Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face confusion when trying to set up an activity tracker or smartwatch. Once the device is turned on or updated, the familiar icon may disappear, move to a folder or change its name altogether, which causes a natural concern, especially when the gadget for wearing on the wrist is already purchased and you can not connect it.
There are several physical activity monitoring software solutions in the Chinese manufacturer’s ecosystem, and their names are constantly changing. Where is Xiaomi’s Health app located is a question that needs to be clarified, as it can be a system service built into the MIUI or HyperOS shell, or a third-party client for wearable electronics, and understanding the difference between these components will save you time and nerves when you first set up.
In this article, we will look at all possible locations where the software may be hiding, system integrations, ways to search through global search, and methods to install alternative customers if standard solutions do not fit your smart wristband or watch model.
System application Health in MIUI and HyperOS
In modern versions of Xiaomi’s operating system, step and sleep tracking is often built directly into the shell. You won’t find a separate icon called Health because it’s integrated into other system parts, most often through widgets on the desktop or through the device’s settings.
To find the built-in tracker, try swiping left on the home screen to the end. There's usually a widget tape where the Activity Monitor is the first one. If there's no one, click the menu button (three dots or swipe up) and select Add widgets. In the list, find the fitness or activity section and add it to the screen.
⚠️ Note: In some regions (e.g. Russia or Europe), the system tracker may be restricted functionally or completely hidden due to legal regulations. GDPR. In this case, the built-in step counter may not display data without logging into the Mi-account with the China region».
And you can also duplicate your health data in the standard Safety app, open it, look for the Cleanup or Battery section, and look at the top of the screen, which often shows you the number of steps you've walked, and you click on the numbers and you're taken to the extended statistics, which is a week or a month's history.
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If the activity widget is gone after the system update, try re-signing in to your Mi Account via your phone settings by selecting the China region and then returning your current region.
Mi Fitness: The main client for new devices
With the release of new smartwatches and bracelets (starting with the Mi Band 6 NFC, Mi Band 7 and later, and the Watch S1/S2/S3), Xiaomi has moved to the Mi Fitness app. This is the software now the official standard for data synchronization. If you're looking for where the app for a new gadget is located, 90% of the time you need it.
On Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS, the Mi Fitness app is often pre-installed, searched for by an orange icon with a running person’s silhouette, and the name can be displayed as “Mi Fitness” or, in rare cases, simply “Fitness,” usually located in the Tools or Services folder on the desktop.
If you don't see an orange icon on your desktop and app menu, use the built-in search. Swipe your finger down (or up, depending on your navigation settings) to open the search bar, and type in "Mi Fitness" or "Fitness" and the system will show the location of the app if it's installed.
- 🟠 The app icon is usually orange with a white silhouette of a running man.
- 📱 Located in the Tools, Services or Google folders».
- 🔄 Requires authorization through Mi Account or Google Account.
- ⌚ Designed for the Mi Band 6/7/8, Watch S1/S2/S3, Redmi Watch.
It is important to understand that older versions of the firmware bracelets may not be supported by the new app. If you have a Mi Band 4 or earlier model, Mi Fitness may offer to update the firmware device, after which the old functionality in the Zepp Life application will become unavailable.
Zepp Life: Where to find an app for old bracelets
For a long time, the de facto standard for Xiaomi wearable electronics has been the Zepp Life app (formerly known as Mi Fit). Many users are in habit of looking for it, not understanding why the phone offers to download something else. For owners of the Mi Band 1-5, as well as some Amazfit watch models, this app remains the main one.
Unlike system services, Zepp Life is not an embedded component of Android. It is a third-party app that needs to be downloaded separately. If you reset your phone or bought a new Xiaomi, you'll have to download it again. You can find it from the Google Play store or the Galaxy Store.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the application is installed but hidden. Check the settings for displaying applications. Go to Settings → Screen → Hiding applications. Perhaps Zepp Life was accidentally added to the hidden list, and therefore it is not in the general menu. Also check the Google folder, where the system often sorts third-party software.
Why does Zepp Life require a password from an old account?
It's worth noting that support for older devices in newer versions of Zepp Life may be limited, and developers are gradually migrating functionality to Mi Fitness, so a migration notification may appear when you install it, and you're moving data to the device, but you're losing the ability to control it through the old Zepp Life interface.
