How to connect Xiaomi Mi Band 5 to your phone: full instructions with pictures and tips

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular activity-tracking gadgets, despite the release of new models. Its main advantages – an accurate pulsemeter, 14 training modes and 2-week autonomy – make the device relevant even in 2026. However, many users face difficulties when connecting for the first time: the bracelet is not on the list of devices, the application gives errors, or data is not synchronized. In this article, we will analyze the step-by-step instructions for Android and iOS, discuss hidden settings and give tips for solving typical problems.

The Mi Band 5 feature is the need to use the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit), without which the bracelet will not be able to transmit data to the phone, and you will lose the ability to set up notifications, alarms and sleep tracking, while the pairing process itself takes no more than 5 minutes, if you know all the nuances, then you will find detailed screenshots, a table of compatibility with phones and answers to frequent questions - from "why the bracelet does not vibrate" to "how to reset the factory settings."

If you've just unpacked the bracelet, check its charge first: the Mi Band 5 comes with a partially discharged battery. Connect the device to the charging cable (included) and wait until the charge indicator appears on the screen. The minimum level for a successful connection is 20%.

1.Preparation for connection: what to do before pairing

Before you start setting up, make sure your phone meets the minimum requirements. Xiaomi Mi Band 5 officially supports:

• 📱 Android 5.0 and higher with Google Play)
• 🍎 iOS 10.0 and higher (iPhone) 5s newer)
• 🔄 Bluetooth 4.2 or 5.0 (for stable synchronization)

If your device is older, pairing may work out of order.For example, on Android 4.4, the Mi Fitness app is not installed via Google Play, and on iPhone 5, notification issues may be possible.

Step 1 Download the official appendix:

• 🤖 For Android: Mi Fitness on Google Play
• 🍏 For iOS: Mi Fitness in the App Store

Important: Do not use third-party APK-Files or clones of the application (e.g. Mi Band Master or Notify & Fitness) may not support all of the features of the Mi Band 5 and may cause crashes.

Step 2: Register a Xiaomi account or log in to an existing one. Without that, the bracelet won’t be able to sync data to the cloud. If you already have an account for other Xiaomi devices (like a smartphone or robot vacuum cleaner), use it.

Step 3. Turn on the phone:

• 📶 Bluetooth (in the notification panel or in Settings) → Connections)
• 📍 Geolocation (required to find devices nearby)
• 🔒 Notification permission for Mi Fitness app

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If you have a Huawei or Honor with EMUI, turn off the Bluetooth Energy Saving feature in the battery settings before connecting.

Step-by-step: how to connect Mi Band 5 to Android

The process of pairing on Android is as simple as possible, but there are a few pitfalls. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid errors.

Step 1. Open the Mi Fitness app and click on the profile icon in the top right corner. Select Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 5.

Step 2. The bracelet will show instructions on the screen, make sure the Mi Band 5 has a green charge indicator on it, which means the device is ready to pair, and if the indicator flashes red, recharge the bracelet for another 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 3. Click Next and wait for the app to find the bracelet. If the Mi Band 5 doesn't show up in the list:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off and turn on again).
• 📱 Re-launch the Mi Fitness app.
• 🔋 Make sure the bracelet is at least 30 times charged%.

Step 4: Once you find the bracelet, click on the name on the list. The 4-digit code will appear on the phone and bracelet screen — make sure it matches and confirm the pairing.

Step 5: Wait until the sync is complete (it can take up to 2 minutes), then the message Connected will appear on the bracelet screen, and the main menu with the data will open in the application.

Bracelet charge > 20%|

Bluetooth and geolocation included |

Mi Fitness app updated |

Xiaomi account authorized|-->

Connecting Mi Band 5 to iPhone: features and nuances

On iOS, the pairing process is almost identical to Android, but there are a few key differences that make users often face problems.

Step 1: Make sure your iPhone is powered not only by Bluetooth, but also by Wi-Fi (even if you’re not connected to the network), which is a requirement for Apple to work with accessories.

Step 2. Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Add Device. Select Mi Smart Band 5.

Step 3. Click Next and wait for the app to request permission to access Bluetooth and notifications. Be sure to resolve both requests - without this, the bracelet will not be able to show incoming calls and messages.

Step 4: If the bracelet is not present, try:

• 🔄 Leave the app and go back in.
• 📱 Reboot the iPhone.
• 🔋 Turn off and turn on Mi Band 5 again (press the touch button for 10 seconds).

Step 5. After successfully connecting, check the notification settings:

1. Go to Profile. → Mi Smart Band 5 → Notifications.
2. Turn on the switches for Calls, Messages and Applications.
3. Select the apps you want to see on your bracelet (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).

4.Setting up the bracelet after connecting: what can be changed

After successful pairing, the Mi Band 5 offers a wide range of customization options, and let’s look at the key settings that you should set up right away.

1. Personal data and purposes

Go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Personal Information and specify:

• 👤 Gender, age, height and weight (for accurate calorie counting).
• 🏃‍♂️ Target number of steps (default: 8,000, but can be increased to 20,000).
• 💤 Sleep time (bracelet will remind you of preparation for sleep).

2. Screen and dials

Mi Band 5 supports interchangeable dials with animation and additional information (weather, pulse, steps).

1. Open Profile. → Mi Smart Band 5 → Screen.
2. Select the dials section and download your favorite option (there are free and paid options).
3. Click Apply and the dial is updated on the bracelet automatically.

Notifications and vibrations

To make the bracelet vibrate when calling and texting:

• 📞 Enable Incoming Calls in Notification Settings.
• 💬 For posts, select apps manually (e.g. Viber, Instagram).
• 🔕 Set up a silent mode according to a schedule (for example, during sleep).

4. Training regimes

The Mi Band 5 supports 14 activities, including swimming, cycling and yoga.

1. Go to training. → Choose the type.
2. Select the desired mode (for example, Running or Walking).
3. Press Start – the bracelet will start tracking your pulse, distance and calories.

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To accurately track your running or bike, turn on your phone's GPS and allow the Mi Fitness app to access geolocation. Without GPS, distance will be calculated in steps, which is less accurate.

5. Compatibility table: which phones work with Mi Band 5

Not all smartphones interact equally well with the Mi Band 5. Below is a table of compatibility with popular models. If your phone is not on the list, check the Android or iOS version - it should not be below the minimum requirements.

If your phone is not on the list but meets the minimum requirements, try plugging the bracelet manually:

1. Open Bluetooth settings on your phone.
2. Find the device in the list MI Band 5_XXXX (where XXXX — unique).
3. Connect to it, then open Mi Fitness and repeat pairing.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even with the right connection, users are faced with errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The bracelet is not on the list of devices

• 🔋 Check the bracelet charge (minimum 20%).
• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone.
• 📱 Remove the Mi Fitness app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Memory. → Clear the cache).
• 🔌 Try connecting from another phone – if the bracelet isn’t detected, the Bluetooth module may be faulty.

Problem 2: Notifications don't come to the bracelet

• 🔔 Check the permissions for Mi Fitness in your phone settings.
• 📵 Make sure the bracelet is not in Do Not Disturb mode (check in the app).
• 🔄 Reconnect the bracelet: Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Disable the device, then reconnect.

Problem 3: Data is not synchronized

• 🌐 Check your internet connection (synchronization requires Xiaomi cloud).
• 🔄 Update the Mi Fitness app to the latest version.
• 🔋 Reset the bracelet (press the button for 10 seconds).

Problem 4: The bracelet discharges quickly

• 🔋 Turn off constant pulse monitoring (Profile) → Mi Smart Band 5 → Heart monitoring → Off.).
• 🌙 Reduce the brightness of the screen in the bracelet settings.
• 🔔 Turn off unnecessary notifications.

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If the bracelet stops vibrating when alerted, check if the "Theatre" or "Do Not Disturb" mode is activated in the Mi Band 5 settings. These modes turn off all vibrations except the alarm clock.

7.Reset the Mi Band 5 settings to factory

If the bracelet is not working properly (it doesn’t sync, doesn’t respond to touch, or permanently shuts down), a factory reset may be required.Caution: This will delete all data from the device, including workout settings and dials.

Method 1: Through the application

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5.
2. Scroll down and click Remove the device.
3. Confirm the action - the bracelet will be turned off and dropped.

Method 2: Using the bracelet (if the phone is not available)

1. On the bracelet, go to Settings → Additional → Reset.
2. Confirm the reset by clicking on the tick icon.
3. After the reset, the bracelet will look like new.

After the reset, you will need to reconnect the Mi Band 5 to your phone, as described at the beginning of the article.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)