How to properly start the fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 4: from unpacking to synchronization

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular trackers even years after its release, thanks to its balance of price, functionality and reliability. However, beginners often wonder how to initially turn it on, connect it to a smartphone or fix typical synchronization errors.

Unlike current models (Mi Band 7 or Smart Band 8), the fourth version has its own features: a different charging connector, stripped-down firmware support and a specific interface algorithm with the Mi Fit application. We will analyze each step - from unpacking to calibrating sensors - and give tips on extending the battery life and solving "glitches" after updates.

If you bought a used bracelet or it was lying idle for a long time, there is a separate section in the article about factory reset and recovery. And for those who plan to use the Mi Band 4 with an iPhone, we have prepared separate instructions - synchronization with iOS has its nuances.

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

Before you press the button on the wristband, make sure you have everything you need to make the device work properly. Often users face problems due to trivial trifles: a dead battery, an incompatible smartphone or an outdated version of the application.

Here is the mandatory checklist before the first inclusion:

Check the bracelet charge (the indicator should burn when connected to the charge)

Install Mi Fit (at least 4.6.0) or Zepp Life

Turn on Bluetooth and GPS on your smartphone (for accurate tracking of steps)

Prepare a Xiaomi account (or register a new one)

Update your phone to the current version (Android) 6.0+/iOS 10+)

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Pay special attention to the charger. The Mi Band 4 uses a unique double-pin connector, a "pink" that often breaks when handled carelessly.

• 🔋 Check if the cable fits tightly to the contacts (should be a click).
• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port or power supply (charging current must be ≥ 0.5A).
• 🔍 Check the contacts on the bracelet – they should not be oxidized or bent.

If the charging indicator is not on, and the bracelet is new, this is an occasion to contact the service center. For used devices, the problem may lie in a worn-out battery (the life of the Li-Pol battery Mi Band 4 is about 2-3 years with active use).

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If the bracelet is discharged “to zero” and does not turn on, hold it on charging for 10-15 minutes – sometimes it takes time for the power controller to “wake up”.

2 First Including: buttons, indicators and interface language

To enable Xiaomi Mi Band 4, press and hold the touch button (the only physical button below the screen) for 3-5 seconds until the Mi logo appears.

• ⚡ Make sure it is charged (minimum 5% of the battery is needed to turn on).
• 🔄 Try plugging in to charge and holding the button — sometimes it helps to wake up the device.
• 🛠️ If the bracelet has been previously used, you may need to reset the settings (instructions in Section 5).

Once turned on, you'll see a welcome screen with a choice of language, and two things to consider here are:

1. The interface language of the bracelet and the Mi Fit application language must match. If the application chooses English and the bracelet chooses Russian, synchronization errors may occur.
2. Mi Band 4 supports a limited set of languages (no Ukrainian, Belarusian or Kazakh) Full list: Russian, English, Chinese, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Polish.

To navigate the menu, use:

• 👆 Swipe up/down – swipe across the screen.
• 👈 Back – swipe to the right or press a physical button.
• ✅ Selecting a point – touching the screen (not a button!).

Russian

English

Chinese

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Important: If the bracelet is getting stuck on the boot screen for more than 2 minutes after selecting the language, this indicates a damaged firmware. The solution is to reset through the application or flash it (Section 6).

3. Phone Synchronization: Step-by-step instruction for Android and iOS

Without a smartphone connection, the Mi Band 4 works like a regular pedometer clock. To unlock all the features (notifications, sleep monitoring, pulsemeter), you need to sync it with the app. The instructions for Android and iOS are different!

For Android:

1. Open the Mi Fit app (or Zepp Life for newer versions).
2. Click Profile → Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 4.
3. Allow access to Bluetooth, Notifications and Geolocation (required!).
4. On the bracelet will appear a request for pairing - confirm it by pressing the screen.
5. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 5 minutes).

For the iPhone:

The process is more complicated on iOS due to Apple's limitations:

1. Install Mi Fit from the App Store (version no lower than 4.6.0).
2. In your iPhone settings, enable Bluetooth and Geolocation Services for the app.
3. Start Mi Fit, select Add Device and follow the instructions.
4. Note: on iPhone Mi Band 4 does not support notifications from messengers (iOS restriction). SMS.

If the synchronization is interrupted, try:

• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (hold the button for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Reinstall the Mi Fit app.
• 🔗 Shut down. VPN Antivirus (they can block the connection).

4. Customization of the main functions: pedometer, pulsemeter, notifications

Once you've successfully synchronized, you have to customize the wristband to suit your needs, and by default, many of the functions are disabled to save battery life.

1. Monitoring of activity

The bracelet accurately counts the steps and calories:

• 👟 Enter your weight, height and age in Mi Fit → Profile → Personal data.
• 📊 Turn on Sleep Autodetermination (Mi Fit) → Mi Smart Band 4 → Sleep monitoring).
• 🏃 Select the dominant hand in bracelet settings (affects pedometer accuracy).

2.Pulsemeter and heart rate notifications

The Mi Band 4 can measure your heart rate manually and automatically (every 30 minutes) to adjust:

1. In the app, go to Mi Smart Band 4 → Monitoring of heart rate.
2. Turn on Automatic Measurements and set the interval (optimally 30 minutes).
3. Activate high/low pulse notifications (thresholds are manually adjusted).

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For accurate pulse measurement, wear a bracelet 2-3 fingers above your wrist and tighten the strap so that the sensor fits tightly to the skin, but does not pass the vein.

