What program to use for the fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 4: a comparison of official and third-party applications

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular devices for monitoring activity, despite the release of new models, its main advantage is the combination of affordable prices and a wide range of functionality from step counters to notifications from a smartphone. However, to fully work the bracelet requires a special application that not only synchronizes data, but also manages settings.

The choice of Mi Band 4 software depends on your goals: some people need basic functions of official software, and someone wants advanced sleep analytics, dial customization or support for third-party services. In this article, we will analyze all the current options – from the standard Mi Fit to alternative solutions like Notify & Fitness or Zepp, and also tell you how to avoid typical problems when connecting.

We will pay special attention to compatibility issues: not all applications work equally well with Mi Band 4 on different firmware, and some functions (for example, payments via NFC) may require specific versions of the software. If you encounter synchronization errors or want to reconfigure the bracelet to suit your needs, here you will find step-by-step instructions and optimization tips.

Official application Mi Fit: opportunities and limitations

Mi Fit is a standard application from Xiaomi, which comes out of the box with Mi Band 4. It is available for Android and iOS, supports Russian and offers a basic set of functions for health monitoring.

• 📊 Synchronizing steps, distance, calories and active minutes.
• 💤 Tracking sleep with phase separation (deep, light, REM).
• ❤️ Measurement of pulse manually and automatically.
• 🔔 Call notifications, SMS and messaging.
• 🔋 Control of the battery level of the bracelet.

But Mi Fit also has significant downsides: First, it is often criticized for lacking detailed sleep analytics compared to its competitors, with data being simplified, without schedules or recommendations; second, some users complain of unstable synchronization, especially on iPhones; and finally, recent versions of the app have removed the ability to install third-party dials without workarounds.

To connect Mi Band 4 via Mi Fit, follow the following steps:

1. Download the app from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (required!).
3. Click Profile → Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 4.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen, allowing access to notifications and geolocation.

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet is not connected, check that the smartphone is enabled Bluetooth 4.0+ and turn off the energy-saving mode - it can block background synchronization.

Zepp (formerly Amazfit): An alternative with advanced analytics

The Zepp app (pre-2020, called Amazfit) was originally developed for the Huami smartwatch brand, but also supports the Xiaomi Mi Band 4. Its main advantage is a deeper study of health data:

• 📈 Detailed sleep reports with quality assessment and recommendations.
• 🏃‍♂️ Advanced metrics for running, cycling and swimming (including pace, stride length, pulse zones).
• 🌡️ Integration with external sensors (e.g. Xiaomi scales).
• 🎨 More dial options (including animated ones).

There are nuances, however: Zepp doesn’t support some of the Mi Band 4 features available in Mi Fit, such as managing music on a smartphone or responding to notifications quickly. In addition, the app may require manually selecting a bracelet model when you first connect – look for Mi Band 4 in the Huami Device List.

Synchronization between Mi Fit and Zepp is possible, but not always stable. If you decide to switch to Zepp, we recommend first untie the bracelet in Mi Fit (Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Disable) to avoid conflicts.

Notify & Fitness: Maximum customization and notifications

If you don't like the limitations of official apps, look out for Notify & Fitness for Mi Band, an open-source third-party solution.

• 🛠️ Full support for custom firmware for Mi Band 4 (e.g. Custom Firmware by FreeYourBand).
• 🔔 Flexible notification settings (application filtering, vibration, text on the screen).
• 🎨 The ability to set any dials (including informal ones).
• 🔄 Manual synchronization control (useful for connection problems).

Cons: Notify & Fitness interface is less intuitive than official applications, and some features (such as payments via NFC) may not work, and custom firmware installation will require unlocking the bracelet, which is associated with the risk of “bricking” the device.

To avoid problems, follow this checklist:

Download the latest version from [GitHub](https://github.com/FreeYourBand/NotifyFitnessForMiBand)

Disconnect the bracelet from Mi Fit/Zepp

Enable Bluetooth debugging in Android settings (For developers → Bluetooth debugging)

Backup your bracelet data (if you plan to firmware)-->

To set the informal dial:

1. Download the dial file with the.bin extension (for example, from the AmiBand site).
2. In Notify & Fitness, go to Dials → Install from the file.
3. Select the downloaded file and wait for the transfer to be completed.

