How to turn on Bluetooth on Xiaomi fitness bracelet: instructions for all models

Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets have long been an integral part of the daily lives of millions of users, helping to track activity, monitor sleep and even alert incoming calls. But what if your Xiaomi bracelet does not connect to your phone? Most often the problem lies in the wrong setting of Bluetooth, the key communication channel between devices.

In this article, we will discuss how to turn on Bluetooth on the Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7/8 bracelets, what nuances each model has, and what to do if the connection is not established. You will also learn how to check the compatibility of the smartphone with the bracelet and what settings in Mi Fitness or Zepp Life can block the connection. If you just unpacked a new gadget or encountered an error after the update, this guide will help solve the problem in 5 minutes.

Why doesn’t Bluetooth work on Xiaomi’s bracelet?

Before you get into the setup, it’s important to understand why Xiaomi’s bracelet doesn’t find the phone or why the smartphone doesn’t see the gadget.

• 🔋 Battery discharge – if the bracelet charge is below 10%, Bluetooth can automatically shut down to save energy.
• 📱 Older version of the app – Mi Fitness or Zepp Life require regular updates to work properly with new models of bracelets.
• 🔄 Conflict with other devices – if the bracelet was previously paired with another phone, it may “forget” the old connection.
• 🛠️ Software failures – after updating the firmware bracelet or smartphone, synchronization errors may occur.
• 📶 Interference from other wireless devices – Wi-Fi routers, headphones or smartwatches at 2.4 GHz can cause interference.

If your Mi Band bracelet flashes green when trying to connect, but the phone can't see it, the problem is probably the Bluetooth settings on your smartphone. And if the indicator is on red, it can mean a hardware failure (for example, damage to the antenna), in which case only the service center will help.

How to turn on Bluetooth on Xiaomi bracelet: universal instruction

Unlike smartphones, Xiaomi bracelets don’t have a separate button to turn on Bluetooth. Instead, the module activates automatically when you first connect to your phone or after you reset your settings. However, there are several ways to force a search for devices:

Now we turn to the main steps:

1. Pairing mode activation: Most Mi Band models require touching the touch button (on the Mi Band 3/4) or swiping your finger up the screen (on the Mi Band 5-8).
2. Search for a device on your phone: Open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for new models) and go to Profile → Add a device. The bracelet should appear in the list of available gadgets.
3. Confirmation of connection: A code (e.g., 1234) will appear on the bracelet screen. Compare it to the code on the phone and confirm pairing. If the codes don't match, click Cancel and try again.

Important: On Mi Band 7 and later, Quick Connection may interfere with manual pairing. To turn it off, go to Bracelet Settings → Lab → Quick Connect and deactivate the option.

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If the bracelet does not respond to touch, try resetting it to factory settings. To do this, press the touch button for 10-15 seconds (on Mi Band 3/4) or select Reset in the application settings (for Mi Band 5-8).

Features of Bluetooth on different models Xiaomi

While the bluetooth approach is similar across Xiaomi bracelets, each model has its own nuances, and in the table below we have collected key differences:

For example, Mi Band 7 owners often find that the bracelet does not want to connect to phones on Android 9 and below, due to the requirements of the new version of Bluetooth LE (Low Energy), the decision is to upgrade the smartphone operating system or use a Bluetooth 5.0 adapter.

What if the Bluetooth on the Xiaomi bracelet is not turned on?

If you have followed all the steps from the instructions, but the bracelet still doesn’t connect, try the following methods:

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to hack the bracelet firmware through third-party utilities (e.g. Mi Band Tools). IMEI loss of warranty.

• 🔄 Reset the bracelet – to do this, connect it to charging, then turn off and press the touch button for 20 seconds.
• 📱 Clear the app cache - in the phone settings, find Mi Fitness/Zepp Life and select "Clear the cache".
• 🔧 Reset network settings – on your smartphone go to Settings → System system → Reset → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth.
• 🔗 Try another phone – if the bracelet connects to another device, the problem is in your smartphone (possibly locking) MAC-address).

If none of these methods worked, check the bracelet for physical damage, for example, after a drop or moisture (even if the device has IP68 protection), the Bluetooth module may fail, in which case you only need to contact the Xiaomi service center.

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90% of the Bluetooth problems on Xiaomi bracelets are solved by resetting or updating the firmware, and only 10% of cases require repair.

How to check if Bluetooth is working on a bracelet?

Sometimes users think that Bluetooth is not working, when the problem is the settings of the phone or app.

1. Visual indication: The Bluetooth icon (a stylized letter "B" or wireless icon) should be on the bracelet screen. If it is not, the module is disabled.
2. Testing via app: In Mi Fitness, go to Profile → My Devices → [Your Bracelet] → Status. If there is a green tick burning next to the word "Bluetooth", the connection is active.
3. Check through phone settings: Open Settings → Bluetooth on your smartphone. If the bracelet appears in the Connected Devices list, it's okay.

On the Mi Band 6 and later, there's a hidden Bluetooth diagnostic feature to activate it:

1. Go to Bracelet Settings → About the device.
2. Tap 5 times in a row on the inscription "Firmware Version".
3. In the menu that opens, select Bluetooth Test.

If the test shows an Error error: -204, it means a software failure that can be fixed by flashing. Error: -101 indicates a hardware malfunction.

How to eliminate interference and improve Bluetooth connection?

Even if the bracelet is connected to the phone, the connection can be unstable: interrupted, slowed down or lost when removed by several meters.

• 📶 Reduce the number of active Bluetooth devices – turn off headphones, speakers, or other gadgets that may interfere.
• 🔋 Keep the bracelet charged – at a battery level below 20%, the Bluetooth module goes into low power mode, which reduces the communication range.
• 📱 Turn off power saving mode – on Android, it can block Bluetooth background work.
• 🔄 Update the bracelet firmware – newer versions often fix connection errors.

For Mi Band 7/8 models with Bluetooth 5.2 support, you can activate the LE Audio function, which improves communication stability in a noisy environment.

1. Open Zepp Life.
2. Go to Profile → Bracelet settings → Laboratory.
3. Enable the option of Improved Bluetooth (or LE Audio, depending on the version of the app).

⚠️ Note: If you use the Mi Band with your iPhone, turn off the Automatic AirPods Switch feature in Bluetooth settings.

Frequent Connection Errors and Solutions

Let’s analyze the most common mistakes that occur when trying to turn on Bluetooth on the Xiaomi bracelet, and how to fix them:

If you see a message saying “This device is already paired with another phone” but you don’t have access to the previous gadget, make a forced reset:

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger.
2. Press the touch button for 30 seconds (before vibration).
3. Disconnect from charging - the bracelet will reset and reset all connections.

The Mi Band 5-8 has an alternative way to reset via the app:

1. In Zepp Life, go to Profile → My Devices → [Your Bracelet] → Untie the Device.
2. Confirm the action and wait for the vibration of the bracelet.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions