Xiaomi Device Search: How to Turn on and Configure on Phone, TV and Smart Technology

Are you trying to connect a Xiaomi Yeelight smart lamp to your phone but the app can't see it? Or is the Mi TV not showing up on the list of available devices for broadcasting the screen? The problem with finding Xiaomi devices is one of the most common among users of the Mi Home ecosystem, most often due to improper network settings, Bluetooth disabled or outdated firmware.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to enable search for Xiaomi devices – from basic (via the Mi Home app) to advanced (use). ADB-You'll learn how to get your phone or TV to detect gadgets over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi Direct, and what to do if the device still doesn't find other devices. 2020–2026 years, including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13, Mi TV Q2/Q3 Xiaomi Smart Speaker and Smart Speaker.

Why Xiaomi is not finding other devices: the main reasons

Before you turn on the search, it’s worth figuring out what’s stopping Xiaomi devices from discovering each other, and 80% of the time, one of the following factors is the problem:

• 📶 No Wi-Fi connection. Xiaomi's smart gadgets (light bulbs, sockets, sensors) only work on the local network. If the phone is connected to mobile data and the lamp is connected to the router, the search will not work.
• 🔵 Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct disabled. Many devices (such as Mi Band or Xiaomi Smart Speaker) use BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy for initial setup.
• 🔄 Older versions of firmware. MIUI (below 12.5) may not be drivers for new devices. For example, Xiaomi Pad 6 will not see the Xiaomi Sound column of 2023 on the MIUI 11.
• 🛡️ Background activity lock. Battery optimizer in MIUI It often “sleeps” Mi Home or Google Home apps, which causes search interruption.
• 🌍 Regional restrictions: Some devices (e.g., Xiaomi Robot Vacuum) are regionally-specific, and if you bought a gadget for China and the phone is Russian-friendly, the connection may not work.

It’s also worth checking if your phone is running or saving power — they automatically shut down all wireless modules. If the problem occurs after the MIUI update, try resetting the network settings (Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → Network Reset).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi devices with firmware for China (CN ROM) You may not be able to connect to servers outside the country, and you may need to flash it to a global version. ROM).

Method 1: Search through the Mi Home app (for smart tech)

The Mi Home app is the main tool for connecting Xiaomi smart devices: lamps, outlets, sensors and robot vacuum cleaners.

1. Open Mi Home and log in (use the same account as other Xiaomi devices).
2. Click on the + icon (add device) in the upper right corner.
3. Select the category of the gadget (for example, “Lighting” for the Yeelight lamp).
4. Follow the instructions on the screen: 🔌 Connect the device to power (for example, insert the lamp into the socket). 📶 Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as your gadget. 🔄 Press the reset button on the device (if it was already in use).

If the device is not located, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the router (sometimes) DHCP fails IP-address).
• 📱 Update Mi Home to Google Play or App Store.
• 🌐 Change the region in your account settings (for example, from “Russia” to “China” if the device is Chinese version).

Make sure the gadget is plugged in|Connect your phone to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (smart devices don’t run at 5GHz)|Shut down. VPN proxy|Reboot the Mi Home app-->

If the device never appears on the list after all the manipulations, check if it supports Mi Home connectivity. Some new models (such as Xiaomi Smart Air Fryer) require a separate application – Xiaomi Home (not to be confused with Mi Home!).

Method 2: Search Bluetooth (for wearables and speakers)

Devices like Mi Band 8, Xiaomi Smart Speaker or Xiaomi Buds are Bluetooth connected. If they don't appear on the list of available devices, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings. → Bluetooth on Xiaomi phone.
2. Activate the Bluetooth slider (if it is turned off).
3. Click on “Search for Devices” and wait for the list to appear.
4. If the device is not found: 🔋 Check the battery power of the gadget (for example, the Mi Band will not be visible at a discharge below 10%). 🔄 Reboot the Bluetooth module: disable and turn it back on in the settings. 📱 Update your phone firmware (in older versions) MIUI There may be no drivers for new devices).

Xiaomi smart speakers (such as Xiaomi Smart Speaker) may require a dedicated XiaoAI app. If the speaker is not located:

1. Hold the Reset button on the back for 5-10 seconds until the indicator blinks.
2. Open the XiaoAI app and click “Add Device”.
3. Select the column model from the list and follow the instructions.
4. On Xiaomi: Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct. From the list of available devices, select your TV. Confirm the connection on both devices.

If the TV is not available:

• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 📶 Make sure the TV is on detection mode (some models turn it off after 5 minutes of inactivity).
• 🔒 Check if the firewall on the TV is blocking incoming connections (relevant for Mi) TV Stick).

Miracast can also be used to stream the screen from your phone to TV:

1. On TV: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Miracast.
2. On the phone: Settings → Screen → Wireless display.

Method 4: Search through ADB-commands (for hidden functions)

If standard methods don’t work, you can enable device search through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for power users and allows you to activate hidden MIUI functions.

First, set up ADB-Drivers on the computer and enable debugging USB phone-on:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and press 7 times to activate Developer Mode.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable “Debugging by USB”.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.

Now run commands in the terminal (or PowerShell on Windows):

adb devices


adb shell settings put global bluetooth_on 1




adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.BluetoothSettings

These commands force Bluetooth to be activated and open its settings. Use:

adb shell svc wifi enable


adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.wifi.p2p.WifiP2pSettings

If you need to reset the cache of wireless modules (helps with connection errors):

adb shell pm clear com.android.bluetooth


adb shell pm clear com.lbe.security.miui

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB-Don't change system settings unless you're sure they're there. For example, adb shell settings put global settings. airplane_mode_on 1 Turns on flight mode, which will turn off all wireless modules.

💡

Before working with ADB, back up your phone data. Go to MIUI for Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.

Method 5: Search devices through Google Home (for compatible gadgets)

Some Xiaomi devices (such as Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker or Xiaomi Mi Smart Clock) support Google Home connectivity.This is handy if you use the Google Assistant ecosystem.

To enable a search:

1. Install the Google Home app from Google Play.
2. Press + → Set up the device → New device.
3. Choose “Xiaomi” from the list of brands.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen (you will need to log in to your Xiaomi account).

If the device is not located:

• 🔄 Make sure it supports Google Home (the list of compatible models is available on the official website).
• 📶 Check that your phone and gadget are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• 🔒 Turn it off. VPN Proxies – they can block the connection to Xiaomi servers.

Important: Chinese firmware (CN ROM) devices do not support connection to Google Home due to manufacturer restrictions.

Table: Compatibility of Xiaomi devices with search methods

💡

For most smart devices Xiaomi is enough application Mi Home. Wearable gadgets (fitness bracelets, headphones) connect only via Bluetooth, and TVs – via Wi-Fi Direct or Miracast.

What to do if the Xiaomi device is not still

If none of these methods worked, follow the following steps:

1. Check hardware compatibility: Make sure the device is supported by your phone/TV model. For example, the Xiaomi Mi TV 4S won’t see the Xiaomi Sound Pro due to an outdated Bluetooth module.
2. Update the firmware: On the phone: Settings → About the phone → System Update. On the TV: Settings → About the TV → Software Update.
3. Reset network settings: On phone: Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → Network reset. On TV: Settings → Network and Internet → Network reset.

Call for support.

• If the device is warranty, contact official Xiaomi support, and you will need a check and serial number of the gadget.