How to connect Xiaomi smart pen to your phone or tablet: full instructions from A to Z

Xiaomi’s smart pen is a next-generation stylus that turns your smartphone or tablet into a full-fledged tool for drawing, writing notes or working with documents. However, many users face difficulties when connecting a device for the first time: the pen does not recognize whether pairing errors occur or gestures do not work. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to connect the Smart Pen to Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, and also explain how to avoid typical problems.

It is important to understand that not all smartphones support stylus, for example, Xiaomi Smart Pen is compatible only with certain devices of the Mi Pad, Mi Mix and flagship smartphones. If your device is not included in the list of supported, the pen will simply not be recognized by the system, and it is worth considering that to fully work will require updating the firmware to the latest version – older versions of MIUI may not have the necessary drivers.

Before you start connecting, check the stylus charge. Despite the fact that the Smart Pen has a long battery life (up to 8 hours of active use), it can discharge during storage. The charge level can be monitored through a special menu in the device settings, we will discuss this below.

What kind of devices does Xiaomi use Smart Pen?

Not all Xiaomi gadgets support smart pens, and the manufacturer has limited compatibility with the following models:

• 📱 Smartphones: Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Xiaomi MIX Fold, Xiaomi MIX Fold 2, Xiaomi MIX Fold 3.
• 📱 Tablets: Xiaomi Pad 5, Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro, Xiaomi Pad 6, Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro, Xiaomi Pad 6 Max 14.
• ⚠️ Important: Redmi line devices and POCO (except POCO F5 Pro in some regions) do not support Smart Pen. Before buying, check compatibility on the official website of Xiaomi.

If your device is not listed, but you still want to try connecting a pen, you can use compatibility mode through third-party apps like Wacom Bamboo Ink or Adonit Note+. However, in this case, all features such as 4,096 levels of sensitivity to press or cancel palm touch will not be available.

⚠️ Note: If you use a Xiaomi Smart Pen with an unsupported device through third-party apps, be prepared for input delays (latency up to 50ms) and no gesture support (e.g. double-touch erasure).

Preparation for connection: charging and checking the stylus

Before you first use the Smart Pen, you need to make sure it's charged. Unlike traditional styluses, the Xiaomi Smart Pen has a built-in 120mAh battery that can be charged wirelessly.

1. Attach the pen to a magnetic connector on the side of the device (if your model supports mounting).
2. Make sure your smartphone or tablet is on and connected to charging.
3. Wait for the notification of the start of charging (usually appears in 5-10 seconds).

If there is no magnetic mount (for example, on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra without a case), use the USB-C cable that comes with the kit. Connect the pen to the charger for 10-15 minutes - this is enough for the first turn on.

Stylus charge > 20%|The device is updated to the latest version MIUI|Bluetooth on|Magnetic fastening is clean (no dust)-->

To check the charge level of the stylus after you connect, go to Settings → Connected devices → Smart Pen. It will show the current percentage of charge and battery life. If the indicator does not appear, try restarting your smartphone or tablet.

Step-by-step: how to connect a Smart Pen to Xiaomi

The process of pairing the stylus with the device takes no more than 1-2 minutes.

1. Turn on Bluetooth. Go to Settings → Bluetooth and activate the function. Make sure visibility mode is on (Video for all devices option).
2. Activate the pairing mode on the stylus. To do this, press and hold the switch on the Smart Pen pen for 3-5 seconds until the indicator flashes blue.
3. Find the device on the list. In the Bluetooth menu of your smartphone or tablet, a device called the Mi Smart Pen or Xiaomi Smart Pen will appear. Click on it to pair.
4. Confirm the connection. A request for code confirmation (usually 0000 or 1234) may appear on the screen, enter it and wait for the notification of a successful connection.

If the stylus doesn’t appear in the list of devices, try the following:

• 🔄 Reboot the Smart Pen by holding the 10 seconds power button.
• 📱 Restart your smartphone or tablet.
• 🔍 Make sure you are within Bluetooth range (no more than 10 meters without obstacles).
• 🔧 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

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If the stylus is connected but does not respond to touch, try calibrating it in the screen settings. To do this, go to Settings → Display → Calibration of the stylus and follow the instructions on the screen.

Setting and calibration of the stylus after connection

Once paired successfully, it is recommended that you calibrate the Smart Pen to improve the accuracy of input, which is especially important for artists and designers, where pixel-perfect accuracy is important.

1. Open the settings → Display → Calibration of the stylus.
2. Follow the instructions on the screen, touching the dots with a cross in the center.
3. Upon completion, save the settings and restart the device.

Also in the stylus settings menu (Settings → Connected Devices → Smart Pen) you can:

• 🎨 Set up pressure sensitivity (levels 1 to 4096).
• ✍️ Turn on/off palm-touch recognition (useful for recording notes).
• 🔋 View the charge level and battery life.
• 🔄 Update the stylus firmware (if available).

If the cursor of the stylus is shifted relative to the pen after calibration, try turning off the "Improving Accuracy" function in the screen settings, which in some cases conflicts with the Smart Pen drivers.

Drawing and design|Recording notes|Documentation work (PDF, Word)|Gesture management|Another option-->

Gestures and additional functions of Smart Pen

Xiaomi Smart Pen supports several gestures that speed up the work:

• ✌️ Double-touch button: Quick erasure (works in most drawing apps).
• 🖱️ Holding the button + Touch: Calling the context menu (analogue of right click).
• 🔄 Stylus spin: increase / decrease brush in Xiaomi Notes or Adobe Fresco.

To customize gestures to your needs:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Smart Pen gestures.
2. Select an action for each gesture from the list.
3. Save the changes and test the work in any application.

Note that some gestures may conflict with system functions, for example, double tapping a stylus button may accidentally activate the voice assistant if the settings are set to a similar action for the device's physical buttons.

⚠️ Attention: "Keep button" gesture + Touching doesn’t work in some third-party apps (such as Autodesk SketchBook) in which case use standard keyboard combinations or program settings.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even after a successful connection, users may encounter errors.

If none of the solutions worked, try resetting the stylus settings:

1. Turn off the pen in the Bluetooth menu.
2. Hold the switch on the stylus for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red.
3. Reconnect the pen as you did when you first used it.

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If the problem persists after all manipulations, contact Xiaomi support with the device model and version of MIUI. In some cases, a replacement stylus is required under warranty.

The best apps to work with Smart Pen

To unlock the full potential of Smart Pen, install specialized applications:

• 🎨 For drawing: Xiaomi Notes (built-in, layer-enabled); Adobe Fresco (professional brushes and vectors); Concepts (infinite canvas and precise lines).
• 📝 For notes: Nebo (handwriting recognition). GoodNotes 5 (paper imitation and templates).
• 📄 For PDF: Foxit PDF (annotations and captions. Xodo PDF (cloud-synchronization).

The Xiaomi Notes app has unique features for the Smart Pen:

• 🖌️ Mode "Ink": imitation of writing instruments (pen, marker, brush).
• 🧲 Magnetic attraction: lines automatically align for straight figures.
• 🔍 Smart zoom: With pen tilt, the screen gets closer for details.

For maximum performance, close the background applications before working with the stylus – this will reduce input delays (latency) and improve responsiveness.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Smart Pen