Why you can’t connect your Xiaomi watch to your phone and how to fix it
Xiaomi smartwatches are some of the most popular wearables on the market, but their first smartphone connection is often questionable.Even power users face sync errors when the device is not detected in the app or permanently breaks the connection.The reasons may lie in outdated watch firmware, Bluetooth version conflict, or the phone's incorrect settings.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you connect, from standard synchronization via Mi Fitness (formerly Zepp Life) to alternative methods for older models, and focus on the developer mode in the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, which allows you to manually reset Bluetooth settings and fix the “failed to connect” error, and learn how to avoid typical problems when bundling with an iPhone or Android 14 phones.
If your watch has already been connected to another smartphone, don’t miss the factory reset section – without it, the new sync may not work. And for Mi Band 7/8 owners, we have prepared a separate instruction for setting up notifications and quick access to functions.
What Xiaomi Watches Support Phone Connection
Not all Xiaomi smartwatches sync with smartphones in the same way, for example, fitness bracelets of the Mi Band series (including the Mi Band 8) require the Mi Fitness application, while full-fledged watches like the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro or the Watch S3 can work through Xiaomi Wear or even Google Wear OS (for models on Wear OS 3).
Here are the key differences:
- 📱 Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7/8 — Only Mi Fitness (Android/iOS), Limited notification functionality.
- ⌚ Xiaomi Watch (1st series), Watch Color – Mi Fitness or Xiaomi Wear, support for calls and music.
- 🔄 Watch 2 Pro, Watch S3 — Xiaomi Wear + Connect to Google Account (for Wear) OS).
- 🚫 Outdated models (e.g., Xiaomi-branded Amazfit Bip) – require Zepp apps (not Mi Fitness).
Before connecting, check the compatibility of your model on the official Xiaomi website.For example, the Mi Band 8 Pro does not support the iPhone 6s due to the limitations of Bluetooth 5.0.
Preparing the phone before connecting
To avoid synchronization errors, follow these steps before connecting the clock:
- Update your phone's firmware. On Android, check Settings → System → Software Update. iOS 15+ is relevant for iPhone.
- Turn on Bluetooth and geolocation. Xiaomi watches require location permission to properly operate the pedometer.
- Remove old versions of apps. If you used Mi Fit or Zepp before, uninstall them and install Mi Fitness (links below).
- Turn off the power saving mode. On Android, it can block the background work of Mi Fitness.
For Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO phones, additionally:
- 🔧 Allow auto-run for Mi Fitness in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Auto-start.
- 📶 Enable Permanent Notification for the app in the battery settings.
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If you have an iPhone, reboot it before connecting – this resets the Bluetooth cache and reduces the chance of a “Device not found” error.
Step-by-step: how to connect Xiaomi watch to the phone
Consider the universal way for most models (for example, the Mi Band 8 and Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro). If your model is different, see the section "Features for specific watches".
Installation of the annex
Download the official application depending on the model:
- 📱 Mi Fitness (for Mi Band, Watch 1 Series): Android | iOS.
- ⌚ Xiaomi Wear (for Watch 2 Pro, Watch) S3): Android.
2. Registration of an account
When you first start up, the app will prompt you to sign in via Xiaomi Account, Google or Apple ID. Use the same account as you do on your phone to avoid data sync problems. If you don't have an account, register it in advance at account.xiaomi.com.
3. Connecting the clock
Charge the watch to 50%+
Turn on Bluetooth on your phone
Remove the watch from the Bluetooth device list (if you’ve connected before)
Close all background applications that use Bluetooth (e.g. headphones)
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Follow the instructions in the appendix:
- Click Add Device → Select your model from the list.
- Bring the watch to the phone (distance not more than 10 cm).
- It'll appear on the clock. QR-Code – scan it through the app.
- Confirm the pairing on both devices.
- Wait for the firmware update (if available).
If QR-code does not appear, click on the watch screen Settings → Connect a new device (for the Watch 2 Pro) or press the touch button for 5 seconds (for the Mi Band).
What if the app doesn’t see the clock?
4. Set up notifications and permissions
After connection:
- 🔔 Allow Mi Fitness to show notifications in phone settings (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Notifications).
- 📱 Android 13.+ Include permission Exact location for correct operation GPS.
- 🔒 On iPhone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and make sure the watch is marked as Connected (not only Conjugated).
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If notifications don’t arrive on the watch, check to see if the Do Not Disturb mode on the phone or in the Mi Fitness app itself blocks them (Notifications → Exceptions section).
Features of connection for specific models
Some Xiaomi watches require additional actions. Below are the nuances for popular devices.
| Model clock | Annex | Features of connection | Typical errors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 8 | Mi Fitness | Requires Bluetooth 5.0. Supports NFC for contactless payment (Chinese version only). | It doesn't connect to iPhone 6s or older. Solution: Update iOS or use Android. |
| Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro | Xiaomi Wear | Supports Wear OS 3. You can connect to Google Account to install apps from the Play Market. | The solution is: change your account region to China in the Xiaomi Account settings. |
| Watch S3 | Xiaomi Wear | There is an eSIM for calling without a phone (only in the Chinese and global versions). | Xiao AI voice assistant outside of China is not working. Solution: install Google Assistant manually. |
| Mi Band 7 | Mi Fitness | Supports Always-On Display (includes in screen settings). | Not syncing data with Google Fit. Solution: Use Health Sync from Play Market. |
For a Wear OS watch (such as Watch 2 Pro) after you connect:
- Install the Wear OS by Google app on your phone.
- Enable ADB debugging in the watch settings (Settings → System → About Watches → Build Number (click 7 times) → Developer settings).
- Connect to Wi-Fi on your watch to download apps from the Play Market.
How to Reset Xiaomi Watch to Factory Settings Before Connecting
If the watch has already been paired with another phone, it must be reset, otherwise the new connection may not work due to a data conflict.
Resetting methods:
- 🔄 Through the clock settings: On the clock go to Settings → System system → Reset settings. Confirm action (may be required) PIN-default code 0000 or 1234).
- 📱 In Mi Fitness, select a watch. → Settings of the device → Confirm the device has been removed from your account.
Hardware discharge
- Charge the watch to 100%.
- Press the touch button for 20 seconds until the Xiaomi logo appears.
Frequent mistakes and their solutions
Even with the right connection, there can be failures, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:
1.The watch is not detected in the appendix
Reasons:
- Bluetooth is turned off or is running in power saving mode.
- The watch is connected to another phone.
- Outdated firmware of watches or telephones.
2. The connection is permanently broken
Reasons:
- A weak Bluetooth signal (e.g., a phone in a pocket with metallic lightning).
- Conflict with other Bluetooth devices (headphones, speakers).
- Limits of background work of the application on Android.
Decision:
- Turn off other Bluetooth devices.
- Add Mi Fitness to battery optimization exceptions (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization).
- For Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, update your firmware through Wear OS.
3. data are not synchronized (steps, pulse, sleep)
Reasons:
- There is no internet connection on the phone (data is synced via the cloud).
- Different accounts on the app and on the clock.
- Xiaomi server error (found after updates)