Xiaomi Portable Printer: How to Connect, Print, and Avoid Errors

Portable printer from Xiaomi: why it is needed and how it works

Xiaomi’s portable printers are compact devices that allow you to print photos directly from your smartphone without a computer or complex settings. The most popular models — Xiaomi Portable Photo Printer 2 and Xiaomi Mi Pocket Photo Printer — use thermosublimation printing technology, which guarantees bright colors and durability of images (up to 50 years without fading). Unlike inkjet or laser printers, these devices do not require ink: they use special paper with microscopic dyes that are activated by heat.

The main advantage is mobility. The printer can easily fit into a backpack or even a jacket pocket, and weighs less than 300 grams, connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0 or Wi-Fi Direct, which eliminates the need for wires. But here lies the first pitfall: many users face problems synchronizing due to outdated versions of firmware or incompatibility with some phone models.

It's important to understand that Xiaomi's portable printers are geared towards printing photos, not documents. 300×300 dpi, and the size of the images is usually limited to the format 54×86 If you want large printouts or text files, you better look at other devices, but if you want to create instant memories -- travel, parties or family events -- it's the perfect solution.

What Xiaomi printer models are and how they differ

Xiaomi has released several generations of portable printers to date, and their capabilities vary significantly.

• 📱 Xiaomi Mi Pocket Photo Printer (first generation) – basic model with 300 dpi resolution, Bluetooth 4.0 support and printing time ~40 seconds only works with the Mi Home app.

The main difference between the first and second generation is the speed and stability of the connection. The second model also supports printing with iOS (the first generation had problems with the iPhone older than 2018).If you choose between them, focus on the Bluetooth version of your smartphone: for Bluetooth 5.0 and later, you better take Portable Photo Printer 2.

We should mention the consumables, too. All Xiaomi printers use branded paper with a heat-sensitive layer. It comes in 20-50 sheets, and you can't replace it with regular photo paper, because it will break the device. The average cost of a 20-sheet kit is about 1,000 rubles, so before you buy a printer, you should estimate how often you'll use it.

Step-by-step: how to connect the printer to the smartphone

The first time you turn on your printer can be a question, especially if you have never worked with a printer before.

1. Charge the device. Connect the printer to the network using a cable. USB Type-C (included) and wait for full charge (indicator will light up green). Charging time is about 2 hours.
2. Install the paper. Open the paper compartment lid (usually on the back) and place the dye stack down. Close the lid before you click.
3. Turn on the printer. Press the power button for 3 seconds until the white light light lights up. Make sure the printer produces a characteristic initialization sound.
4. Connect to your smartphone. Activate Bluetooth on your phone and find a device called Mi_Photo_Printer_XXXX (where XXXX — Unique ID. - Connect to it.

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

• 🔄 Restart the printer (hold the power button for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Update the printer firmware through the Mi Home app (Devices section) → Settings → Update of the PO).
• 🔌 Check if the printer is connected to another device (it can only work with one smartphone at a time).

Once you've successfully connected, install the official Xiaomi Print app (for Android) or Mi Home (for iOS), where you can not only print photos, but also edit them: add filters, text, frames, and even create collages. When you first start, the app will offer you to go through a brief setting - follow the tips on the screen.

How to print photos: from the choice of the picture to the finished photo

The printing process in the Xiaomi Print app is intuitive, but there are a few nuances that will help you get the best result.

1. You can choose a photo. Open the app and select the Gallery section, and you can see all the photos from your smartphone, and you can choose one or more to create a collage.
2. Editing. You can edit before printing the photo: 🎨 Add filters (sepia, black and white, vintage). ✏️ Apply text or drawings by hand. 🖼️ Choose a frame (thematic options are available: holidays, travel, etc.).

Set up the print.

Seal.

Start the process.

Important: The printer automatically trims the photo to paper format (part ratio 2:3). If your picture has a different ratio (for example, 16:9), part of the image will be lost. To avoid this, before printing, cut the photo manually in any graphics editor (for example, in Google Photos or Snapseed).

