Xiaomi smart watches are disconnected from the phone: all the reasons and how to fix it

Introduction: Why the Connectivity Problem Is So Common

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi Mi Band 7, Watch 2 Pro or Redmi Watch 3 smartwatches periodically lose connection to your phone? This is one of the most frequent complaints of users of the Xiaomi ecosystem — according to service centers, up to 30% of calls on wearable devices are due to a communication breakdown, and the problem arises on both budget trackers and flagship smartwatches.

Most of the time, it's not hardware faults that are to blame, but software conflicts between Bluetooth, MIUI, and Mi Fitness/Zepp Life. For example, after the MIUI 14 update, many users encountered a bug that turned off the Mi Band 6 watch every 5-10 minutes -- a problem that was only solved in a January 2026 patch.

In this article you will find:

• 🔍 Top.-10 Reasons for loss of communication (from banal to hidden)
• ⚙️ Step-by-step instructions for diagnosis and repair
• 📱 Features for different watch models (Mi Band, Watch) S3, Redmi Watch 4)
• ⚠️ What can not be done to avoid aggravating the problem

1. Bluetooth issues on Xiaomi phone

In 80% of cases, the Bluetooth module is not the fault of the tracker itself, and this is especially true for devices on MIUI 13/14, where energy optimization aggressively turns off background processes. For example, on Xiaomi 12T and Redmi Note 11 Pro+, users complain about a system bug: Bluetooth spontaneously goes into low power mode (BLE), which leads to a communication break with the watch.

How to check:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Find your watch in the list of associated devices and tap the gear settings.
3. Make sure the “Auto Connection” and “Use for Calls and Media” options are enabled.

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If there is no “Auto Connection” option in Bluetooth settings, upgrade your phone’s firmware to the latest version of MIUI – this option is not available in older builds.

If the clock is constantly off, try resetting your Bluetooth settings:

Settings → System and device → Resetting settings → Resetting network settings

This will remove all stored devices, but often solves the problem with “hung” connections.

2.Conflicts with Mi Fitness/Zepp Life app

The Mi Fitness (for Mi Band) and Zepp Life (for Xiaomi Watch) are known for their bugs. For example, Mi Fitness 5.6.0 had a critical bug: when data synchronized, the Mi Band 7 Pro watch lost communication and rebooted, the problem was solved only by reinstalling the app with cache clearing.

What to do:

Clear the cache (Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Storage → Clear the cache)

Update to the latest version in Google Play or App Gallery

Remove and reinstall the application (with pre-data backup)

Check permissions (Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Permissions – geolocation, Bluetooth and auto-start must be enabled)

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Important: If you use a modified firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU), Mi Fitness can block communication due to lack of Google Mobile Services certificates, in which case only the official global firmware will help.

3. Energy saving modes and MIUI optimization

MIUI aggressively optimizes background processes, which often leads to communication interruption with wearable devices. For example, in Super Power Saving mode (Xiaomi 13 Lite, Redmi Note 12), Bluetooth shuts down after 3-5 minutes without activity. Even in standard mode, the system can “sleep” the Mi Fitness application if it is not in active use.

How to turn off optimization:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Fitness.
2. Select "Battery" → "Optimizing the battery".
3. Set "No Limits" in.
4. Go back and turn on "Second Start" and "Second Start".

Unplugged.

Balanced

Super energy saving

Adaptive (MIUI 14+)

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If the problem persists, check the adaptive brightness settings: in some firmware, it conflicts with the clock sensors. Turn it off in Settings → Display → Adaptive Brightness.

4. Incompatibility of watch and phone firmware

Xiaomi smart watches require synchronization of the firmware versions of the phone and device. For example, the Mi Band 8 will not work consistently with MIUI 12.5 - the minimum supported version of the phone's firmware: MIUI 13.0.4. And the Xiaomi Watch S3 requires a MIUI 14+ for proper notification synchronization.

Compatibility table of popular models:

How to update the firmware of the watch:

• 📱 Open Mi. Fitness/Zepp Life and go to the device profile.
• 🔄 Click on "Update firmware" (if available).
• ⚠️ Don't interrupt! On Mi Band, the update takes ~5 minutes on Xiaomi Watch – up to 15 minutes.

5. Hardware malfunctions: when the "iron" is to blame

If the software methods did not help, the problem may lie in physical damage:

• 🔋 Battery discharge: At a charge level below 10%, the Mi Band and Xiaomi Watch automatically turn off Bluetooth to save power. However, on some models (for example, the Redmi Watch 2 Lite), the threshold activates as early as 20%.
• 📡 A damaged Bluetooth module: If the phone or watch fell, the module could move away from the board.
• 🔌 Oxidized contacts: on the Mi Band 6/7 Charging contacts are often oxidized, which leads to unstable operation.

How to diagnose a hardware problem:

⚠️ Note: if the watch is not detected by any device (even after reset), does not respond to charging or overheats - this is a sign of a breakdown of the Bluetooth controller.

To check the Bluetooth module of the phone:

1. Connect to the phone other devices (headphones, column).
2. If they are also disconnected, the problem is with the phone.
3. Try connecting the watch to another smartphone (preferably not Xiaomi).

External interference and environmental features

Bluetooth operates at 2.4 GHz, which is subject to interference from other devices, such as offices with a large number of Wi-Fi routers or microwave ovens, communication can break every 1-2 minutes, and problems arise in the subway, elevators, or when finding a phone and clock in different rooms (especially if the walls are made of concrete).

Sources of interference:

• 📶 Wi-Fi routers on 2.4 GHz channel (switch router to 5 GHz)
• 🔌 Xiaomi Smart Home Smart Lamps and Devices (e.g. Yeelight)
• 🚪 Metal doors or walls with reinforcement
• 📱 Other Bluetooth devices within a radius of 10 meters (earphones, speakers)

How to reduce the impact of interference:

• Move the phone and watch closer together (optimum distance up to 5 meters).
• Turn off unnecessary Bluetooth devices on your phone.
• In router settings (192.168.1.1), change the Wi-Fi channel from a car to a fixed one (e.g. 6 or 11).

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If your watch is switched off at a particular location (e.g., at work or at home), the problem is almost certainly due to external interference. Try using the device in another location — if the connection is stable, the environment is to blame, not the technique.

7.Reset and reconnect: Last Chance

If none of these methods worked, reset your watch and phone completely to factory settings. This is a radical method, but it solves 90 percent of software problems.

Instructions for resetting hours:

1. On Mi Band: Press the touch button 10 seconds before the Xiaomi logo appears.
2. On Xiaomi Watch: go to Settings → System → Resetting.
3. Confirm the action.

Instructions for the telephone:

Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase all data

⚠️ Warning: Before resetting your phone, be sure to back up your data via Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup. After the reset, you'll need to reconfigure all accounts and apps.

After discharge:

1. Update your phone and watch to the latest version.
2. Install the latest version of Mi Fitness/Zepp Life.
3. Conjugate the clock again by following the instructions in the app.

FAQ: Frequent questions about communication issues