Xiaomi printer compatibility with phones: what you need to know before connecting
Xiaomi’s portable printers are compact, instant-printing devices that use wireless technology, but not all models support the same connection protocols. For example, the Mi Portable Photo Printer (first generation) uses Bluetooth 4.0 exclusively, while the Mi Smart Photo Printer 2 already has Wi-Fi Direct module for more stable data transfer.
Before you start setting up, check out three key points:
- 📱 Version. Android/iOS: Mi Home app requires Android 5.0+ iOS 10.0+. On older smartphones (such as Redmi) 3S iPhone 5) There may be compatibility issues.
- 🔋 Printer charge: If the battery level is below 20%, the device may shut down during printing. charge it to 100% before first use.
- 📶 Wireless Phone Modules: Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (even if the connection is over Bluetooth, some models require Wi-Fi to authorize).
Also note that Xiaomi printers do not support printing documents (e.g., printers, PDF Word or Word – they are focused only on photos in formats JPEG/PNG prior 1920×1080. Trying to print a different file type will cause an error in the Unsupported format.
Step-by-step: Connect via the Mi Home app
The official way to connect is through the Mi Home app, and follow the algorithm:
- Install the app: 🤖 For Android: Download Mi Home from Google Play. 🍎 For iOS: Find it in the App Store.
⚠️ Note: If you have a Huawei phone without Google services, use an alternative AppGallery store or APK-file from the official Xiaomi website. Register or log in to Xiaomi account (required! without authorization, the printer will not be added). + → Add the device to the top right. Select the Printer category. Find your printer model in the list (e.g. Mi Smart Photo Printer 2). Follow the instructions on the screen: 🔄 Turn on the printer with a long press of the power button (the indicator should flash blue). 📲 Allow the application to access Bluetooth and Locations (required to search for the device!). 🔗 Wait for the phone to detect the printer (can take up to 30 seconds). ☑️ Checklist before connecting Printer charged to 100%Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on phone enabled Latest Mi HomePrinter update is in pairing mode (Blinks blue)Played: 0 / 4 If the printer is not there, try it: 🔄 Reboot the phone and printer. 📱 Remove the Mi Home app cache in your phone settings. 🌐 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes corporate networks block IoT devices).Bluetooth connectivity: an alternative way without Mi Home Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi Pocket Photo Printer) support direct Bluetooth connectivity without using the Mi Home. This method is suitable if: 🚫 You don’t have a Xiaomi account. 📵 Mi Home app is not stable. 🔒 You want to print without transferring data to the cloud. Instructions: Turn on the printer and put it in pairing mode (press the power button on the 5 You can see the lights flashing red and blue for a second. → Bluetooth, find a device called MI_PP_XXXX (where XXXX — Unique ID) and press Hide. Confirm the pairing code (usually 0000 or 1234). After connecting, open the phone gallery, select a photo and click Share. → Print (if available) Why is the printer not visible in Bluetooth?Make sure the printer is in pairing mode (flashes red/blue) and not just on (burns green). Also check if it is connected to another device - Xiaomi printers only support one active connection. Limitations of method: ⚠️ No access to additional functions (frames, filters, collages). ⚠️ Print quality could be worse due to data compression over Bluetooth. ⚠️ On iPhones, this method often works unstable due to the limitations of iOS. Wi-Fi Direct Connection: For models with support If your printer supports Wi-Fi Direct (e.g., Mi Smart Photo Printer 2), this method will provide higher data transfer speeds and better print quality. Algorithm: Turn on the printer and press the Wi-Fi button (or button combination if one button) before the green light flashes. On the phone, open Settings. → Wi-Fi. Find a network called MI-PRINTER-XXXX You don't usually need a password or it's in the default instructions (12345678), open the Mi Home app or the phone gallery, select a photo and send it to print. After printing, disconnect the phone from the printer network and return to your main Wi-Fi network, otherwise the Internet on the phone will not work. printing permission time printing 1 Photo by Mi Portable Photo Printer Bluetooth 4.0 800×600 dpi ~40 Mi Smart Photo Printer 2 Bluetooth 5.0 + Wi-Fi Direct 1200×600 dpi ~25 Mi Pocket Photo Printer Bluetooth 4.2 600×600 dpi ~50 seconds 💡If the printer is connected to Wi-Fi Direct but the print doesn’t start, try turning it off. VPN on the phone -- some of them. VPN They block local connections. Solving common connection errors, even if you set them up correctly, they can crash: 🔴 Error: "Device not found" Possible causes and actions: 📶 Weak Bluetooth signal: Bring your phone closer to the printer (maximum) 10 footprint). 🔋 Low Printer Charge: Connect It to Charge and Try Again. 📱 Conflict with other devices: disconnect from the phone other Bluetooth gadgets (earphones, fitness bracelets). 