Notifications and alarm clocks

The setting of alerts depends on the phone OS:

• 📱 Android: In Mi Fit, allow notifications (Phone Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fit → Notifications. Then in the app, select which applications the bracelet should vibrate from.
• 🍎 iOS: Only calls and calls work SMS. For instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) need workaround solutions like Notify & Fitness.

To add an alarm clock:

1. Open Mi Fit. → Mi Smart Band 4 → Alarm clocks.
2. Click Add and set the time.
3. Choose the days of the week and the type of vibration (single or repeated).

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On iPhone, notifications in Mi Band 4 only work for calls and SMS. Other applications require third-party utilities (such as Mi Band Master), but they may violate Apple’s privacy policy.

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

Resetting the Mi Band 4 to factory settings is required in three cases:

1. The bracelet "gluts" (does not synchronize, hangs, does not count steps).
2. You have purchased a used device and want to delete the previous owner’s data.
3. You are planning to sell/give a bracelet.

There are two ways to discharge:

Method 1: Through the menu of the bracelet

1. On the bracelet, go to Settings → More → Reset.
2. Confirm the action by pressing the screen.
3. Wait for the reboot (the bracelet vibrates and shows the Mi logo).

Method 2: Through the Mi Fit application

1. Open your Mi Fit, select your bracelet.
2. Go to Device Settings → Untie the device.
3. Confirm the junction and reset directly on the bracelet (method 1).

⚠️ Note: if the bracelet does not respond to the sensor after reset, this may indicate damage to the firmware. In this case, you will need to flash through the Mi Band 4 Tools (instructions in the next section).

6.Reflashing Mi Band 4: when to do and how to do

Flashing is an extreme measure if the bracelet:

• 🔄 Hangs on the Mi logo.
• 📵 Not on or not charging.
• 🔊 Not synced with your phone after multiple attempts.

You'll need firmware.

• 💻 Windows computer (or Mac with emulator).
• 🔌 The Mi Band 4 charging cable (original!).
• 📥 Mi Band 4 Tools (Download from the program) XDA Developers).
• 📄 Firmware for your bracelet version (Chinese, global or European).

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Mi Band 4 Tools.
2. Connect the bracelet to charging and start the program.
3. Press Connect – if the bracelet is determined, you will see its serial number.
4. Select the firmware file (.fw) and press Flash.
5. Wait until the process is over (the bracelet will reboot automatically).

⚠️ Warning: Don't turn off the bracelet while you're firmware! This can cause a complete failure (a soldering iron is required to repair it). If the process is 99% frozen, wait 10 minutes, then restart the bracelet with a button.

After a successful firmware:

• 🔄 The bracelet will reset and show the welcome screen.
• 📱 Tie it back up in Mi Fit.
• ⚙️ Set up language, time and basic parameters.

Critical information: Firmware from Chinese to global (and vice versa) can lead to loss of features (e.g., the Chinese version of the firmware, NFC In Chinese, it does not work with global firmware. Before you run it, check the model of your bracelet by serial number (on the box or in Mi Fit).

7. Extending battery life: tips for saving charge

The average battery life of the Mi Band 4 is 2-3 years when used actively, but many users face a quick discharge after a year.

Bracelet settings:

• 🔋 Turn off the Hand Raising to Activate the Screen (Settings) → Display).
• ⏱️ Reduce the brightness of the screen to 2-3 divisions.
• 💤 Set the interval of automatic pulse measurement once every 1 hour (instead of 30 minutes).
• 🚫 Disable notifications from unnecessary applications.

General recommendations:

• 🔌 Charge the bracelet to 80-90% (full charge/discharge reduces the life of the Li-Pol battery).
• 🌡️ Avoid overheating (do not leave it in the sun or near heating appliances).
• 🔄 Once a month, perform a full discharge/charging cycle to calibrate the controller.

If the bracelet discharges in 1-2 days (with normal use), this is a sign of wear and tear of the battery, in which case only a replacement of the battery in the service center (cost - about 1000-1500 rubles) will help.

8. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even after setting up properly, the Mi Band 4 can be unstable, and we'll look at the typical problems and ways to fix them:

1.The bracelet does not vibrate at notifications

Causes and solutions:

• 📵 Bluetooth is off. → Check the connection in Mi Fit.
• 🔕 The “Do Not Disturb” mode» → Turn off the bracelet settings.
• 🔊 Weak vibration → In the application, increase the intensity (Settings) → Vibration).
• 📱 Limitations of iOS → On iPhone, notifications only work for calls/SMS.

2. Incorrect step counting

To improve accuracy:

• 👟 Wear the bracelet on the non-dominant hand (for right-handed - left, for left-handed - right-handed).
• 📏 Tighten the strap so that the bracelet does not hang, but also does not squeeze the wrist.
• 📊 In Mi Fit, specify the correct height and weight (affects the calculation algorithm).
• 🚶 For accuracy, make natural movements with your hand (as with normal walking).

3.The bracelet doesn't measure the pulse

Problems with the pulse meter are solved as follows:

• 🩺 Check the density of the sensor to the skin (should touch, but not press).
• 💦 Wipe the sensor and skin with an alcohol wipe (sweat or dirt interfere with measurement).
• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (hold the button for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Update the firmware through Mi Fit.

4.The screen does not respond to touch

If the bracelet does not respond to swipes:

• 🔋 Charge it to 100% (at low charge, the sensor may shut down).
• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 🧼 Wash the screen with a soft cloth (it may have fat or moisture on it).
• 🛠️ If it doesn’t work, you need to replace the sensory glass (cost) ~800 rubles).

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet has stopped responding to touches after falling or getting water, don't try to sew it! This could be mechanical damage to the display or plume.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions