Xiaomi Smart Band 8: Detailed Guide to Setup and Use

Xiaomi Smart Band 8

Many users experience problems at the connection stage: the bracelet does not find the phone, the Mi Fitness app gives errors, or training data is not stored. The reasons can vary from outdated firmware to incorrect Bluetooth settings. We will analyze each step in detail so that you can avoid typical errors and enjoy the full capabilities of the Smart Band 8 without unnecessary hassle.

Particular attention is paid to:

• 🔋 Battery Optimizations – How to Extend Bracelet to 16 Days (Real Tests!).
• 🏃 Training and sports – what modes are supported, how to set up automatic activity recognition.
• 📱 Synchronization with Android/iOS — Why Notifications Don’t Come and How to Fix It.
• ⚙️ Hidden functions – from controlling the smartphone camera to setting gestures.

If you have just unpacked the bracelet or have been using it for a long time, but want to unleash its potential, this article is for you. Let's start with the most important thing: first switching on and setting up.

First Enablement and Connection to a Smartphone

Before you first use the Xiaomi Smart Band 8, you need to charge it to 100%. Despite the fact that the package comes with a magnetic cable, many users confuse polarity and connect it incorrectly. The contacts on the bracelet must match the contacts on the charger - if the indicator does not light up, flip the cable. Full charging takes about 1.5-2 hours.

After charging, follow the following steps:

1. Download the Mi Fitness app (formerly Zepp Life) from Google Play or the App Store. make sure the app version is no older than 2023 - legacy versions may not support the Smart Band 8.
2. Register or log in to an existing account Xiaomi/Zepp. Without an account, data synchronization is impossible.
3. Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone and allow the application access to geodata (required for the correct operation of the pedometer!).
4. Click on the Profile app → Add the device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 8.

If the bracelet is not present, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (disable/enable in settings).
• 📱 Delete the cache of the Mi Fitness app (in Android settings: Apps) → Mi Fitness → Memory. → Clear the cache).
• 🔋 Reset the bracelet (press the touch button 10 seconds before vibration).

⚠️ Note: If you use an iPhone, make sure that the Bluetooth settings include the “Mi Fitness” option" → "Connected devices" → "Allow notifications. Without that, the bracelet won't vibrate when you call or text.

Set up the basic parameters through Mi Fitness

Once you've successfully connected, you need to customize the bracelet to suit your needs, and most of the settings are only available through the Mi Fitness app, not through the bracelet itself.

1. User profile

Go to Profile. → My data and give it to me:

• 👤 Gender, age, height, and weight (important for accurate calorie and step calculations).
• 🏃 Activity goals (8000 steps default, but can be increased to 20,000).
• 💤 Sleep time (bracelet will remind you of preparation for sleep).

Notifications

To make the bracelet vibrate when calling and texting:

1. In Mi Fitness go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 8 → Notifications.
2. Turn on the "Call Notifications" and "Notifications from Applications" switch.
3. Select the apps you want to receive notifications from (such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).

3. Display and interface

In the section Screen and brightness can be:

• 🌓 Adjust automatic brightness (recommended for battery savings).
• ⏱️ Set the screen lighting time (from 5 to 30 seconds).
• 🎨 Change the dial (more than 100 options available, including animated ones).

Note: if the bracelet does not respond to touch, check if the "Energy Saving" mode is turned on in the screen settings - it turns off the sensor to extend the operating time.

Indicate personal data (gender, age, weight)|

Include notifications for important applications|

Set goals for steps and sleep|

Select the dial and brightness of the screen|

Check the synchronization of data with the cloud-->

Health tracking: pulse, sleep, stress and SpO₂

Xiaomi Smart Band 8 is equipped with sensors to monitor key health indicators, but many users do not know how to interpret the data correctly or include additional features.

1. Pulse measurement

The bracelet automatically measures your heart rate every 5 minutes during the day and every 30 seconds during exercise, to check your pulse manually:

1. On the bracelet, scroll down to the Heart (icon) point. ❤️).
2. Click on it and wait for the result (usually 10-15 seconds).

If the data seems inaccurate (for example, a resting heart rate of 220 beats/min), check:

• 🩹 Density of adhesion of the bracelet - there should be no gap between the strap and the skin.
• 🔋 Charge level – at low charge, sensors work less accurately.
• 🧴 Clean sensors (wipe with an alcohol napkin).

2. Sleep monitoring

The bracelet automatically recognizes the phases of sleep (deep, light, REM), but:

• 🛌 Put it on your non-working hand (usually your left hand).
• ⏰ Go to bed at the same time – the algorithm adapts to your rhythm.
• 📵 Turn off the alarm on the phone - the bracelet will wake up with vibration (in the settings of Sleep). → Smart alarm clock).

3. Blood oxygen levels (SpO₂)

The function is only available manually (automatic measurement disabled to save battery) SpO₂:

1. On the bracelet, select SpO₂ (icon 🩸).
2. Put your hand on the table and don’t move for 30 to 60 seconds.

Normal values: 95-100%. If the rate is below 90% for a long time, consult a doctor - this may indicate breathing problems.

4. Stress level

Bracelet assesses stress by heart rate variability (HRV). To lower the rate:

• 🧘 Conduct 5-minute breathing exercises (available in bracelet: Stress) → Breathing).
• 🚶 Walk in the fresh air – physical activity normalizes HRV.

Training and sports regimes

Xiaomi Smart Band 8 supports 150+ And there's a lot of sports that are going on, including running, swimming, yoga and even bowling, but not all users know how to use them properly:

1. Automatic recognition of training

The bracelet can independently determine the beginning of running, walking or cycling, but for this:

• 🏃 Enable the function in Mi Fitness → Mi Smart Band 8 → Training. → Autodetermination.
• 📍 Allow access to geodata (for accurate route tracking).
• ⏱️ Move continuously for at least 3 minutes or the bracelet will not record activity.

2 Manual start of training

For accurate tracking:

1. On the bracelet, select Training (icon) 🏃).
2. Scroll through the list and select the mode you want (like swimming in the pool).
3. Press Start and wait for the vibration.

After training, sync the data with the app to see:

• 📊 Pulse chart by load zone.
• 🏆 Points. VO₂ max (oxygen capacity level).
• 🔥 Calorie expenditure (taking into account your weight).

3.Swimming and waterproofing

The bracelet has 5 protections. ATM, signifies:

• ✅ You can swim in the pool or the sea (up to 50 meters deep).
• ❌ Can not be used in hot water (bath, sauna) - this will damage the tightness.
• ⚠️ After swimming in salt water, wash the bracelet with fresh water.

To track your swimming, select Swimming in the pool or Open Water. The bracelet automatically counts the number of strokes, distance and average speed.

💡

If you run on a treadmill, select the "Treadmill" mode - the bracelet will take steps into account, not the steps. GPS-data that will improve accuracy.

Controlling music, camera and other functions

Xiaomi Smart Band 8 can work not only as a fitness tracker, but also as a remote control for a smartphone.

1. Music management

While listening to music on the phone, you can:

• 🎵 Switch tracks swipe left/right on the bracelet screen.
• 🔊 Adjust the volume (in some firmware).
• ⏸️ Pause/replay by pressing the screen.

For the function to work, Mi Fitness must include Music Management.

2 Remote camera control

The bracelet can serve as a remote for taking selfies or group photos:

1. Open the camera on your smartphone.
2. On the bracelet, select the Camera (icon) 📷).
3. Press the bracelet screen to take a picture.

This feature works with most standard cameras (Google Camera, MIUI Camera, but may not be supported in third-party apps (such as Instagram).

3. Quick responses to messages

On Android, the bracelet allows you to send quick responses to messages (e.g., "OK", "I'll be back later").

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Notifications → Quick Answers.
2. Add or edit templates (up to 10 pieces).

4. Phone search

If you lose your smartphone, you can start the signal on the bracelet:

1. Scroll down to the phone search (icon) 📱).
2. Press it, and the phone will ring at full volume.

⚠️ Warning: The function only works if the phone is within Bluetooth range (usually up to 10 meters).If the smartphone is in silent mode, the signal will still be heard.

Battery Optimization: How to Extend Your Life to 16 Days

Officially, Xiaomi Smart Band 8 holds a charge of up to 16 days, but in practice, many users experience a discharge in 5-7 days.

1. Screen settings

• 🌑 Set minimum brightness (in Mi Fitness) → Screen. → Brightness).
• ⏱️ Reduce the lighting time to 5 seconds.
• 🔄 Turn off automatic arm lifting (if not needed) – this reduces the charge by 20%.

2. Health monitoring

• ❤️‍🩺 Set the pulse interval every 10 minutes (instead of 5 minutes).
• 🩸 Turn off automatic measurement SpO₂ (It uses a lot of energy).
• 💤 Turn on sleep monitoring only at night.

Notifications and synchronization

• 📵 Disable notifications from unnecessary applications.
• 🔄 Synchronize data manually (in Mi Fitness) → Profile → Mi Smart Band 8 → Synchronization, not automatic.

Energy saving regimes

In critical cases (for example, in a hike), you can turn on the mode of energy saving:

1. On the bracelet, scroll down to the Battery.
2. Select Energy Saving – this will turn off the sensor and most sensors, leaving only time and pedometer.

Comparison of working modes:

💡

The easiest way to extend the bracelet is to turn off automatic measurement. SpO₂ Reduce the frequency of heart rate checks to 10–30 minutes.

Hidden functions and life hacks

Xiaomi Smart Band 8 hides some useful features that are not written in the instructions.

1. Control gestures

The bracelet supports gestures for quick access to functions:

• 👆 Raising your hand – turning on the screen (configured in Mi Fitness) → Gestures).
• 🤏 Double touch – switching between dials (if enabled in settings).
• 🙌 Shaking - changing music (only on some firmware).

2. Secret dials

In addition to the standard dials in Mi Fitness, you can install custom:

1. Download the dial file from.bin format (for example, from the Amazfit Watch Faces website).
2. In Mi Fitness go to Dials → Add → Local file.
3. Select the downloaded file and sync.

3.Do not disturb mode

To turn off all notifications and vibrations:

1. On the bracelet, scroll down until Don't disturb (icon) 🔔).
2. Select a time (for example, from 22:00 to 8:00).

In this mode, the bracelet will show only the time and steps, but will not vibrate when calling.

4. Quickly unlock the smartphone

If you have a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, The bracelet can unlock it without entering a password:

1. In Mi Fitness, enable Unlocking your phone.
2. On your phone, add the bracelet as a trusted device in the security settings.

5.Voice assistant

On some firmware, the bracelet supports calling a voice assistant (Google Assistant or Siri):

• 🎤 Press and hold the button on the bracelet for 2 seconds.
• 🗣️ Say the command (e.g., "Set the alarm for 7:00 am").

💡

If the bracelet stopped vibrating when notified, check the sound settings on the phone: sometimes the “No Sound” or “Do Not Disturb” modes block the vibration on the connected devices.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions