How to reflash the vacuum cleaner Xiaomi through the iPhone: all ways and life hacks

Reframing Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaner through an iPhone is a task that at first glance seems impossible due to the limitations of iOS. APK-file ADB, Apple gadget owners have to find workarounds, but there are ways -- and they work even for models like the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro, Dreame Bot. Z10 Pro or outdated Mi Robot 1S.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at all the current iPhone flashing techniques, from official updates to the Mi Home app to alternative solutions using cloud services and a computer. You’ll learn how to get around the limitations of iOS, what bugs can occur (e.g., Error 1002 or boot-stage getting stuck), and how to fix them. And why some third-party firmware can block access to the Xiaomi cloud and how to avoid it.

Why Flashing Through iPhone Is Harder Than Android

The main problem lies in the architecture of iOS. Unlike Android, where the user gets almost complete control of the file system, Apple severely restricts:

• 🔒 No access to the file system – you can not just download the firmware in.pkg format and upload it to the vacuum cleaner through a wired connection.
• 🚫 No support. ADB — Android Debug Bridge, which is often used for firmware through a computer, is incompatible with iPhone.
• 🌐 Safari restrictions – the browser blocks the download of “suspicious” files (for example, custom firmware from forums).
• 🔄 Closed. API — Mi Home for iOS does not support manual firmware downloads, unlike the Android version.

But that doesn't mean you can't do it over the counter, but you'll just have to use workarounds, like cloud services, a computer as a middleman, or even Jailbreak (in extreme cases), and then you'll have to go into detail about each method.

Method 1: Officially Update with Mi Home (Safest Way)

If your goal is to simply upgrade the vacuum cleaner to the latest official firmware, rather than installing custom, this method is best suited. It doesn't require a computer and works directly with the iPhone.

1. Open the Mi Home app and make sure the vacuum cleaner is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone.

⚠️ Warning: If the vacuum cleaner is stuck in the Prepare for Upgrade phase for more than 30 minutes, don't turn it off the power. Try restarting the router, sometimes a problem with a slow Internet connection. If that doesn't work, you'll have to use alternative methods (see below).

Make sure the battery charge is >50%|

Connect the vacuum cleaner to the 2.4 GHz network (5 GHz not supported)|

Close background apps on iPhone|

Shut down. VPN (It can block Xiaomi servers)-->

Method 2: Firmware through a computer (Mac or Windows) with an iPhone as an assistant

If the official update is not available, or you want to install custom firmware (like Valetudo for detachment from the Xiaomi cloud), you will have to use the computer, but the iPhone will still come in handy for some stages.

You'll need:

• 💻 Windows or Mac OS PC (Linux or Mac is better for Valetudo).
• 🔌 USB-Type-C Cable (for new models of vacuum cleaners) or Micro-USB adapter.
• 📱 iPhone for downloading firmware (if the computer is not at hand).

Step-by-step:

1. Download firmware to your iPhone via Safari (if files are blocked, use Documents by Readdle or iCloud Drive).
2. Flip the file to your computer via AirDrop, mail or cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox).
3. Connect the vacuum cleaner to your computer and use the MiRoBo utility (for official firmware) or Docker (for Valetudo).
4. Follow the instructions for your model (the teams are different!).

⚠️ Note: If the vacuum cleaner produces an Error 1005 error after the firmware is installed, it means that the firmware file is damaged or not suitable for your model (MD5) file.

Method 3: Alternative methods (for experienced users)

If the first two methods do not work, you can try:

Cloud firmware is the easiest alternative. You'll need to:

1. Get Token and Device vacuum cleaner ID via Mi Home (use Packet Capture on iPhone with Jailbreak or special scripts).
2. Upload firmware to a cloud server (e.g., GitHub).
3. Send a command to update via the Xiaomi API (see below for an example of a command).

💡

To get Token without Jailbreak, use the Mi Home app on your Android emulator (like BlueStacks) or try mihome.bbind.de (not all models).

curl -X POST "https://api.io.mi.com/app/gen2/tryUpdate" \


-H "x-xiaomi-protocal-flag-cli: PROTOCAL-HTTP2" \




-H "User-Agent: MiHome/6.0.103" \




-d '{"did":"YOUR_DEVICE_ID","token":"YOUR_TOKEN","url":"LINK_TO_FIRMWARE"}'

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even with the right actions, firmware can go wrong, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:

• 🔴 Error 1002 is incompatible firmware. Check the vacuum cleaner model and the file version. For example, the firmware for Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P is not suitable for Dreame Bot. L10 Pro.
• 🔴 Error 1004 - not enough space. Drop the vacuum cleaner to factory settings via Settings → Reset.
• 🔴 Error 1006 – Xiaomi server problems. try later or use VPN China-bound.
• 🔴 The vacuum cleaner doesn't turn on after the firmware is run, the loader may be damaged).

If the vacuum cleaner got stuck on the Xiaomi logo after a failed firmware, try:

1. Hold the power button for 10-15 seconds for forced reboot.
2. Connect the vacuum cleaner to charging and repeat the firmware.
3. Use emergency mode (for some models: hold power + Home 5 seconds).

💡

If the vacuum cleaner has stopped responding to buttons, do not try to disassemble it yourself - in 90% of cases, the problem is solved software through a computer or service center.

How to check the success of the firmware

After the update, be sure to check:

1. The firmware version in Settings → About the device.
2. The main functions: mapping, connection to Wi-Fi, control through the application.
3. Error Logs (if any) in Settings → Log

If the firmware version has not changed, but there are no errors, try:

• Reboot the vacuum cleaner.
• Repeat the update after 1-2 hours (sometimes Xiaomi servers cache the old version).
• Install firmware through a computer (see Method 2).

Important: Once you install custom firmware (like Valetudo), the vacuum cleaner may lose access to the Xiaomi cloud. That's okay, and that's what's meant for privacy. To get back to the cloud, you'll have to stitch back the official version.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi flashing through the iPhone