Modern wearable gadgets have become an integral part of the smart home ecosystem and personal health tracking. Fitness bracelet from Xiaomi, in particular the fourth model, is deservedly considered one of the most popular devices in its class due to its excellent price-functionality ratio. However, in order to unlock the full potential of the accessory, it must be properly synchronized with the smartphone.
The pairing process Mi Band 4 with devices based on the Android operating system is usually not difficult, but requires following a certain sequence of actions. Incorrect settings may result in notifications not being received and heart rate or step data not being saved in history. In this article, we will analyze in detail each stage of connection, setting permissions and solving typical problems that users encounter.
Before you begin, make sure that your smartphone meets the minimum system requirements. For stable operation of the application Mi Fit (or a new one Zepp Life), you need an Android version of at least 4.4, although for comfortable use it is better to have a more recent firmware. Also check the charge level of the bracelet itself - it must be charged at least 20% so as not to interrupt the firmware update process immediately after turning it on.
Preparing the smartphone and bracelet for the first launch
The first step is to ensure that devices are physically ready to communicate. Remove the tracker from its packaging and connect it to the charger if the battery indicator is off or low. Insert the capsule into the special charging connector so that the contacts touch tightly, and wait until the battery icon appears on the screen.
You must activate the necessary communication modules on your smartphone. Go to your phone settings and enable Bluetooth. Without an active Bluetooth connection, the app will not be able to detect the device. It is also recommended to enable geolocation (GPS), as modern versions of Android require location access to search for Bluetooth low energy devices.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to pair the bracelet directly through the standard Bluetooth menu in the phone settings. This will result in a connection error and the app will not see the device. Pairing must occur exclusively within a special application.
Clear the list of previously paired devices if you have previously tried to connect this bracelet or another Xiaomi tracker. Go to Bluetooth settings, find Mi Band 4 in the list and click “Forget device” or “Cancel pairing”. This is a critical step that beginners often miss, resulting in endless attempts to connect without results.
Restart your smartphone before installing the application. This will clear the Bluetooth stack cache and increase the chances of quickly detecting the device the first time.
Installing and configuring a proprietary application
To control the tracker's functions, you will need specialized software. Previously, the main application was Mi Fit, but now Xiaomi is gradually transferring users to the platform Zepp Life. Both applications are functionally similar for this model, but the interface and servers may differ.
Download the application from the official store Google Play Market. Search for “Zepp Life” or “Mi Fit” and click the install button. Avoid downloading installation files (APK) from third-party sites, as this may lead to the installation of malware or an unstable version of the app that will not work correctly with synchronization servers.
After installation, launch the application and create an account. You can register via email, phone number, or use quick login methods via Google, Facebook or Xiaomi accounts. Creating an account is mandatory, since all data about your activity will be stored in the cloud, which will allow you not to lose statistics when you change your phone.
- 📱 Enter the correct personal data (height, weight, date of birth) to accurately calculate calories and steps.
- 🔒 Create a strong password or link a social network for quick login future.
- 🌍 Select your region of residence so that the application displays the weather and time correctly.
At the stage of setting access rights, the application will ask for many permissions. You must grant access to notifications, contacts, location, and background activity. If you deny these rights, the bracelet will not be able to display calls, messages or track running routes.
The process of pairing devices through the app
Now we move on to the most important stage - finding and connecting a device. In the main menu of the application, find the “Profile” tab (usually the person icon in the lower right corner). At the top of the screen there will be an Add Device button or a plus icon. Click on it.
In the list of available devices, select the “Bracelet” category and then find the model in the list Mi Band 4. The application will start the scanning process. Make sure that the bracelet is near the smartphone (no further than 1-2 meters). When an image of a bracelet with vibration or flashing of the gadget screen appears on the phone screen, confirm the action.
Click "Connect" in the application -> Wait for vibration -> Press the bracelet's touch button to confirm.The initialization process may take from 30 seconds to several minutes. At this time, a progress bar or logo may be displayed on the bracelet screen. Don't go far from the phone and do not block the smartphone screen so as not to interrupt the data transfer. After successful connection, the bracelet will offer to configure the dial.
⚠️ Attention: During the initial pairing, the bracelet may automatically prompt you to update the firmware. Don't cancel this process! Outdated software may contain bugs that block the operation of notifications or the heart rate sensor.
If the application displays the error “Failed to connect” or the search takes forever, try the following: turn Bluetooth off and on on your phone, restart the application, and also restart the bracelet itself (through the settings in the bracelet menu or by holding the touch button). Sometimes clearing the application cache in the Android settings helps.
☑️ Checklist for successful connection
Configuring Android system notifications and permissions
After successful connection, the basic setup is completed, but for full operation you need to configure the display of notifications. Go to the bracelet settings inside the application (click on the image of the connected device). Find the “Application Notifications” or “Alerts” section.
Here you will see a list of all apps installed on your phone. Activate the switches next to those applications whose messages you want to see on your wrist: instant messengers, mail, social networks, calls and SMS. Remember that the bracelet only duplicates the notification, so in Android itself, notifications for these applications must also be enabled.
| Notification type | Where to configure | Operating features |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming calls | Bracelet settings -> Calls | Displays the contact number or name |
| Messages (SMS) | Settings bracelet -> SMS | Shows the text of the message in full |
| Messengers (WhatsApp, TG) | Bracelet settings -> Notifications | Requires notifications to be enabled in the system |
| Events calendar | Bracelet settings -> Calendar | Reminder 15 minutes before the event |
An important aspect is the operation of the application in the background. Android systems, especially those from Xiaomi (MIUI), Huawei (EMUI) or Samsung, can aggressively kill background processes to save power. To avoid this, go to your phone settings, find the application Zepp Life in the “Applications” section and set the operating mode to “No restrictions” or “Autostart”.
You also need to pin the application in the RAM memory (lock in the menu of running applications). This ensures that the system will not close the app even if there is a lack of free memory, and data synchronization will occur continuously.
The stability of receiving notifications is 90% dependent on the Android energy saving settings, and not on the bracelet itself.
Personalization of the interface and functions of the tracker
One of the main advantage Mi Band 4 is the possibility of customization. In the application, you can change the standard watch face to any other from a huge library. Some watch faces are free, others are available by subscription or for local currency, but the choice is truly impressive.
To change the style, click on the image of the current watch face in the device profile. You can choose an option that displays the weather, steps, heart rate or just time. Customization allows you to make the device unique and adjust it to your clothing style or mood.
In the settings section you can also change the order in which functions are displayed when swiping across the bracelet screen. You can bring the weather to the forefront, remove the music, or change the activity bar. You can adjust the wrist lift to turn on the screen: select the sensitivity and screen time after activation.
Secrets of hidden watch faces
In some versions of the application, you can install third-party watch faces through the "Local watch face" function by downloading the .bin file from the Internet, which gives access to thousands of design options for free.
Don't forget to set up activity goals. The default value is 10,000 steps, but you can change this value depending on your skill level. Also available in the settings is sleep monitoring, which can be made automatic, or manually turning on the Do Not Disturb mode at a specified time.
Solving common connection problems
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users sometimes encounter difficulties. One of the common problems is that the bracelet is visible in the phone’s Bluetooth list, but the application says “Device is busy.” This means that the phone has already remembered the bracelet at the system level. The solution is simple: go to your phone’s Bluetooth settings, click on the gear next to Mi Band 4 and select “Disable” or “Forget”, then repeat the search in the application.
Another situation: the bracelet connects, but the data is not synchronized. Check the Internet connection on your smartphone. Also make sure that the date and time on your phone are set correctly and are synchronized with the network. Time desynchronization can block the connection with Xiaomi servers.
⚠️ Attention: If the bracelet stops responding to presses and does not turn on when connected to charging, it may be frozen. Try charging it for 10-15 minutes, then (hold) the touch button for 20 seconds to force a reboot.
In rare cases, the problem lies in the Bluetooth version. Make sure your phone's Bluetooth drivers are up to date. If you are using custom firmware on Android (Custom ROM), there may be problems with the compatibility of the Bluetooth stack, in which case it is recommended to return to the stock firmware or look for compatibility patches.
If all else fails, reset the bracelet to factory settings. In the bracelet menu, find the “Reset” item or do it through the app in the device settings section. After the reset, the connection procedure will begin as for a new device.
If the connection is frequently disconnected, try disabling the power saving mode on the smartphone itself. Aggressive energy saving often turns off the Bluetooth module when idle.
Why does the bracelet not see notifications from WhatsApp or Telegram?
Most often the problem is that notifications from these applications are disabled in the Android system settings or there is no checkbox next to the messenger in the Zepp Life application itself. Also check if Do Not Disturb mode is enabled on your phone.
Can Mi Band 4 be connected to two phones at the same time?
No, the bracelet can only maintain an active connection with one smartphone. However, you can unlink it from one phone in the application and quickly link it to another by logging into the same account. Data is synchronized via the cloud.
What to do if the application says “Device is not supported”?
Make sure you have downloaded the official Zepp Life or Mi Fit application. Third party clones may not have the correct certificates. Also check if the version of Android on your smartphone is too old (minimum 4.4 is required, preferably 6.0+).
How to reset the bracelet if the screen does not respond?
Place the bracelet on the charger. In most cases, connecting to power will cause the system to reboot. If this does not help, leave it to discharge completely until you turn it off, then charge it again.
Are statistics lost when the bracelet is relinked?
No, if you use the same Xiaomi/Zepp account. The entire history is stored on the server. After reconnecting and synchronizing, all data for previous periods will appear in the application.