How to Enable Notifications on Xiaomi’s Mi Band 3: Complete Setup in 5 Steps

The Mi Band 3 remains one of Xiaomi’s most popular fitness bracelets, thanks to its combination of affordable price, long-term autonomy and basic smart features, SMS or messages from messengers either do not arrive on the bracelet or are displayed incorrectly, the reason is not the hardware limitations of the device (which supports alerts), but the wrong settings of the smartphone or companion application.

In this article, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for activating notifications for the Mi Band 3, including solving typical problems: why the bracelet doesn’t vibrate when an incoming call is made, how to add alerts from WhatsApp or Viber, and what to do if notifications are duplicated. We’ll also compare the two official apps, Mi Fit and Zepp Life, and explain which one is better suited for setting alerts in 2026.

Preparation: What you need to set up notifications

Before you turn on notifications, make sure your Mi Band 3 and smartphone meet the minimum requirements:

• 📱 Smartphone on Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+ (iPhone notification functionality is limited).
• 🔄 The latest firmware version on the bracelet (update through the app if required).
• 📲 Installed application: Mi Fit (old interface) or Zepp Life (recommended for new devices).
• 🔗 Stable Bluetooth 4.0 connection+ (distance of 10 meters without obstacles).

If you use an iPhone, note: on iOS, notifications on Mi Band 3 only work for calls and calls. SMS — notifications from third-party messengers (Telegram, Viber, etc.) are not supported due to Apple restrictions. Android owners are available full functionality, but you will need to provide the companion application with special permissions.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously used Mi Band 2 and upgraded to version 3, reset the bracelet to factory settings (Brecelet settings) → In-app resets: Old settings may conflict with new firmware.

Step 1: Connecting Mi Band 3 to your smartphone

Without the bracelet synchronized correctly with the phone, the notifications will not work.

1. Install the app: 🤖 Download Mi Fit or Zepp Life from Google Play. 🍎 For iOS: only Mi Fit is available in the App Store.

Register.

Xiaomi

Zepp

Google

Facebook

Add the device.

• In Mi Fit: click Profile → Add the device → Mi Smart Band 3.
• In Zepp Life: Select Devices → Add → Mi Band 3.
• Follow the on-screen instructions: Allow access to Bluetooth, Notifications, and Contacts (to display caller names).

Once you've successfully connected, the charge bracelet icon will appear in the main menu of the app. If the sync is interrupted, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone.
• 📱 Remove the bracelet from the list of conjugated devices in the settings Android/iOS reconnect.
• 🔋 Reboot Mi Band 3 (press the touch button for 10 seconds).

Step 2: Set up notifications in the app

The algorithm for turning on alerts depends on the application you choose. Let's look at both.

Option 1: Through Mi Fit (for Android and iOS)

1. Open Mi Fit and go to the Profile section → Mi Smart Band 3.
2. Select Call Notifications and Notifications from the apps.
3. Activate the slider Enable notifications.
4. In the list of applications, tick the messengers for which you want to receive alerts (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, VK).
5. Press Save and wait for synchronization (the icon of the bracelet will blink).

Option 2: via Zepp Life (Android only)

1. In the main menu of Zepp Life tap on the icon Mi Band 3.
2. Go to Notifications. → Management of notifications.
3. Turn on the option to display notifications on the device.
4. In the Applications section, select the desired messengers and social networks.
5. Activate Preview if you want to see text messages on the bracelet screen.

Important: On Android, after activating notifications in the application, you must manually allow access to alerts in the system settings:

1. Open the phone settings → Annexes → Mi Fit/Zepp Life → Notifications.
2. Enable permission to display notifications.
3. In the Notification Categories section, activate Messages and Calls.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Android 12+, Check the settings for Special Access. → Access to notifications for the Mi app Fit/Zepp Without this alert, they won't be transmitted to the bracelet.

Step 3: Personalizing Notifications

Mi Band 3 allows you to fine-tune the display of alerts. Here are the key settings that you can change:

To save battery life, we recommend:

• 🔕 Disable previews for unnecessary apps (such as gaming notifications).
• ⏰ Set up the mode Do not disturb at night (from 23:00 to 8:00).
• 📵 Limit the repetition of notifications to 1-2 times.

💡

If you have multiple messengers installed (like Telegram and WhatsApp) but notifications come from only one, check the priority of accessing notifications in Android settings.Some manufacturers (Samsung, Huawei) block the background operation of apps to save battery. Fit/Zepp Life in the list "No restrictions".

Step 4: Solving Typical Problems

If notifications don’t come or aren’t working properly, use this troubleshooting instruction:

Problem. 1: The bracelet does not vibrate when ringing./SMS

Causes and solutions:

• 🔇 Do Not Disturb mode is on the bracelet. Check: swipe down the screen and make sure the bell icon is not crossed out.
• 📵 Bluetooth is off or the bracelet is dead. Charge up to 30% and reconnect.
• 🔧 Phone Settings: On Android, check if notifications for the Phone app or Messages are disabled.

Problem 2: Notifications are delayed

Delayed alerts are usually associated with:

• 📶 Weak Bluetooth signal. Make sure there's no obstruction between the phone and the bracelet.
• 🔄 Power-saving mode on your smartphone. Add Mi. Fit/Zepp Life is an exception.
• 📥 If you have multiple alerts on your phone at the same time, the bracelet may miss some of them.

Issue 3: Duplicate notifications

If one message is displayed on the bracelet several times:

• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (press the button for 10 seconds).
• 📱 In the application settings, turn off and turn on notifications again.
• 🗑️ Clear the Mi cache. Fit/Zepp Life in the phone settings (Applications) → Warehouse → Clear the cache).

💡

If the problem persists after all the manipulations, try resetting the Mi Band 3 to factory settings and plugging it back in again, which solves notification problems 90% of the time.

Step 5: Alternative ways to receive notifications

If the standard settings are not satisfied, consider these options:

Method 1: Notify for Mi Band (Android only)

This third-party app extends the notification functionality:

• 🔄 Support for all messengers, including those that do not appear in Mi Fit.
• 🎨 Customization of icons and notification text.
• 🔔 Filtering Alerts by Keywords.

Download it from Google Play and follow the instructions in the app. minus: requires additional permissions and can reduce the time of the bracelet.

Method 2: Automation with Tasker

For advanced Android users:

1. Install Tasker.
2. Create a task with a trigger Notice received.
3. Add the action Send notification to Mi Band (the Mi Band Tools plugin is required).

This will allow, for example, to adjust different vibration patterns for different contacts.

⚠️ Note: Using third-party apps may result in increased bracelet battery consumption (up to) 30% during the day) and conflicts with official software. Before installation, make a backup copy of the data in Mi Fit/Zepp Life.

Mi Fit and Zepp Life Comparison for Mi Band 3

Since 2021, Xiaomi has been gradually replacing Mi Fit with Zepp Life (formerly Amazfit).Which software is better for setting up notifications?

Recommendation: If you use Android, go to Zepp Life, which has more customization options for notifications, and iPhone owners will have to stay on Mi Fit, but the functionality will be cut.

FAQ: Frequent questions about notifications on Mi Band 3