🟡 Error: “I failed to connect to the printer” is often caused by: 🔄 Outdated printer firmware: update it through Mi Home (Device section) → Settings → Update of the PO). 🚫 Antivirus Blocks: temporarily disable antivirus (such as Avast or Kaspersky) and reconnect. 🌐 Wi-Fi network restrictions: If you connect via Wi-Fi Direct, make sure the router does not block IoT devices (check your settings). MAC-filter). 🟢 Error: "Photos are not printed" (printer is connected but not responsive) The problem is usually in the: 🖼️ Inappropriate file format: Convert photos to JPEG no higher-permission 1920×1080. 📂 Printer memory problems: Remove old printing tasks in Mi Home (Print queue section). 🔧 Clogged print head: clean it with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol (do not use water!). 💡If the printer makes strange noises (squeaking, squeaking) when printing, turn it off immediately, which may indicate a mechanical malfunction. Continue use without diagnosis will lead to breakage. How to type from the phone: Step-by-step from photo selection to result After a successful connection, the most enjoyable step is printing. Let's take a look at the process using the Mi Home app: Photo selection: Open Mi Home and select your printer. Press Print. → You can select photos from the phone gallery, Google Photos cloud or social networks (Instagram, Facebook): 🎨 Add filters (C/B, Sepia, Vintage). ✂️ Cut the photo to paper format (for example, 2×3 inch). 🖼️ Choose a frame or sticker (available) ~20 Options) Printing settings: 🔄 Enter the number of copies (up to) 5 piece). 📏 Select the paper format (54×86 mm 76×127 mm, depending on the printer model). 🌈 Turn off color correction if you want to keep the original colors. Start print: Press print and wait until it's finished (the printer indicator will burn green). 🚫 Don't turn off the printer or close the application before the process is over! If the print is interrupted, check: 📄 Is there enough paper in the tray (minimum balance — 3 leaf). 🔋 Ink level (in Mi Home is displayed as Toner level). 📶 Connection stability (if the printer indicator flashes red, connection is lost). Xiaomi printer care tips: how to extend the life of Xiaomi portable printers sensitive to operating conditions. Follow these recommendations to avoid breakdowns: 🌡️ Temperature: Use the printer at temperature 10–35°C. Storage in the cold or in direct sunlight leads to drying of ink. 💧 Humidity: Avoid areas with humidity above 80% (such as the bathroom) and condensation can damage electronics. 🔋 Charging: Use only the original USB-Type-C cable (low-quality cables can burn the power controller).Do not leave the printer on charge for more than 12 hours - this shortens battery life. 🧹 Clean: Clean the rollers of paper with dry soft cloth once a month. Use compressed air (a tank for cleaning equipment) to remove dust from the print head. Check if the ink is out (Mi Home shows as Low Toner Level). Make sure the paper is loaded correctly (side with Xiaomi logo upwards). Reset your printer settings: press the power button for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red 3 times. 💡If the printer has not been used for a long time (more than 2 weeks), run the test page via Mi Home before printing. → This will prevent nozzle clogging. FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions 🔹 Can you print from a Xiaomi printer to an iPhone without the Mi Home? Yes, but with limitations. On an iPhone, you can connect to the printer via Bluetooth in the phone settings, but: Only basic features (without filters and bezels) will be available. Print quality can be worse due to data compression. Some models (such as Mi Smart Photo Printer 2) require Mi Home even on iOS. 🔹 Why does Xiaomi print stripes or pale colors? are typical signs of problems with the print head or ink. Check: Ink Level: In Mi Home, open Device Status → Toner level. Nozzle clogging: Start Cleaning the head in the printer settings (Service section). Paper quality: use only original Xiaomi paper (cheap analogues can leave divorces). If the problem persists, try resetting the printer to factory settings. 🔹 How many photos can you print on a cartridge? Cartridge capacity depends on the model: Printer model Number of photos (10×15 Refuelling costs (approximately) Mi Portable Photo Printer ~50 piece. 1 200–1 500 ₽ Mi Smart Photo Printer 2 ~80 piece. 1 500–1 800 ₽ The cost is indicated for original Xiaomi cartridges.Using compatible ink could reduce print head life. 🔹 Can you print from a Xiaomi printer on a laptop or a PC? Officially, no. Xiaomi printers are for mobile devices only. However, there are workarounds: Install an Android emulator on your PC (like BlueStacks) and run Mi Home through it. Send a photo from your PC to your phone (by mail, messenger), and then print it from your phone. Use cloud services (like Google Photos) to access your PC photo on your phone. Windows/macOS Unable due to lack of drivers. 🔹 How do you reset a Xiaomi printer to factory settings? Follow these steps: Turn off the printer. Press the power button on the 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red 3 Release the button, the printer will reboot and reset all settings (including pairing with the phone) and then reset the printer from Mi Home.