How to connect a Xiaomi selfie stick to the phone: all ways + error solving

Xiaomi selfie sticks are not just a photo-loving accessory, but a full-fledged tool for creating quality content. They support wireless camera control, image stabilization, and even high-resolution video capture. However, many users face difficulties when first connecting: the device is not detected, the down button does not work, or the connection is constantly broken.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to connect Xiaomi selfie sticks (including Mi Selfie Stick Tripod, Mi Pocket Selfie Stick and Mi Smart Selfie Stick) to Android and iOS smartphones. We will focus on solving typical errors, from problems with Bluetooth 5.0 to conflicts with the proprietary Mi Home app. If your stick does not want to sync, here you will find the answer.

What Xiaomi Selfie Sticks Are and How They Differ

Xiaomi has released several selfie sticks, each with unique connectivity features.

• 📱 The Mi Selfie Stick Tripod is the most popular model with a built-in tripod, supports Bluetooth 4.2 and is compatible with most smartphones. It has a physical downhill button and adjustable angle of inclination.

Important: models with support for NFC (for example, Mi Smart Selfie Stick) connect to Xiaomi smartphones with NFC chip (Mi 10/11/12 series, POCO F3/F4, Redmi Note 10 Pro+) in one tap.

Models without the Smart or Pocket label (such as older 2018-2019 Mi Selfie Stick versions) may not support BLE, leading to connectivity issues with new Android 12+ smartphones.

Preparation for connection: what to check before synchronization

Before trying to pair a selfie stick with your phone, follow the mandatory steps:

Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone

Charge the selfie stick (if the model has a battery)

Make sure that the distance between the devices is ≤ 10 meters

Turn off VPN or energy saving modes

Update your phone’s firmware (especially for Android 13+)

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Pay particular attention to protocol compatibility:

• 🔵 Bluetooth 4.0/4.2 — It works with all older smartphones. 2015 It can be a year, but it can slow down when shooting videos.
• 🔵 Bluetooth 5.0+ — Required for Mi Smart Selfie Stick and Pocket models, otherwise the down button will be triggered with a delay.
• 📶 NFC — Available only on Xiaomi flagship smartphones (check out the specifications of the model).

If your phone is released before 2018, you may need to update the Bluetooth stack version through the developer’s settings.

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find the Bluetooth A2DP version and select AVRCP 1.6.

Mi Selfie Stick Tripod |Mi Pocket Selfie Stick|Mi Smart Selfie Stick|Redmi Selfie Stick |Another model |Not yet bought-->

Method 1: Connecting via Bluetooth (universal method)

This is the most common method that works for all Xiaomi selfie stick models, except those that support NFC.

1. Turn on the selfie stick: Press and hold the power button (usually located on the handle) for 3-5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing blue (pairing mode).
2. Activate Bluetooth on your phone: On Android: Settings → Connections → Bluetooth. On iOS: Settings → Bluetooth.

Find the device.

MI_Selfie_X3

XMSH03HM

Confirm the conjugation

0000

1234

Once successfully connected, the stick indicator will stop flashing and will light up in permanent blue. Now the trigger button must work with the camera open.

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If the selfie stick doesn't appear on the Bluetooth device list, try resetting it: press the power button for 10 seconds until the indicator goes out and flashes red.

Method 2: Fast NFC connection (supported models only)

The Mi Smart Selfie Stick and some versions of the Mi Selfie Stick Tripod come with an NFC chip that lets you connect to your smartphone in 1 second. Make sure your phone supports NFC (see the table below for a list of compatible devices).

For connection via NFC:

1. Enable NFC on your phone (Settings → Connections → NFC).
2. Attach the back of your smartphone to an NFC tag on the selfie stick handle (usually marked with a logo).
3. Wait for the beep and pop-up coupling notification.

Instructions for connecting via Mi Home:

1. Download the app from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account.
3. Click Add Device (+) → Select Camera and Photo Category → Selfie Stick.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen (usually you need to turn on Bluetooth and allow access to the location).

If the application does not find the device:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone and selfie stick.
• 📱 Make sure that the right region is selected in the Mi Home settings (e.g., Russia or Global).
• 🛠️ Update the stick firmware via Mi Home (if an update is available).

Solving common connection problems

Even after successful pairing, users often encounter errors.-5 problems and solutions:

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi.eu or custom firmware, some selfie stick features may not work due to the lack of original MiuiCamera drivers.In this case, install the MiuiCameraMagisk module via Magisk Manager.

It’s important for iPhone owners to know that Xiaomi selfie sticks are compatible with iOS, but do not support zoom management due to Apple’s restrictions, and iPhones may not work autofocus when shooting videos through a stick button.

Additional Features: How to Use a Selfie Stick to the Full

Xiaomi selfie sticks are more than just taking photos, and here are hidden features that many people don't know about:

• 🎬 Shooting timer video: double-press the down button to start recording with a 3 or 10 second delay (configured in Mi Home).
• 🔄 Switching cameras: Hold the down button for 2 seconds to switch between the front and main camera.
• 📏 Adjustment of the angle of inclination: in models with a tripod (for example, Mi Selfie Stick Tripod) you can fix the stick at an angle of 0°, 90° 180° multi-lens.
• 🔋 Saving charge: Turn off the stick after using the long press of the power button (the indicator will go out).

For panoramic photos or timelapses, use the standard Xiaomi Camera app, which has special modes optimized for working with selfie sticks:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Swipe your finger to the left to open the list of modes.
3. Choose Panorama or Timelapse.
4. Hold the phone in a stick and press the trigger button. Keep the stick flat to avoid distortion.

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For stable operation of the selfie stick with timelapses, turn off the video stabilization function in the camera settings - this will reduce delays when shooting.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions