Previous articlePair First on Mi Band 4: Why You Have an Error and How to Fix It in 5 Minutes

You try to connect the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 to your phone, but instead of syncing, the bracelet displays the words "Pair first" -- and the Mi Fit or Zepp Life app doesn't detect the device -- this bug occurs in thousands of users, and it can be caused by software failures and hardware problems. In 80% of cases, the problem is solved in a few minutes without going to the service center, just follow the proven algorithms.

In this article, we will look at all possible scenarios where the Mi Band 4 requires re-pairing, including rare cases (for example, after updating the firmware or replacing the battery), learn how to reset the bracelet to factory settings, reinstall the synchronization application, and even manually “cheat” the system if the automatic connection does not work. And for those who have encountered an error after falling or getting moisture, we have prepared a unique checklist for the diagnosis of hardware damage.

Why Mi Band 4 Asks for ‘Pair First’: 5 Reasons

The “Pair first” error means that the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 bracelet cannot connect to your phone via Bluetooth, not a critical breakdown, but a signal that the connection is broken.

• 📱 App crash: Cash Mi Fit or Zepp Life is overflowing or there was an error when the last update was made.
• 🔄 Automatic Bluetooth Shutdown: Phone has severed connection due to charge savings or switching to another device.
• ⚙️ Reset bracelet settings: If the Mi Band 4 is discharged “to zero” or was reset manually, it requires a new pairing.
• 🔋 Firmware problems: After updating the bracelet software, a version conflict may occur.
• 💧 Hardware damage: Moisture infestation, fall or wear of Bluetooth module contacts.

In most cases, the problem is software-based, but if the bracelet has stopped responding to touch or is not charging, it is worth checking for physical malfunctions, for example, after replacing the battery, the plumes responsible for communication with the Bluetooth module are often damaged.

Preparing for Error Correction: What to Check Before Resetting

Before you reset your Mi Band 4 settings or reinstall the app, run a basic diagnostic, which will save time and help you avoid unnecessary actions.

Is Bluetooth on the phone?

Is the bracelet connected to charging (charge level) > 20%)?

Is the phone rebooted after the last update?

Have you tried connecting the Mi Band 4 to another smartphone?

Have permissions for the Mi application been verified? Fit/Zepp Life?-->

Pay special attention to the permissions of the application. On Android 10+ iOS 14+ systems often block Bluetooth access in the background:

1. On Android: go to Settings → Applications → Mi Fit → Permissions and enable Bluetooth, Notifications and Auto Run.
2. On iPhone: Open Settings → Confidentiality → Bluetooth and make sure that Mi Fit is on the list of allowed.

If the bracelet was previously paired with another phone, it needs to be forcibly disconnected from the old device.

1. On your old phone, open Mi Fit.
2. Go to the bracelet profile and select Remove the device.
3. Confirm the blackout.

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If you have two phones (e.g., a work phone and a personal phone), the Mi Band 4 may conflict when trying to connect to both at the same time.

How to eliminate “Pair first” on Mi Band 4

If the preliminary test did not help, go to the action. Below are 3 proven methods, sorted by effectiveness (from simple to complex).

Method 1: Reboot the bracelet and phone

This is a basic step that works 30 percent of the time.

1. Remove the Mi Band 4 from your hand and unplug it from charging (if it was connected).
2. Press and hold the touch button of the bracelet for 10-15 seconds until you feel the vibration and see the Mi logo.
3. Reboot your phone (on Android: hold the power button; on iPhone: Settings) → Mainstream → Turn it off).
4. After restarting both devices, try to re-arrange the bracelet via Mi Fit.

Method 2: Reset Mi Band 4 to factory settings

If the reboot doesn't work, do a hard reset, which will remove all the data from the bracelet (steps, alarm clock settings), but return it to its original state.

1. Connect the Mi Band 4 to charge (make sure it's charged) > 50%).
2. On the bracelet, swipe to the left until you find the More item.
3. Slip it, then select Reboot (reboot).
4. After the reboot, go back to More and select Factory Reset.
5. Confirm the action, wait for the vibration and the Mi logo.

Once reset, the bracelet will look like new.

1. Open Mi Fit on your phone.
2. Click Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 4
3. Follow the instructions on the screen (allow Bluetooth and notifications).

Method 3: Manual pairing via Bluetooth settings

If Mi Fit doesn’t see the bracelet, but it appears in the phone’s Bluetooth device list, try connecting manually:

1. Open the Settings. → Bluetooth on your phone.
2. Find a device called Mi Band in the list 4_XXXX (where XXXX — figure).
3. Slip on it and select Forget the device (on iPhone) or Disable (on Android).
4. Return to Mi Fit and try to re-arrange the bracelet.

If the device does not appear in the Bluetooth list, check:

• 🔋 Bracelet charge (should be) > 20%).
• 📶 Distance between phone and bracelet (no more than 1 meter).
• 🛡️ No interference (other Bluetooth devices, microwaves, Wi-Fi routers at 2.4 GHz frequency).

Have you got a mistake? Check out these rare causes.

If standard methods don't work, the problem could be deeper. Here are 4 non-obvious reasons that few people know about:

Especially often, the "Pair first" error occurs after the bracelet firmware update. If you recently updated the Mi Band 4 and then it stopped connecting, try rolling back the firmware:

1. Download the old version of the firmware from the forum XDA Developers (e.g. 1.0.7.14).
2. Connect the bracelet to the charger.
3. Use the Mi Band 4 Tool (for Android) or Gadgetbridge (for iOS) utility for manual firmware.

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If the bracelet was purchased on AliExpress or in an unofficial store, there is a high risk that it is wearing Chinese firmware with regional restrictions, in which case only reflashing to a global version will help.

What if the Mi Band 4 doesn’t respond to a reset?

If the bracelet does not turn on after reset or does not respond to touch, but vibrates when connected to charging, the problem may be:

• 🔋 A discharged battery (even if the indicator is on).
• 💻 Sensor controller failure (often after a fall).
• 🔌 Display plume damage (if the screen is not turned on, but there is vibration).

Try the hardware reboot:

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger.
2. Press and hold the touch button for 30 seconds (even if there is no reaction).
3. Turn off the charger, wait 1 minute and plug again.

If this doesn’t work, check the bracelet for physical damage:

Is there a crack or dent on the body?

Did the bracelet get moisture (even if it was waterproof)?

Does the vibration work when connected to the charger?

Does the charging indicator (red/green LED) burn)?-->

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet doesn't turn on or vibrate when charging, don't try to disassemble it yourself - inside is a lithium battery that can ignite if damaged.

Alternative ways to connect Mi Band 4

If standard pairing via Mi Fit doesn’t work, try alternative methods:

Method 1: Use of the Zepp Life App

Zepp Life (formerly Amazfit) often does a better job of connecting Mi Band 4 than Mi Fit. Download it from the App Store or Google Play and pair it:

1. Remove Mi Fit (to avoid conflicts).
2. Open Zepp Life and register.
3. Click Add Add the device → Mi Smart Band 4.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Method 2: Connect via Gadgetbridge (for advanced users)

Gadgetbridge is an open source software for managing wearables, and it supports Mi Band 4 and can bypass the bugs of official apps.

1. Download Gadgetbridge from the official website.
2. Enable Developer Mode on your phone (Settings) → The phone. → Assembly number - tap 7 times).
3. In the Developer Settings, enable Bluetooth Debugging.
4. Open Gadgetbridge, select Mi Band 4 and pair.

⚠️ Note: Gadgetbridge does not support all of the features of the Mi Band 4 (e.g., Mi Pay) and only use it for diagnostics.

Method 3: Connect to another phone

If the bracelet is not connected to your main phone, try temporarily pairing it with another device (such as a tablet or a friend's phone) to help determine what the problem is:

• If the other phone has been successful → problem in your smartphone (settings, software, Bluetooth module).
• If the "Pair First" error persists → Problem in the bracelet (firmware, hardware malfunction).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the "Pair First" error on the Mi Band 4