The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular activity-tracking gadgets despite the release of new models, with low price, 20-day autonomy and a wide range of functionality that many users use only 30%, while the Mi Band 4’s proper setup unlocks 100% of its potential, from accurate sleep monitoring to music management on a smartphone.
In this article, you’ll find detailed guidance on how to set up a bracelet, from basic connectivity to the Mi Fit app (or alternative firmware) to fine-tuning sensors and activating hidden capabilities. We’ll take a look at the nuances of Android and iOS, explain how to bypass typical synchronization errors, and give recommendations for optimizing battery consumption.
Preparing for the first inclusion: what to do before setting up
Before you start setting up Mi Band 4, make sure you have everything you need:
- 📱 Smartphone on Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+ Bluetooth 4.2 support
- 🔋 Charged bracelet (minimum 20% battery – check the indicator when connecting charging)
- 📲 Installed Mi Fit (official) or Zepp Life (new name for some regions)
- 🔄 Stable Internet connection (to download the bracelet firmware on the first connection)
If you are upgrading with Mi Band 3, note: Mi Band 4 has a different charging connector (magnetic, no latch), so the old charger will not work.
The important point is that if you bought the bracelet in China or on AliExpress, check the firmware region. Some devices are set to a Chinese server by default, which can cause synchronization problems, in which case you will need to change the region through third-party utilities (we will talk about this in the section on firmware).
⚠️ Note: Do not use chargers from other Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi Band 5) even if the connector looks similar. voltage may vary, leading to rapid battery wear or sensor failures.
Connecting Mi Band 4 to a smartphone: step-by-step instructions
The process of connecting the bracelet to the phone takes no more than 5 minutes, but has several critical nuances.
- Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone and make sure the bracelet is charged (at low charge, the indicator will flash red).
- Launch the Mi Fit app and click Profile → Add the device.
- Choose a bracelet. → Mi Smart Band 4 from the list.
- Press the bracelet screen to unlock it (the first time you turn on, a charging animation will appear).
- Confirm the pairing in the application and on the bracelet (it will request to connect - tap the tick).
- Wait for the synchronization to be completed (the bracelet vibrates and shows the progress of the firmware load).
If the bracelet is not detected, try:
- 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (disable/enable in settings).
- 📱 Remove the cache of the Mi Fit application in the smartphone settings.
- 🔋 Connect the bracelet to charge for 10 minutes - sometimes a low charge blocks the search.
The bracelet is displayed in the list of devices in Mi Fit|
Synchronized step and pulse data |
On the bracelet appeared dial (by default – analog clock)|
Notifications from the smartphone are duplicated on the screen of the bracelet-->
After a successful connection, we recommend you immediately update the bracelet firmware to the latest version. To do this, go to Device Profile → Firmware Update. Do not interrupt the process - this can cause a system failure. If the update is suspended, wait 10 minutes, then restart the bracelet (hold the touch button for 10 seconds).
Set up the main parameters: time, notifications, activity goals
Once connected, the bracelet is ready to work, but for comfortable use you need to adjust the basic parameters. Most options are available through the Mi Fit app:
| Parameter | Where to set up | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Time format (12/24 hours) | Device Profile → Display Settings | Choose a 24-hour format for accuracy. |
| Target by step | Profile → Targets | Start with 8,000 steps, then adjust to your health. |
| Notifications | Profile → Notification Management | Disable unnecessary apps (such as games) to save charge |
| Raising your hand to activate the screen | Profile → Display settings | Turn on if you want to watch the time quickly without pressing a button |
Pay special attention to the setting of notifications. By default, the bracelet vibrates when incoming calls and SMS, but you can add alerts from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and social networks.
- Go to Profile. → Management of notifications.
- Turn on the switch next to the desired applications.
- Set up the alert style (vibration only or with text).
💡
If notifications don’t come, check the permissions for Mi Fit in your smartphone settings: the app should have access to notifications, contacts, and SMS (for Android).
There is a limitation for iOS users: the bracelet cannot display notification text due to Apple's policy, which is to use third-party apps like Notify & Fitness for Mi Band that bypass this restriction through synchronization with Apple Health.
Personalization of the bracelet: dials, wallpaper and gestures
The Mi Band 4 supports interchangeable dials, but installing them has nuances.The official Mi Fit app offers a limited set of styles, while third-party services (such as Amazfit Watchfaces) expand the selection to hundreds of options.
To set the custom dial:
- Download the dial file in.bin format (for example, from the Amazfit Watchfaces website).
- Place the file in the Mi Fit/watchfaces folder on your phone (create it manually if it is not available).
- In the Mi Fit app, go to Profile → Dials and select the downloaded option.
How to return a standard dial?
In addition to dials, you can configure:
- 🎨 Color scheme of the screen (in some firmware available themes).
- 👆 Gestures: for example, shaking to skip a track or double tapping to return to the dial.
- 🔍 Screen Brightness (in Display Settings – select level 1 to 5).
Important: When using informal dials, the autonomy of the bracelet is reduced by 10-15%, since they are often optimized worse than standard ones, and some custom versions can be reset after updating the firmware.
Setting up sleep and exercise monitoring: accurate data without errors
One of the key features of the Mi Band 4 is tracking sleep and physical activity, but by default, the sensors can give inaccurate readings to improve accuracy.
- Calibrate the heart rate sensor: Go to Profile → Heart Rate. Select Manual Measurement and compare the readings with a pulsemeter (for example, on a treadmill). If the difference is more than 10 beats, reset the sensor settings (in Additional settings).
- Set your sleep schedule: Enter the actual time of going to bed and waking up in Profile → Sleep. Enable the Smart Alarm (the bracelet will wake you up in the light sleep phase 30 minutes before the set time).
Activate exercise regimens
- In Profile → Workouts, select the types of activities you practice (running, cycling, swimming, etc.).
- To swim, turn on the pool mode - the bracelet automatically recognizes the style and counts circles.
Advanced features: Music management, phone search and weather
The Mi Band 4 not only counts steps, but also interacts with your smartphone, and here is a list of hidden features that many people don't know about:
- 🎵 Music control: On the dial, swipe left to the music screen «⏸»/«▶» You can pause or skip tracks (works with Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music).
- 📍 Phone search: In the bracelet menu, select More → Find the phone. The phone will make a loud signal, even if it's silent.
- 🌦️ Weather: Enable weather display in Mi Fit → Display settings → Weather: Data is updated every 3 hours (requires synchronization with the phone).
- 🔋 Saving charge: Turn off raising your hand for activation if you don't use it, which saves up to 20% of the battery. Reduce the brightness of the screen to 2-3 levels.