⚠️ Note: Installing unofficial firmware can lead to loss of warranty and unstable sensor performance. Before experimenting, check the firmware compatibility with your Mi Band 4 version (model number is indicated on the box or in Settings). → About the device in Mi Fit).

Comparison of applications: which to choose for your tasks

To make it easier to choose, we have compiled a table with the key parameters of each application. Please note that some features may depend on the firmware version of the bracelet and the smartphone model.

If you want stability and minimal customization, stay on Mi Fit. Zepp is better for sports analytics, and Notify & Fitness will help customization fans. Note: you can’t use two applications at the same time (for example, Mi Fit and Zepp) – you can connect the bracelet to only one software.

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For iPhone users, Mi Fit is the best choice, as Zepp and Notify & Fitness can run unstable due to iOS limitations.

Solving Typical Connection and Synchronization Problems

Even with the official Mi Band 4 app, it can be unpredictable, and let’s look at the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:

The bracelet does not connect to the phone.

• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (press the touch button 10 seconds before vibration).
• 📱 Restart Bluetooth on your smartphone and clear the app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fit → Memory. → Clear the cache).
• 🔌 Try connecting from another device to rule out hardware malfunction.

Data is not synchronized

If your steps or sleep are not updated:

1. Check that automatic synchronization is enabled in the bracelet settings (Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Autosynchronization).
2. Remove the bracelet from the application and connect again.
3. Update the bracelet firmware through Mi Fit (Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Firmware Update).

Bracelet discharges quickly

Causes and solutions:

• 🔋 Turn off constant pulse tracking in bracelet settings.
• 📴 Reduce notification frequency or turn off vibration for unnecessary apps.
• 🔄 Reset the bracelet to factory settings (Settings) → Reset to Mi Fit).

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If the bracelet stopped vibrating when notifying, check if the Do Not Disturb mode on the device itself is turned on (swipe down the screen and find the bell icon).

Additional Applications for Extended Functionality

In addition to the basic programs, there are highly specialized utilities that can be useful for Mi Band 4 owners:

• 🎵 Mi Band Master – control music on your smartphone directly from the bracelet (switching tracks, adjusting volume).
• 🔍 Tools & Mi Band – a tool for backing up bracelet data and installing unofficial firmware.
• 📊 Google Fit – Data aggregator from all fitness devices, including Mi Band 4 (synchronized with Mi Fit or Zepp).
• 🛡️ Mi Bandage – a utility for bypassing the restrictions of Mi Fit (for example, installing dials without regional locks).

When using third-party utilities, remember the risks:

⚠️ Attention: Apps like Tools & Mi Band require root rights to Android for some features. Misuse can cause bracelet failure or data loss. Always back up before experimenting!

To install the Mi Band Master:

1. Download APK from APKPure (the app is removed from Google Play).
2. Allow installation from unknown sources (Settings → Security → Unknown sources).
3. Connect the bracelet via Mi Fit or Notify & Fitness (the app works on top of them).

Firmware Update: When and How to Do It

The Mi Band 4 firmware affects the stability, accuracy of sensors and availability of new features. Xiaomi releases official updates via Mi Fit, but their release is irregular. Latest firmware versions for Mi Band 4:

• 1.0.9.58 - Correction of synchronized bugs.
• 1.0.9.54 - improved pedometer accuracy.
• 1.0.8.36 – Support for new dials is added.

To update the firmware:

1. Open Mi Fit and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Firmware Update.
2. Make sure the bracelet is at least 50% charged.
3. Confirm the update and wait until it is completed (don’t turn off Bluetooth!).

If the official firmware doesn’t solve your problems (for example, the bracelet slows down or discharges quickly), you can consider custom firmware from the community, such as:

• Custom Firmware by FreeYourBand – adds new dials and features.
• Mi Band 4 Mod – optimizes the sensors.

⚠️ Note: Installing unofficial firmware will void the warranty and may cause irreversible failures.Before firmware, check the feedback on forums (for example, 4PDA) Make sure the version is suitable for your bracelet model (XMSH07HM or XMSH08HM).

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After updating the firmware, reset the bracelet to factory settings to avoid conflicts with previous data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Band programs 4