How to set up Xiaomi’s smart speaker: full instruction from connection to smart home

Why you need a smart Xiaomi speaker and what it can do

Xiaomi’s smart speakers are not just music playback devices, but full-fledged smart home control centers, which combine voice assistant, multimedia player and hub for IoT devices, and can control lighting, appliances, weather forecasts, or podcasts — all by voice or through a mobile app.

Xiaomi’s lineup includes several models, from the budget Redmi Smart Speaker to the premium Mi Smart Speaker Pro with improved sound. However, regardless of the model, the setup process is almost identical, the main thing is to connect the speaker to the network correctly, sync it with the Mi Account account and adjust integration with other devices in the Xiaomi ecosystem.

In this article, we’ll take a look at how Xiaomi’s smart speaker is set up Step-by-step from scratch, from unpacking to fine-tuning voice, sound, and automation, and if you’ve already had experience with these gadgets, you’ll find useful life hacks to optimize your work.

Preparation for the setup: what will be needed

Before you start setting up, make sure you have everything you need:

• 📦 Xiaomi Smart Speaker (any model: Mi Smart Speaker, Redmi Smart Speaker, Xiaomi Smart Speaker) IR etc.).
• 📱 Smartphone on Android 6.0+ or iOS 10.0+ with Mi Home installed (you can download it from Google Play or App Store).
• 🔌 Stable Wi-Fi (2.4GHz) Connection – Xiaomi speakers do not support 5GHz networks!
• 🔋 Charged column (if model with battery) or connected power.

Also make sure your Mi Account is not blocked and is tied to the region where Xiaomi’s smart speakers are officially sold (e.g. Russia, China, India) otherwise you may have trouble connecting your voice assistant.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi’s speaker outside of official sales regions (e.g. Europe or the U.S.), you may need to change your Mi Home account region to “Russia” or “China” and this may affect how other Xiaomi devices work in your home.

Step 1: Connecting the column to power and primary activation

Start by unpacking the device. It comes with a power cable (usually) USB Type-C or Micro-USB, depending on the model. Connect it to a power source (charger or charger) USB-port).

After the power is applied, the speaker shall emit an audible signal and the indicator (usually white or blue) shall light up.

• 🔌 Check the cable and power supply - they may be faulty.
• 🔄 Try restarting the column by holding the power button (if any) for 5-10 seconds.
• 📡 Make sure the column is not in setting reset mode (orange flashing LED).

If the light is red, it means low battery power (for models with a battery), wait 10-15 minutes until the speaker is charged to the minimum level.

Step 2: Install and configure the Mi Home app

Mi Home is the main tool for managing Xiaomi smart devices, and if it hasn't been installed, download it from the official store.

1. Open Mi Home and sign in to your Mi Account (or create a new one).
2. Select the region "Russia" (or another one where your model of the column is officially sold).
3. Click "Add device" (the icon "+" in the upper right corner).
4. In the list of categories, select "Smart Home" → "Smart speakers".

If your column model doesn’t appear in the list, try:

• 🔍 Update the Mi Home app to the latest version.
• 🌐 Change region to China (but note that this may limit the functionality of other devices).
• 📱 Reboot your smartphone and column.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously used a Xiaomi speaker with another account, you need to reset it to factory settings. To do this, hold the reset button (usually located on the back) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing orange.

Step 3: Connecting the column to Wi-Fi and Mi Account

After selecting a column model in Mi Home, the app will prompt you to connect to its temporary Wi-Fi network.

1. Go to the Wi-Fi settings on your smartphone and connect to the network with the name of the view Xiaomi_XXXX (where XXXX — Unique identifier of your column).
2. Return to Mi Home – the app will automatically determine the column and prompt you to select your home Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz only!).
3. Enter your password from your network and wait for the connection.

If the connection fails:

Important: Some speakers (e.g. Xiaomi Smart Speaker) IR) require additional configuration of the infrared port to control the equipment, this option is included in the device menu in Mi Home after connecting.

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If your router is not broadcasting the network 2.4 GHz separately, go to its settings and turn on compatibility mode (usually called "Legacy Mode" or "Legacy Mode "B/G/N").

Step 4: Set up a voice assistant (Alice or XiaoAI)

Xiaomi’s smart speakers support two voice assistants:

• 🗣️ Alice (from Yandex) – for the Russian region.
• 🤖 XiaoAI – Xiaomi’s corporate assistant (works in Chinese or English).

To set Alice up:

1. Open the Mi Home app and select your column.
2. Go to Settings. → Voice assistant.
3. Select Alice and log in through your Yandex account.
4. Follow the instructions for setting up voice control.

For XiaoAI:

1. In the same settings, select "XiaoAI".
2. Set up the language (Chinese and English are available).
3. Activate the Voice Awakening option (e.g., “Hey, XiaoAI”).

⚠️ Note: If you use Alice, make sure that the settings in the column include "Allow access to the microphone." Without this, voice commands will not work. Also check that the settings in the smartphone for the Mi Home app allow access to the microphone.

Step 5: Customize sound and multimedia

By default, the Xiaomi speaker is set to a balanced sound, but you can change the settings to suit your preferences:

• 🎵 Equator: In Mi Home, go to Settings → Sound. → Equalizer and select preset ("Bases", "Vocals", "Classic", etc.) or create your own.
• 🔊 Volume: Set the maximum volume limit to avoid distortion at high levels.
• 🎶 Music sources: Connect services (Yandex Music, Spotify, Apple Music) to the Multimedia menu.

To improve the sound in a large room, activate the "Stereo pair" mode (if you have two Xiaomi speakers).

1. Place the columns at a distance of 2-3 meters from each other.
2. In Mi Home, select the first column. → Settings → Stereo couple → "Make a pair".
3. Follow the instructions for synchronizing the second column.

Critical detail: when setting up a stereo pair, both speakers must be the same model and connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Otherwise, synchronization will not be possible.

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For better sound, place the column at least 30 cm away from walls and furniture – this will reduce the effect of echoes and improve the bass.

Step 6: Integration with Smart Home and Automation

One of the key functions of Xiaomi’s smart speaker is to manage other devices in the ecosystem, to customize interactions:

1. Make sure that all devices (lamps, sockets, sensors) are added to the Mi Home and are in the same room with the speaker.
2. Open the column settings and go to the Smart Home section.
3. Activate the option "Voice Device Management".
4. Assign devices pseudonyms (for example, instead of “Lamp Xiaomi 1” call “Light in the hall”) for easy voice control.

Examples of voice commands for a smart home:

• 💡 "Alice, turn on the light in the bedroom" (if the lamp is named accordingly).
• 🔌 "XiaoAI, turn off the socket in the kitchen".
• 🌡️ "What is the temperature in the nursery? (if the temperature sensor is connected).

To create automations (e.g., turning on music when you return home):

1. In Mi Home, go to the Automation section.
2. Click "Add" and select the condition (time, geolocation, sensor status).
3. Add an action, such as “Play music on a column.”
4. Save the script.

⚠️ Warning: If automation fails, check that the speaker and other devices have Local Control enabled in the Mi Home settings. Without this, commands will be sent via the Xiaomi cloud, which can cause delays.

Step 7: Additional features and life hacks

In addition to basic features, Xiaomi’s smart speakers support a number of hidden features:

• 🎤 Voice Awakening Customization: In the assistant settings, you can change the activation phrase (for example, instead of “OK, Yandex” set “Listen, Alice").
• 🔔 Alarms and reminders: Set up voice alarms via Alice or Mi Home.The column can play your favorite music or radio when you wake up.
• 📞 Calls and messages: Connect the column to Mi Account and set up notifications for incoming calls on your smartphone (works only for Xiaomi phones).
• 🎮 Games and entertainment: Ask Alice for "Let's Play" - she'll offer voice quizzes or puzzles.

For models with an IR transmitter (e.g. Xiaomi Smart Speaker) IR):

1. In the column settings, activate the Infrared Port.
2. Add control panels for your equipment (TV, air conditioning) through the Mi Home database.
3. Assign voice commands, such as “Alice, turn on the TV on Channel One.”

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If the speaker is no longer responsive to voice commands, try restarting it (turn off power for 30 seconds) and check if the microphone is drowning out extraneous noise (for example, a running fan or air conditioner).

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up Xiaomi’s smart speaker