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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallMost Xiaomi Watch S5 notification failures are caused by a broken Bluetooth connection, an app that is not selected in Mi Fitness, denied phone permissions, background restrictions, or a Do Not Disturb or battery-saving mode. Work through those checks in order; reset or re-pair the watch only after the settings are correct. Incoming-call alerts are a separate limitation because Xiaomi says the Watch S5 does not support delayed incoming-call alerts.
First, identify what is actually failing
Before changing settings, decide whether the problem affects every notification, one app, or only incoming calls. This distinction prevents you from treating a model limitation as a configuration error.
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| What you see | Most useful first check | What it may indicate |
|---|---|---|
| No alerts from any app | Open Mi Fitness and verify that the Watch S5 is connected, then check phone notification access and background operation. | A Bluetooth, permission, or background-process problem. |
| Only one app is silent | Open Mi Fitness → Device → Notifications and calls → App notifications and confirm that app is selected. | The app is not enabled for forwarding, or its own phone notifications are disabled. |
| Alerts arrive late | Check phone battery saver, background optimization, watch DND, and whether Mi Fitness is allowed to keep running. | The phone or watch is suppressing or delaying delivery. |
| Only incoming calls are delayed | Check whether you are expecting a delayed call alert. | Xiaomi states that delayed incoming-call alerts are not supported on the Watch S5. |
Xiaomi’s model-specific FAQ says the watch must be connected to the phone and that the relevant apps must be enabled in Mi Fitness. It also notes that notifications will not appear when the phone’s system settings have not granted notification permission to the app. See the official Xiaomi notification FAQ for the model-specific checklist.
1. Confirm the Bluetooth connection
Keep the phone near the watch and open Mi Fitness. The Watch S5 should appear as connected in the device view. Also confirm that Bluetooth is enabled in the phone’s quick settings or system settings. A watch can remain on your wrist while its companion connection has dropped, so do not assume that seeing the watch face means notification forwarding is active.
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- Open Mi Fitness on the phone.
- View the Watch S5 device page and check its connection status.
- Open the phone’s Bluetooth settings and make sure Bluetooth is on.
- If Mi Fitness reports that the watch is disconnected, bring the devices together and wait for the connection to return before testing an alert.
Send a test notification from an app that you know is enabled. If the watch reconnects and the test arrives, the original failure was likely a temporary link interruption rather than a missing app permission.
2. Enable the affected apps in Mi Fitness
A working Bluetooth connection does not automatically forward every phone app. Xiaomi places the relevant controls at Device → Notifications and calls → App notifications in Mi Fitness.
- Open Mi Fitness.
- Tap Device.
- Choose Notifications and calls.
- Open App notifications.
- Turn on app notifications if the master control is disabled.
- Select each app whose alerts should appear on the Watch S5.
Test one selected app immediately after saving the change. If messages from that app appear while another app remains silent, return to this list and check the second app rather than changing Bluetooth or resetting the watch.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe app also needs to generate a notification on the phone. If the phone itself shows no banner, sound, or notification-center entry, enable that app’s notifications in the phone’s system settings first; the watch cannot forward an alert the phone did not publish.
3. Restore phone permissions and background operation
Mi Fitness needs permission to read or access notifications and to continue operating when it is not open on screen. Xiaomi’s support guidance also calls out Bluetooth or Nearby devices access, Android auto-start, and background-activity controls. Labels differ by phone maker and software version, so use the closest equivalent in your settings.
| Permission or control | Why it matters | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Notification access | Allows Mi Fitness to receive phone notifications for forwarding. | Mi Fitness is allowed to access notifications; the affected app is allowed to post notifications. |
| Bluetooth or Nearby devices | Maintains the watch-to-phone link. | Mi Fitness has the required Bluetooth/Nearby devices permission. |
| Background activity | Lets Mi Fitness process alerts while another app is open or the screen is off. | Background activity is allowed and the app is not forcibly stopped. |
| Android auto-start | Allows Mi Fitness to restart or remain available after boot or cleanup. | Auto-start is enabled where the phone provides that setting. |
On some Android phones, Xiaomi recommends setting Mi Fitness battery use to No restrictions. The exact path and wording depend on the manufacturer and Android version; look under the app’s battery, power, or background-use page. Also remove Mi Fitness from any phone “deep cleaning,” memory-clearing, or automatic app-freezing list while testing.
