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Most missing or late notifications on the Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm are caused by a broken Bluetooth connection, an app that is not selected in Mi Fitness, denied phone permissions, or background and battery restrictions. Open Mi Fitness and work through those checks before resetting or re-pairing the watch.
There is one important exception: Xiaomi says the Watch S5 does not support delayed incoming-call alerts. A late or absent call alert is therefore a different problem from a delayed message or app notification.
Start with the notification path
A phone notification reaches the watch through several links: the Watch S5 must be connected over Bluetooth, Mi Fitness must be allowed to read or forward notifications, the affected app must be enabled in Mi Fitness, and the phone must let Mi Fitness continue running in the background. A failure at any link can affect every app or just one app.
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Xiaomi’s model-specific support checklist puts connection and permissions first. The Watch S5 46mm FAQ adds platform-specific settings and mode checks. Use the sequence below rather than changing several settings at once; that makes it easier to identify the cause.
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1. Confirm that the watch is connected
- Turn on Bluetooth on the phone.
- Open Mi Fitness and view the device status. The Watch S5 should show as connected, not merely listed as a previously paired device.
- Keep the phone and watch close together for the test. If Mi Fitness shows a disconnected state, reconnect from the app and wait for synchronization to finish.
If the watch repeatedly disconnects, notification settings cannot work reliably. Do not move on to app-specific troubleshooting until Mi Fitness reports a live connection. Bluetooth can appear enabled in the phone’s quick settings while the individual watch connection is still down.
2. Enable the affected apps in Mi Fitness
A connection does not automatically forward notifications from every installed app. In Mi Fitness, go to Device → Notifications and calls → App notifications. Turn on app notifications, then select each app whose alerts should appear on the watch.
- Open Mi Fitness.
- Tap Device.
- Open Notifications and calls.
- Choose App notifications.
- Enable the feature and switch on the individual apps you want to sync.
Test with a new notification after saving the selection. If only one service is missing, compare that app with a known-working app in the list. An app that is not selected here will not be forwarded, even when the phone displays its notification normally.
3. Restore phone permissions and background access
Phone-level permission is separate from the Mi Fitness selection. Xiaomi states that when the phone does not grant an app notification permission, notifications will not appear on the watch. Allow Mi Fitness to access or send notifications in the phone’s system settings, and allow the permissions used for the Bluetooth connection, including Nearby devices where that label is present.
Names and menu locations differ between Android manufacturers, Android versions and iOS releases. Use the phone’s Settings search if a label below is not in the expected place.
Android permission and battery checks
- Open Settings and find Mi Fitness under Notifications. Permit notification access or notification posting as your phone presents it.
- Check Settings → Apps → Mi Fitness → Permissions. Allow Bluetooth or Nearby devices and any other permission the phone identifies as necessary for the paired device.
- Open Mi Fitness’s battery or power settings. Xiaomi’s FAQ describes choosing No restrictions on phones that offer that option.
- Allow Auto-start and background activity when those controls exist. Some manufacturers place them under Battery, App launch, Background usage limits or a phone-manager utility.
- Remove Mi Fitness from any deep-clean, sleeping-app or unused-app list.
These controls are manufacturer-specific. “Unrestricted” on one Android phone may be called “Allow background activity” on another; the goal is the same: Mi Fitness must be able to remain active after the screen is locked.
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iPhone permission and Bluetooth checks
- Open Settings → Bluetooth, tap the information button beside the Xiaomi Watch S5, and enable Share System Notifications if the switch is available.
- In Settings → Notifications, allow notifications for Mi Fitness and ensure the phone’s notification previews and alerts behave as expected.
- In Settings → General → Background App Refresh, enable Background App Refresh for Mi Fitness.
The Share System Notifications control belongs to the watch’s Bluetooth entry, not merely to the Mi Fitness app. If it is disabled, iPhone alerts may remain on the phone without being forwarded.
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4. Check modes that intentionally suppress alerts
Watch Do Not Disturb
Turn off Do Not Disturb (DND) on the Watch S5 while testing. DND can suppress a notification even when the phone and Mi Fitness are configured correctly. Check for a schedule as well as a manually enabled mode; a scheduled DND period can make the problem appear intermittent.
Phone battery saver and cleaning tools
Temporarily disable the phone’s battery saver, extreme power-saving mode and any automatic cleaner that stops background apps. These features can pause Mi Fitness or its Bluetooth work when the phone is idle. Once notifications are reliable, re-enable power saving and add Mi Fitness to the phone’s allowed or protected-app list if the phone provides one.
“Notify only when worn”
If Notify only when worn is enabled, the watch may intentionally withhold an alert when it does not detect that it is being worn. Check that option in the Watch S5 notification settings and decide whether it matches your use. For a diagnostic test, wear the watch normally and send a new message; do not judge the setting from an alert generated while the watch is off your wrist.
5. Identify whether the failure is broad or app-specific
The pattern points to different checks. Use a new notification for each test; old alerts are not a reliable measure of forwarding.
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|---|---|
| No app notifications arrive | Verify the Mi Fitness connection, phone notification access, background operation and battery restrictions. |
| Only one or two apps are missing | Return to Device → Notifications and calls → App notifications and enable those specific apps; then check that each app is allowed to notify on the phone. |
| Alerts arrive only after opening Mi Fitness | Check Android auto-start/background limits or iPhone Background App Refresh, then remove battery-saver restrictions. |
| Alerts stop when the watch is off the wrist | Check Notify only when worn and watch DND before changing pairing. |
| Messages arrive but calls do not | Apply the call-specific limitation and checks below; do not assume a message-notification setting controls incoming-call alerts. |
6. Run a controlled notification test
A controlled test prevents a stale alert or a changing connection from giving a misleading result. First, leave the watch connected in Mi Fitness, wear it normally, turn off DND, and temporarily disable battery-saving restrictions. Choose one app that is enabled in App notifications and send a fresh message from another device or account. Note whether the phone displays it, whether the watch is still shown as connected, and whether the alert appears immediately, late, or not at all.
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Repeat the same test with a second enabled app. If both fail, concentrate on connection, notification access and background operation. If one works and one fails, concentrate on the individual app’s phone notification setting and its selection in Mi Fitness. After changing one setting, send another new message rather than judging the previous attempt. This simple log also gives Xiaomi support a clear failure pattern.
7. Treat incoming-call alerts separately
Xiaomi’s Watch S5 FAQ says the model does not support a delayed incoming-call alert. That is a product limitation, not evidence that every delayed notification is caused by a faulty watch.
For a call problem, first confirm that Bluetooth is connected and that call notifications are enabled in Mi Fitness under Device → Notifications and calls. On iPhone, verify Share System Notifications for the watch. On Android, verify Mi Fitness notification access and background permissions. Xiaomi’s separate call-notification FAQ covers those system checks. If the complaint is specifically that a call alert appears late, the unsupported delayed-call behavior cannot be corrected with a timing setting.
8. Refresh the connection before re-pairing
After checking selections, permissions and power modes, refresh the software state in the least disruptive order:
- Turn Bluetooth off on the phone, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.
- Force-close Mi Fitness, reopen it and wait for the Watch S5 to reconnect.
- Start a manual synchronization in Mi Fitness and wait for it to complete.
- Send a new test notification from an enabled app.
- If it still fails, restart the phone and restart the watch, then repeat one test.
This sequence clears a stalled Bluetooth session without deleting the pairing. It also distinguishes a temporary app process failure from a persistent permission or configuration problem. If the connection drops again immediately after a restart, return to the background and battery settings instead of repeatedly toggling Bluetooth.
9. Re-pair only after the basic checks
Re-pairing can repair a corrupted Bluetooth relationship, but it also removes a working connection and should not be the first response to an unselected app or denied permission.
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- Keep the Watch S5 and phone together and ensure the watch has enough battery to remain on during setup.
- In Mi Fitness, open the device page and follow the option to unpair or remove the watch.
- In the phone’s Bluetooth settings, remove the Watch S5 entry if it remains listed.
- Restart the phone, then open Mi Fitness and add the Watch S5 again through the app rather than pairing only from the generic Bluetooth screen.
- Grant the requested Bluetooth, Nearby devices, notification and background permissions.
- Return to Device → Notifications and calls → App notifications and reselect the apps. Re-pairing can restore defaults, so verify the list instead of assuming the previous choices survived.
If the app asks for a confirmation code or displays a pairing prompt on the watch, approve the same code on both devices. Keep Mi Fitness open until synchronization finishes, then test with a fresh message. Do not conclude that re-pairing fixed the problem until at least one newly generated alert reaches the watch.
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At this point, record the failure pattern before contacting support:
- Phone platform and software version.
- Whether Mi Fitness shows the watch as connected.
- Whether every app or only a named app is affected.
- Whether the failure occurs with the watch worn and DND disabled.
- Which permission, battery and background settings were changed.
- Whether restart and re-pairing changed the result.
- Whether the phone itself displayed each test notification.
- Whether the problem began after changing phones, restoring a phone backup, or updating a phone setting.
Contact Xiaomi’s local official after-sales service if notifications remain delayed or absent after the connection, app-selection, permission, platform and re-pairing checks. Xiaomi’s support guidance recommends local official service for a problem that persists after those steps. Provide the recorded pattern and screenshots of the relevant settings so the technician can distinguish a software configuration issue from a hardware or firmware fault.
