How to set up a Xiaomi printer: from unpacking to first printing

Xiaomi printers have gained popularity thanks to the combination of affordable price, compact sizes and integration with the Mi Home ecosystem. However, many users face difficulties when connecting for the first time: the device is not detected by Wi-Fi, drivers are not installed, and printing via a smartphone works with errors. In this article, we will analyze all the steps of setting up a Xiaomi printer from choosing a model to solving typical problems, including hidden functions that are not written in the official instructions.

Xiaomi printers (such as Mi Portable Photo Printer or Xiaomi Print) are particularly mobile-first, meaning that not only will a PC be required to work, but a smartphone with Mi Home or Xiaomi Print, and Xiaomi printers do not support connectivity. USB To Windows computers without additional drivers from third-party manufacturers — this nuance is often a cause of disappointment.

1. Model Choice: Which Xiaomi Printer Is Right for You

Xiaomi’s printer line includes three main types of devices, each focused on its own tasks. Mistakes in model selection can make the printer useless for your needs. For example, Mi Portable Photo Printer is designed exclusively for printing photos the size of the photo. 3×4 An inch, and trying to print a document on it will turn into a waste of paper.

The main selection criteria:

• 📄 Type of printing: documents (laser/jet) or photographs (thermosublimation).
• 📶 Connection methods: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB (Check compatibility with your OS!).
• 🖨️ Paper format: A4, A5, or specialized photographic papers (for example, 3×4" For the Mi Photo Printer).
• 💰 Cost consumables: cartridges for Xiaomi inkjet printers are cheaper than the ones HP Canon, but they are harder to find in stores.

If you need a printer for home use with rare document printing, the best choice is Xiaomi Inkjet Printer. For mobile users who want to print photos from their phone, Mi Portable Photo Printer is the right one. A4) Relevant for offices with a large volume of printing.

2. unpacking and preparation of the printer for work

After buying a Xiaomi printer, do not rush to include it in the outlet. First check the equipment - the box should contain:

• 📦 The printer itself (with protective film on the body).
• 🔌 Power cable (for models with an external unit) or built-in cord.
• 📄 Instructions in Chinese/English (Russian version can be downloaded on mi.com).
• 🖼️ Test paper (1–2 sheets) or cartridge (if the printer is inkjet/laser).

An important nuance: Xiaomi printers often have transport fixers that block the printing mechanism, and if they are not removed, the printer will produce grinding or refuse to print. In the Mi Portable Photo Printer, the lock is placed under the lid at the top of the device (orange plastic part). A4) — inside, next to the cartridge.

Remove all transport fixtures|Check for paper in the tray|Connect the power cable (not to be connected) USB!)|Install the cartridge (for jet/laser models)|Download the Mi Home app (for mobile printing)-->

After unpacking:

1. Install the printer on a flat surface (laser models are sensitive to vibrations).
2. Connect the power and press the power button. On the display (if any) or through the indicators should light up the light bulb readiness.
3. For inkjet printers, perform the initial ink refill (the process takes 2-3 minutes, the printer will make gurgling sounds).

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If the printer doesn't turn on, check the voltage in the socket - some Xiaomi models are demanding power stability. Use a network filter.

3. Connecting Xiaomi printer to Wi-Fi and smartphone

Most Xiaomi printers work over a wireless network, and their configuration begins with a bundle with a smartphone.

1. Install the Mi Home app (Android/iOS) Xiaomi Print (for photo printers).
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (required! without an account, printing through the cloud will not be available).
3. Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone and allow the app to access the location (necessary to search for devices).

Follow the instructions in the appendix:

1. Select Add the device → printer.
2. Press and hold the Wi-Fi button on the printer (usually 3-5 seconds) until the light flashes.
3. Enter your Wi-Fi network password (the printer only supports 2.4GHz networks!).

Typical error: The printer does not connect to Wi-Fi with a Cyrillic name or with special characters (e.g, MiPrinter_24) and try again.

Once you've successfully connected, the printer will appear on the Mi Home device list, and you can start printing.

• 📱 Open a photo or document on your smartphone.
• 🖨️ Press "Share" → "Seal" → Choose your Xiaomi printer.
• ⚙️ Set up the parameters (paper size, quality, color).

4. Setup of printing from a computer (Windows/macOS/Linux)

Xiaomi printers don’t have official drivers for PCs, but they can be connected via workarounds.

