Modern wearable devices such as Xiaomi Mi Band 4have become an integral part of the smart home ecosystem and healthy lifestyle. However, the initial setup process often causes difficulties for users who do not understand why the standard menu Bluetooth of the smartphone does not see the tracker directly. It is important to immediately understand that for the gadget to fully operate, just turning on the radio module is not enough; specialized software is required that acts as an intermediary between the hardware of the bracelet and the operating system of the phone.
In this article we will analyze in detail the algorithm of actions necessary for successful pairing Mi Band 4 with any smartphone based on Android. We will touch on the nuances of installing the application, setting access rights and solving common errors when the device simply is not detected or constantly loses connection. The correct initial configuration guarantees accurate tracking of heart rate, steps and notifications throughout the entire life of the device.
Preparing the device and smartphone for pairing
Before starting the procedure, you need to make sure that both devices are ready to establish a stable connection. For Mi Band 4 sufficient battery charge is critical, as the initial synchronization and firmware update process consumes a significant amount of energy. If the bracelet has been used before or was just lying on a store shelf, it should be charged for at least 15-20 minutes until the battery icon appears on the display.
On the smartphone side, activation of several system services is required. Go to Settings → Connections (or a similar section in your version of Android) and make sure that the switch Bluetooth is in the active position. Also, to correctly determine the location and operate some functions of the fitness tracker, you must enable GPS (geolocation). Without an active geolocation module, the application may refuse to search for a device or may not be able to correctly synchronize running data.
An important step is to clear the list of previously paired devices. If your phone has previously tried to connect to this bracelet or another device with a similar name, this may cause an address conflict. Go to Bluetooth settings, find Mi Band 4 (or Mi Smart Band 4) in the list and press Forget device or Cancel pairing. This action will reset the old encryption keys and allow you to start the process from scratch.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to connect the bracelet directly through the phone's Bluetooth system menu. Although the phone can find the device and even pair it, data transfer will not work and the app will show a “Device is already connected” error. Communication should be established exclusively through the app interface.
Installing and setting up the Mi Fit application
The central element of the Xiaomi ecosystem is the application Mi Fit (in some regions renamed to Zepp Life). It is this app that manages all the tracker settings, from changing dials to calibrating sensors. You can download the official version from the store Google Playby entering the corresponding name in the search. Avoid installing modified versions from third-party sources, as they may contain malicious code or do not work correctly with data transfer protocols.
After installation, launch the application and create an account Mi Account. This is a must for cloud synchronization of your sports performance and sleep history. You can register using a phone number or email address. After logging into your account, go to the tab Profile in the bottom menu of the screen - this is where new devices are added.
Press the button Add device and select a category Bracelet. Find Mi Band 4in the list of models. The app will ask you to confirm to turn on Bluetooth and geolocation if they are not already active. Next, the process of scanning the air will begin. At this moment, a vibration or Bluetooth icon may appear on the bracelet screen, indicating that a signal is being searched.
Make sure that the Mi Fit application has all the necessary permissions. When you first start the Android system, you will be prompted for access to contacts, SMS, location, and background work. Failure in any of these points may result in notifications from instant messengers not being sent to your wrist.
The process of synchronization and confirmation of connection
When the application detects the tracker, an image of the device will appear on the smartphone display asking you to confirm pairing. At the same time, a vibration icon or confirmation icon will be displayed on the screen itself. You need to touch the touch button on the bracelet to confirm your intention to pair the devices. This action creates a secure communication channel and exchanges cryptographic keys between gadgets. Mi Band 4 A vibration icon or confirmation icon will be displayed. You need to touch the touch button on the bracelet to confirm your intention to pair the devices. This action creates a secure communication channel and exchanges cryptographic keys between gadgets.
After a successful click on the bracelet, the initial synchronization process will begin. On the phone screen you will see a progress bar displaying the status of loading basic settings and, possibly, updating the firmware. Do not go far from the phone at this moment and do not lock the smartphone screen so that the process is not interrupted due to the energy-saving algorithms of the Android system.
If a firmware update is not required, the bracelet will immediately go into operating mode, displaying the time and date synchronized with the phone. The application will open the main panel with activity rings, where data may already be displayed if you were wearing the bracelet on your wrist during setup. At this stage, the basic connection can be considered complete.
☑️ Successful connection checklist
Advanced settings for notifications and functions
Once the connection has been established, it’s time to customize the personalization to suit your needs. In the Profile → Mi Band 4 → Notification settings section you can choose which applications to receive notifications from. A wide range of services are available: calls, SMS, as well as popular instant messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber. Activate the necessary switches so that important messages are duplicated on your wrist.
