Xiaomi Mi Band 4: How to connect to your phone and set up

Modern wearables have become an integral part of the life of an active person, and the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 remains one of the most popular fitness trackers on the market due to its price-to-function ratio. However, immediately after unpacking, users often face the question of how to properly initiate pairing the device with a smartphone to activate all its capabilities.

To successfully synchronize, you will need not only the bracelet itself, but also a smartphone with installed specialized software that acts as an intermediary between the tracker and the operating system. It is important to understand that trying to connect the gadget exclusively through the Bluetooth menu in the phone settings often leads to an error or malfunction of the device, since the data transfer protocol requires authorization through the manufacturer's account. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the stages of initial configuration, possible problems and subtleties of working with the application.

Whether you’re an Android smartphone owner or an Apple iOS ecosystem user, the basic principles of connectivity remain similar but have their own software features. We’ll look at a universal algorithm to avoid common mistakes, such as stalling your device search or not being able to receive push notifications. It takes only a few minutes to get ready, but requires attention to detail.

Preparation for pairing: applications and accounts

The first and most critical step is to install the right software on your mobile phone. For the Mi Band 4 model, the main and most stable application is Mi Fit (in new versions it may be called Zepp Life). It is this software that is responsible for running the tracker, setting up dials, synchronizing health data and managing notifications.

Once installed, you need to create an account or log in to an existing one using a Xiaomi account, WeChat or a social network profile. Registration of a new Xiaomi account is preferable for users from CIS countries, as this ensures better server localization and stability of data synchronization. During the registration process, you will need to confirm your phone number or email, which is a standard security procedure for cloud storage of your activity statistics.

In parallel with the installation of the software, you need to prepare the bracelet itself. If the device is new, it is likely in standby mode and requires activation by connecting to the charger. Charge the tracker before the logo or battery icon appears on the screen, since at low charge, the Bluetooth module can work unstable or not turn on at all. Make sure that the smartphone is enabled geolocation services (GPS), since in modern versions of Android and iOS it is a mandatory requirement for the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) that the tracker uses.

Step-by-step instructions for connecting to Android

Android smartphone owners are lucky to have more flexibility in settings, but the system also imposes a number of restrictions on the background of the applications. Once you have installed Mi Fit and logged in, go to the main tab Profile at the bottom of the screen. Here, in the Add Device section, select the bracelet category and from the proposed list of models find the Mi Band 4. Clicking the icon will start the process of scanning the surrounding space.

At this point, the tracker screen may be asked to pair with a vibration signal. If the bracelet is new, it will automatically go into search mode. When the phone detects the device, the tracker name will appear on the smartphone screen (usually this is Mi Band 4 or a unique code). Click on it to begin the pairing procedure. Important point: during the connection process, the application will request permission to access contacts, phone and geolocation - these permissions are required for the correct operation of notification and route tracking functions.

⚠️ Note: If you see a message in the search that your device is already linked to another account, you will need to break this connection. This can only be done through the Mi Fit app on the phone where the bracelet was previously registered by selecting the "Unlock" option in the device profile.

After successful pairing, the app will offer to update the bracelet firmware. It is strongly recommended to agree to this action, as new versions of firmware correct the errors of the pulse sensor and improve the stability of the Bluetooth connection. The update process can take several minutes, during which the bracelet screen will burn and the phone must be in close proximity to the tracker.

Features of settings for iPhone owners (iOS)

Apple ecosystem users face tougher operating system restrictions regarding background processes and Bluetooth access, starting in the same way as installing Mi Fit from the App Store and logging in, but it is critical to properly configure access rights in the phone’s system settings, not just within the app, to stay stable on iOS.

Go to Settings → Mi Fit and make sure that the Notifications, Geoposition (Always or When Used) and Local Network switches are activated. Without permission to access the local network, the app will not be able to communicate with the bracelet in the background, leading to permanent connection breaks and no synchronization of sleep and step data. Also, in the Bluetooth settings, make sure that the device does not appear in the list of My Devices as a separate paired one - if it is there, click on Forget this device before setting up in the app.

iPhone owners should be aware that the Mi Band 4 does not support answering calls or music control to the same extent as Android, due to the limitations of Apple's API.However, the display of the caller's name and basic notifications work steadily, provided that the Mi Fit application is not unloaded from memory by the system. To prevent this from happening in iOS settings, the system itself optimizes background processes, but periodic launch of the application is useful for forced synchronization.

💡

For iPhone owners: If the bracelet often loses touch, try finding the device in Bluetooth settings and pressing “i”, then select “Forget the device”, then pair again strictly through the Mi Fit application.

Solving problems with detection and connection

The most common problem users face is when the phone simply “does not see” the bracelet in the list of available devices, which can be caused by the tracker already paired with another phone or “hang” in standby mode, in which case you need to reset the bracelet to factory settings. On the tracker itself, flip through the menu to More → Unbind (or Unbind), which will forcefully break current communications and return the device to visibility.

Another reason could be a crowded list of Bluetooth devices in your phone or cached services data. Try clearing the Bluetooth app cache in Android settings (Settings → Apps → Show System → Bluetooth → Memory → Clear cache) or simply restarting your smartphone.Reboot often resolves problems with Bluetooth module drivers that may have gone into sleep mode with errors.

If standard methods don’t work, you can use the hidden forced search function. Mi Fit sometimes helps to delete the bracelet profile (if it is there, but does not work) and retry adding with the phone screen turned off and on. Also make sure that the version of your smartphone’s operating system is not too old: for Mi Band 4, Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+ is desirable.

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to connect the bracelet through the standard Bluetooth menu of your phone settings as a headset or audio device.This will create a connection conflict and the Mi Fit app will stop seeing the tracker.

Setup of notifications and Russian language

One of the main functions of the fitness tracker is to display notifications from messengers and social networks. To set them up, open the Mi Fit app, go to the profile of your Mi Band 4 and select “Notification settings” (or “Application Notifications”). Here you will see a list of all the programs installed on the phone. Activate sliders opposite to the applications from which you want to receive vibration signals: Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber, SMS and calls.

To correctly display Cyrillic (Russian) in the notifications, you need to select Russian in the settings of the bracelet itself. This usually happens automatically when synchronized with the Russified application, but sometimes you need to manually switch. Go to Profile → Mi Band 4 → Bracelet settings → Language and select Russian. If the Russian language is not in the list, make sure that the Mi Fit application selects the region “Russia” or “Ukraine / Belarus / Kazakhstan” in the profile settings.

It is worth noting that the emoji and complex graphical elements in the notifications on the Mi Band 4 screen are not displayed due to the limitations of monochrome. AMOLED-You'll only see text on the message, and if the notifications don't come, check if the phone has "Do Not Disturb" or "Energy Saving" modes that can block the background processes of the Mi Fit app.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💡

Successful Xiaomi Mi Band 4 connection depends not so much on the Bluetooth version, but on the correct resolutions in the Mi Fit application and the absence of conflict with previous pairings.