Xiaomi Portable Printer: Full Instructions for Use in 2026

Xiaomi’s portable printers have gained popularity thanks to their compact size, wireless connectivity, and printability anywhere from the office to travel. Models like the Mi Portable Photo Printer or Xiaomi Mini Printer support printing photos, documents, and even stickers from mobile devices. However, many users face difficulties when first connecting or setting up: the printer is not recognized by the phone, photos are printed with stripes, and cartridges run out quickly.

In this guide, we will take you through all the steps of working with a Xiaomi portable printer, from unpacking to advanced features, you will learn how to install drivers correctly, connect via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, replace consumables and even print with a new device. Windows/Mac And we'll also reveal hidden settings in the Mi Home app that save ink and improve print quality.

Xiaomi portable printer models: comparison of features

Xiaomi has released several lines of portable printers, each focused on different tasks, the main differences are in the resolution of printing, supported paper formats and connection methods. Below is a comparison table of current models for 2026.

For photo printing, it is better to choose models with thermosublimation (Mi Portable Photo Printer 2), as they give more saturated colors and resistance to fading. If you need to print documents or stickers, Xiaomi Mini Printer will do. A4 format-enabled A4. For minimalists who only need check printouts, Redmi Pocket Printer is the best option.

Note that thermal printer cartridges (e.g. Pocket Printer) are not compatible with inkjet models, and some printers have regional restrictions, such as the Mi Portable Photo Printer 2, which is not officially sold in Russia, but works with Russian-made printers. SIM-hand-setting.

Unpacking and first switching on: what to do right away

After buying a Xiaomi printer, do not rush to turn it on immediately. First, check the equipment - the box should contain:

• 📦 The printer itself with the protective film
• 🔋 Cable USB-C (charging and connecting to a PC)
• 📄 Instructions in Chinese/English (Russian version is not usually available)
• 🖨️ Start cartridge (in some models it must be installed independently)
• 📃 Test paper (1-2 sheets)

If you bought a printer from AliExpress or an unofficial seller, there is a risk of getting a device without a cartridge - check this in advance. Also check the serial number on the case: it will be necessary to register with Mi Home.

First actuation:

1. Connect the printer to charge for 1-2 hours (even if the indicator is on).
2. Press and hold the power button for 3-5 seconds until it blinks. LED.
3. Wait for initialization – the printer will emit an audible signal or print a test page.

⚠️ Note: If the printer doesn’t turn on, check the cable – some Xiaomi models require the original USB-C supportive PD (Power Delivery: Using cheap cables can cause disruptions.

Connecting to the phone: step-by-step instructions for Android and iOS

All Xiaomi portable printers are managed through the official Mi Home app (for the first time). Android/iOS). But the connection process is different depending on the model and the operating system.

For Android:

1. Download Mi Home from Google Play (version no lower than 6.0).
2. Sign up or sign in through your Xiaomi account (required!).
3. Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on your phone.
4. In the app, click Add Device (+) → printer.
5. Select your model from the list and follow the instructions on the screen.

For iOS (iPhone):

• 📱 Install Mi Home from the App Store.
• 🔄 Go to the iPhone Settings → Bluetooth and enable detection.
• 🖥️ Select China Mainland (even if you are in Russia).
• 🔍 Click Add Add the device → Manually enter the serial number of the printer.

If the printer is not there, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the printer and the phone.
• 📶 Connect to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (Xiaomi printers don’t work with 5GHz).
• 🔧 Reset your printer settings (press the power button for 10 seconds).

⚠️ Attention: On iPhone with iOS 17+ You may need to allow access to the Local Area Network in the Mi Home settings, without which the printer will connect but not print.

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If the printer connects but doesn’t print photos from the iPhone, try saving the photo to the Gallery and sending it to print from there – sometimes direct exports from social networks are blocked.

Printing from the phone: photos, documents and stickers

Once connected, you can start printing. There are several modes available in the Mi Home app:

Printing of photographs:

• 📸 Select a photo from the gallery or take a picture directly in the app.
• ✂️ Cut the image to paper format (for example, 10×15 centimeter).
• 🎨 Apply filters (sepia, black and white, contrast enhancement).
• 🖨️ Press Print and wait until completion (30–60 seconds).

Printing of documents (PDF, Word, Excel):

For this:

1. Open the file on your phone (for example, through Google Drive).
2. Press Share. → Seal. → Select a printer.
3. In the list of devices, select your Xiaomi printer.
4. Set the scale (by page size or Enter).