Search through Google Play and GetApps
If manual desktop search scans fail, the most reliable way to find the software you need is to go to official app stores. Xiaomi devices pre-installed its own GetApps store, which often contains versions of programs that are optimized specifically for the region.
Open the GetApps store or Google Play. Type the name of the app in the search box: "Mi Fitness," "Zepp Life," or "Xiaomi Wear." If the app is compatible with your phone, you'll see an "Install" or "Open" button. If you have an "Open" button, it's already in your phone's memory, and you can run it right from here.
In rare cases, the app may be labeled "Not compatible with your device." This often happens with cheap Redmi models or older versions of Android. APK-File on the official Mi Community website or trusted resources, but do so with caution when checking digital signatures.
| Model of the device | Recommended annex | Store status. | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 8 / 9 | Mi Fitness | Relevant. | Only the new version. |
| Mi Band 5 | Zepp Life | Support | Works in both |
| Redmi Watch 3 | Mi Fitness | Relevant. | Requires Android 6.0+ |
| Mi Watch Lite | Zepp Life / Mi Fitness | Transitional | Depends on the software version. |
☑️ Pre-installing check
Problems with displaying icons on the desktop
There are times when an application is physically installed on the system, but its icon is completely absent from the desktop and menu, this can be caused by a launcher error (desktop shell) or a failure in the system cache. Before panicking and looking for ways to flash it, try simple methods to restore visibility.
The first step is to clear the launcher cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find Louncher or System Launcher on the list. Click on it, select Clear and then Clear the cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Data, as it will knock out all your icons and widgets.
The second method is to use the Hidden Apps feature, where in some design themes or modes of operation (e.g., Simplicity Mode for the elderly), individual icons can be hidden automatically, switch the theme to standard or turn off simplicity mode in screen settings.
⚠️ Note: If you use a third-party launcher (Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher), Xiaomi system applications may not appear in the general list. Check the settings of the launcher itself, the Hidden Applications section or the Application Box».
Also, check if the app itself is disabled. In the application management menu, look for Mi Fitness or Zepp Life and make sure the Enable button is active. If it says "Disable", then the app works. If the Enable button is on, press it.
Installation APK-Files: When the store doesn’t help
Sometimes in your region, the app is not available on Google Play due to licensing restrictions, or the GetApps version is outdated and does not see a new bracelet. APK-It's a safe procedure, if you use trusted sources.
You'll need a browser (like Mi Browser or Chrome). Go to apkmirror.com or the official Xiaomi Community forum. Search for "Mi Fitness APK" or "Zepp Life APK." Download the latest stable version, paying attention to the CPU architecture (usually universal or arm64-v8a).
Once a file is uploaded, the MIUI/HyperOS security system can block the installation by warning you of the danger. This is the standard reaction. You have to click Settings in the warning window and allow installation from that source. Once confirmed, the process will take a few seconds.
Once installed, be sure to provide the app with all the necessary permissions immediately: geolocation access, Bluetooth, notifications and background. Without these permissions, the app will close immediately after launch or stop syncing data when the screen goes out.
Synchronization and data transfer
Once you have found or installed an app, you have to set it up correctly. Just opening it isn't enough -- you have to set up background work so that pulse and step data is collected continuously. Android aggressively saves battery life and often kills tracker processes.
Go to your phone settings, Battery and Performance (or simply “Battery”). Go to Mi Fitness or Zepp Life. Set Unlimited mode. This is a critical step without which the app won’t work in the background.
Then you need to configure autorun. In the same app settings menu, find Autorun and turn it on. Also in Permissions, make sure you have permission to Show Over Other Windows and access location (select Always).
- 🔋 Energy saving mode: “Without restrictions».
- 🚀 Auto-Run: Included.
- 📍 Geolocation: Allowed to always.
- 🔔 Notifications: Allow (for vibration on the wrist).
Only after you've done these things can you go to pair with the device. Turn on Bluetooth, launch the app, and click "Add Device." If the search doesn't work, make sure the bracelet isn't directly connected through your phone's Bluetooth settings -- that's a common mistake. If the device is "hang" in the Bluetooth menu, click "Forget the device" and repeat the search inside the app.
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The main secret of stable operation is not just to find an application, but to properly configure its background work in the Android system, banning battery optimization.