Connecting a Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner to a home Wi-Fi network is usually easy — just enter the router password in the Mi Home app. But what if the password is not at hand, it is lost, or the network is configured without authentication? The situations are different: a guest network without a password, a temporary connection to public Wi-Fi, or a router with disabled protection. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to connect Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop and other models to Wi-Fi without entering a password, and consider the alternative method.
It's important to understand that Xiaomi doesn't have a formal password-free connection, which is against security policy, but with router settings, circumvention or temporary solutions, you can solve the problem. We've tested all the methods on Mi Robot Vacuum 1S, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite and Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P, but the instructions are also relevant for other devices in the series.
If your robot vacuum cleaner has been connected to the network before, but can’t connect now due to a change in router or reset, try resetting the Wi-Fi settings on the vacuum cleaner first. To do this, press the Reset button (or Wi-Fi) for 5-10 seconds before the beep. After reset, try again to connect via Mi Home.
1. Connect via guest network without password
The easiest way to do this is to use a guest network on a router if it's set up without a password. Many modern routers (e.g., TP-Link, Keenetic, ASUS) allow you to create a separate network for guests to access with open access.
Open the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and search for the Guest Network (or Guest Network) section. Enable it, enter a name (SSID) and disable password protection. Save settings and restart the router.
- 🔄 Advantage: No need to change the main network, secure for other devices.
- 📶 Disadvantage: Guest network may have speed or access restrictions on local devices.
- ⚡ Tip: if the robot vacuum cleaner does not see the guest network, check that the router settings are enabled mode 2.4 GHz (Xiaomi robots do not support 5 GHz).
Once you have set up your guest network, open the Mi Home app, add a new device, and select the network you created without a password.
2.Use WPS for quick connection
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) technology allows you to connect devices to the network without entering a password — just press a button on the router. Most Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners support this method, but it only works if:
- 🔐 Router's on. WPS (usually WPS or 🔄).
- 📡 The network is operating in 2.4 GHz mode (WPS Not supported at 5 GHz).
- ⚠️ The router has a lockdown. WPS (Some models block the function after several failed attempts).
To connect via WPS:
- Start the process of adding the device to Mi Home.
- At the network selection stage, click Connect via WPS.
- For 2 minutes, press the WPS button on the router.
- Wait for the confirmation of the connection in the application.
If the robot is not connected, check:
⚠️ Note: Some router models (e.g. Zyxel Keenetic) require pre-activation WPS In the web interface, find the Wi-Fi section. → WPS and turn on the function manually.
Enable WPS in router settings | Make sure the network is running on 2.4 GHz| Press the WPS button within 2 minutes after starting the connection | Check that the robot is near the router (no further than 1-2 meters)
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Connection through a temporary password (the “forgotten password” method)
If you have access to a router but your password is lost, you can temporarily change it to a simple one (like 12345678), connect a robot vacuum cleaner, and then return the original password. This method works on all Xiaomi models, including the Mi Robot Vacuum E10 and Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro.
Instructions:
- Go to the router’s web interface (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
- Find the Wi-Fi section → Security settings.
- Change the encryption type to WPA2-PSK and set a temporary password (e.g., qwerty123).
- Save the settings and restart the router.
- Connect the robot vacuum cleaner via Mi Home using a temporary password.
- Return the original password in the router settings.
This is a good way to do this if you don't want to leave the network open but you need a one-time connection, and the key is to remember to return your old password, otherwise other devices will lose access to Wi-Fi.
What if the router does not change the password?
4. Connect via mobile hotspot (if router is not available)
If you don't have access to the router's settings, but you have a smartphone, you can create a passwordless hotspot and temporarily connect the robot vacuum cleaner to it, which is convenient for initial setup or testing.
How to set up a hotspot without a password:
- On Android: go to Settings → Wireless Networks → Modem Modem → Wi-Fi Access Point. Set Network Name (SSID) and select No under Security.
- On iPhone: Open Settings → Modem Modem → Wi-Fi Password and turn off protection (leaving the password field blank).
After hotspot activation:
- 📱 Connect your smartphone to the same network as the robot vacuum cleaner (if it was already on another network).
- 🤖 In the Mi Home app, select the created network without a password.
- ⚡ After connecting, return the hotspot settings to the original (enable password) to avoid unauthorized access.
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners may not connect to the hotspot due to the number of connected devices. If the connection is not established, try to disconnect other devices from the access point.
5. Alternative methods: circumventing restrictions through Mi Home
If the standard methods don't work, you can try to bypass the password requirement with additional settings in the Mi Home app or third-party utilities, which take longer, but sometimes help in difficult cases.
Method 1: Connecting through QR-code
Some models of robot vacuum cleaners (for example, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Ultra) support connection. QR-If your router allows you to connect without a password (open network), follow the following steps:
- In Mi Home, select Add Device → Robot vacuum cleaner.
- At the stage of network selection, click Connect through QR-code.
- Point the smartphone camera at QR-code that will appear on the screen.
- The robot scans code and Attempt to connect.
Method 2: Using Third-Party Applications
Applications like WiFi Map or Fing can help you peek your network password if it has ever been saved on other devices, but this method is not guaranteed and may violate security policies.
| Method | Difficulty | Access to the | Suitable for models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guest network | ⭐ | router | All Xiaomi models |
| WPS | ⭐⭐ | Router (WPS button) | All except Mi Robot Vacuum E10 |
| Temporary password | ⭐⭐ | Router (web interface) | All models. |
| Mobile hotspot | ⭐ | Smartphone | All models. |
| QR-code | ⭐⭐⭐ | Open network | Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Ultra, new models |
6. Resolve errors when connecting without a password
Even if you did everything right, the robot vacuum cleaner might not connect, and let's look at some of the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:
Mistake 1: The robot can't see the network
- 📡 Check that the network is running in 2.4 GHz mode (Xiaomi robots do not support 5 GHz).
- 🔄 Restart router and robot vacuum cleaner (press the power button for 10 seconds).
- 📵 Make sure the distance between the robot and the router is less than 5 meters.
Error 2: Connection is interrupted during authentication
If the robot starts to connect, but the process ends in error, try:
- 🔒 Temporarily disable Filtration MAC-address.
- 🛡️ Change the type of encryption with WPA3 on WPA2-PSK (Some Xiaomi models do not support WPA3).
- 📱 Update the Mi Home app to the latest version.
Error 3: The robot is connected but shuts down immediately
If the robot vacuum cleaner connects to the network but loses the connection after a few seconds, the problem may be in the settings. DHCP Check what's in the Local Area Network section (LAN) server-on DHCP, range IP-addresses are not exhausted.
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If the robot vacuum cleaner doesn't connect anyway, try resetting it to the factory settings, press the Reset button on the case for 15 to 20 seconds before the beep, and then reset the connection procedure.
FAQ: Frequent questions about passwordless connection
Can you connect a Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner to public Wi-Fi (e.g. in a cafe)?
Why doesn’t the robot connect to the network without a password, even though other devices are connected?
Can I connect a robot vacuum cleaner to Wi-Fi via an Ethernet adapter?
What if, after connecting without a password, the robot does not respond to commands?
How to protect a robot vacuum cleaner if it is connected to the network without a password?
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If none of the methods worked, check to see if the antivirus or firewall on your smartphone is blocking the connection to the robot vacuum cleaner.