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These limitations apply to new Xiaomi / Redmi models.
New Xiaomi devices (Mi Band 7+; Redmi Band 2+; Redmi Watch 3+; and other recent firmwares) aggressively reconnect to the official app and allow only one live Bluetooth link at a time. The guidance below explains how to keep Notify connected.

This guide explains what’s going on when Mi Fitness (or another companion app) is installed and keeps grabbing your band in the background, and what you can do so Notify remains connected and working reliably.

TL;DR

⛓️

Your band only allows one app connected at a time.

🤖

The official app (e.g., Mi Fitness) auto‑reconnects in the background — even if you swipe it away.

🔕

When the official app takes over, Notify loses the connection → no notifications, no data sync.

✅

Fix: Force stop the official app or turn off its Bluetooth (Nearby devices) permission so it can’t auto‑reconnect.

The “one‑app” rule (Bluetooth exclusive lock)

Your Mi Band / Xiaomi watch / Redmi band speaks Bluetooth (BLE). The band maintains a single active Bluetooth session with one mobile app. When another app tries to connect, the band either rejects it or drops the first app. Think of it like one headphone jack: only one plug fits at a time.

Notify needs that single slot to deliver notifications, sync steps, sleep, heart‑rate, custom alerts, and more.

“I closed Mi Fitness — why is it still blocking?”

On Android, swiping an app away doesn’t fully stop its background services. The official companion app runs a persistent background service that watches for your band and silently reconnects. So even if you never open it again, it may keep reclaiming the band every few minutes.

Typical background steal loop

  1. Notify connects to your band.
  2. Official app background service wakes, sees the band, connects.
  3. Band drops Notify (connection lost).
  4. Notify tries to reconnect… but the official app grabs it again.

Result: flaky connection, missed notifications, stale data.

How to give Notify control

Pick the option that fits how much you still want to use the official app.

Quick (temporary) fix: Pause / Force stop the official app

Use this when you just want to try Notify or when you only need Notify for a while.

  1. Open your phone’s Settings > Apps.
  2. Find Mi Fitness (or the app you use).
  3. Tap Force stop (or Stop). Confirm.
  4. Return to Notify and connect your band.

If you later launch Mi Fitness again, it may reconnect and you’ll need to repeat.

✅Lasting fix: Turn off the official app’s Bluetooth access

Android calls this permission Nearby devices (older versions: *Bluetooth*). When denied, the official app can’t talk to the band in the background, so Notify stays connected.

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Mi Fitness > Permissions.
  2. Find Nearby devices.
  3. Select Deny (or Don’t allow).
  4. Return to Notify and tap connect.

Label names vary by phone brand. Some devices group Bluetooth under Nearby devices & Bluetooth or Device connections.

Clean break: Uninstall (or log out of) the official app

If you’ve fully moved to Notify, remove the official app so it can’t interfere.

  1. Never un-pair your watch from the official app!
  2. Uninstall the official app from your phone.
  3. Reconnect your band in Notify.

You can reinstall later; you will not need to re‑pair the watch.

How do I know it worked?

Tip: After changing settings, wait ~10 seconds and tap Reconnect in Notify.

Troubleshooting

Notify still can’t connect
The official app re‑enabled itself

Some OEM skins (MIUI, etc.) may auto‑grant permissions after updates. Re‑check the Nearby devices permission if conflicts return.

I need both apps sometimes

You can temporarily re‑enable Bluetooth permission for the official app, sync or update firmware there, then disable it again and reconnect in Notify.

FAQ

Will turning off Nearby devices break Mi Fitness?
Yes, it stops Mi Fitness from talking to the band. That’s the goal when you want Notify to be primary. You can turn the permission back on any time.
Can I keep Mi Fitness for historical data?
Yes. Leaving it installed is fine as long as it can’t connect (force stop or deny Bluetooth permission). Your historical data in Mi Fitness cloud remains.
You can even export and import old data on the Notify app
Do I need to repeat this every day?
If you disabled the permission, no. If you only force‑stopped the app, it may restart after you open it again or after a phone reboot.
Is this safe for my band?
Yes. You’re just deciding which phone app gets the Bluetooth connection. Your band firmware stays the same.
Is Notify affiliated with Xiaomi?
No. Notify is an independent app and is not associated with Xiaomi / Mi / Redmi brands.

Notify is not affiliated with Xiaomi. Brand names belong to their respective owners.

Auth key required

Notify needs a special Bluetooth password called an auth key (also known as a pairing key) to talk securely to your smartwatch. Without the correct auth key, Notify cannot finish pairing and all features that require a live connection will fail.

Remember: only one app can be connected to your smartwatch at a time. If the official app (for example, Mi Fitness) grabs the connection first, Notify is pushed out—even if you never opened Mi Fitness on screen. The reverse is also true: when Notify connects, the official app is disconnected.

About data sync & why data can “disappear”

Your band stores activity data (steps, sleep, workouts, etc.) in its internal memory until an app downloads it. After data is successfully synced to an app, most bands clear that data from their own memory. That means a second app cannot come later and download the same historical records.

If you open the official app first and it syncs, Notify will not be able to import that same data.

Tip: If you want your data history in Notify, make sure Notify connects and syncs before opening the official app.

Features that won’t work (or are limited):