Connecting Xiaomi smart watches to your smartphone: full instructions with pictures and tips

Xiaomi smartwatches are no longer just accessories, they're a full-fledged assistant in everyday life, from heart rate tracking to music control on the phone, from shopping to sleep monitoring, the capabilities of these devices are impressive. But to use all the functionality, you need to connect the watch to your smartphone correctly. And here many users are asking: which app to download, how to avoid sync errors, and why the Mi Band or Watch is not determined by the phone.

In this article, we’ll take you through the steps from getting your phone ready to setting up notifications, focusing on iPhone compatibility (yes, it’s possible, but with limitations!) and the typical issues that interfere with synchronization, and learn how to reset your watch to factory settings if something goes wrong, and what settings to change immediately after you first connect.

What Xiaomi smartwatch can be connected to your phone?

Xiaomi has several smartwatch lines, and not all of them connect the same way. Here are the main series and their features:

• 📱 Mi Band (1-8 generations) – fitness bracelets with basic functionality. Connected via Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit).
• ⌚ Mi Watch (Lite, Active, S1) — full-fledged smart watches with AMOLED-screens and wear OS. Requires Mi Watch or Wear app OS by Google.
• 🏃 Amazfit (GTR, GTS, Bip is a brand partner of Xiaomi with advanced sports features.Using the Zepp app (formerly Amazfit).
• 💎 Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro – the flagship of 2023 with Sapphire Glass and 100+ Supports Mi Fitness and Google Fit.

Important: not all models are compatible with iPhone. For example, Mi Watch Lite works with iOS 10.0+, but without the function of answering calls, and Amazfit GTR 4 requires iOS 12.0+ and has restrictions on notifications.

Preparing a smartphone before connecting

Before you start syncing, make sure your phone meets the minimum requirements:

Also, perform the following actions:

Turn on Bluetooth in the settings

Make sure your phone has enough charge (minimum 30%)

Update the operating system to the latest version

Remove old versions of Mi Fit/Zepp apps (if installed)

Turn it off. VPN Proxies (they can block Xiaomi servers)-->

For iPhone owners, go to Settings → Privacy → Geolocation Services and enable access for the Mi Fitness app. Without this, the watch will not be able to sync location data (for example, to track jogs).

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If you have Xiaomi or Redmi on MIUI, activate the developer mode and enable the Bluetooth debugging option in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).

Step-by-step: how to connect Xiaomi smart watches to Android

Consider the Mi Band 8 and Mi Watch S1, and the steps are similar but may be slightly different for other models.

Installation of the annex

Download the official application depending on the model of the watch:

• 📲 Mi Band and Mi Watch (except Watch 2 Pro): Mi Fitness (Google Play).
• 📲 For Amazfit: Zepp (Google Play).
• 📲 For Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro: Install Wear OS by Google.

After installation, open the app and sign up (or sign in via Mi Account, Google, Facebook).

2. Turning on the clock and searching for the device

Activate the clock:

1. Charge the device to at least 50% (for the first turn on).
2. Press and hold the physical button (or touch area) for 3-5 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the app, click Add Device (the + icon in the upper right corner).
4. Choose your model from the list.

The watch should be displayed on the list of available devices, if it does not:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (Settings) → Bluetooth → switch off).
• 📱 Make sure the watch is in pairing mode (flashing the indicator or displaying). QR-code).
• 🚫 Check if the watch is connected to another phone (if so, reset it via Settings). → Reset).

3. Synchronization and adjustment

After successful connection:

1. The app will offer to update the firmware of the watch – agree to avoid bugs.
2. Set up the basic parameters: 🕒 Time zone (must coincide with the phone). 📱 Notifications (select applications that will duplicate the alerts on the clock). 🔒 Unlocking the phone (if supported).

Synchronize health data (weight, height, target heart rate).

Connecting Xiaomi smart watches to iPhone: features and limitations

iPhone owners can connect Xiaomi watches, but with a number of nuances:

⚠️ Note: Call answers, voice assistant, and some sports modes (e.g., no feature on iOS, Vo2 Max in Amazfit GTR Also, notifications come with a delay of up to 5-10 seconds.

Instructions for iPhone:

1. Download Mi Fitness or Zepp from the App Store.
2. Turn on Bluetooth and allow the app to access notifications (Settings → Notifications → Mi Fitness → Allow).
3. Add the device via the app (similar to Android).
4. Manually set up synchronization of health data through Apple Health (Application settings → Integration → Apple Health).

List of supported models for iOS:

• ✅ Mi Band 6/7/8 — Full compatibility, except for answering calls.
• ✅ Mi Watch Lite – works without Google Assistant.
• ❌ Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro – not officially supported (can be connected via Wear) OS, but with bugs).
• ✅ Amazfit GTS 4 – Compatible with Zepp but without Alexa.

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On the iPhone, Xiaomi smart watches work in the “fitness tracker” mode – the main functions (stepmer, pulse, sleep) are available, but advanced features (payments, voice input) are disabled.

Configure notifications and additional functions

After connecting, it is recommended to configure:

1. Notifications

To keep the clock vibrating when calling and texting:

1. Open the Mi Fitness app → Profile → My devices → [Your watch] → Notifications.
2. Turn on the Notification switch.
3. Select the apps you want to receive notifications from (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).
4. Set up the display style: 📝 Full text of the message (not available for all models). 🔔 Just vibration. 📞 Raising your hand to answer (on some hours).

2. Quick action

On most Xiaomi watches, you can customize gestures:

• 🤳 Raising your hand to turn on the screen.
• 🔄 Double press to change the dial.
• 🎵 Shaking to control music.

Activate them in the clock settings → Gestures.

Payment and bank cards

The Mi Pay feature is only available on some models (e.g. Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro) and requires:

1. Bank card bindings in the Mi Fitness application (Profile → Mi Pay).
2. Activate NFC on the clock (Settings → Contactless payments).
3. Confirmations via SMS or push notification.

⚠️ Note: Mi Pay does not work on iPhone due to Apple Pay restrictions, and some banks (for example, Sberbank) do not support card binding to Xiaomi watches in Russia.

Typical Connection Errors and Their Solutions

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, there can be problems.

If the clock is connected but the data is not updated:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and watch.
• 📱 Check permissions for the application (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Permits).
• 🌐 Change the region in the app to China (sometimes helps with server bugs).

How to update the firmware on Xiaomi smart watches?

Regular firmware updates fix bugs and add new features to update the clock:

1. Open the Mi Fitness or Zepp app.
2. Go to Profile → My Devices → [Your Watch] → Update to Firmware.
3. If a new version is available, click Update.
4. Wait until the process is complete (the clock will reset automatically).

⚠️ Warning: Don't interrupt the update or turn off Bluetooth! on the Mi Watch S1 It can take up to 15 minutes. If the update is hanging, restart the clock and try again.

List of the latest firmware versions for popular models (June 2026):

• 📌 Mi Band 8: 1.16.8.14 (Added Stress Monitoring 2.0 mode).
• 📌 Mi Watch S1 Pro: 2.21.5.3 (Wear support) OS 3.5).
• 📌 Amazfit GTR 4:3.5.6.1 (improved sleep algorithm).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions