The modern smart watch Xiaomi Watch S1 is not just an accessory for tracking time, but a full-fledged communication center that is always on the wrist. Many users face a situation when after the initial setup the gadget is silent, missing important messages or calls. This is often puzzling, because the main functionality of the smart watch is precisely in the timely informing of the owner.
The problem with not having alerts is not hardware failure, but rather the Android and iOS operating system, which aggressively saves the battery power of background apps. To make notifications come in consistently, you need to perform complex configurations both in the companion app and in the system parameters of the smartphone itself. Ignoring even one step can lead to the watch displaying only time and steps.
In this article, we will take a closer look at each configuration step, eliminating common errors. You will learn how to properly connect Mi Fitness to the system, what resolutions are critical for the operation of push notifications, and how to configure content filtering. Competent synchronization will allow you to forget about constantly removing the phone from your pocket to check for missed events.
Basic settings in the Mi Fitness app
The first and most important step is to properly configure the main control application. Mi Fitness (formerly known as Zepp Life for some models, but Mi Fitness is used for the S1) acts as a gateway between the phone and the clock. Without properly configuring this data channel, no message will reach the display of the gadget.
Open the app on your smartphone and go to your device profile, and you need to find the notification management section, which is usually located in the Device Settings menu or has a dedicated bell icon, and here's a complete list of apps installed on your phone that can send data to the clock.
- 📱 Find the “Application Notifications” switch and activate it to allow shared data transfers.
- 🔔 In the list, tick specific programs: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, SMS and phone calls.
- ⚙️ Make sure the Vibration At Notification slider is also on, or you won’t feel the signal on your wrist.
It is worth noting that simply turning on the switch in the application is often not enough. The phone's operating system can block Mi Fitness from working in the background, so after turning on all the necessary items in the list, it is recommended to log out of the application and check the clock's performance by sending a test message.
☑️ Checking basic settings
System permissions Android and iOS
The most common reason why notifications don’t arrive on the Xiaomi Watch S1 is because of the access restrictions imposed by the smartphone’s operating system.The companion app must have permission to read notifications, otherwise it won’t be able to physically “see” the incoming message and transmit it to the clock.
On Android devices, you need to go to the system settings. The path may vary depending on the shell (MIUI, HyperOS, Stock Android), but the logic is the same. You need to find the Notifications or Apps section where you request access to notification data. In the list, find Mi Fitness and allow access.
⚠️ Attention: On smartphones Xiaomi with a shell MIUI Or HyperOS can automatically shut down background processes to save energy.
For iPhone owners, the situation is similar but controlled through the iOS Notification Center. Make sure that Bluetooth settings for a connected Xiaomi Watch S1 device include “Show notifications.” Also, the Mi Fitness app itself on iOS may require additional permission confirmations when you first start.
Specificity of MIUI work
Managing Call Notifications and SMS
Special attention should be paid to the classic functions of communication: phone calls and SMS-Unlike instant messengers, these features require access to contacts and a call log, and if you see a number on a watch screen but you don't see the name of the subscriber, Mi Fitness doesn't have access to the phone book.
To properly display the callers ID names, you need to give the app all the permissions you want to read your contacts, without which, synchronizing the names is impossible, and the watch will only show a digital number, which is especially important for people with visual impairments or for situations where the phone is far away.
When it comes to SMS, it’s important not to confuse settings: Notifications from carriers are often filtered by antivirus or built-in spam blockers. If messages from banks or service providers don’t arrive at the clock, check if they are blocked in the Messages app itself on the phone.
| Type of notification | Permission required | Where to check out Mi Fitness | Frequent problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calls. | Contact, Telephone. | Device settings -> Calls | No name is displayed, only number. |
| SMS | Messages (SMS) | List of applications -> SMS | Blocking a spam filter |
| Messengers | Notifications of the system | Application management | App 'dormant' in background |
| Calendar | Calendar | Settings -> Calendar | There's no vibration. |
Do Not Disturb and Sleep modes
Often users inadvertently turn off notifications by activating special watch modes. On the Xiaomi Watch S1, there are several profiles that block the vibration and backlight of the screen when incoming events. If the clock is silent at certain times of the day, check these settings.
Do Not Disturb (DND) mode completely disables audio and tactile signals, and the watch screen can display the corresponding icon (usually a crossed out month or bell), which can be configured on a schedule, for example, from 23:00 to 07:00, which is often done automatically when you first set up.
- 🌙 Check the status of the "Do Not Disturb" mode in the fast settings of the watch (swipe up the dial).
- 💤 Make sure that the sleep mode is not activated if you are waiting for notifications at night.
- 📅 Check the schedule in the app: it is possible that the automatic silence switch is set for an uncomfortable time for you.
There's also a feature called Sleep Mode, which not only tracks the rest phases, but also limits, so if you go to bed earlier than usual, the clock can think you're asleep and drown out the call, in which case manual control over automatic scenarios is a priority.
⚠️ Attention: In the Movie Theatre, the watch screen does not light up when the wrist is raised, but the vibration of the notifications must be maintained.
Configure the display and preview of content
One of the key security and convenience features is the ability to view the content of a message directly on the screen of the Xiaomi Watch S1. By default, this feature can be limited so that outsiders do not see the text of your correspondence when you raise your hand.
To enable preview messages, you need to find the appropriate item in the notification settings inside the Mi Fitness app. The option is often called “Show Content” or “Display Message Content.” If it is turned off, you will only see the sender’s name and the text “New Message”, which is not always informative.
And you also have to adjust the behavior of the screen when you get the notification, and you can choose whether the screen will light up automatically or just vibrate. AMOLED-clock-screen S1 constant screen lighting can consume the battery, so it is optimal to set the timeout backlights.
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If you want maximum privacy, turn on content display only for unlocked hours. To do this, set the PIN on the watch in the security settings.
Solving delay and lack of fluff
If all the settings are correct, but notifications still arrive with a delay or do not arrive at all, the problem may lie in a conflict of versions of the software or the cache of the application. Xiaomi Watch S1 is a complex device, and software failures are not uncommon here.
The first thing you need to do is check the updates, both for the firmware of the watch itself and for the version of the Mi Fitness app in the Play Market or App Store, and developers regularly release patches that fix Bluetooth protocol and synchronization errors.
The second step is to clear the app cache. Go to your phone's settings, find Mi Fitness in the app list, and select Clear the cache (not the data, but the cache) that will delete temporary files that may have been corrupted. If that doesn't work, try reconnecting the clock: delete the device from the app and add it again.
⚠️ Note: When pairing again (deleting and adding again), all training data that is not synchronized with the server may be lost.
And you also have to consider the limitations of Bluetooth. If the phone is in a distant pocket or behind a thick winter jacket, the signal can be interrupted, and the notification will come only when you pull out the phone and the connection is restored. This is not a defect, but a physical feature of the radio channel.
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90% of notification problems are solved by preventing the system from “killing” the background process of the Mi Fitness application and allowing autorun.