How to print photos from Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often wonder how to transfer digital images to paper without passing a computer. Modern technology allows you to do this directly using the built-in features of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system. You do not need to be an expert in the field of printing to get a quality picture at home.

Printing has become much easier with the advent of cloud services and wireless data protocols, and direct printing is available even on budget models like the Redmi Note or Poco, so the key is to get the device ready and choose the right connection method.

In this guide, we will break down all the current methods, from classic cable to cloud technology. You will learn how to set up a printer in a couple of minutes and avoid common mistakes when choosing a paper format and color settings. For high-resolution photos (RAW or 48+ MP), it is recommended to use a wired connection or 5 GHz Wi-Fi to avoid data compression during transmission.

Preparation of the smartphone and compatibility check

Before you start, make sure your printer supports mobile printing. Most modern models from Canon, Epson, HP and Brother have built-in support for Wi-Fi Direct or Mopria standards. If you have an older device, you may need to install additional software.

Check to see if both devices — Xiaomi smartphone and printer — are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, which is critical for wireless methods. Also make sure that the gallery has printable files and they are not corrupted.

The Android system that runs MIUI requires a print plugin, which is often built-in in modern firmware versions, but can be disabled by default, and activating this component is the first step to successful printing.

• 📱 Make sure your phone has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
• 🖨️ Check for ink cartridges and paper in the printer tray.
• 🔗 Devices must be in the zone of confident reception of the signal (no further). 5-7 meters).
• ⚡ Charge your smartphone to at least 30% so that the process does not interrupt.

⚠️ Note: If the printer is connected via the corporate network with these security protocols, direct printing can be blocked by the administrator, in which case use the method of cloud printing or a personal access point.

Set up a printing service on Xiaomi

To get the phone to see the printer, you need to activate the system plugin. In the MIUI shell, this process is standardized, but the path to settings may vary slightly depending on the version of Android. Go to the settings menu of your device.

Find the connection and resource sharing section, where you can add new output devices, and then you can download the necessary components from the Google Play store if they are not available.

Once you install the plugin (usually a Default Print Service or an application from a printer manufacturer), you need to include it in the list of active services_share_ will not.

To activate the service, perform the following actions:

1. Open the smartphone settings.
2. Go to Connect and Sharing (or Additional Settings).
3. Select the Print item.
4. Click on Default Print Service and switch the switch to the On position.

Now, Xiaomi will automatically search for printers available online, and if the device is found, a green light will appear next to its name, which means that the connection is established and ready to transfer data.

Printing over Wi-Fi and embedded services

The most convenient way is to use a wireless connection, and Wi-Fi Direct allows you to connect your phone and printer directly, without the need for a router, which is especially useful if you're visiting a business or office where access to the main network is limited.

The alternative is to print through cloud services such as Google Cloud Print (for older models) or manufacturer-branded apps, but the native method through the gallery's system menu works faster and does not require additional accounts to be registered.

Open the photo you want in the standard Gallery app on your Xiaomi. Click on the menu icon (three dots or gear) and select Print option. The system will prompt you to select a printer from the list of available ones.

In the preview window that opens, you can change the settings:

• 📄 Paper size: select A4, A6 or 10x15 centimeter.
• 🎨 Color: Color or black and white printing.
• 📐 Scale: Enter the page or the actual size.
• 🔢 Copies: number of copies.

After setting up, press the print button. The image will be sent to the printer queue. Processing time depends on the resolution of the photo and network speed.

⚠️ Note: When printing photos in high resolution (over 10 MB) over Wi-Fi, there may be a delay of several seconds before printing.

Use of branded applications of manufacturers

If standard Android tools do not find the printer or work unstable, it is recommended to use specialized applications. Printing equipment manufacturers create their own utilities with advanced functionality for editing and composing pictures.

Canon app owners will be better off with Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY, which allows not only printing but also scanning documents and checking the level of ink in cartridges. Epson users should install Epson iPrint, which supports printing from cloud storage.

HP printers can use HP Smart, which automatically adjusts print options for different types of photo paper, and it takes a couple of minutes to install these applications, but gives you more control over the process.

Procedure for actions in company applications:

1. Download the manufacturer’s app from Google Play.
2. Run the program and allow access to geolocation (you need to search for printers over Wi-Fi).
3. Add your printer by following the instructions on the screen.
4. Select a photo from the Xiaomi gallery through the application interface.

The advantage of branded utilities is the ability to print collages, add filters and print on the back of paper (bilateral printing), if the printer supports this.

Printing through USB-cable (OTG)

If the wireless network is not available or is unstable, you can use a wired connection. To do this, your Xiaomi smartphone will need support for OTG (On-The-Go) technology and an appropriate adapter.

Most modern Redmi and Mi models support OTG by default. You will need a USB Type-C (or Micro-USB) adapter cable to a standard USB-A that connects to the printer cable.

Connect the printer to the phone with a cable. The system must automatically identify the new one. USB-device and suggest installing the driver or running the print. If no automatic action has occurred, use the application that supports the USB-Printing, for example, Noko Print or StarPrint.

The wired method is ideal for printing large volumes of photos, as it eliminates data packet loss and provides maximum speed for transferring heavy files.

💡

Use Xiaomi’s original OTG cable or quality labeled counterparts. Cheap adapters may not let enough current to run the printer, and the device simply won’t start.

Decision and quality advice

Often users are faced with a situation where printing has started, but the colors on paper are different from those on the screen.This is due to the difference in the color profiles of RGB (screen) and CMYK (printer).

To minimize discrepancies, use the photo paper recommended by the printer manufacturer: glossy paper gives more saturated colors but leaves fingerprints, matte paper - more natural tones, but less contrasting.

If the printer has chewed paper or the print has run in stripes, don't pull the sheet abruptly. Open the printer lid, let the mechanism cool (if it's thermal), and carefully remove the paper as the shafts move.

• 🖼️ For portraits, use the Portrait mode or special skin settings in apps.
• 🌅 Landscapes are better to print on glossy paper format A4 or 10x15.
• 📉 If the photo is dark, increase the brightness in the editor before sending it to print.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use the Ink Saving mode to print photos. This mode is only for text documents and severely degrades the image quality, making the colors fade and grainy.

💡

Print quality is 80 percent dependent on the state of the print head and the type of paper, and only 20 percent on the phone settings. Run duz cleaning regularly through the printer service menu.

Alternative methods: Cloud and photo centers

If you don't have a home printer or you run out of ink, you can use online photo centers. Many services, such as NetPrint, Foto.ru or SberPhoto, have user-friendly mobile apps or sites adapted for Xiaomi.

You upload photos to the service cloud, choose the format, number of copies and delivery method (by courier or delivery point), which is often cheaper and better than home printing, especially for large formats.

You can also use Google Photos or Yandex.Disk cloud storage. By uploading photos from your phone, you can access them from any computer in the copier and print them there.

This is a good way to do this, because it doesn't require home technology, but it takes time to deliver, and for urgent printing, it's best to learn home methods via Wi-Fi or USB.