Method 1: Through the Xiaomi Print app (recommended)

Download the Xiaomi Print utility for Windows or macOS from the official website.

1. Connect the printer to the same Wi-Fi network as the computer.
2. Start Xiaomi Print and sign in to your Mi Account.
3. The program will automatically find the printer on the local network.

Method 2: Google Cloud Print (for older models)

If your printer supports Google Cloud Print (check the model specifications):

1. Add the printer to Mi Home from your smartphone.
2. In the printer settings in the application, activate the Cloud Print option.
3. On PC, add a printer through Settings → Devices → Printers and scanners → Adding a printer to IP.

Linux will require manual configuration through CUPS:

sudo apt install cups


sudo systemctl start cups

Then open in the browser localhost:631, Add the printer as Network Printer and select the Generic PostScript Printer driver.

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Printing from a PC on Xiaomi printers often works slower than from a smartphone. This is due to the lack of optimized drivers. PDF instead of Word or Excel.

5. Solving common mistakes

Even after setting up correctly, Xiaomi printers can still produce errors, and here are the most common problems and solutions:

A critical error: if the printer Xiaomi Mi Portable Photo Printer gives a message Error 0x88, It means the thermal head is malfunctioning:

1. Turn off the printer and let it cool for 10 minutes.
2. Remove the paper from the tray and check for clumps.
3. If the error is repeated, contact the service (the warranty covers this defect).

⚠️ Note: Do not use third-party cartridges in Xiaomi Print laser printers A4. The cartridge chip blocks the print when “unoriginal” consumables are detected, and it can only be unlocked through the service center.

6.The Hidden Features of Xiaomi Printers

Xiaomi printers have some undocumented features that make it easier to work with:

• 📱 Print from the cloud: In the Mi Home app, you can print documents from Google Drive, OneDrive or Mi Cloud without downloading to your device.
• 🎨 Photo Editor: Mi Portable Photo Printer has built-in filters and framing tools right in the print app.
• 🔄 Automatic two-way printing: In the settings of Xiaomi Print A4 There is a Duplex option that saves paper (includes in manual mode).
• 🔒 Password Protection: You can install PIN-code to print so that no one else can use the printer (set up in Mi Home) → The device → Security).

For models with AirPrint support (e.g. Xiaomi Inkjet Printer), print directly from Apple apps (Pages, Safari) without additional drivers is available.

1. Connect the printer to the same network as you iPhone/iPad.
2. Open the document, click "Share" → "Seal".
3. Choose your Xiaomi printer from the list.

7 Printer maintenance and care

To make Xiaomi printer last longer, follow the following simple rules:

• 🧹 Clean: Once a month wipe the rollers of paper with a dry wipe (for laser models, use a brush to remove the toner).
• 💧 Ink: If the printer is idle for more than 2 weeks, run the test print so that the ink does not dry up in the duzes.
• 📡 Updates: Check firmware updates in Mi Home regularly – they fix print errors and add new features.

Xiaomi inkjet printers are critical to use original paper. Low-density cheap paper can get stuck in the mechanism or cause the heat head to overheat (in photo printers); the optimal density for documents is 80 g / m2, for photos - 200-250 g / m2.

⚠️ Warning: Don't keep Xiaomi inkjet printer cartridges in the fridge! condensation causes ink to be layered and the print head to deteriorate. Store them in a dry place at room temperature.

8. Alternative printing methods

If standard methods don’t work, try alternatives:

Printing through OTG (Android)

Some models (such as the Mi Portable Photo Printer) support direct connection to the smartphone via a smartphone. USB OTG. For that:

1. Buy a cable. USB-C → USB-C (or adapter for Micro-USB).
2. Put the printer on the phone.
3. In the Android settings, turn on OTG-storage.
4. Launch the Xiaomi Print app and select the mode USB-seal.

Printing via router with USB-port

If your router has USB-port (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Router) 4A Gigabit, you can connect the printer to it and configure the shared access:

1. Connect the printer to USB-router.
2. In the router control panel (192.168.31.1) activate the option USB-printer.
3. On PC, add the printer as a network, specifying IP router.

This method works slower than direct connection, but eliminates driver problems.

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If the Xiaomi printer stopped printing after updating the firmware, try rolling it back through Mi Home. To do this, select "Restore factory firmware" in the device settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi printers