Xiaomi Mi Band 4 NFC: how to connect to the phone in 5 minutes (with and without payment)

Xiaomi Mi Band 4 NFC — One of the most popular fitness trackers with support for contactless payments, but its connection to a smartphone often raises questions among users. NFC-The chip requires additional steps to activate the payment function, especially if you are using Mi Pay or SberPay. In this article, we will discuss not only basic synchronization with the phone, but also the nuances of the settings. NFC, Solving typical errors (for example, "cannot connect" or "bracelet is not determined"), as well as features of working with different operating systems.

It's important to understand that the Mi Band 4 NFC connection procedure is different from the regular Mi Band 4 version because of the need to link payment services. If you bought an NFC bracelet but can't connect it, chances are that the problem lies in regional restrictions, firmware version or phone settings. We tested the instructions on Android 13/14 and iOS 16/17, so regardless of your device, you will find the right solution.

What is the difference between the Mi Band 4 NFC and the regular version?

The main difference is the presence of built-in NFC-A chip that allows you to use a contactless bracelet via Mi Pay (in China) or SberPay (in Russia), but this feature does not work in all countries due to manufacturer restrictions:

• 🔄 Two-way synchronization: Step, pulse and sleep data is transmitted to the phone, and notifications are transmitted from phone to bracelet.
• 💳 Payment support: only in regions where Mi Pay or partner services are available (e.g. Sberbank in Russia).
• 🔋 Increased energy consumption: NFC-The chip consumes up to 10% of the additional charge when used actively.
• 📱 Phone Requirements: Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+, But payments need a version not lower than Android 6.0.

Important: In Russia, only Sberbank card binding is officially supported through the Mi Fit app. Other banks (Tinkoff, VTB, etc.) do not work with NFC in Mi Band 4 at the firmware level. If you need payments through other banks, consider newer models, for example, Mi Band 7 Pro or Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro.

Preparation for connection: what should be checked?

Before pairing the bracelet, make sure all the preconditions are met, most often due to:

1. Mi Fit or Zepp Life (new name) must be updated to the latest version.
2. Bluetooth disabled: Bluetooth 4.0+ should be enabled on the phone (check the visibility of the device in the settings).
3. Low-charge bracelet: If the battery level is below 20%, synchronization may be interrupted.
4. Regional restrictions: If the phone is tied to a country where NFC is not supported in the Mi Band 4 (e.g. Europe), payments will not work.

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone | Charge bracelet to 50%+|Update Mi Fit/Zepp Life|Check your phone compatibility (Android 5.0+/iOS 10.0+)|Make sure the bracelet isn't tied to another device-->

If you bought the bracelet with your hands, be sure to drop it to the factory settings.

1. On the bracelet, go to Settings → Reset (scroll down on the screen).
2. Confirm the reset by holding the 3 second button.
3. After rebooting, the bracelet will be ready for a new binding.

Xiaomi (Redmi, POCO)|Samsung|iPhone (Apple)|Another Android|I don't know-->

How to connect Mi Band 4 NFC to Android

The process of pairing with Android takes no more than 5 minutes, if you follow the algorithm:

1. Install the app: Download Mi Fit (old version) or Zepp Life (new name) from Google Play. Apps are identical in functionality, but Zepp Life updates more often.
2. Register an account: If you do not have a Xiaomi account, create it via email or phone number. NFC-Payment will require proof of personal data.
3. Turn on the bracelet: Press the Mi Band 4 touch button to wake up the screen. Make sure it displays the Bluetooth icon (antenna icon).
4. Start pairing: In the app, click Profile → Add Device → Mi Smart Band 4. Follow the on-screen prompts.
5. Confirm the code on the bracelet: The 4-digit code will appear on the phone screen, it must match the code on the bracelet. Press the checkmark on the bracelet to confirm.
6. Update the firmware: Once connected, the app will prompt you to update the bracelet software. Don't interrupt the process, it may cause a failure. NFC-module.

If at the interface stage there is an error "Can not connect", try:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone and bracelet.
• 📱 Remove the Mi Fit app cache in your phone settings.
• 🔌 Shut down. VPN Proxies – They can block Xiaomi servers.

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If the bracelet is not detected, try connecting it through another app, Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (available on Google Play), which often works more stable than official software.

NFC setup and card binding for payment

Once the bracelet is successfully connected to the phone, contactless payments can be set up, which in Russia only works with Sberbank cards via SberPay, and this is how to activate it:

1. Open the Mi Fit app and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → NFC.
2. Select "Add card" and follow the instructions. The system will redirect you to the Sberbank Online application.

It's important: PIN-code NFC It's different from the unlock password for the bracelet. You can change it in the Mi Fit app settings.

⚠️ Note: If after linking the card payments do not pass, check:

• 💡 Availability of funds in the account (bracelet does not show the balance!).
• 📶 Stability of Internet connection at first binding.
• 🔒 No bank card blocking (sometimes call for support).

Connecting Mi Band 4 NFC to iPhone (iOS)

While Xiaomi officially supports iOS, the functionality of the bracelet on the iPhone is limited.

• ✅ Basic synchronization (steps, pulse, notifications) works.
• ❌ NFC-Payments are not available – Apple blocks the use of third-party NFC-devices for Apple Pay.
• ⚠️ Notifications are delayed (up to 5 minutes).
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge due to Bluetooth background work.

Instructions for connecting to the iPhone:

1. Download Mi Fit from the App Store.
2. Sign up for a Xiaomi account (or sign in via Apple ID if supported).
3. Turn on Bluetooth and allow the app to access notifications.
4. In the app, click Add Device → Mi Band 4.
5. Confirm the code on the bracelet (like on Android).

⚠️ Note: On iOS, the bracelet will not display incoming calls if the iPhone settings disabled the item "Show in the application" for contacts.

Typical errors and their solutions

Even with the right connection, users face problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If the bracelet is connected but does not synchronize the data:

1. Check if the data transfer is enabled in the background for Mi Fit.
2. Turn off the power saving mode on the phone.
3. Remove and add the bracelet again through Profile → Delete the device.

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If the bracelet doesn’t work after all the manipulations, check it on another phone. If the problem persists, it’s a hardware failure (refer to the service center).

How to reset Mi Band 4 NFC to factory settings?

You need to reset if you're selling a bracelet, it's buggy or it's not connecting to a new phone.

Method 1: Through the menu of the bracelet

1. On the bracelet, scroll down to the Settings point (cog icon).
2. Select Reset (circle arrow icon).
3. Confirm the action by holding the button for 3 seconds.

Method 2: Through the Mi Fit application

1. Open the Mi Fit and go to the bracelet profile.
2. Press Untie the device.
3. Confirm the reset and wait for the bracelet to reset.

⚠️ Warning: After resetting all data (steps, training, alarm settings) will be deleted. If the bracelet was tied to SberPay, the card must be added again.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Band 4 NFC