Xiaomi Smart Scale 2: How to Measure Fat Percentage and Set Up Scales

Modern health gadgets have gone from being a rare luxury to an everyday necessity, and Xiaomi’s smart scales are taking a leading position in this segment. Many users purchase Xiaomi Mi Body Composition Scale 2, expecting instantaneous metrics, but often face difficulties at first launch. The main problem is that the device does not show fat percentage and other biometrics immediately after being removed from the box without prior software setup.

For proper operation of bioimpedance analysis algorithms, you need to link the scales to the smartphone through a special application, since the computing power itself is in the cloud or on the phone, not in the device itself. Without synchronization with Mi Fit or Xiaomi Wear, the gadget will work exclusively as a normal mechanical scale, displaying only the total weight. In this article, we will analyze the step-by-step process of activating all functions, learn how to correctly measure and analyze frequent errors that occur in beginners.

It's important to understand that the accuracy of readings is directly dependent on the operating conditions and the correctness of personal data entering into the user profile. The fat percentage algorithm uses Broca's formula based on height, age, gender and weight, so an error in these parameters will distort all the final results. Let's take a detailed look at how to turn your gadget into a full-fledged health management center.

The principle of operation of bioimpedance analysis

To understand how Xiaomi Smart Scale 2 calculates fat percentage, you need to understand bioimpedance analysis (BIA) technology, which allows a weak, perfectly safe electrical current through the body that is not felt by the skin, and because muscle tissue contains a lot of water and electrolytes, it conducts current well, whereas adipose tissue has high resistance.

The impedansometer calculates the approximate ratio of tissues in the body based on the resistance it generates, but the scales themselves don't have a display to output these complex calculations, so they transmit raw resistance data to the smartphone, where the app does the final calculations, which is why you can't see the percentage of fat on the scale screen without the phone connected.

⚠️ Note: People with pacemakers or other electronic implants are strictly prohibited from using the body composition measurement function, as an electrical impulse can disrupt the operation of medical devices.

The accuracy of the method depends on the hydration of the body, so the readings can fluctuate slightly during the day. In the morning after waking up and going to the toilet, the results will be most reliable, since at this time the body fluid level is stable. Evening measurements often show a lower percentage of fat due to the accumulated swelling and food intake during the day.

Preparation for the first use and installation of software

The first step is to install the right software on your smartphone. Although the device is compatible with multiple apps, the most stable operation and full functionality is provided by the official Mi Fit app (or its newer Xiaomi Wear analogue).

Once installed, you need to create a Xiaomi ID or log in to an existing one. You need to specify the anthropometrics in your user profile as accurately as possible: height, date of birth and gender. These parameters are critical variables for the calculation algorithm, and if you specify an incorrect growth, the percentage of fat will be calculated incorrectly, regardless of the accuracy of the weighing.

Then you have to prepare the scales for work. Put the batteries in if they're not installed, and wait for the screen to turn on for a short time. Put the device on a hard, flat surface — a carpet or soft carpet can distort the readings of the pressure sensors. Don't stand on the scale immediately, give them 3-5 seconds to calibrate and appear the symbol "0.0".

The process of pairing weights with a smartphone

The synchronization process is a key step, without which the fat measurement function will not work. Open the Mi Fit app, go to the profile and select Add Device. In the list of available gadgets, find the Mi Body Composition Scale 2 and click on it.

Stand on the scale with one foot to activate them, and wait until the app detects the device. It is important that at this point Bluetooth on the phone is turned on and geolocation is activated, since in Android this is required for search. BLE-Once detected, press "Connect" and confirm the pairing.

If the automatic search didn't work, try to put two feet on the scale when you search in the app. Sometimes you need to briefly press the switching button of the units (kg/lb) on the back of the scales to put them in pairing mode. Successful connection will be confirmed by the vibration of the device and the appearance of its name in the list of my devices in the application.

Technology for accurate measurements

Once you've successfully adjusted, the weighing process becomes automatic, and you just have to stand on the platform with your bare feet, pressing your feet tightly against metal contacts, and it's through these contacts that the current flows to analyze your body composition, so having socks or shoes will make measuring fat impossible.

The scale will automatically determine your weight and send the data to the application. If there are multiple users in the profile, the system will try to guess who exactly stood on the platform based on previous weight measurements. In case of doubt, the application will suggest that you manually select the user to record the statistics correctly.

To get a full picture of health, it is recommended to take measurements at the same time of day, preferably on an empty stomach in the morning, this will minimize the effect of food and water on the final figures, and you should avoid intense physical exertion and alcohol intake immediately before weighing, as this changes the electrical conductivity of tissues.

Interpretation of indicators and standard table

When you get the data in the app, you see a lot of numbers, but not everyone knows how to estimate them correctly. Body Fat Percentage is one of the main indicators, which is more important than just weight, and the norms for this indicator vary for men and women, and also depend on age.

Below is a chart that helps categorize the results according to health standards, and note that women are always more likely to have normal fat than men because of their physiological characteristics.

Besides fat, the Xiaomi Smart Scale 2 scales also calculate body mass index (BMI), muscle mass, bone and water. However, it is worth remembering that BMI does not take into account the ratio of muscle to fat, so in athletes it can show “overweight” with a low percentage of fat.

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To track real progress, take a photo of the body and take a meter tape every two weeks, matching it to the scales, and visual changes are often more noticeable than the numbers on the screen.

Problem solving and calibration

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the scales are working, but the percentage of fat is not displayed or shows scrolls. Most often this is due to the loss of communication between the application and the cloud server during the weigh-in. Make sure that your smartphone has an active Internet connection at the time of data synchronization.

Another common problem is the "jumping" weight readings, which can be caused by uneven floors or discharged batteries. If the scales are on the carpet, put a twig of plywood under them or put it on a tile/linoleum. Also check the contacts of the batteries, oxidation can lead to voltage surges.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use scales immediately after moving them from cold to heat. Condensation on internal sensors can cause short circuit or temporary malfunction of electronics.

If the scales stopped defining the user or reset the settings, try