How to connect a printer to a Xiaomi smartphone: all the ways + fixing

Connecting a printer to a Xiaomi smartphone opens up new possibilities for printing documents, photos and even stickers directly from the phone screen, but many users face difficulties: the printer is not found on the network, the drivers are not installed, and the printing comes with artifacts. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of connecting (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-OTG, Cloud services, taking into account the features of firmware MIUI and popular printer models (Canon, HP, Epson, Brother, Xiaomi Mi Printer).

We will pay special attention to common mistakes: why the smartphone does not see the printer over Wi-Fi, how to solve the problem with drivers on the Redmi Note 12 or the Internet. POCO X5, And what to do if the print fails. At the end of this article, this is a unique table of compatibility of printers with Xiaomi models by year of release, which you will not find anywhere else.

1.Preparation: What to check before connecting

Before you start setting up, make sure your printer and Xiaomi smartphone are ready to connect, and skipping these steps is the main reason for 70% of failed connections.

Printer requirements:

• 📶 Wi-Fi or Bluetooth: The printer must support at least one of these protocols. Check the specifications of the model on the manufacturer's website.
• ⚡ Power: The printer must be on and connected to the network (for wireless models). Wi-Fi/Bluetooth flashing.
• 📄 Paper and ink: Sounds trivial, but often users forget to fill up the tray or replace the cartridge before first connecting.

Requirements for the Xiaomi smartphone:

• 📱 Version. MIUI: for stable work is recommended MIUI 12 and above, on older versions (e.g, MIUI 10) the required drivers may not be available.
• 🔄 Updates: Check for updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔌 USB-OTG: If you plan to connect the printer over a cable, make sure your smartphone supports it. USB On-The-Go (Most Xiaomi models after 2018).

⚠️ Note: If your printer is released before 2015, it may not support modern wireless printing protocols, in which case the only option is to connect via a wireless printer. USB-OTG (If the printer is equipped with a port).

It is also worth installing the official printer manufacturer app (e.g. Canon) in advance. PRINT, HP Smart or Epson iPrint. They often contain proprietary drivers and make it easier to set up, and you can download them from Google Play or GetApps (Xiaomi's brand store).

2. Connecting the printer to Xiaomi via Wi-Fi (the most versatile way)

Wireless Wi-Fi is the best option for most users, and it works with all modern printers and doesn't require any additional adapters. Consider two scenarios: shared networking and direct Wi-Fi Direct.

Method 1: Printer and smartphone in one Wi-Fi network

This method is suitable if you have a router at home or in your office that connects both devices.

1. Connect the printer to the router: On the printer, find the Wi-Fi settings menu (usually under Network or Wireless). Select your Wi-Fi network and enter your password. On some models (HP DeskJet needs to press the button WPS on the router, then on the printer.

Install the manufacturer's application:

Download the official software for your printer (see the list above). For example, for Canon it is Canon. PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY.

Add the printer in the app:

Run the application, it will automatically find the printer on the local network. If that doesn't happen, click Add the printer manually and select the model from the list.

Printing the test page:

In the app, look for the Print Test Page or Print Test Page option to make sure the connection is working correctly.

Method 2: Wi-Fi Direct (direct connection without router)

If you don't have a router or printer that's not connected to the network, use Wi-Fi Direct, which creates a direct point of access between the printer and the smartphone.

1. Activate Wi-Fi Direct on the printer: In the printer menu, look for a Wi-Fi Direct or Direct Connection section and turn it on. Remember the network name and password (usually listed on the printer screen or instructions).
2. Connect your smartphone to your printer: On Xiaomi go to Settings → Wi-Fi, find the printer network (e.g., DIRECT-xx-HP OfficeJet) and connect by entering a password.
3. Start the print: Open the document or photo, click Share → Print, select your printer from the list. If the printer doesn't show up, install the manufacturer's proprietary application.

⚠️ Note: When using Wi-Fi Direct, your smartphone will be disconnected from the Internet. If you need to print and use mobile traffic at the same time, use the first method (via the router).

Is the printer on and the Wi-Fi indicator on?|

Printer and smartphone connected to the same network?|

Is the printer manufacturer’s proprietary application installed?|

Is Wi-Fi activated on Xiaomi smartphone?-->

Connection via Bluetooth: fast but with limitations

Bluetooth devices are easier to connect, but this method has disadvantages: low data transfer speeds and limited functionality (for example, you can not print documents with complex layouts).

Which printers support Bluetooth?

Most portable printers (Xiaomi Mi Portable Photo Printer, Polaroid Hi-Print, Canon Selphy) have a Bluetooth module. Stationary office printers usually don't have one.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on the printer: Press the Bluetooth button or find the corresponding section in the menu. The indicator should flash blue.
2. Activate Bluetooth on Xiaomi: Go to Settings → Connections and sharing → Bluetooth and turn it on.
3. Device pairing: In the list of available devices, find the name of your printer (e.g., Mi Printer-BT) and click on it. Confirm pairing on both devices.
4. Print through the application: Open the proprietary printer app (e.g. Mi Home for Xiaomi Mi Printer), select the file and click Print.

Instructions for connection:

1. Check Compatibility: Install the App USB OTG Checker from Google Play to make sure your smartphone supports OTG.
2. Connect the adapter and cable: Connect the smartphone to the printer through OTG-Adapter. You should have a notification on the screen. USB-plug-in.
3. Install drivers: The smartphone can automatically download drivers, but if that doesn’t happen, install the PrinterShare app or USB Printer Driver.
4. Set up the print: Open the document, click Share → Print, select. USB-printer.

⚠️ Note: Some printers require manual driver installation through ADB. If the smartphone does not see the printer after connecting, try to execute the command: adb shell setprop sys.usb.config diag,serial_cdev,rmnet,adb This method works on Xiaomi with unlocked bootloader.

5. Cloud Printing: Google Cloud Print and Alternatives

If you need to print remotely (like sending a document to a printer while you're away from home), cloud services are the perfect solution. Google Cloud Print used to be the solution, but it's been closed since 2021. Consider the current alternatives.

Method 1: Printing via Google Drive (for documents)

1. Upload the file to Google Drive: Open the document on your smartphone, click Share → Save it to the Disk.
2. Open a file on a PC: On a computer connected to the same printer, open Google Drive, find the file, and select Print.

Method 2: Cloud synchronization applications

Most brands offer their own cloud solutions:

• 🖨️ HP Smart: Allows you to print from any device if the printer is registered in your account HP.
• 📷 Canon PRINT: Supports printing via Canon Cloud Link.
• 🌐 Epson Connect: Epson Email Print allows you to send documents to a special email attached to the printer.

Method 3: Third-party services (for advanced users)

If branded solutions are not suitable, try:

• PrinterShare: Supports remote printing via PrinterShare account (paid).
• Mopria Print Service: A universal driver for most printers (free on Google Play).

⚠️ Note: When using cloud services, documents are temporarily stored on the manufacturer's servers. If you print sensitive data, delete them from the application history after printing.

6. Problem Solving: The printer is not connected or the printing is error-prone

Even if you set it up properly, you can have some failures, and let’s look at the most common errors and how to fix them on Xiaomi smartphones.

Problem 1: The smartphone can’t see the printer on Wi-Fi

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🔄 Reboot your router and printer: turn them off for 30 seconds, then turn them on again.
• 📶 Check Wi-Fi range: Some printers only work on a 2.4GHz network. If your router is broadcasting in 5GHz, switch to 2.4GHz printer or split the networks in your router settings.
• 🔒 Turn off the firewall: in MIUI Go to Settings. → Annexes → Permit management → Autostart and allow autorun for printer application.
• 📱 Reset your network settings on Xiaomi: Settings → Wi-Fi → ⋮ → Additionally. → Reset the network settings.

Problem 2: Printing comes with artifacts or is cut off

What to do:

• 📄 Check the file format: Convert documents to.pdf before printing (e.g., via Google Docs).
• 🖼️ Change print settings: in the printer app, select Quality: High and Scale: Page size.
• 🔄 Update the driver: Remove and reinstall the printer manufacturer’s app.

Problem 3: The printer is plugged in, but the printer doesn't start

Decisions:

• 🖨️ Check the print queue: the printer can either activate pause or offline. Press Cancel or Renew on the printer bar.
• 📱 Clear the application cache: in Settings → Annexes → [Printer appendix] → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🔌 Check the printer power: Some models (Epson EcoTank) do not print at low ink levels, even if the cartridge is not empty.

💡

If none of these methods worked, try connecting the printer to another device (laptop or tablet) and if the problem persists, it's a malfunction in the printer, not in the smartphone.

7.Table of compatibility of printers with Xiaomi smartphones

Not all printers work equally well with Xiaomi, and below is a table of compatibility of popular models based on the year of release of the smartphone and the type of connection, based on user tests and official specifications.

If your model is not in the table, check compatibility on the printer manufacturer’s website under Mobile Printing or Wireless Setup.

8. Alternative ways to print from a Xiaomi smartphone

If you can’t connect the printer directly, consider alternative options:

Method 1: Printing via computer (remotely)

If you have a PC with a connected printer, you can configure remote printing:

1. On PC, enable Shared Printer Access (Control Panel) → Devices and printers → Printer properties → Access).
2. On your smartphone, install PrinterShare or Cloud Print, add a network printer to your smartphone. IP-PC address.

Method 2: Conservation in PDF printable

If you need to print a web page or document:

1. In Chrome browser, click ⋮ → Seal. → Save how PDF.
2. Send the file to a PC or flash drive, then print it out.

Method 3: Using Cloud Storage

Download the document to Google Drive, Yandex Drive or Mail.ru Cloud, then open it on PC and print it out.

Method 4: Printing in the Copy Center

If the printer is not at home, use the printing services in the nearest M-video, Messenger or Russian Post. Send the file to yourself by email or save it to a flash drive.

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To print high quality photos, use specialized services such as Cewe or Photostore, which offer printing on professional paper with delivery.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting a printer to Xiaomi