How to connect a stylus to a Xiaomi phone: instructions for all models (2026)

Xiaomi’s smartphone stylus is not just an accessory for drawing, but a full-fledged tool for work, learning and creativity. It allows you to more accurately manage the interface, take notes by hand, edit documents and even create digital masterpieces in graphic editors. However, many users face difficulties when connecting first: the stylus is not detected, does not respond to touch or works with delays.

In this article, we will analyze all ways to connect the stylus to Xiaomi, Redmi and other phones. POCO — From basic models to flagships, you'll learn how to check device compatibility, configure Bluetooth for wireless styluses, calibrate the pen for fine input, and fix common errors. And if you have an active-powered stylus (such as the Xiaomi Smart Pen), we’ll show you how to properly charge and sync it.

We pay special attention to hidden settings MIUI, which allow to improve the responsiveness of the stylus and reduce input delay - this is important for the owners of tablets Xiaomi Pad 6 and Pad 5 Pro, where the pen is used most intensively.

1.What stylus is compatible with Xiaomi phones

Not all styluses are suitable for Xiaomi smartphones, and the main criteria for compatibility are the type of connection and support for technology on the phone.

• 📱 Capacitive styluses — works with any touch screen, but does not support pressure and tilt. Suitable for basic tasks (pressing, scrolling). Examples: Xiaomi Basic Pen, versatile feathers with a rubber tip.
• 🔳 Active styluses (Bluetooth) – require pairing over Bluetooth LE, Supports pressure (up to 4,096 levels), tilt and gestures. Examples: Xiaomi Smart Pen, Mi Pen, POCO Smart Pen.
• 🖥️ Tablet stylus – optimized for Xiaomi Pad (e.g. Xiaomi Smart Pen 2), but can work with smartphones with Wacom support AES 2.0.

Important: Xiaomi phones with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi) K60 Pro) better recognize active styluses due to the high frequency of the sensor survey (up to 240 Hz). IPS-displays (e.g. Redmi Note 12) may have a delay in input.

⚠️ Warning: Apple Pencil or Samsung S Pen stylus are not compatible with Xiaomi phones at the hardware level. Attempts to connect them through adapters lead to unstable work.

2. Preparation of the phone before connection

Before you connect the stylus, you need to make sure that your smartphone is ready to work with it.

Enable Bluetooth in the settings

Update MIUI to the latest version

Disable Power Saving Mode for Bluetooth

Check the stylus charge (if it has a battery)

Remove old paired devices (if the stylus has already been connected before)-->

Pay special attention to firmware updates. MIUI (below 12.5) may not support active styluses. → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

If you have a Bluetooth stylus, make sure your phone is on "Visibility for all devices."

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Additional.
3. Activate the Visibility of the device option.

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If the stylus is not detected, try restarting your phone and resetting your Bluetooth settings. → Annexes → Application management → Three points. → Show system-based → Bluetooth and press "Clear the cache".

3. Step-by-step instructions: how to connect a stylus to Xiaomi

The connection process depends on the type of stylus, and let’s consider both options: capacitive (without Bluetooth) and active (with Bluetooth).

Connection of the capacitive stylus

Capacitive feathers don't require pairing -- they work like a normal finger, but with greater precision.

1. Insert the battery (if required).
2. Remove the protective cap from the tip.
3. Touch the stylus to the screen – the phone must respond to the touch.

If the stylus doesn't work:

• 🔋 Check the battery charge (replace it with a new one).
• 🧹 Clean the dirt tip with an alcohol napkin.
• 📱 Reboot the phone.

3.2. Connecting an active stylus (Bluetooth)

For Bluetooth styluses (such as the Xiaomi Smart Pen), follow the following steps:

1. Turn on the stylus: Press and hold the power button (usually located on the side) for 3-5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing.
2. Activate Bluetooth on your phone: Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
3. Start your device search: Click Device Search and select your stylus from the list (usually called the Mi Smart Pen or Xiaomi Pen).
4. Confirm pairing: If a confirmation request appears, click Connect.

After successful connection, the indicator on the stylus will stop flashing and will light up with constant light, POCO Smart Pen also gives a short beep.

Stylus adjustment and calibration

Once connected, the stylus may not work accurately: the cursor shifts, lines are drawn curved, or there is a delay, and this is solved by calibrating and adjusting the input parameters.

Calibration in MIUI

For active styluses Xiaomi is available built-in calibration:

1. Open the Settings. → Additional settings → Stylus (or Settings) → Devices → Stylus on new versions MIUI).
2. Select Calibration and follow the instructions on the screen (usually touch the crosses several times in the corners of the display).
3. Save the settings.

Sensitivity adjustment

In the same stylus menu you can configure:

• 🎨 Pressure sensitivity – regulates how hard you need to press for a fat line.
• ✏️ Pen/eraser mode – switching between drawing and erasing with a button on the stylus.
• ⚡ Delay input – on tablets Xiaomi Pad can reduce the delay to 9 ms.

For creative tasks (drawing, design), it is recommended to set maximum sensitivity, for notes and working with documents, it is better to reduce it to an average level to avoid accidental pressing.

Xiaomi Smart Pen

POCO Smart Pen

Universal capacitive stylus

Wacom Bamboo Ink

Another (write in the comments)-->

5. Solving stylus problems

Even when you're connected properly, you can have failures, and we'll look at the most common problems and how to fix them.

⚠️ Attention: If the Xiaomi Smart Pen stylus has stopped charging, check the contacts on the case - they may be contaminated or bent. Use a cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol to clean. Do not use metal objects so as not to damage the coating!

If the stylus is connected but not working in a particular application (such as Adobe Photoshop or Xiaomi Notes), check the program settings. In some cases, you need to manually select the stylus as the input device:

Application settings → Tools → Input Devices → Select “Xiaomi Pen”

6.How to Charge a Xiaomi Stylus

Xiaomi’s active styluses have a built-in battery that requires periodic recharging.

• 🔌 Through USB-C: Xiaomi Smart Pen 2 and the POCO Smart Pens are charged from cable USB-C (Charging time – 1-1.5 hours).
• 🧲 Wireless charging: Some models (such as the Mi Pen Pro) support charging from a magnetic dock connector on a tablet.
• 🔋 Replaceable batteries: capacitive styluses (such as Xiaomi Basic Pen) run on batteries AAA.

To check the level of charge of the stylus:

1. Connect it to your phone via Bluetooth.
2. Open the Settings. → Connected devices → [Stylus name].
3. The charge level will be displayed as a percentage (if the stylus supports this function).

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Xiaomi Bluetooth styluses discharge in 8-12 hours of active use. To extend the time, turn off the pen when you are not using it (hold the power button for 2 seconds).

7.The best stylus apps on Xiaomi

The stylus only reaches its full potential with the right applications. TOP-5 program:

• 📝 Xiaomi Notes – built-in note-taking app with support for handwriting and text conversion.
• 🎨 Adobe Fresco – professional drawing editor with support for layers and brushes sensitive to pressure.
• 📊 Microsoft OneNote – convenient for creating notes, stylus support at the Surface Pen level.
• 📱 Squid (formerly Papyrus) – imitates writing on paper, supports export to the country PDF.
• 🖌️ Infinite Painter – Over 160 brushes, perfect for artists.

For maximum accuracy in graphics editors, turn on the "Only stylus" mode (ignoring finger touches).

Settings → Input devices → Mode “Stylus Only” (enable)

8. Xiaomi stylus comparison: which one to choose

If you haven’t bought a stylus yet, but you’re planning to, here’s a comparison table of popular models for Xiaomi phones:

For most users, the Xiaomi Smart Pen is the best choice for price/quality ratio. If you need minimal latency (for example, for digital painting), look for the Wacom Bamboo Ink, but note that it is more expensive and requires additional customization.

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Styluses with Wacom support AES 2.0 (like Wacom Bamboo Ink) works more accurately on phones with a mobile phone. AMOLED-screens thanks to electromagnetic resonance technology.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi styluses