How to make Xiaomi Redmi a smart home control center: the full guide 2026

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones have long since ceased to be just a means of communication — they have become powerful tools for managing a smart home. With built-in sensors, support for Zigbee protocols, Wi-Fi 6 and the proprietary Mi Home app (now Xiaomi Home), even the low-end Redmi series models are able to centralize control over dozens of devices from light bulbs to robot vacuum cleaners. But how exactly does this work? Can you do without additional hubs, and what hidden features are available only to Xiaomi owners?

Many users mistakenly think that for a full-fledged smart home you need an expensive Xiaomi Mi 13 Ultra or a specialized Xiaomi Mi Smart Hub. In fact, even the Redmi Note 12 Pro with a Snapdragon processor 732G It's as good as it can be -- you need to set up the software right and understand the limitations of the hardware. In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can turn your Redmi into a smart home brain, from basic light bulb synchronization to complex automation using light bulbs. IFTTT and Google Assistant.

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What is a Smart Home on the Phone and Why You Need It

The concept of a smart home in the phone involves using the smartphone as the main remote control of all connected devices. In the case of Xiaomi Redmi, this works through:

• 📱 Branded software: Xiaomi Home app (formerly Mi Home) with support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth protocols LE, Zigbee (via hubs).
• 🤖 Voice assistants: integration with Alice (Yandex), Google Assistant and Siri (via HomeKit).
• ⚡ Automation: creating scenarios like “if the door is open, turn on the lights” without user intervention.
• 🌐 Remote Access: Managing devices from anywhere in the world via Xiaomi Cloud.

The main advantage of this approach is that you do not need to buy a separate controller (for example, Xiaomi Mi Smart Hub or Aqara Hub). Your Redmi takes on the role of a hub, saving up to 5-7 thousand rubles.

⚠️ Attention: If you use your phone as a permanent control center, discharging or turning it off will paralyze all automation. For critical systems (security alarms, gas leak control), it is better to have a separate hub with backup power.

Also, not all smart home devices are directly compatible with a smartphone, such as Aqara sensors on Zigbee requiring a hub, while Yeelight light bulbs or Xiaomi Smart Plug outlets connect to your phone directly over Wi-Fi.

Xiaomi Redmi models support smart home

Theoretically, any Xiaomi smartphone on Android 8.0+ It can run a smart home through Xiaomi Home, but two things are important to make it work:

1. Hardware support for protocols: 📶 Wi-Fi 5/6 (for light bulbs, sockets, cameras – is in all models after Redmi 9. 🔵 Bluetooth 5.0+ (Opening sensors, tags – critical for devices like Xiaomi Door/Window Sensor. 🕸️ Zigbee (for Aqara sensors, Xiaomi) – requires an external hub (there is no chip in the phone).

Productivity

Snapdragon 6xx

Helio G35

Redmi 9A

The table below shows the recommended Redmi models for smart home (in descending capabilities):

If your model is not on the list, check its specs on the official Xiaomi website.+ Wi-Fi Direct (required for direct connection of some devices).

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Before buying smart home devices, check their compatibility with your Redmi model in the Xiaomi Home app. Some gadgets (such as Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier) require Bluetooth 5.0+ customize.

Step-by-step setting up a smart home on Xiaomi Redmi

To turn your phone into a control center, follow the following steps:

1.Installation and setup of Xiaomi Home

Download the Xiaomi Home app from Google Play or AppGallery. Don't use Mi Home - it's outdated and doesn't support new devices.

Download Xiaomi Home|Registering a Xiaomi account|Connect your phone to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi|Update your phone to the latest version-->

After installation:

1. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (required! without it, there will be no cloud sync).
2. Go to Profile. → Settings → Region and select "China Continental" (this will open access to all devices, including those not officially sold in Russia).
3. Turn on Location and Bluetooth in your phone’s settings – they’re needed to find devices.

2. Connecting the first device

Take the Yeelight light bulb for example. LED:

1. Put the light bulb in the socket. It should flash yellow.
2. At Xiaomi Home, click + → Add the device.
3. Select the category "Lighting" and the model of the light bulb.
4. Connect to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network (the lamps don’t work at 5GHz!).
5. Follow the instructions in the app (usually you need to enter a password from Wi-Fi).

3. Creating automation

Go to Automation in Xiaomi Home and click Add, for example, set up the scenario "Lights on while driving":

1. Select "If" → "Motion sensor" → Please specify your sensor (e.g. Xiaomi Motion Sensor).
2. Select "Then" → "Device control" → lamp.
3. Set the "On" action and brightness.
4. Save the script.

For advanced users, conditional automation with multiple triggers is available.

IF (Motion sensor is working)


E (Time between 18:00 and 23:00)




E (Light level < 50%)




Then turn on the light bulb at 70% brightness

Integration with Google Home and Alice

Smart home management is not only possible through Xiaomi Home, but also through voice assistants, which is convenient if you use Google Nest Mini or Yandex Station column.