Another feature is color reproduction. Xiaomi's thermosublimation printers are a little bit too saturated, so photos on paper can look brighter than on a smartphone screen. If you care about color accuracy, reduce the saturation in editing settings by 10 to 15 percent before printing.

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If you're typing a photo for an album, use the "No Fields" feature in your print settings, which allows the images to cover the entire area of paper without white edges.

Compatibility with devices: which smartphones are supported

Officially, Xiaomi printers are compatible with Android 6.0 and later, and with iPhones on iOS 10.0 and higher. However, in practice, some models may be problematic.

• 📱 Smartphones Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco: Compatibility with all devices, but with MIUI 12 and older may be required to allow manual access to Bluetooth (in the App settings) → Xiaomi Print → Permits).
• 🍎 iPhone: only works with Portable Photo Printer 2 and later. on iOS 15+ Sometimes you need to reconnect the printer after you update the system.
• 🤖 Other Android devices: Samsung and Huawei may have problems due to manufacturers' restrictions on Bluetooth background work. → Bluetooth.

If your smartphone isn’t supported, there’s a workaround: use the printer in Wi-Fi Direct mode (available only in Portable Photo Printer 2).

1. Activate Wi-Fi Direct on the printer (hold the power button for 5 seconds until the blue light flashes).
2. Connect to the printer network from your smartphone (network name will be MiPrinter_XXXX).
3. Open the Xiaomi Print app and select a photo to print.

Note that in Wi-Fi Direct mode, the printer will not have access to the Internet, so the functions of cloud printing (for example, from Google Photos) will not work, but this method often saves if Bluetooth refuses to connect.

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For a stable printer with iPhone, be sure to update the firmware of the device through Mi Home. Without this, the printing may be interrupted.

Printer care: how to extend the service life

Xiaomi portable printers do not require complicated maintenance, but a few simple rules will help to avoid breakdowns and maintain the quality of the print:

• 🔋 Charging: Use only the original cable USB Type-C Charging from Powerful Adapters (More) 5V/2A) could damage the battery.
• 📄 Paper: Keep consumables in a dry place, away from direct sunlight. Before installing, make sure that the sheets are not dented or moist.
• 🧹 Clean: wipe the print head once a month with a dry microfiber wipe. Do not use alcohol or aggressive detergents!
• 🌡️ Temperature: Do not use a printer at a temperature below +5°C or higher +35°C. This can cause paper warping or printing failures.

Pay special attention to the printed head, if the photo shows white stripes or blurred areas, it is a sign of contamination.

1. Turn off the printer and remove the paper.
2. Slightly moisten the cotton swab in distilled water (not in alcohol!).
3. Carefully swipe the printed head (it is located under the lid where the paper comes out).
4. Let the printer dry for 10-15 minutes before the next use.

If the printer has not been used for a long time (more than a month), do a test printout before printing.

1. Open the Xiaomi Print app.
2. Go to Settings. → Diagnostics → Test printing.
3. Wait for the process to be completed (the printer will print out the pattern with colors and lines).

This will help remove possible dried dye particles and check the device's operability.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when properly operated, users face typical problems, and we've collected the most common ones and the ways to solve them:

⚠️ Warning: If the printer makes unusual sounds (squeaking, squeaking) during printing, turn it off immediately! This may indicate that a foreign object has entered the mechanism.

One of the most frustrating mistakes is interrupting the print in the middle, which is usually because:

• 🔌 Bluetooth loss (solution: bring your phone closer to the printer).
• 📵 Printer battery discharge (solution: charge up to 100% before printing).
• 📱 Close the Xiaomi Print app in the background (solution: disable battery optimization for the app in phone settings).

If the printer starts printing but suddenly stops, don't try to pull the paper out by force! It can damage the machine.

1. Turn off the printer (hold the power button for 5 seconds).
2. Wait 1 minute and turn it on again.
3. The printer will automatically complete the print or produce a code error (e.g., a printer, E-02 — paper-closure).

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If the printer often turns off while printing, try using it in Wi-Fi Direct mode instead of Bluetooth, which is more stable for transferring large amounts of data.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions