Connecting a portable printer Xiaomi to the phone: instructions with photos and tips

Xiaomi’s portable printers are compact devices that allow you to print photos directly from your smartphone anywhere. Models like Mi Portable Photo Printer or Mi Smart Photo Printer 2 support wireless connectivity via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct, but many users face difficulties in the first setup. In this article, we’ll look at the steps from unpacking to printing the first shot, and also explain how to avoid typical errors.

Xiaomi printers are unique because they run through the Mi Home or Xiaomi Printer app (depending on the model). You can’t set up without it, so first check the compatibility of your smartphone. For example, Mi Portable Photo Printer 1S requires Android 5.0+ or iOS 9.0+, and for Mi Smart Photo Printer 2 you need a fresher firmware. If your phone is outdated, you’ll have to look for workarounds – this will be discussed below.

Important: Xiaomi printers do not support connection to computers directly (only through Android emulators) and do not print documents - only photos in JPEG or PNG formats. If you want multifunctionality, consider alternatives like Canon Selphy or HP Sprocket.

1. Preparation of the printer for the first turn on

Before connecting, make sure the printer is charged. The Xiaomi Mi Portable Photo Printer comes with a USB Type-C cable, but the power supply is often missing - you can use smartphone charging (with 5V/1A or 5V/2A). Full charging takes about 2 hours, and the indicator on the body should burn green (red or flashing orange means discharge).

What if the printer doesn’t turn on after charging?

• 🔌 Check the cable and connector -- sometimes the contacts get contaminated or oxidized.
• 🔋 Hold the power button for 10-15 seconds to reset (some models help with getting stuck).
• 📱 Make sure the battery isn’t completely discharged – plug in to the power source for 30 minutes, then try turning on.

Also included should be printed paper (usually 10 to 20 sheets of 2×3 inches or 3×4 inches) Don't use other brands' paper - it can chew or give poor quality. If the sheets are stuck, carefully separate them, but do not pull the edges so as not to tear.

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Store the printer paper in a sealed bag with silica gel – this will prevent it from drying and deformation.

2. Installation of the application for managing the printer

To work with printers Xiaomi need to download the official application. There are two options:

• 📱 Mi Home is a universal application for all Xiaomi devices (including older printers).
• 🖨️ Xiaomi Printer – Specialized software for printers (for example, for Mi Smart Photo Printer 2).

Download the application from official sources:

After installation, sign up or sign in through your Xiaomi account (if not, create one). This is a must for device sync. If the application does not see the printer, update it to the latest version or check the permissions (access to Bluetooth, storage and camera must be enabled).

3. Connecting the printer to the smartphone via Bluetooth

The easiest way to connect is via Bluetooth. Here's a step-by-step instruction:

1. Turn on the printer with the power button (the indicator should flash blue).
2. Open the Mi Home or Xiaomi Printer app.
3. Click Add Device (+) → Select Printers category.
4. In the list, find your model (e.g. Mi Portable Photo Printer 1S) and click Connect.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen – confirm pairing in the phone’s Bluetooth settings.

If the printer is not located:

• 🔄 Reboot both the printer and the smartphone.
• 📵 Make sure that Bluetooth is on on the phone and the printer is in search mode (blinking blue indicator).
• 🚫 Disable other Bluetooth devices (earphones, fitness bracelets) that may interfere.

Bluetooth on your phone|Printer charged and powered on|Mi Home app updated|Appendix permits issued-->

Important: Some Xiaomi printer models (such as the Mi Smart Photo Printer 2) require a mandatory Wi-Fi Direct connection to print in high resolution. Bluetooth is only suitable for basic features.

4. Connect via Wi-Fi Direct (for models with support)

Wi-Fi Direct provides a more stable connection and faster data transfer speed.

1. Turn on the printer and wait until the indicator starts flashing green (Wi-Fi mode).
2. On your smartphone, open Settings → Wi-Fi.
3. Find a network with a name MiPrinter_XXXX (where XXXX — unique ID your device and connect to it.
4. Return to the Xiaomi Printer app, which should automatically detect the printer.

If the connection breaks:

• 📶 Check that there are no other Wi-Fi networks on the same channel nearby (use the Wi-Fi Analyzer app for analysis).
• 🔋 Make sure the printer does not discharge during printing (plug in to the power source).
• 📱 On Android: Turn off Adaptive Wi-Fi in Network Settings.

⚠️ Warning: Once connected via Wi-Fi Direct, your phone will lose access to the Internet. To return the connection, disconnect from the printer network manually or restart the smartphone.

5. Printing settings: selection of photos and parameters

After a successful connection, you can start printing. The following options are available in the Xiaomi Printer application:

• 🖼️ Photo selection – from gallery, camera or cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• ✂️ Cutting and editing – resizing, adding filters or text.
• 🎨 Printing modes: Standard: balance between quality and speed; high quality slower but sharper (recommended for portraits); economical: lower quality but lower ink consumption.
• 🖨️ Number of copies – up to 5 pieces at a time.

Before printing, check:

• 📄 The printer has paper (the amount of it is displayed on the display or in the application).
• 🎨 Color rendering on the phone screen may be different from printing – use preview.
• 🔋 Printer charge level (below 20% printing may be interrupted).

6. Solving common problems

Even after you set it up properly, you can have failures, and here are the most common errors and ways to fix them:

If the printer produces an E-01 or E-02 error, it usually means that the paper is clogged.

1. Turn off the printer.
2. Open the lid of the tray (usually it is fixed with a latch).
3. Remove the stuck paper by pulling it straight and slowly (not at an angle!).
4. Close the lid and turn the printer on again.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use metal objects (knives, tweezers) to remove paper, this may damage the printing mechanism.

7. Update of printer firmware

Regular firmware updates fix bugs and add new features to update the printer:

1. Connect the printer to your smartphone via Wi-Fi Direct (Bluetooth updates may be interrupted).
2. Open the Mi Home app → Choose your printer. → Settings (⚙️) → Firmware update.
3. If a new version is available, click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t turn off the printer!).

What to do if the update is suspended?

• 🕒 Wait 10-15 minutes – sometimes the process takes longer than the time specified.
• 🔌 If the indicator doesn’t blink, disconnect the printer from power for 30 seconds, then try again.
• 📡 Check the stability of the Wi-Fi connection (it is better to connect to the router, not using mobile Internet).

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Update the firmware only when the printer is fully charged (at least 50%). interruption of the process can lead to system failure and the need to reset to factory settings.

8. Alternative printing methods (without official software)

If you don’t have access to Xiaomi apps (like Huawei without Google services), you can try workarounds:

• 🖥️ Android Emulator (e.g. BlueStacks): Install Xiaomi Printer on PC and connect printer via Bluetooth.
• 📱 Third-party apps like PrintHand or NokoPrint – some support Xiaomi printers via plugins.
• 🔧 Manual Wi-Fi Connection: Connect to the Network MiPrinter_XXXX. Open the browser and enter the address 192.168.4.1. Upload the photo via the web interface (if it is available for your model).

Note that these methods may work in an unstable way or require technical skills, and official software remains the most reliable option.

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If you type frequently from different devices, create a guest Wi-Fi network on your router and connect a printer to it, so you don't have to reconnect your smartphone every time.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi printers