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

The Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular trackers even years after its release, thanks to the balance of price, functionality and reliability. However, new users often have difficulties with the first turn on: the device does not respond to presses, does not charge or connect to the phone. In this article, we will analyze all the stages of activation, from checking battery power to setting notifications, and also consider typical errors and their solutions.

It’s important to understand that the Mi Band 4 doesn’t have a physical power button — it’s activated automatically when connected to a charger or synced to a smartphone. If the bracelet doesn’t show signs of life, the problem may lie in a discharged battery, a faulty cable, or a software failure. Next, you’ll find detailed instructions for each scenario, including hidden features (like forced reboot) and troubleshooting tips.

This article is relevant for all versions of the Mi Band 4 firmware (including global and Chinese) and is compatible with Mi Fit (obsolete) and Zepp Life (recommended). If you upgrade to the latest version of the bracelet, some menu items may differ slightly - we will note these points separately.

1.Preparation for the first turn on: what to check before activation

Before you try to turn on Mi Band 4, make sure that the basic conditions are met, most often due to trivial omissions:

• 🔋 Battery charge: the bracelet may not respond if the battery is completely discharged. Even if you bought a new device, it could lie in storage for months.
• 📱 Smartphone compatibility: Mi Band 4 works with Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+. On older versions of the OS, the application may not be installed.
• 🔌 Charging cable malfunction: the original cable has magnetic contacts. If they're oxidized or bent, charging won't start.
• 📲 App availability: without Mi Fit or Zepp Life, the bracelet won't activate. Download it in advance from the App Store or Google Play.

Pay special attention to the charger. The Mi Band 4 comes with a USB-Type-A cable, but many users lose it or use non-original analogues. The bracelet will not charge from wireless charging or from a Mi Band 5/6 cable - contacts are located differently! If you do not have the original cable, buy an XMSH07HM compatible one.

⚠️ Warning: if the bracelet was stored at a temperature below 0°C or higher than 45°C, his battery might have failed, so that the device won't turn on even after a long charge, so you'll need to replace the battery.

Charging the bracelet: how to connect correctly and how much to wait

The charging process of the Mi Band 4 is different from the newer models.

1. Remove the bracelet capsule from the strap by pulling it towards the screen (not up!).
2. Connect the contacts of the capsule to the magnetic connectors of the charging cable. Right position - the screen looks up, and the contacts are attracted by the magnet.
3. Connect the cable to the power source (computer, 5V/1A adapter or power bank).

The bracelet should display a charge animation (lightning battery) if it is not:

• 🔄 Try to flip the capsule - the contacts may not coincide.
• 🔌 Connect the cable to another USB-port.
• 🧹 Clean the contacts on the capsule and cable with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.

The full charge time is about 2 hours, but for the first turn on, 10-15 minutes is enough for the bracelet to start and undergo initial settings. The full charge cycle is recommended to be performed later to calibrate the battery controller.

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If the bracelet is not charged from a computer, try connecting it to a power adapter from a smartphone (5V/1–2A). Some of them USB-PC ports do not provide sufficient current.

3.First activation: activation of the bracelet after charging

When the bracelet is sufficiently charged (at least 5-10%), it will turn on automatically, and you will see the Mi logo on the screen, after which the device will go to standby mode.

Check the charge level (plug in to charge for 10 minutes)|Make sure the capsule is properly inserted into the strap|Press the touch screen and hold for 5 seconds.|Reset the bracelet (see Section 5)|Try resetting the settings (see Section 6)-->

For compulsory inclusion:

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger.
2. Touch the screen and hold your finger for 10-15 seconds until vibrations appear.
3. If the screen is on fire, but immediately went out, repeat the action.

After successful activation, the screen will display a welcome message in Chinese or English (depending on the firmware version), then you will need to connect the bracelet to the phone through the application - without this, most of the functions will not be available.

⚠️ Note: if the bracelet turns on but immediately turns off, this may indicate a battery malfunction or firmware damage. In the first case, only a battery replacement will help, in the second - flashing through Mi Fit (see section 7 about this).

4. Connect to a smartphone: setup via Mi Fit or Zepp Life

To work properly, the Mi Band 4 needs to be linked to the phone. Since 2022, the official Mi Fit app has been replaced by Zepp Life (formerly Amazfit), but both options remain compatible. We recommend using Zepp Life, which supports new features and emits fewer errors.

Instructions for Zepp Life:

1. Download and install Zepp Life from the official store.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi/Zepp account.
3. Click Add Device → Select Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 4.
4. Allow the app to access Bluetooth, Notifications, and Locations (required!).
5. Follow the instructions on the screen: confirm the pairing on the phone and bracelet (touch the ticks on the tracker screen).

Important nuances:

• 📶 Bluetooth should be on your phone. If you're using Android, turn off Zepp Life's power saving mode in the battery settings.
• 🔒 On iPhone after connecting, go to Settings → Bluetooth and manually confirm pairing with Mi Band 4.
• 🌐 If the bracelet is not located, restart the Bluetooth on your phone (turn off/on) or restart the application.

After a successful connection, the application will offer to update the firmware of the bracelet. We recommend you to agree - new versions fix errors and add features (for example, support for additional dials). The update will take 5-10 minutes, do not disconnect the bracelet from the phone at this point!

5. Forced reboot: how to restart the bracelet when hanging

If the Mi Band 4 is getting stuck, doesn't respond to touch, or shows a white screen, a forced reboot will help, which is also useful if the bracelet doesn't sync with the phone or gives up update errors.

Method 1: Software reboot

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger.
2. Hold your screen for 15-20 seconds until you feel the vibration.
3. Release your finger and the bracelet will reboot (the Mi logo will appear).

Method 2: Hardware reset (if the first method did not work)

1. Remove the capsule from the strap.
2. Connect it to charging and immediately touch the screen.
3. Hold your finger for 30 seconds until the screen goes out and turns on again.

After the reboot, all settings will remain, but you may need to re-sync with the phone.If the bracelet continues to glittle, try resetting it to factory settings (more on this in the next section).

⚠️ Warning: Do not confuse a reset with a hard reset (Section 6) Reboot saves all data, and reset deletes it without recovery!

6. Reset to factory settings: when and how to do

Resetting the Mi Band 4 to factory settings should be used in extreme cases:

• 🔄 The bracelet is constantly reloaded or not turned on.
• 📵 Cannot connect to the phone after several attempts.
• 🔧 You need to remove the link to your old account before selling.

Resetting instructions:

1. Open Zepp Life or Mi Fit on your phone.
2. Go to the profile of the bracelet → Device settings → Untie the device.
3. Confirm the action. The bracelet vibrates and resets.
4. For a complete reset (if the undocking didn't work): connect the bracelet to charge, hold the screen for 30 seconds until the Mi logo with the exclamation mark appears. Release your finger - the bracelet will reset.

After resetting, all data (steps, sleep history, alarm clocks) will be deleted, the bracelet will return to the "out of the box" state, and it will need to be reconnected to the phone.

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Factory reset is the last way to solve software problems, and 90 percent of the time, a simple firmware reboot or update helps.

7. firmware update: how to sew the bracelet manually

If the Mi Band 4 is unstable (e.g., it discharges quickly, doesn’t sync data, or gives out errors), a firmware update will help, usually automatically via Zepp Life, but sometimes manual installation is required.

How to update firmware:

1. Open Zepp Life and go to the profile of the bracelet.
2. Click Firmware Update (if available).
3. Confirm the load and wait until the bracelet is completed (rebooted).

If the automatic update does not work:

• 📱 Remove the Zepp Life app cache in your phone settings.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone and bracelet.
• 🌐 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes the update is blocked by corporate networks).

For manual firmware (if the bracelet is not updated through the application) you will need:

1. Download the latest firmware version for Mi Band 4 from the official Xiaomi website (file with the extension.fw).
2. Place the file in the MiFit/firmware folder on your phone.
3. Run the update via Mi Fit (no manual firmware is supported in Zepp Life).

⚠️ Warning: Don't interrupt the upgrade process! If the bracelet disconnects from the phone during firmware, it may stop turning on. In this case, you will need to flash it through the Mi Band 4 Tool (instructions are available on the forums). 4PDA or XDA).

8. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even after successful inclusion, Mi Band 4 users face typical challenges, and we've put together solutions for the most common cases:

If your problem is not described above, check:

• 📋 Phone compatibility: on some models of Huawei or Xiaomi with custom firmware Zepp Life does not work correctly.
• 🔗 App conflict: Remove other fitness trackers (like Google Fit or S Health) that may block sensor access.
• 🛠 Physical damage: If the bracelet falls or gets wet, check the integrity of the body and contacts.

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If the bracelet has stopped syncing data, try untieing it and reconnecting it to Zepp Life, which often solves communication problems.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions