Why Xiaomi’s Selfie Stick Doesn’t Work: 12 Reasons and Ways to Fix It

Xiaomi’s selfie stick is a popular accessory for creating quality self-portraits, but sometimes it stops working at the wrong time, because users are faced with the fact that the device does not connect to a smartphone, does not respond to the press of the shutter button or does not turn on at all, and the causes can be due to software failures and hardware malfunctions.

In this article, we will examine all possible scenarios why Xiaomi’s selfie stick doesn’t work, from the banal discharge of the battery to damage to the Bluetooth module. You will learn how to diagnose the problem yourself, what settings to check in the phone and when to contact the service center.

If your selfie stick stopped responding after a fall, a phone firmware update, or just a "selves" update, you'll find step-by-step instructions for each situation, start with the simplest solutions, and gradually move on to the more complex ones.

1. Checking the basic parameters: battery and connection

Before you commit to complex breakdowns, make sure the problem isn't the basic stuff.In 60% of cases, Xiaomi's selfie stick doesn't work because of a dead battery or improper phone connection.

Start with a visual inspection of the device:

• 🔋 Check the charging indicator: if you connect to the USB-LED lights are not on, the battery is discharged or the cable is damaged.
• 📱 Make sure the selfie stick is on: Some models have a physical power switch (e.g., on Xiaomi Mijia Bluetooth Selfie Stick Tripod).
• 🔌 Try another one. USB-cable: often the problem lies in the damaged wire, especially if you use a non-original accessory.
• 📲 Reboot your smartphone: Sometimes the phone’s Bluetooth module will “hang” and a simple reboot solves the problem.

If the charging indicator flashes red or doesn’t burn at all, plug the selfie stick into the charger for 30 to 60 minutes. Use an adapter with an output current of at least 1A – weak charges (such as from older phones) may not provide enough current.

⚠️ Note: Do not use adapters with output voltages above 5V to charge Xiaomi selfie sticks. This can damage the device’s battery.

After charging, try reconnecting the stick to your phone. If the indicator is blue but the connection is not established, move to the next section.

2.Bluetooth problems: why the phone doesn't see the selfie stick

The most common reason for a selfie stick to fail is Bluetooth connectivity failures, and even if the device is charged, it may not show up on the list of available gadgets.

Step 1. Verification of the visibility of the device

Make sure that the selfie stick is in pairing mode:

• 🔄 Press and hold the shutter button for 3-5 seconds until the indicator flashes blue quickly.
• 📱 On your phone, turn on Bluetooth: go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
• 🔍 In the list of available devices, find the name of your stick (usually). MI Selfie or Xiaomi_BLE).

If the device is not displayed, try:

• 📴 Turn off and turn on Bluetooth again on your phone.
• 🔄 Reboot the selfie stick: press and hold the power button (if any) or remove/insert the battery (for models with removable battery).

Step 2: Removing the old pairing

If the selfie stick was previously connected to the phone but is no longer working, remove it from the list of connected devices:

1. Open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
2. Find your selfie stick in the list and tap the icon ⚙️ (setting).
3. Select “Forget the device” or “Disable”.
4. Reboot the phone and repeat the pairing process again.

Step 3: Compatibility check

Some Xiaomi selfie stick models may not work with Android-based phones 12+ or MIUI 13/14 Because of changes in Bluetooth protocols. If you have a new firmware, try it:

• 📱 Update the selfie stick software (if available).
• 🔙 Roll back the version MIUI (last resort).
• 📲 Use another management application (e.g. Bluetooth Selfie from Google Play).

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi selfie stick used to work with an iPhone but is now not connecting to Android (or vice versa), the problem may be in different Bluetooth protocols. → System system → Reset → Resetting network settings).

3. Mechanical damage: what breaks most often

If Xiaomi’s selfie stick stopped working after a fall, impact, or prolonged use, the problem could be hardware.

Typical mechanical failures:

• 🔌 Charging connector damaged: If the selfie stick is not charging, check the port for bent contacts or oxidation.
• 🔋 Battery bloating: If the stick case is deformed, stop using immediately - it's dangerous!
• 📟 Wire break inside the bar: If the shutter button is unstable (reacts, then does not), damage to the flexible cable inside the telescopic tube is possible.
• 🔄 Breaking a button: if the button fails or does not lock, the micro-switch may have broken.

How to diagnose:

1. Check the integrity of the body: cracks or chips may indicate internal damage.
2. Rock the barbell in the unfolded state: if you feel backlash, damage to the fixation mechanism is possible.
3. Light a flashlight into the charging connector: bent or blackened contacts indicate a short circuit.

If you find mechanical damage, but are not confident in their abilities, it is better to contact a service center.

4. Software glitches: why the button isn't pressed

Sometimes Xiaomi's selfie stick connects to your phone over Bluetooth, but the shutter button doesn't work.

• 📱 Application conflict: Some programs (such as optimizers or antiviruses) block access to the camera.
• 🔄 Failure in the firmware of the stick: after updating the phone may require flashing accessory.
• 📸 Camera Settings: Some Xiaomi phones need to manually allow the use of the volume button for shooting.

Decisions:

1. Open the camera app and check that the selfie mode is on (switch to the front camera).
2. Go to the camera settings → Additionally. → Control buttons and enable the option “Use the volume button for shooting».
3. Install an alternative camera app (like Open Camera or Google Camera) and check the button.
4. If the button works in other applications (for example, for page scrolling) but not in the camera, reset the camera app settings (Settings) → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Reset the settings).

If nothing works, try resetting the selfie stick to the factory settings.

1. Turn off the stick (if there is a power button).
2. Press and hold the shutter button for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and blue.
3. Release the button and the device will reset.

💡

If Xiaomi’s selfie stick connects but the button is running late, try turning off Bluetooth’s energy-saving mode in your phone’s settings (Settings) → Battery → Energy saving regime → Turn off for Bluetooth).

5.Power charging problems: why the selfie stick doesn't charge

If the charging indicator doesn’t burn or the selfie stick discharges too quickly, the problem may be:

• 🔌 Faulty cable or adapter: Use only the original Xiaomi cable or certified analogue.
• 🔋 Worn-out battery: Lithium batteries lose capacity after 300-500 charging cycles.
• 🔥 Damaged charging board: if the stick warms up when connected to USB, It's a sign of short circuit.
• 💧 Contact oxidation: Moisture or sweat can cause connector corrosion.

Diagnosis:

1. Try charging a stick from another source (computer, power bank).
2. Check the charging connector for dirt or damage. Clean it with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
3. If the stick is only charged in a certain position of the cable, the problem is the connector – it needs to be replaced.

For models with removable battery (for example, Xiaomi Mijia Selfie Stick) 1S) You can try to replace the battery. The original battery is labeled. BL-5B or BL-5C and 100-150 mAh capacity.

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi selfie stick gets hot during charging (over 50)°C, immediately disconnect it from the network, this may indicate a malfunction of the charging controller or battery.

6. Compatible with different Xiaomi models

Not all Xiaomi selfie sticks work equally well with different smartphones of the brand. 1) They can't support Bluetooth. 5.0, The new phones are used in the newer phones (Xiaomi). 12/13/14, Redmi Note 11/12).

Compatibility table:

If your selfie stick is not compatible with your phone, you can try:

• 📱 Use the Bluetooth 4.0 adapter → 5.0 (sold on AliExpress).
• 🔄 Install custom firmware on your phone (for example, LineageOS), if the problem is MIUI.
• 📸 Use a selfie stick in wired connection mode (if the model supports 3.5 mm jack or Type-C).

For Xiaomi phones on Android 13+ It may be necessary to activate the compatibility mode:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Tap 7 times on the version number to enable Developer Mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Turn on the option to turn off the absolute volume level (this can help with the operation of the down button).

💡

If Xiaomi's selfie stick doesn't work with a new phone, first check compatibility with the Bluetooth version.Older stick models (until 2019) often don't support Bluetooth 5.0+.

7. Alternative ways to use selfie sticks

If standard methods do not help, you can try non-obvious solutions:

1. Wired use

Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Selfie Stick Tripod) support 3.5mm audio jack or Type-C connection.

• Connect the stick to the phone with a cable.
• Open the camera app.
• Press the down button and it will work as a mechanical shutter.

2. Remote management applications

If Bluetooth is not working, install one of these apps:

• 📱 Bluetooth Selfie – supports most selfie sticks.
• 📸 Camera360 — It has a built-in remote descent function.
• 🔄 Selfie Stick Remote – Works with older models.

3. Manual control through timer

If the button doesn’t work, use the camera’s built-in timer:

1. Open the camera app on Xiaomi.
2. Tap the timer icon (⏱️).
3. Select a delay (3 or 10 seconds).
4. Click on the screen to shoot and quickly take up the pose.

4. Connecting to another device

Try connecting a selfie stick to:

• 💻 Laptop (for webcam).
• 📱 Another phone (Android or iOS).
• 🎮 Game console (some models support connection to the PS4/PS5 joystick).

💡

If Xiaomi's selfie stick doesn't work with the phone but connects to the laptop, the problem is most likely in the smartphone's Bluetooth settings. Try resetting the network settings (Settings) → System system → Reset → Resetting network settings).

8.When to contact the service center

If none of the above methods worked, it is possible that Xiaomi's selfie stick requires professional repair.

• 🔥 The stick is very warm or smells of burns.
• 💥 The battery is swelling or leaking.
• 🔌 The charging connector is shattered or does not hold the cable.
• 📡 Bluetooth module is not defined by any device.
• 🛠️ After the fall, cracks or backlash appeared in the mechanism.

Cost of repair (example):

Before the service visit:

1. Check if they are repairing Xiaomi accessories (not all centers are taking on selfie sticks).
2. Ask for a warranty for repairs (usually 1-3 months).
3. If you have a stick for guarantees, contact the official Xiaomi service with a check.

⚠️ Note: Some service centers refuse to repair selfie sticks due to the low cost of the device (the repair price can exceed the price of a new stick).In this case, consider buying a new model - for example, Xiaomi Mi Selfie Stick 2 or Baseus Bluetooth Selfie Stick.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi selfie sticks