Connecting smartwatches to Xiaomi smartphone: full instruction with problem solving

Xiaomi’s smartwatch has long since ceased to be just an accessory, it has become a full-fledged assistant in everyday life. However, many users face difficulties when connecting a smartwatch to a smartphone for the first time, especially when it comes to synchronizing with Xiaomi devices, where the process may differ depending on the model of the watch and the version of the phone’s firmware.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can connect, from standard synchronization via Mi Fitness to alternative methods for older models, how to set up Bluetooth connections correctly, avoid authorization errors, and what to do if the clock is not determined by the phone, and for owners of the Mi Band 8 or Watch 2 Pro, we’ve prepared separate recommendations for optimizing work.

Important: If you use custom firmware on your smartphone (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), some features may not work properly, and you will need additional customizations, which we will also talk about.

What Xiaomi smart watches support connection to the brand’s smartphones

Not all Xiaomi smartwatches are compatible with smartphones of the same brand, but here are the key points to consider before buying or setting up:

• 📱 Mi Band series (from Mi Band 3 to Mi Band 8) – supported by all Xiaomi smartphones MIUI 10 and newer. Older versions may require manual installation APK.
• ⌚ Xiaomi Watch Series (Watch) S1, Watch S2, Watch 2 Pro - demand MIUI 12 or Android 8.0+. On Watch. S3 Zepp Life version 6.0+.
• 🏃 Amazfit series series (GTR 4, GTS 4) – although the brand is owned by Xiaomi, they need to install a separate Zepp app, not Mi Fitness.
• ⚠️ Outdated models (Mi Band) 1/2, Amazfit Bip Lite – not officially supported after MIUI 11. They will need to use third-party apps like Notify & Fitness.

Check compatibility on Xiaomi’s official website before buying, for example, the Watch 2 Pro won’t work with Android Go phones, even if it’s a Redmi model.

Preparation of Xiaomi smartphone to connect smartwatch

To avoid synchronization errors, you need to properly configure the smartphone itself.

1. Update your phone’s firmware to the latest version of MIUI (check in Settings → About Phone → System Update).
2. Make sure your phone is Bluetooth 5.0 or later (Bluetooth 5.2 is required for the Watch 2 Pro).
3. Turn off the power saving mode for Mi Fitness or Zepp Life applications (path: Settings → Battery → Energy saving mode → Applications).
4. Allow auto-run for these applications in Settings → Permissions → Auto-run.

Critical detail: If your smartphone has regional firmware installed (e.g. MIUI EU or MIUI Russia), some smartwatch features may be blocked due to manufacturer restrictions, in which case switching region to China (but that will require a phone reset!).

How to connect smartwatch to Xiaomi via Mi Fitness

The standard way to sync for most models is to use the official Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit).

1. Download Mi Fitness from Google Play or AppGallery.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (required! without an account, your watch won’t connect).
3. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and unlock the screen.
4. Start Mi Fitness, click Profile → Add the device.
5. Select your watch model from the list (e.g. Mi Smart Band 8).
6. Hold the watch to the phone at a distance of less than 10 cm and confirm pairing on both devices.
7. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 5 minutes).

If the clock is not set, try:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone and smartwatch.
• 📱 Remove the cache of the Mi Fitness app in the phone settings.
• 🔌 Shut down. VPN Proxies (they can block Xiaomi servers).

Connecting with Zepp Life: Xiaomi Watch and Amazfit

Xiaomi Watch S1/S2 models and all Amazfit devices use the Zepp Life app (formerly Mi Fit for some regions).

1. Install Zepp Life from Google Play.
2. Create an account or sign in via Xiaomi, Google or Apple ID.
3. Click Add Device and select your model (e.g. Xiaomi Watch S2).
4. Follow the instructions on the screen. The Watch 2 Pro will need to be scanned. QR-clock-screen.
5. Allow all requests for contact, notification, and geolocation access (otherwise some features will not work).

An important nuance: if you've used Mi Fitness before, the data won't be automatically transferred. You'll have to manually export the history from one application and import it to another through Settings → Data Export.

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If the watch doesn’t show notifications after connecting via Zepp Life, check the permission settings for the app in Settings → Apps → Zepp Life → Notifications. Often the system blocks background activity by default.

Solving common connection problems

Even with the right setup, errors can occur, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, try resetting the clock to the factory.

1. On the Mi Band: Press the touch button for 15 seconds until vibrations appear.
2. On Xiaomi Watch: go to Settings → System → Resetting.

⚠️ Warning: After the reset, all data from the clock will be deleted, including training history.If you have synced with the Xiaomi cloud enabled, the data can be restored after reconnecting.

How to connect Xiaomi smart watch to iPhone

While the article is about Xiaomi smartphones, many users are wondering if it is possible to sync Xiaomi’s smartwatch with the iPhone.

To connect to iOS:

1. Download Mi Fitness or Zepp Life from the App Store.
2. Sign in to your Xiaomi account (required!).
3. Follow the standard connection procedure (similar to Android).

Restrictions on use with iPhone:

• 🚫 No support for quick responses to notifications.
• 🚫 Some widgets don’t work (such as weather or calendar).
• 🚫 Synchronizing data can take longer.

For the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro on iOS, the Xiaomi HyperOS feature is also not available, which allows you to control the phone’s camera from the clock.

Alternative ways of connecting: without official applications

If official applications do not work (for example, on custom firmware or old phones), you can use third-party solutions:

• 🔧 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band – Supports Mi Band 3-8, Allows you to customize notifications and widgets without Mi Fitness.
• 🔧 Tools & Mi Band – gives access to hidden watch functions (for example, changing the dial without restrictions).
• 🔧 Gadgetbridge – open source software for working with fitness bracelets, but requires root rights on the phone.

For use with Notify & Fitness:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Turn off Mi Fitness in Bluetooth settings (forget the device).
3. In Notify & Fitness, click Connect Device and select the model.
4. Allow all access requests (especially notifications and geolocation).

⚠️ Note: Third-party apps may not support the latest watch models (e.g. Watch 2 Pro). 4PDA or XDA Developers.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions