you forget to remove it after you buy it).

Once turned on, the bracelet will suggest you choose a language. Swipe up/down, confirm the choice with a tick. Russian in Mi Band 4 is officially supported, but if it is not on the list, update the firmware through the Mi Fit app (more on this below).

Check the battery charge (plug in for 30 minutes)

Clean the contacts of the capsule and cable from dirt

Hold the screen for 10+ seconds for forced reboot

Update the firmware through Mi Fit (if the bracelet reacts at least somehow)

Reset the settings to factory (see section below)-->

Synchronization with the phone via Mi Fit: step-by-step instructions

Without a smartphone connection, the Mi Band 4 will only work as a pedometer and alarm clock, and to unlock all functions (notifications, sleep monitoring, pulse monitor), you need to synchronize the bracelet with the Mi Fit app.

• 🤖 For Android: Google Play
• 🍎 For iOS: App Store

How to connect Mi Band 4 to your phone:

1. Open Mi Fit and sign up (or sign in via your Xiaomi, Google, Facebook account).
2. Click Profile → Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 4.
3. Allow the app to access notifications, contacts, and geolocation (this is necessary for the tracker to function properly).
4. The bracelet will show a confirmation code – compare it with the code in the application and click Confirm.

If the bracelet is not present:

• 🔍 Make sure your phone is Bluetooth enabled and geolocated.
• 📱 Reboot your smartphone and bracelet.
• 🔄 In the Mi Fit app, remove the bracelet from the list of devices and try to connect again.

Important: Mi Band 4 only supports Bluetooth 4.2. If your phone has a newer version (such as Bluetooth 5.0), you may have connection issues, in which case you may try to disable other Bluetooth devices or update the bracelet firmware.

Firmware Update: Why It Matters and How to Do It

After synchronization, Mi Fit will automatically prompt you to update the bracelet firmware. Don’t ignore this notification – the new version corrects errors, adds new features (for example, support for additional languages) and improves stability.

1. Connect the bracelet to charge (required! If the charge is below 50%, the upgrade will not start).
2. In the Mi Fit app, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Firmware Update.
3. Press Update and wait until the process is complete. Don't turn off the bracelet from charging!

If the update is hanging:

• ⏳ Wait 15-20 minutes – sometimes the process takes longer due to slow internet.
• 🔌 Turn off the bracelet from charging, reboot it (holding the screen for 10 seconds) and try to upgrade again.
• 📡 Switch your phone to another Wi-Fi network or use mobile internet.

Once the bracelet is successfully upgraded, it will restart. Check the firmware version in Mi Fit → Device Profile → Firmware version. Current version for 2026 is 1.0.9.54 or higher.

Set up the main functions: pedometer, notifications, alarm clock

Now that the bracelet is plugged in and updated, you can customize it to your needs, and the core features of the Mi Band 4 fall into two categories:

How to set up notifications:

1. In Mi Fit, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications.
2. Turn on the Notification switch from your phone.
3. Select the applications you want to see on your bracelet (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, VKontakte).
4. Set up the display style: only vibration, notification text, or full text.

To ensure that notifications are stable:

• 📵 Don’t turn off Bluetooth and background mode for Mi Fit in phone settings.
• 🔄 Regularly synchronize the bracelet (manually swipe down on the bracelet screen).
• 🚫 Delete the Mi Fit app cache if notifications stop coming.

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For the correct operation of notifications on Android, you need to disable battery optimization for the Mi Fit application. You can do this in the phone settings: "Applications → Mi Fit → Battery → Without restrictions."

Resetting settings to factory: when it is necessary and how to do it

If the bracelet is buggy, out of sync, or you bought it used, you may need to reset to factory settings, which will delete all data from the device (except firmware), including:

• 📊 Statistics of steps, sleep and training.
• ⏰ Setted alarm clocks.
• 🔔 Individual notification settings.

How to Reset Mi Band 4:

1. On the bracelet, swipe down to the More menu.
2. Select Settings → Reset (icon with wrench).
3. Confirm the action by clicking the tick.

If the screen is unresponsive or the bracelet is getting stuck:

• 🔌 Connect him to the charger.
• 🔄 Hold the screen for 15 seconds until you feel the vibration and see the Mi logo.
• 📱 After resetting, re-synchronize the bracelet with Mi Fit.

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After resetting, the bracelet may show a connection error in Mi Fit, in which case remove it from the list of devices in the application, restart the phone and add the bracelet again.

Note: the reset does not fix the firmware problems. If the bracelet is rebooted cyclically or does not turn on after reset, you need to flash it through the PC (instructions are available on thematic forums).

Typical problems and their solutions

Even after setting up correctly, the Mi Band 4 can run unstable, and let’s look at the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, check the bracelet on another phone. If the problem persists, the battery or board may have malfunctioned. In this case, contact the service center (guarantee on Mi Band 4 - 12 months from the date of purchase).

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Before you go to the service, try to manually reflash the bracelet through the Mi Band 4 Tool utility (available on GitHub), which often solves the problems with "bricking" after a failed update.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions