Previous articlePair First on Xiaomi Watches: Causes of Error and 5 Ways to Solve It

You turned on Xiaomi’s new smartwatch (or old one after the reset), and instead of the usual interface, the screen says “Pair First”** and nothing works? This bug occurs on Mi Band 7/8 Pro, Xiaomi Watch S3/S2, Redmi Watch 4 and other gadgets of the brand. It means that the device requires an initial binding to the smartphone, but something went wrong.

90% of the time, the problem is solved in 5 minutes, but sometimes requires deep tuning or even a reset. This article provides step-by-step instructions for all scenarios, including rare firmware bugs, Bluetooth conflicts, and Mi Fitness/Zepp Life app bugs, and how to prevent Pair First from reappearing after phone upgrades or replacements.

What does “Pair First” mean on Xiaomi watches?

The “Pair First” sign appears when the Xiaomi watch fails to complete the initial setup after:

• 📦 Unpacking of new device (first activation).
• 🔄 Reset to factory settings via menu or button.
• 📱 Smartphone changes (binding to a new phone).
• 🔧 Firmware updates with errors.
• 🔋 Battery discharge to zero (deep discharge).

Technically, this is an interface lock that prevents you from using the watch until you successfully pair with your smartphone through an official app, but sometimes an error occurs even after you link it, indicating a device memory failure or software version conflict.

Causes of the error

The root of the problem lies in the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) pairing protocol used by Xiaomi’s watches, and the “Pair First” error occurs if:

1. The app doesn’t recognize the device – for example, you downloaded Mi Fitness instead of Zepp Life (or vice versa) for your model.
2. The firmware version of the watch is incompatible with the application version - it is relevant after updates.
3. The Bluetooth module of the smartphone is unstable (especially on older Android or iPhone).
4. The clock has data from the old phone (even after the reset).
5. Xiaomi servers are temporarily unavailable (rarely, but sometimes when logged in).

An error may also occur if you interrupt the binding process (e.g., shut down the app or turn off Bluetooth while pairing), in which case the clock “hangs” in the waiting mode for the completion of the setup.

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Before pairing, turn off the power saving mode on the smartphone - it can block the background work of Bluetooth and interfere with binding.

Method 1: Correct pairing through the official annex

In 80% of cases, the problem is solved by re-associating with the correct application.

1. Remove the watch from the list of Bluetooth devices on your smartphone (if there is one). path: Settings → Bluetooth → Xiaomi [model] → Forget the device.
2. Download the official application for your model: 📱 For the Mi Band. 1–6, Redmi Watch 1/2 → Mi Fitness. 📱 For the Mi Band. 7/8 Pro, Xiaomi Watch S1/S2/S3, Redmi Watch 3/4 → Zepp Life.

Register or enter.

Xiaomi

Zepp

Click "Add device"**

Follow the instructions on the screen

If you have a mistake after these steps, move on to the next method.

Method 2: Reset the clock to factory settings

When pairing doesn't work, the watch can get stuck in a standby tether, which requires a hard reset.

After reset, repeat pairing via the app (see Method 1). If the watch does not respond to reset, check the battery power - at a level below 10%, some models block the reset.

Method 3: Manual firmware update

Sometimes the "Pair First" error is caused by outdated firmware that the app cannot update automatically, in which case the manual firmware via Mi Fit/Zepp Life will help:

1. Open the app and go to the device profile.
2. Find the firmware update section (may be called Firmware or System Update).
3. If the update is available, download it and wait for the installation (don’t turn off Bluetooth!).
4. After the update, restart the clock (hold the power button for 10 seconds).

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On Android, turn off Adaptive Battery mode before pairing. (Settings → Battery → Adaptive Battery) It can pause the Zepp Life app in the background.

Method 5: Alternative methods (if nothing helps)

If the standard methods didn’t work, try these advanced solutions:

1. Use another smartphone for initial tethering (e.g. borrow from a friend) and once paired successfully, the watch can be connected to your phone.
2. Install the old version of the app: Mi Band 7 sometimes works Mi Fitness 4.6.0 (download from APKPure). Xiaomi Watch S2 - Zepp Life 5.12.0.

Reset network settings on your smartphone

Settings → System → Reset → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth

Contact us for support of Xiaomi

Frequent User Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many people make the typical mistakes that lead to the reappearance of Pair First.

⚠️ Warning: Never click Cancel while pairing in the Zepp Life app - this can lock the clock in the tether standby mode.If the process is delayed (more than 5 minutes), reboot the watch and smartphone.

• 🚫 Do not use third-party binding apps (such as Notify & Fitness or Tools & Mi Band) – they do not support full sync.
• 🔋 Do not discharge the clock to zero – this can damage the device memory and cause an error.
• 📵 Do not turn off Bluetooth during firmware updates.
• 🔄 Do not reset your watch more than 1 time per month – this increases the risk of software failures.

If you plan to sell or transfer the watch to another person, you must:

1. Reset them to factory settings.
2. Remove from your Xiaomi/Zepp account in the app.
3. Untie the Bluetooth smartphone.

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The "Pair First" error often returns after changing the phone, unless you delete the watch from your old account. Always untie the device before selling or transferring!

FAQ: Answers to popular questions