Stickers and labels:

Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mini Printer) A4) They're still printing on self-adhesive paper:

• 🏷️ In the app, select Sticker mode.
• 🖼️ Download a template or create your own design.
• 📏 Specify the size of the label (for example, 5×7 centimeter).

If the printer is chewing paper, check:

• 📄 Is the paper correctly installed (usually with the Xiaomi logo up).
• 🔧 Are there any foreign objects in the tray.
• 💧 Is there not a high humidity in the room (thermopaper is sensitive to moisture).

Printing from a computer (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Although Xiaomi’s portable printers are positioned as mobile, they can be connected to a computer. USB-C or Wi-Fi.

Method 1: Connection to USB (for Windows/Mac)

1. Connect the printer to the PC with a cable USB-C.
2. Download the driver from the official Xiaomi website (Support section) → Drivers).
3. Install the driver and restart the computer.
4. Open the document, press Ctrl+P and select your printer.

Method 2: Print over Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi Direct models only)

• 📶 On the printer, activate Wi-Fi Direct mode (usually with a long press on the power button).
• 🖥️ On PC, connect to the printer network (the name will be type) Xiaomi_Printer_XXXX).
• 🔗 Add the printer through the Control Panel → Devices and printers.

Linux will need to use universal drivers CUPS:

sudo apt install cups printer-driver-all


sudo lpadmin -p Xiaomi_Printer -E -v usb://Xiaomi/Printer -m drv:///sample.drv/generic.ppd

⚠️ Note: When printing with MacOS, you may need to disable AirPrint in your printer settings, otherwise the document will be sent in line but not printed.

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It is better to use it for printing from PC USB-Connection – it is more stable than Wi-Fi and does not require additional network settings.

Replacement of the cartridge and maintenance of the printer

The life of Xiaomi’s portable printer is directly dependent on the proper handling of the cartridges and mechanism.

How to replace the cartridge:

1. Turn off the printer and disconnect the cables.
2. Open the lid (usually it is fixed with a latch).
3. Carefully remove the old cartridge by pulling it up.
4. Install a new cartridge before clicking (don't touch contacts!).
5. Close the lid and turn on the printer – it will automatically perform the calibration.

Frequent errors in replacement:

• 🚫 Use of cartridges from other brands (even if they are “fit” in size).
• 💦 Touching the printed head (this leads to divorces).
• 🔋 Replacement with the printer on (risk of damage to the mechanism).

Printer care:

• 🧹 Clean the rollers of paper with a dry napkin once a month.
• 🌡️ Store the printer at a temperature of 10-35°C (thermopaper spoils from cold).
• 🔋 If the printer is not in use for more than a week, remove the paper and cartridge.

If the printer starts printing in stripes, try:

1. Start cleaning the print head in Mi Home (Service section).


2. Check the level of ink in the cartridge.




3. Print the test page for diagnosis.

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To save ink in the Mi Home app settings, select the Draft mode or reduce color saturation by 20–30%.

Hidden features and life hacks for portable printers Xiaomi

In addition to the basic features, Xiaomi printers have several hidden features that are not written in the manual.

1. Printing from cloud services

In the Mi Home app, you can connect Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive accounts and print documents directly from there without downloading to your phone.

Voice control

If the printer is connected to the Xiaomi Smart Home, it can be controlled via Alice or Google Assistant.

• 🎤 "Alice, print the last photo from the gallery".
• 🎤 "Okay, Google, print out the document 'Report.docx'".

3.The seal QR-codes and barcodes

Documents can be generated in mode QR-code with any reference or text:

1. Choose Create. QR menu.
2. Enter the text or URL.
3. Customize the size and color.

4. Saving paper

In the printer settings (Mi Home) → The device → Printing settings) have Multiple Pages per Sheet (multiple pages per sheet) and allow you to print 2-4 pages of a document on a single sheet. A4.

5.Print from social media

Some models have built-in integration with Instagram, Facebook and WeChat to print the post:

• 📱 Open a post in the social network app.
• 🔗 Press Share. → Seal. → Xiaomi Printer.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even reliable Xiaomi printers sometimes fail, and we've collected the most common problems and ways to fix them.

If the printer prints a curve (shifting text or images), calibrate:

1. In Mi Home, go to Settings → Calibration.
2. Follow the instructions on the screen (the printer will print the test page).
3. Scan the page through your phone’s camera.

If nothing helps, try resetting the printer to factory settings:

1. Turn off the printer.


2. Press the power button and the print head button (if any) for 15 seconds.




3. Release - the printer will restart and reset the settings.

⚠️ Warning: After reset, the printer may require re-registration in Mi Home.If you don't have a Xiaomi account, create one in advance - without it, some models refuse to work.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions