The first familiarity with a smart bracelet often begins with confusion: in the box there is only a tracker without explicit buttons and a charging cable, and the screen remains black. Many users mistakenly believe that the device requires a complex procedure for activating through a computer or hidden combinations of buttons that do not physically exist on the body. In fact, the launch process is as simplified as possible by the company's engineers and is tied to interaction with a smartphone.
Modern models like the Mi Band 6, 7 or 8 come with a minimum battery charge sufficient to turn on but requiring immediate recharging to work properly. The key here is to understand that the bracelet does not have a classic power button as usual.
In this article, we will take a look at all the steps in getting your gadget ready to work, eliminating common novice errors. You will learn why the device may not respond to touches out of the box and how to properly conduct the initial setup through the Xiaomi Wear or Mi Fitness ecosystem. Ready for the first run guarantees a long battery life and correct operation of all sensors.
Checking of completeness and primary charge
Before you try to turn on the device, you need to make sure that it is physically ready to work. It often happens that the bracelet was in the warehouse for a long time, and the lithium polymer battery could discharge below the critical level, in which case the screen may not light up even when connected to charging in the first minutes.
You will find a tracker and strap in the kit. Depending on the model, the capsule can be already inserted into the strap or walk separately. If you are holding the Mi Band 4, 5 or earlier versions, the capsule must be carefully removed from the silicone strap by pressing on the convex part on the back. For the Mi Band 6, 7 and 8 models, no retrieval is required, as charging is done through contacts on the body itself or wirelessly.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use powerful fast-charging adapters from smartphones (Quick Charge, Power Delivery) to charge the bracelet, 5V/1Otherwise, the power controller may block charging for safety reasons.
Connect the device to a power source. The battery animation or Mi Logo logo should appear on the screen. If the screen is black, leave the gadget on charge for at least 15-20 minutes. Lack of reaction for a long time can indicate a deep discharge or defect in the charging cable.
- 🔌 Make sure the contacts on the bracelet and charger are clean and dry.
- 🔋 Use the port. USB 2.0 or standard 1 Amp adapter.
- ⏱ Leave the device on charge for 20 minutes before first turning on.
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If the charging indicator flashes, but the device does not turn on, try to wipe the contacts with an alcohol napkin - oxidation often interferes with the transmission of current.
Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application
The bracelet will not function on its own, it needs a brain in the form of a smartphone. To manage all the functions of tracking, you need to install an official application. Depending on the year of release of your device, it can be Mi Fit (old models), Xiaomi Wear (for Android) or the current Mi Fitness (for iOS and Android).
Download the app only from official stores: Google Play or App Store. Third-party versions from unverified sources may contain malicious code or work with data transfer protocols incorrectly. After installation, you will need to register a Xiaomi Account or log in via Google/Facebook.
The registration process is mandatory to store statistics in the cloud. When you first run the application will request permissions to access geolocation, Bluetooth and notifications. Without a geolocation access permission (GPS) on Android, the search for the device may not begin due to security constraints.
The application interface is intuitive, but it is important to choose the right region. If you are in Russia or the CIS, select the appropriate region in your account settings to keep the servers running smoothly. After you log in, go to the Profile or Devices tab to add a new gadget.
Interconnection of the bracelet with a smartphone
The most critical step is to pair the phone with the tracker. Don't try to connect devices through the standard Bluetooth menu in the phone's settings. This is a common mistake that causes the phone to see the device but not be able to transmit data.
The pairing is done exclusively through the Mi Fitness interface. Press Add Device and select your bracelet model from the list. The app will start scanning the surrounding space. At this point, keep the phone and bracelet no more than 1 meter apart.
When the image of the bracelet appears on the smartphone screen, click “Connect.” On the tracker screen (or vibrating signal on older models without a screen), a request will be received for confirmation of pairing. Tap the confirmation button on the touch screen of the bracelet or touch it to confirm the action.
- 📱 Open the Mi Fitness app and go to the Devices section.
- 🔍 Click "Add" and wait for the bracelet model to appear.
- ✅ Confirm the creation of a pair by touching the screen of the bracelet.
☑️ Pre-conjugation check
Once the connection is successful, time-date synchronization will begin, which is critical, because the bracelets don't have their own real-time module with the battery, and if you miss this stage, sleep and foot statistics will be mistexted.
Configure access rights and notifications
For the bracelet to become a truly intelligent assistant, it needs to be given permission to read the phone data, especially notifications: calls, SMS and messages from messengers, without manual activation of these functions in the application, the bracelet will be silent.
Go to the settings of the connected device in the app. Find the "App Notifications" or "Notification Management" section. Here you will see a list of all the programs installed on the phone. Turn on the switches opposite the ones you want to see notifications from on your wrist: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber and system calls.
⚠️ Attention: On smartphones Xiaomi (MIUI/HyperOS) And other Android shells with aggressive energy savings, you need to manually prevent the system from "killing" the process of the Mi Fitness application.
You should also set your activity goals, and the app will suggest setting your daily pace, motion reminders, and Do Not Disturb mode, and fine-tuning those settings will save you from the extra vibration at night and motivate you to move during the day.
Why aren't the notifications coming?
Model comparison and compatibility
The launch process may vary slightly depending on the generation of the device: Older models require the capsule to be removed, new models are charged with a magnetic connector, and understanding the differences will help avoid mechanical damage when trying to “push” the wrong charger.
Below is a table showing the key features of launching different generations of trackers:
| Model | Type of charging | Capsule extraction | Annex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 4 | Contacts (doc) | Required. | Mi Fit / Zepp Life |
| Mi Band 5 | Magnetic cable | Not required | Mi Fit / Zepp Life |
| Mi Band 6/7 | Magnetic cable | Not required | Mi Fitness / Zepp Life |
| Mi Band 8/9 | Magnetic/Wireless | Not required | Mi Fitness |
Owners of Mi Band 8 Pros and later models should pay attention to NFC support. When you first start such devices, the application will offer to configure transport cards or payment systems, if they are supported in your region, this requires an additional step of verification through the banking application.
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The compatibility of the app depends on the model: Zepp Life is better for the Mi Band 1-5, and Mi Fitness is better for the 6-9, although both applications often support cross-functionality.
Solving Common Problems at Startup
Even if all instructions are followed, there may be technical difficulties, most often users are faced with a situation where the phone does not see the bracelet, 90% of the time the problem is that the device has already been paired with another phone or “hung” in Bluetooth memory.
You need to do a full reset. To do this, in the Bluetooth menu of your phone, find a device (like Mi Band 5) and click on Forget the device or Unpair the pairing. Then in the Mi Fitness app itself, if the bracelet is displayed there, remove it from the list. Only then try to search again.
If the bracelet doesn't respond to touch and doesn't turn on after an hour of charging, try waking it up. Connect the charging cable to a powerful computer port (USB 3.0) or a quality power supply. Sometimes it takes several cycles to connect and disconnect the cable to the power controller to come out of sleep mode.
- 🔄 Do “Forget the Device” in your phone’s Bluetooth settings.
- 🗑 Remove the bracelet from the Mi Fitness app if it is “hanging” there».
- 🔌 Reboot your smartphone and try to hide again.
⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet heats up while charging or emits a foreign smell, immediately disconnect it from the mains.This is a sign of a battery failure, and further operation is dangerous.
In rare cases, the problem may be in the phone's operating system version. Make sure your Android or iOS is updated to the current version that supports modern Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocols.