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PIXEL 10 DOESN’T SEND NOTIFICATIONS TO MI BAND 5

Pixel 10 Doesn’t Send Notifications to Mi Band 5: Comprehensive Troubleshooting Guide

We understand the frustration when a premium device like the Google Pixel 10 fails to sync basic notification data with a reliable fitness tracker like the Xiaomi Mi Band 5. You have successfully established a connection via Zepp Life (formerly Mi Fit), confirmed by the ability to view battery levels, ping the device, and even change wallpapers. However, the critical feature of receiving smartphone notifications on your wrist remains non-functional. This indicates that the hardware pairing is intact, but the software bridge responsible for transferring notification data is broken.

This detailed guide will walk you through the exact steps required to restore notification syncing. We will explore system-level permissions, background execution restrictions, specific Android settings, and application configurations unique to the Pixel 10 and Zepp Life.

Understanding the Notification Bridge on Pixel 10

The Pixel 10 runs a clean version of Android, which includes aggressive battery optimization and privacy controls. While these features enhance security and battery life, they often interfere with third-party accessories like the Mi Band 5. The flow of data works as follows:

  1. System Intercept: The Android OS captures a notification.
  2. Permission Check: The system checks if Zepp Life has the BIND_NOTIFICATION_LISTENER_SERVICE permission.
  3. Data Processing: Zepp Life processes the notification payload.
  4. Transmission: The data is sent via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to the Mi Band 5.

Since you can ping the device and change wallpapers, the BLE connection (Step 4) is working. The failure lies in the first three steps. We must ensure the Pixel 10 grants Zepp Life full authority to read and transmit these notifications.

Granting Notification Listener Permissions Correctly

The most common reason for this issue on Pixel 10 is the lack of the Notification Access permission. This is distinct from the standard “Notifications” permission. You mentioned seeing a setting to allow the app to “view notifications” but couldn’t find it. On Android, this is buried in a specific system menu.

Locating the Notification Listener Settings

We need to force the Pixel 10 to display this specific setting.

  1. Open the Settings app on your Pixel 10.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Apps.
  3. Tap See all apps.
  4. Locate Zepp Life in the list and select it.
  5. Tap Permissions.
  6. Crucial Step: Look for a category labeled “Other permissions” or “Additional permissions.” The Notification Listener permission is often hidden here rather than in the main list.
  7. If it is not there, open the Zepp Life app directly.
  8. Go to Profile > Mi Band 5.
  9. Tap on App Notifications (or similar wording).
  10. The app should prompt you to enable the Notification Access. If it does not, you can access the system menu directly by typing Settings in the Pixel 10 search bar, selecting “Notification access,” and locating Zepp Life in the toggle list.

Verifying the Permission Status

Once you find the Notification Access toggle for Zepp Life, ensure it is switched ON. A confirmation dialog will appear explaining that the app can read all your notifications. Accept this. We have observed that on Pixel devices, this permission can sometimes turn itself off after a system update. Verify this setting immediately after a notification failure.

Battery Optimization and Background Restrictions

The Google Pixel 10 utilizes Adaptive Battery and Doze Mode to conserve power. These mechanisms aggressively freeze apps running in the background. If Zepp Life is put to sleep, it cannot receive notification events from the system or maintain a constant BLE connection to the Mi Band 5.

Disabling Adaptive Battery for Zepp Life

We recommend completely exempting Zepp Life from battery optimization.

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Zepp Life.
  2. Tap Battery.
  3. You will see three options: Optimized, Unrestricted, and Restricted.
  4. Select Unrestricted. This ensures the Pixel 10 keeps the Zepp Life process active even when the screen is off.

Checking Background Activity

Pixel 10 also has a specific setting that restricts background activity for apps that are not frequently used.

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Zepp Life.
  2. Tap Mobile data & Wi-Fi.
  3. Ensure Background data is toggled ON.
  4. Ensure Unrestricted data usage is toggled ON (this prevents the system from cutting its data connection when Data Saver is on).

Android System-Level Notification Settings

Even if the app has permission to read notifications, the Pixel 10 must allow those notifications to appear in the system tray. If the app is silenced at the system level, the Mi Band 5 may filter them out.

Verifying App Notification Channels

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Zepp Life.
  2. Tap Notifications.
  3. Ensure the main master toggle is ON.
  4. Tap App notifications (if available).
  5. You should see a list of notification categories. Ensure “Incoming calls,” “Messages,” and other relevant categories are enabled.
  6. We recommend enabling “Show notifications” and “Sound on wrist” if you wish to be alerted audibly.

Managing Notification Categories for Specific Apps

Zepp Life allows you to filter which apps send alerts to your Mi Band 5.

  1. Open the Zepp Life app.
  2. Go to Profile > Mi Band 5.
  3. Tap App Notifications (or Notify on this device).
  4. You will see a list of all installed apps on your Pixel 10.
  5. You must manually toggle ON the apps you want to receive notifications from (e.g., WhatsApp, Instagram, Gmail).
  6. Troubleshooting Tip: If the list is empty or not syncing, close Zepp Life completely from the recent apps menu and reopen it. Sometimes the app needs a fresh start to scan the installed packages on the Pixel 10.

Bluetooth Connection Stability and Bonding

While you mentioned you can “ping” the device, unstable Bluetooth connections can cause notification drops. Notifications are high-priority packets that require a stable link.

Unpairing and Re-pairing the Mi Band 5

A clean re-pairing often resolves protocol errors between the Pixel 10 and the Mi Band 5.

  1. Open Zepp Life.
  2. Go to Profile > Mi Band 5.
  3. Scroll to the bottom and tap Unpair.
  4. Confirm the unpairing. This will reset the band’s connection data.
  5. On your Pixel 10, go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth.
  6. Find the Mi Band 5 in the list of previously connected devices. If it is there, tap the gear icon and select Forget.
  7. Restart your Pixel 10.
  8. Restart the Mi Band 5 by charging it briefly or using the restart option in the band’s settings.
  9. Open Zepp Life and follow the pairing instructions again. This ensures a fresh handshake.

Avoiding Bluetooth Interference

The Pixel 10 supports advanced Bluetooth protocols. However, interference from other 2.4GHz devices (Wi-Fi routers, microwaves) can disrupt the BLE signal required for notifications.

Focus Mode and Digital Wellbeing Interference

The Pixel 10 integrates Digital Wellbeing deeply into the OS. If Focus Mode is active, it suppresses non-essential notifications.

Checking Focus Mode Settings

  1. Open Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
  2. Tap Focus Mode.
  3. If any active schedule is set, ensure that Zepp Life (or the specific apps you want notifications from) are added to the “Unstoppable” list.
  4. Alternatively, turn off Focus Mode entirely to test if notifications begin flowing to the Mi Band 5.

Bedtime Mode and Do Not Disturb

Pixel 10 features a Bedtime Mode that dims the screen and silences notifications. If this is active, notifications may be held by the system and not pushed to the wearable.

  1. Swipe down the notification shade on your Pixel 10.
  2. Check if Do Not Disturb or Bedtime Mode is active.
  3. If active, disable it to allow notification transmission to proceed.

Software Updates and Compatibility Checks

Compatibility issues often arise when the Pixel 10’s Android version is significantly newer than what Zepp Life has optimized for.

Updating Zepp Life and Mi Band Firmware

We advise keeping both the app and the band firmware updated.

  1. Open the Google Play Store and search for Zepp Life. Tap Update.
  2. Open the Zepp Life app, go to Profile > Mi Band 5, and check for firmware updates. An outdated firmware version on the Mi Band 5 may lack the protocol to parse notifications from the Pixel 10.

Android Version Specifics

If your Pixel 10 recently updated to a new version of Android (e.g., Android 15), Zepp Life might need time to update its background services to comply with new privacy restrictions. In this case, check the app reviews on the Play Store to see if other Pixel 10 users are reporting similar issues.

Advanced Troubleshooting: Clearing Cache and Data

If the basic steps fail, corrupted local data within Zepp Life might be preventing the notification service from initializing.

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Zepp Life > Storage & cache.
  2. Tap Clear Cache. This removes temporary files without losing your data.
  3. If that doesn’t work, return to the same menu and tap Clear Storage (or Clear Data).
    • Warning: This will log you out of the app and delete your on-device history. You will need to log in again and re-pair the Mi Band 5.

Reconfiguring Notification Filters After Reset

After clearing data, it is vital to reconfigure your notification filters immediately.

  1. Log back into Zepp Life.
  2. Re-pair the Mi Band 5.
  3. Navigate to App Notifications in the profile section.
  4. We recommend enabling only critical apps (Messaging, Phone, Email) first. If these work, gradually add more apps. This isolates whether a specific app is causing the notification stream to crash.

Using Alternative Applications (Notify for Mi Band)

If Zepp Life continues to fail despite all system configurations, we suggest utilizing a third-party application designed specifically for advanced notification bridging: Notify for Mi Band. This app works alongside Zepp Life to handle notifications more reliably on devices like the Pixel 10.

  1. Install Notify for Mi Band from the Google Play Store.
  2. Open the app and grant it Notification Access immediately upon launch.
  3. Connect the app to your Mi Band 5 (it piggybacks on the existing Zepp Life connection or pairs directly).
  4. This app offers granular control over notification text, icons, and vibration patterns, often bypassing the standard Android restrictions that limit Zepp Life.

Testing the Notification Stream

Once you have applied these changes, we must perform a structured test to verify the fix.

  1. Close all apps on the Pixel 10 except Zepp Life (running in the background).
  2. Lock the phone (screen off) to ensure it is in Doze mode.
  3. Send a WhatsApp message or an SMS to yourself.
  4. Wait 5-10 seconds.
  5. Observe the Mi Band 5.
    • Success: The band vibrates and displays the message.
    • Partial Success: The band vibrates but shows “No Message.” This indicates the connection is working, but the app is failing to parse the text. This points to an Accessibility Service issue (see below).
    • Failure: No vibration. This indicates the notification never reached the band (Permission or Battery issue).

Accessibility Service and Interference from Other Apps

Some apps on the Pixel 10 may interfere with the Accessibility Service required by Zepp Life to read notification content.

Checking Accessibility Services

  1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Installed apps.
  2. Look for Zepp Life. Ensure it is enabled.
  3. If you have other accessibility services active (e.g., screen readers, automation tools), they may conflict. Temporarily disable other services and test notifications again.

Conflict with Security Apps

If you have installed antivirus or cleaner apps, they may aggressively kill Zepp Life to “save RAM.” Exclude Zepp Life from any task killer lists or security scans within those apps.

Final Verification and Factory Reset Considerations

If you have followed every step above and the Pixel 10 still refuses to send notifications to the Mi Band 5, the issue may lie in the specific build of Android on your device or a hardware fault with the Bluetooth module.

However, before considering a factory reset of the Pixel 10, we recommend performing a Factory Reset on the Mi Band 5 itself.

  1. On the Mi Band 5, swipe to Settings > System > Factory Reset.
  2. Confirm the reset.
  3. This wipes the band’s internal memory.
  4. Re-pair the band with the Pixel 10 as if it were a new device.

Conclusion

Restoring notification syncing between a Google Pixel 10 and a Mi Band 5 via Zepp Life requires a meticulous approach to Android’s permission architecture. The solution almost always lies in explicitly granting Notification Access, disabling Adaptive Battery restrictions, and ensuring the Notification Listener Service is active.

By following the detailed steps outlined in this guide—starting from permission verification, moving through battery optimization, and culminating in re-pairing procedures—we have covered the vast majority of failure points. We have also provided an alternative path using Notify for Mi Band if the native app continues to struggle. With these configurations, your Pixel 10 and Mi Band 5 should function as a cohesive ecosystem, delivering your vital notifications directly to your wrist.

Should you require further assistance or wish to explore advanced modifications for your device, we invite you to visit the Magisk Modules repository at https://magiskmodule.gitlab.io/magisk-modules-repo/ for additional tools and community support.

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