How to connect a stylus to a Xiaomi tablet: full instructions with photos and tips

Xiaomi’s Pad 5, Pad 6, and Pad 6 Pro series tablet support stylus work, making it a full-fledged tool for drawing, taking notes, or professional work. However, many users face difficulties when connecting the accessory for the first time — the tablet doesn’t see the stylus, there are delays, or additional setup is required. In this article, we will examine all the ways to connect original and third-party styluses to Xiaomi tablets, consider the nuances of compatibility, and give recommendations for solving typical problems.

It is important to understand that the connection process depends on the type of stylus: active (with battery and Bluetooth) and passive (without power, work on EMR technology). The original Xiaomi Smart Pen refers to active devices and requires Bluetooth synchronization, whereas budget counterparts can work without connection, but with limited functionality. We will discuss both options in detail, and also tell you how to check the compatibility of the stylus with your tablet model.

Types of stylus for Xiaomi tablets: which one to choose?

Before you connect a stylus to a Xiaomi tablet, you need to determine the type of stylus, which not only depends on the pairing process, but also the functionality of the accessory.

• 🔋 Active styluses (e.g. Xiaomi Smart Pen or Apple Pencil): have built-in battery, Bluetooth connection, support button pressing, tilt sensitivity and up to 4,096 pressure levels. Suitable for professional drawing and drawing.
• ✏️ Passive styluses (EMR-Technology: No charge, work like a pen, but no extra features, compatible with most tablets, but less accurate.
• 🔄 Universal styluses (e.g. Wacom Bamboo Ink): Support both modes (active and passive), but may require manual tuning.

The original Xiaomi Smart Pen stylus (M2106S1 models for Pad 5 and M2204S1 for Pad 6) is optimized for the brand’s tablets and provides minimal input delay (up to 10 ms). Third-party active styluses (for example, from Lenovo or Samsung) can work, but with limitations – for example, without gesture support or additional buttons.

When choosing a stylus, pay attention to the connection protocol:

• 📶 Bluetooth 5.0+ — for active styluses (provides a stable connection).
• 🖋️ EMR (Electro-Magnetic Resonance – for passive (works through the tablet screen).
• 🔌 USB-C — Some styluses are charged via a tablet connector (for example, Xiaomi Smart Pen 2).

⚠️ Attention: Styluses with Wacom technology AES (For example, for tablets Samsung or Microsoft Surface) are not compatible with Xiaomi tablets without additional drivers. EMR Bluetooth HID.

Preparation of Xiaomi tablet to connect stylus

Before you connect the stylus, you need to make sure that the tablet is ready to work with the accessory.

1. Update your firmware. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update and install the latest version of MIUI. For Xiaomi Pad 6 tablets, the minimum supported version is MIUI 14.
2. Turn on Bluetooth. Active styluses only connect wirelessly. Go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth and activate the function.
3. Check the compatibility of the screen. Make sure your tablet supports stylus work. For example, the Xiaomi Pad 5 and later have a touch layer with support for EMR and Bluetooth HID.

If you use a passive stylus, no additional settings are required – it should work immediately after touching the screen. Active stylus may require the installation of a proprietary application (for example, Xiaomi Smart Pen from Google Play).

Update the firmware to the latest version|Turn on Bluetooth|Install the Xiaomi Smart Pen app (for active styluses)|Check the stylus charge (if applicable)-->

To check the compatibility of the stylus with your tablet model, use the table below:

Step-by-step: how to connect the original Xiaomi Smart Pen

The original Xiaomi Smart Pen stylus connects to the tablet via Bluetooth and requires pre-sync.

1. Charge the stylus. Connect it to the tablet via USB-C (for Smart Pen 2) or use the charging cable from the kit. Charge level can be checked in the Xiaomi Smart Pen app.
2. Activate pairing mode. Press and hold the button on the stylus for 3-5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing blue.
3. Connect via Bluetooth. On the tablet, go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth, find the Xiaomi Smart Pen device and confirm pairing.
4. Install the app. Download Xiaomi Smart Pen from Google Play to access additional features (button settings, sensitivity, stylus firmware update).

Once successfully connected, the stylus will automatically be detected when approaching the tablet. In the Xiaomi Smart Pen app, you can:

• 🎨 Set up pressure sensitivity (from 1024 to 4096 levels).
• 🔄 Reassign button functions (e.g. double-pressing for eraser).
• 🔋 View the battery level.
• 📲 Update the stylus firmware (if new versions are available).

💡

If the stylus doesn't connect, try resetting it: press and hold the button for 10 seconds until the indicator flashes red.

To check the performance of the stylus, open any drawing app (such as Xiaomi Notes or Adobe Fresco) and try to do a few strokes. If the lines appear with a delay or interrupt, check:

• 🔋 Stylus charge level (must be at least 20%).
• 📶 Bluetooth connection stability (reboot the tablet if the stylus is turned off).
• 🖥️ Availability of updates to the firmware of the tablet.

Connecting third-party active stylus (Lenovo, Wacom, Samsung)

Third-party active styluses (for example, Lenovo Precision Pen 2 or Wacom Bamboo Ink) can be connected to Xiaomi tablets, but with some restrictions. HID or EMR. Instructions for connection:

1. Check compatibility. Check on the stylus manufacturer's website to see if it supports Android tablets. For example, Wacom Bamboo Ink is compatible with the Xiaomi Pad 6, but may not work with the Pad 5.
2. Activate the pairing mode. For most styluses, press and hold the power button until the indicator flashes (usually 5-7 seconds).
3. Connect via Bluetooth. In the tablet settings, find the stylus in the list of available devices. If the device doesn't show up, try rebooting the tablet's Bluetooth module.
4. Set up the settings. Some styluses require the installation of branded applications (e.g. Wacom Inking SDK for Bamboo Ink).

Third-party styluses may have the following restrictions on Xiaomi tablets:

• ❌ Lack of gesture support (e.g. double-pressing for eraser).
• ❌ Incorrect operation of buttons (if any).
• ⚠️ Increased input delay (up to) 30-50 ms 10 sms at the original stylus).

To improve third-party stylus compatibility, you can use apps like Pen Settings or Stylus Labs Write that allow you to manually adjust pressure and delay settings. However, the original Xiaomi Smart Pen remains the only stylus with full support for all functions on the brand’s tablets.

How to use a passive stylus (without Bluetooth)

Passive styluses do not require connection and work on EMR technology (electromagnetic resonance), they are compatible with all Xiaomi tablets that have the appropriate touch layer, but have limited functionality:

• ✅ No need to charge or connect via Bluetooth.
• ✅ Work immediately after contact with the screen.
• ❌ No button or gesture support.
• ❌ Press sensitivity is lower (usually up to 2048 levels).
• ❌ Artifacts are possible when drawing quickly (e.g., "shaking" lines).

To use a passive stylus:

1. Just touch the tablet screen with the tip of the stylus – it should be defined as a regular pen.
2. For drawing or writing, use stylus-enabled apps, such as: 📝 Xiaomi Notes (built-in app). 🎨 Autodesk SketchBook. 🖌️ Adobe Illustrator Draw.

• 🔄 Reboot the tablet.
• 🧲 Make sure there is no protective film on the screen (it can block the signal). EMR).
• 📱 Update the firmware to the latest version.

💡

Most stylus problems on the Xiaomi Pad are solved by updating the firmware of the tablet and resetting the accessory settings. If the stylus is third-party, check its compatibility with your tablet model.

Tips for choosing a stylus for Xiaomi Pad

When buying a stylus for a Xiaomi tablet, consider the following criteria:

• 🔋 Type of power: Active styluses require charging but offer more features Passives don't need charging but less accurate.
• 📊 The optimal indicator is 4096 pressure levels (like the Xiaomi Smart Pen).
• ⚡ Delayed input: For comfortable drawing, choose styluses with a delay of no more than 20 ms.
• 🔄 Compatibility: Check the support of your tablet model on the manufacturer’s website.
• 💰 Price: The original Xiaomi Smart Pen is worth around 5000-7000 ₽, third-party analogues - from 1500 ₽.