Quick platform checklist
| Check | Android | iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Live connection | Bluetooth on; Watch S5 shows connected in Mi Fitness | Bluetooth on; Watch S5 shows connected in Mi Fitness |
| Mi Fitness app list | Device → Notifications and calls → App notifications | Device → Notifications and calls → App notifications |
| Phone notification permission | Allow Mi Fitness notification access in Settings | Allow Mi Fitness notifications in Settings |
| Background operation | Allow auto-start/background activity; use No restrictions where offered | Enable Background App Refresh for Mi Fitness |
| Watch-to-phone relay | Allow Nearby devices/Bluetooth permissions | Bluetooth device details → Share System Notifications |
| Power limits | Disable battery saver and deep cleaning while testing | Disable Low Power Mode while testing if it is interrupting background refresh |
iPhone and Android labels can change with software updates and phone brands. If a listed switch is absent, search Settings for “notifications,” “background,” “battery,” “auto-start,” “Nearby devices” or “Share System Notifications.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What not to do
- Do not buy a replacement watch as the first remedy; the documented fixes are connection, permission and software checks.
- Do not judge forwarding from an old notification. Generate a new alert after each change.
- Do not leave battery saver or DND enabled while deciding that the watch has failed.
- Do not treat unsupported delayed incoming-call alerts as proof that message notifications should also be delayed.
- Do not pair the watch only from the phone’s Bluetooth menu when Mi Fitness provides the pairing flow.
- Do not change several unrelated settings simultaneously; you will not know which change affected the result.
- Do not assume a phone notification that appears on-screen is automatically permitted to Mi Fitness; system access and app selection are separate controls.
Source-backed reference
The procedures and limitations above follow Xiaomi’s official global documentation: Why does the Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm not display notifications?, the Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm FAQ, and Why can’t the Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm receive call notifications?. Xiaomi notes that exact permission names and settings can vary by phone software, so use the closest equivalent control on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are all Xiaomi Watch S5 notifications missing?
Confirm that Mi Fitness shows the watch as connected, then allow Mi Fitness notification access, background activity and Bluetooth or Nearby devices permissions. Disable battery saver and watch DND temporarily, and verify that app notifications are enabled in Device → Notifications and calls → App notifications.
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- ADVANCED HEALTH TRACKING – More than a basic activity tracker. 24/7 heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress monitoring with 4-LED + 4-PD sensors and self-developed algorithm 2.0. Tracks sleep stages in detail*—designed for daily wellness awareness, not a medical device.
- 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.
- PREMIUM STAINLESS STEEL & BRIGHT AMOLED – 316L stainless steel case, ~46g, 10.99mm thin. 1.48" AMOLED up to 2500 nits (1500 nits HBM) for clear reading under direct sun, with wet-hand touch prevention. 5ATM water resistant for swimming.
Why is only one app missing from my Watch S5?
Open Mi Fitness → Device → Notifications and calls → App notifications and enable that specific app. Also check the app’s own notification permission in the phone’s Settings. A working connection does not automatically select every installed app.
What should I check on an iPhone?
In Settings → Bluetooth, open the Xiaomi Watch S5 entry and enable Share System Notifications. Allow Mi Fitness notifications and Background App Refresh. Keep the watch connected in Mi Fitness while testing.
What should I check on Android?
Allow Mi Fitness notification access, Bluetooth or Nearby devices access, auto-start and background activity. Set battery use to No restrictions when that option exists, and remove Mi Fitness from sleeping, deep-cleaning or restricted-app lists.
Can Do Not Disturb cause missing alerts?
Yes. Turn off DND on the watch while troubleshooting and check whether a schedule is turning it back on. Test with a fresh notification after disabling it.
Does the Watch S5 support delayed incoming-call alerts?
Xiaomi says it does not support delayed incoming-call alerts. Check the connection, call-notification permissions and platform settings, but there is no timing option that adds this unsupported behavior.
Should I re-pair the watch immediately?
No. First check the live connection, Mi Fitness app selection, permissions, DND and battery restrictions. Refresh Bluetooth and restart both devices before removing the pairing. If re-pairing is necessary, do it through Mi Fitness and reselect the apps afterward.
When should I contact Xiaomi?
Contact Xiaomi’s local official after-sales service when notifications remain delayed or absent after the connection, app-selection, permission, background, power-mode, restart and re-pairing checks. Record the phone platform, affected apps and results of fresh tests.
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For delayed or missing Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm notifications, verify the live Bluetooth connection, enable the affected apps in Mi Fitness, restore phone notification and background permissions, and temporarily disable DND and battery restrictions. Use the iPhone or Android-specific checks, then restart and resynchronize before re-pairing. Incoming-call delays are a separate limitation that Xiaomi says the watch does not support; persistent problems after these steps belong with Xiaomi’s local official after-sales service.
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