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  • How to Pair a Microsoft Band with an Apple iPhone?

How to Pair a Microsoft Band with an Apple iPhone?

March 18, 2015 / Dave Taylor / Apple Watch Help / No Comments

I want a smart watch and I don’t want to wait for Apple’s million dollar folly, so I picked up a Microsoft Band. Now, how do I get it to work with my Apple iPhone 6 running iOS 8?

A bold move on your part to split your loyalties between Microsoft and Apple. Fortunately in this situation it’s a good thing and it turns out that the Microsoft Band plays very well with the iPhone and its notification system. I should point out that a) I don’t think that the Apple Watch is going to be “folly” and b) the biggest difference between devices like the Microsoft Band and the Apple Watch is that the former is primarily a notification device, while the latter is a full-fledged computing device on your wrist. Somewhat apples and oranges, if I can use that fruit metaphor!

Still, at a very reasonable $199 entry price, the Microsoft Band is so popular that it’s almost impossible to get as it sells out as fast as Microsoft stocks it. We tried to get our hands on one for four months until we landed one at the local retail kiosk, and it’s just as well I have a big wrist: The medium size units had sold out in less than 24 hours and there were only two size large units.

Pairing the Microsoft Band is rather involved because you have to bounce back and forth between devices to get it working and before you start you have to download the Microsoft Health app from the App Store onto your iOS device.

Let’s start at the beginning, though. Here’s a brand new Microsoft Band, still in its box:

new in box microsoft band fitness wearable device

Don’t touch it yet, though. Well, maybe you should plug it in to charge…

What you need to do is on your phone. Jump onto your iPhone and grab the Microsoft Health app:

microsoft health app for apple iphone 6 plus ios 8 ios8

Now we can start.

Your Band should automatically be waiting to pair. If it’s not, plug it in with the supplied USB charging cable. It’ll prompt that it’s ready to pair.

On your iPhone, then, go to Settings -> Bluetooth and look for the band to show up:

pair apple iphone microsoft sports band

There it is at the bottom of the screen. Didja notice the little Apple Watch pairing info? Do you think it knows that I’m about to pair a Microsoft Band?? 🙂

Tap on the MSFT Band entry and on your Band it’ll suddenly change:

microsoft msft band ready to pair bluetooth

Meanwhile, on your phone it also seeks confirmation that you want to complete this device pairing.

You do, of course.

bluetooth pairing request on apple ios 8 from microsoft band

Now on the Microsoft Band tap on “Accept”, then on the iPhone tap on “Pair”.

Nice. They should be paired.

please accept on your phone pairing request

You didn’t tap on the iPhone screen, did you?

No worries. Tap to accept the pairing and the Band will update:

you're paired! microsoft band paired with apple iphone

Booyah!

Now the app will see what version of the Band firmware you’re running and, quite likely, immediately force an update:

msft health band firmware software update

Oh, okay.

Tap “Update”. Actually, the buzz from other Microsoft Band owners is that updates are hugely important as each seems to add features and, often, fix existing bugs. That’ll slow down as the device gets more field testing, but the first out-of-the-box update is a big one so definitely accept this

The iPhone app will download the update and send it directly to the Microsoft Band…

microsoft health app on iphone updating msft band

After a while — it’s a pretty big update, this first one — it’ll do all the heavy lifting and in just a few minutes you’ll see this delightful screen on your iPhone:

update complete on microsoft band from apple iphone 6 plus

Now the fun part…

let's get started configuring your Microsoft Band

A handy tip: Microsoft thinks of the different types of notifications as “tiles” so in the configuration settings, you’ll want to find the “Manage Tiles” option (tap on the tiny watch icon on the top right of the app screen), then there’s a zillion ways you can configure things.

Once you’re done, your Microsoft Band is ready to go:

microsoft band

Congrats. Now come back in a week or two and let us know how you’re getting on with it!

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Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!
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