For deeper integration with the Android system, additional settings may be required in the accessibility section. Some shells (for example, MIUI or EMUI) require you to enable the service Access to notifications manually. Go to Phone settings → Applications → Special access → Access to notifications and make sure the checkbox opposite Mi Fit is checked. Without this step, the phone will block the transfer of message contents to the bracelet for privacy purposes.
It is also worth paying attention to the settings for raising your wrist to turn on the screen. In the bracelet menu, you can select the sensitivity of this function and the time intervals when it is active (for example, only during the day or around the clock). Correct calibration saves battery power by preventing accidental turning on of the screen when gesturing with your hands.
| Function | Where to set | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| Pulse monitoring | Mi Fit application | High (with 1 min mode) |
| Application notifications | Phone settings + Mi Fit | Low |
| Rise wrist | Bracelet menu | Average |
| Search for phone | Bracelet menu | Short-term |
Problem solving with connection and stability
Despite the streamlined process, users may encounter a situation where the bracelet does not connect or the connection is constantly interrupted. One of the most common reasons is Android's aggressive energy saving policy, which kills background application processes. To avoid this, go to your phone's battery settings, find the application and set the operating mode Mi Fit. To avoid this, go to your phone's battery settings, find the application and set the operating mode No restrictions or add it to the white list of protected applications.
If the bracelet is not visible at all when scanning, try restarting both devices. Turn Bluetooth off and on on your phone, and reboot the bracelet through the menu (if available) or put it on charge. Sometimes it helps to reset the tracker itself to factory settings through the menu Settings → Reset on the bracelet screen, after which the pairing procedure must be started again.
In rare cases, the problem lies in the incompatibility of Bluetooth versions. Mi Band 4 uses a protocol Bluetooth 5.0which is the opposite Compatible with older versions, but may experience glitches on very old smartphones (Android 4.4 and below). Also check if the “Flight” mode is enabled on your phone, which can block the operation of the modules even when Bluetooth is visually turned on.
⚠️ Attention: Android settings interfaces and menu item names may differ depending on the manufacturer of your smartphone (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, etc.) and the version of the operating system. If you cannot find the item you need, use the search inside the phone settings using the keywords “Bluetooth”, “Notifications” or “Battery”.
What to do if the bracelet sees the phone, but does not connect?
Try clearing the Mi Fit application cache in the phone settings (Applications) → Mi Fit → Memory → Clear cache). Do not delete the data, otherwise you will have to enter your login and password again. If this does not help, uninstall the application completely, restart your phone and install it again.
Additional features and customization
One of the most popular features Mi Band 4 is the ability to install custom watch faces. The application Mi Fit has a theme store where you can choose a suitable design from hundreds of options. More advanced users can upload their own images through third-party utilities, turning the bracelet screen into a personal gallery.
Don't forget about the phone search function. If you lose your smartphone in your apartment, activating this function on the bracelet will make the phone ring loudly, even if it is in silent mode. This is convenient in situations where the gadget has fallen under the sofa or is hidden in a bag with clothes.
Check the updates section in the application regularly. Manufacturers periodically release patches that improve sensor accuracy, correct synchronization errors, or add new sports modes. Maintaining the latest firmware version is the key to long and stable operation of your fitness companion.
Stable operation of Mi Band 4 depends 90% on correctly setting the access rights of the Mi Fit application in the Android system. Do not ignore system requests to work in the background and access notifications.
Why does the bracelet not vibrate when receiving messages?
Most likely, the notifications checkbox is not enabled in the Mi Fit application settings for a specific messenger, or the Mi Fit application itself does not have the right to “Access notifications” in the Android system. Check both of these parameters.
Is it possible to connect Mi Band 4 to two phones at the same time?
No, the Bluetooth architecture and the bracelet protocol do not support simultaneous active connection with two smartphones. To switch, you need to unpair the device in the application on the first phone and bind it on the second.
The bracelet quickly discharges after connecting, what should you do?
Try to disable constant heart rate monitoring (leave the measurement once every 10-30 minutes) and disable wrist lift to turn on the screen. Also check if the synchronization process is “hanging” in the background.
How to reset the bracelet if I forgot which phone it was linked to?
On the bracelet itself, go to the menu (swipe right to the end), select “More” or the settings icon, find the “Reset” item and confirm the action. The bracelet will return to factory settings and will be ready for a new pairing.