Connecting to Google Assistant

For this:

1. Open Google Home on your phone.
2. Press. + → Set up the device → Already tuned in?.
3. Select Xiaomi from the list and log in to your account.
4. Allow access to the devices.

Now you can control your voice.

• 💡 "Okay, Google, turn on the light in the living room"
• 🔌 "Turn off all the sockets"
• 🌡️ "Set the temperature on the air conditioner at 22 degrees"

Connection to Alice (Yandex)

Alice works through Yandex Smart Home:

1. Download the Yandex app with a Smart Home.
2. Go to the Devices. → Add → Xiaomi.
3. Log in and allow access.

Features of integration with Alice:

• ✅ Supports Russian-speaking teams without accents.
• ❌ Not all Xiaomi devices are available (for example, some Aqara sensors are not displayed).
• 🔄 Synchronization takes up to 5 minutes.

⚠️ Note: When you connect to Google Home or Alice, some of the automation from Xiaomi Home may stop working, due to conflicts between cloud services, the solution is to use only one control center (or configure automation in Google Home).

Advanced functions: IFTTT, Matter and Local Control

If the basic features of Xiaomi Home are not enough, you can expand the functionality with the help of third-party services.

Automation through IFTTT

IFTTT (If This Then That allows you to link Xiaomi devices to other services (for example, send notifications to Telegram if the smoke sensor is triggered).

Example of settings:

1. Download. IFTTT and register.
2. Connect the Xiaomi Mi Home service (you will need a username / password from your Xiaomi account).
3. Create an applet: IF (This) → "The motion sensor went off". THEN (That) → "Send notification to Telegram".

Matter Protocol and Compatibility with Apple HomeKit

Since 2023, Xiaomi has been supporting Matter, a universal protocol for smart homes, which means that some devices (such as the Xiaomi Smart Bulb 2) can be connected directly to Apple’s HomeKit or Amazon’s Alexa without additional bridges.

To check for Matter support:

1. Open Xiaomi Home.
2. Go to the device settings.
3. See the Protocols section – if there is a Matter icon, the device is compatible.

Local control without cloud

By default, all commands are routed through Xiaomi servers, which creates delays and risks when the Internet is turned off, to manage devices locally (within your network):

1. Install Home Assistant on your computer or Raspberry Pi.
2. Connect Xiaomi devices via the Mi Home Integration plugin.
3. Set up local. API (technical skills required).

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Local control is relevant for security systems (smoke sensors, cameras), in which case the smart home will work even when the Internet is turned off.

Top.-5 Mistakes in setting up a smart home on Redmi

Even the most experienced users face problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions.

1. The device does not connect to Wi-Fi Reason: most smart Xiaomi gadgets only work at 2.4 GHz Solution: split the network into two (2.4 and 5 GHz) or temporarily turn off 5 GHz in the router settings.
2. The reason: Xiaomi’s cloud servers are located in China, which adds a ping of 200-500 ms. Solution: use local control (see section above) or reduce the number of cloud devices.
3. The phone is quickly discharged Reason: Xiaomi Home in the background consumes a lot of power. Solution: turn off "Constant Activity" in the battery settings for the application and use "Adaptive Brightness".
4. Devices are disabled after the update Reason: Xiaomi sometimes changes communication protocols. Solution: before updating the software of the phone or firmware of the device, back up the automations in Xiaomi Home → Profile → Cloud.
5. Voice commands are not working Reason: conflict between Google Assistant and Xiaomi Home. Solution: in the Google Home settings, delete and re-add Xiaomi account.

⚠️ Note: If you use Redmi with custom firmware (like LineageOS), some smart home features may not work due to lack of Google Mobile Services certificates or modified kernel.

Smart Home Security: How to Protect Data

A smart home is not just a convenience, it's also a potential risk. Here's how to secure your system:

1.Securing Xiaomi account

• 🔐 Enable two-factor authentication in your account settings.
• 📧 Use a corporate email (for example, on a domain). @yandex.ru or @gmail.com), not @mi.com — it's harder to crack.
• 🔄 Change your password regularly (every 3 months.

2. Network setup

• 🌐 Create a guest network for smart devices (separate from the main one).
• 🔒 Turn it off. WPS UPnP in routers – these protocols are vulnerable.
• 🔄 Update your router firmware (especially if you use Xiaomi Router).

3. Access control

• 👤 Do not share Xiaomi Home with others via Family Sharing.
• 📱 Set a password for the app (in Xiaomi Home security settings).
• 🔍 Check the list of connected devices in Profile → Security.

If you use a camera (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Home Security Camera), additionally:

• 🎥 Disable Cloud Storage (if not necessary) – Videos will only be stored locally.
• 🔇 Configure privacy zones (so that the camera does not take off windows, for example).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the smart home on Xiaomi Redmi