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After changing a permission, close and reopen Mi Fitness, allow it to reconnect to the watch, and send a new test notification. A permission change may not affect an already-running session until the app reconnects.
4. Check watch modes and phone power limits
Modes designed to reduce interruptions or save power can suppress alerts even when the app list is correct.
- Watch Do Not Disturb: Turn DND off temporarily while testing. A DND schedule can make notifications appear to fail only at certain times.
- Phone battery saver: Disable battery saver for the test. Power-saving policies can pause Mi Fitness or limit its background work.
- Manufacturer optimization: Temporarily disable deep-cleaning, background-freezing, or aggressive battery optimization for Mi Fitness.
- Notify only when worn: If this option is enabled, compare its behavior with how you are wearing or handling the watch. A setting that limits alerts to wearing periods can look like an intermittent connection problem.
Change one mode at a time and test after each change. That makes it clear which control affected delivery and avoids leaving unnecessary power restrictions disabled.
5. Apply the platform-specific checks
iPhone: share system notifications and allow refresh
iOS has a Bluetooth-level switch that is easy to miss. Open the iPhone’s Settings → Bluetooth, tap the information button for the Xiaomi Watch S5, and enable Share System Notifications. Without that permission, the watch may be connected for synchronization but still receive no phone alerts.
Also verify both of these iPhone settings:
- Mi Fitness is allowed to deliver notifications.
- Background App Refresh is enabled for Mi Fitness.
After changing them, return to Mi Fitness, leave it running long enough to reconnect, and test a notification from an app that is enabled in the Mi Fitness app-notification list. Xiaomi documents these iPhone checks in its Watch S5 46mm FAQ and its call-notification support FAQ.
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Android: notification access, background use, and battery policy
On Android, open the system settings for Mi Fitness and confirm notification access, Bluetooth or Nearby devices access, and background activity. Then inspect the battery page for Mi Fitness. On phones that offer the choice, set battery use to No restrictions while diagnosing the problem.
Android menu names vary considerably. You may find these controls under Apps, Special app access, Battery, Autostart, or Permissions. Search the Settings app for “notification access,” “background activity,” and “autostart” if the controls are not visible in the first app-information screen.
Check the affected app separately. Its phone-level notifications must be enabled, and any channel or conversation that you expect on the watch must not be muted. Once both the app and Mi Fitness are permitted, reopen Mi Fitness and run a fresh test.
6. Resynchronize before restarting everything
If the connection and permissions are correct, refresh the communication path in the least disruptive order. Xiaomi recommends restarting Bluetooth and Mi Fitness, then synchronizing again before moving to more drastic steps.
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- Force-close Mi Fitness using the phone’s normal app switcher or app controls, then open it again.
- Wait for the Watch S5 to show as connected in Mi Fitness.
- Use Mi Fitness’s normal synchronization action and wait for it to complete.
- Send a test notification from an enabled app.
Do not repeatedly toggle Bluetooth while the phone is still showing a connection attempt. Give Mi Fitness time to complete one reconnection, then test; rapid toggling can make it harder to tell whether the underlying issue is permission or pairing state.
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7. Restart the phone and watch
If resynchronizing does not restore alerts, restart both devices. A full restart clears a stuck Bluetooth session or a companion process that has stopped responding.
- Restart the phone using its normal power menu.
- After the phone finishes booting, unlock it and open Mi Fitness.
- Restart the Xiaomi Watch S5 using the watch’s power controls.
- Wait for Mi Fitness to reconnect and synchronize.
- Test one enabled app notification and, if necessary, a second app to distinguish a global problem from an app-specific one.
Recheck the app-notification selection after the restart if the watch reconnects but remains silent. A restart should not normally erase those choices, but confirming the selected app takes less time than assuming they persisted.
8. Re-pair only after the settings checks
Re-pairing is a later troubleshooting step, not a replacement for enabling apps and permissions. Use it when the watch repeatedly shows a failed connection, will not stay connected after both devices restart, or still misses every enabled notification despite correct platform settings.
- Keep the Watch S5 and phone close together.
- In Mi Fitness, follow the app’s device-management controls to remove or unbind the existing Watch S5 connection.
- If the phone’s Bluetooth list still contains the old pairing, remove that entry using the phone’s normal “Forget” or “Unpair” control.
- Restart Bluetooth, open Mi Fitness, and start the add-device or pair flow.
- Approve every requested Bluetooth, Nearby devices, notification, and background permission.
- After pairing, return to Device → Notifications and calls → App notifications and select the apps again.
- Synchronize and send a test notification.
The exact labels in the unpair and add-device screens can differ by Mi Fitness version and phone operating system. Do not delete the pairing while the watch is updating or synchronizing; wait for those operations to finish first.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use the failure pattern to choose the next step
| Pattern after testing | Likely branch | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| One selected app never appears, but others do | App selection or that app’s phone notification setting. | Recheck Mi Fitness’s individual app switch and the app’s phone notification channels. |
| Nothing appears after the phone screen is off | Background activity, battery saver, auto-start, or iPhone Background App Refresh. | Remove the relevant restriction and test again after reopening Mi Fitness. |
| Alerts stop only during certain hours | A watch DND schedule or phone power mode. | Turn DND and battery-saving modes off temporarily, then test outside the scheduled period. |
| Watch is disconnected in Mi Fitness | Bluetooth or pairing state. | Restore Bluetooth, resynchronize, restart both devices, and re-pair only if necessary. |
| Messages work but calls are delayed | Supported-behavior limitation rather than an app-notification setting. | See the incoming-call limitation below. |
Delayed incoming calls are a separate limitation
Xiaomi’s Watch S5 FAQ states that the watch does not support delayed incoming-call alerts. That statement applies to delayed call alerts; it does not establish that delayed messages, email alerts, or other app notifications are unsupported. If app notifications work but an incoming-call alert arrives late, changing the app-notification list will not add a feature Xiaomi says the model does not provide.
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- ACCURATE PEDOMETER FOR WALKING STEPS AND MILES – Dual-frequency five-system GNSS (GPS/Galileo/GLONASS/BeiDou/QZSS) delivers 30% faster positioning and 33% better accuracy vs. previous gen. Track steps, distance, and routes without your phone—ideal for daily walks, hiking, and outdoor runs.
- ULTRA-LONG BATTERY LIFE – 815mAh silicon-anode battery: up to 21 days light use, 14 days typical, 9 days AOD. Up to 14 days even with eSIM independent calling—charge less, adventure more.
- VERSATILE SPORTS WATCH WITH 150+ MODES – From cycling (phone-as-cyclocomputer, power meter support) to running (form metrics: vertical oscillation, ground contact time), skiing (fall detection), and cheer-gesture capture. A true all-rounder for fitness enthusiasts.
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For a complete failure to show any call alert, still verify the Bluetooth connection, phone permissions, and the call-notification settings described in Xiaomi’s official call-notification FAQ. The unsupported behavior is specifically a delayed incoming-call alert, not every possible call-notification problem.
When to contact Xiaomi service
Contact Xiaomi’s local official after-sales service if notifications remain missing after the connection, Mi Fitness app selection, phone permissions, background controls, mode checks, restarts, and re-pairing have all been completed. Give the service center a concise record of what you tested:
- Whether Mi Fitness showed the Watch S5 as connected.
- Whether the failure affected all apps or only a selected app.
- Whether iPhone or Android platform checks were completed.
- Whether DND and battery-saving restrictions were disabled during testing.
- Whether restarting and re-pairing changed the behavior.
This information helps distinguish a configuration problem from a persistent pairing or hardware fault. Xiaomi’s support pages direct users to local official after-sales service when the documented troubleshooting does not resolve the issue.
A short maintenance checklist
Use this checklist whenever notifications stop after a phone update, a battery-saving change, or a long period away from the watch:
- Mi Fitness shows the Watch S5 as connected.
- Bluetooth is enabled on the phone.
- Each desired app is selected under Device → Notifications and calls → App notifications.
- Mi Fitness can access notifications and Bluetooth or Nearby devices.
- Mi Fitness is allowed to run in the background; Android auto-start is enabled where available.
- Android battery use is not restricted for Mi Fitness, or iPhone Background App Refresh is enabled.
- Watch DND and phone battery saver are off during the test.
- If “Notify only when worn” is enabled, its behavior matches how the watch is being used.
- The phone and watch have been restarted before attempting a re-pair.
Following the list from top to bottom fixes the common forwarding failures without erasing the watch. Re-pairing and official service are escalation steps for cases that remain after those checks.
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