Connecting Xiaomi’s smart kettle to Mi Home on iPhone: full instruction with error solutions

Why Xiaomi’s Smart Teapot Is Not Seen in Mi Home on iPhone and How to Fix It

Xiaomi’s smart kettles (like the Viomi Smart Kettle, Mijia Electric Kettle Pro, or Xiaomi Smartmi Kettle) promise a kitchen revolution: remote start, temperature control, and even integration with voice assistants. But in practice, iPhone users often face problems when they first connect — the device is not detected, the Mi Home app gives out errors, and Bluetooth refuses to sync. In this article, we’ll discuss the step-by-step connection algorithm, typical errors and ways to fix them, including the nuances of working with the MiJia protocol and iOS settings.

It's important to understand that the iPhone connection process is different from Android because of Apple's limitations on Bluetooth backgrounds and geolocation. For example, the Mi Home requires constant access to location even to work with a kettle - this is not a whim of developers, but a technical necessity for correct synchronization using the BLE protocol.

We tested the instructions on Xiaomi Smart Kettle 1S, Viomi V-KETTLE3 and Mijia Kettle Pro models with iPhone 12/13/14/15 on iOS 16-17. All steps are relevant for Mi Home versions 6.5.0 and later. If your kettle is released before 2020, check the support in the official list of compatible devices - some older models require firmware through Mi Home for Android.

Preparation before connecting: what to do on the iPhone

Before you start syncing, make sure your iPhone and kettle are ready to go, and skipping these steps is the main cause of errors like “Device not found” or “Connection failed.”

• 📱 Update iOS: Go to Settings → Mainstream → Software Update: Mi Home requires iOS 14 or later to run smoothly.
• 🔄 Reboot iPhone: Close all background apps and perform a reboot - this will reset the Bluetooth cache.
• 📶 Turn it off. VPN/Aircraft mode: Some VPN-Services block connection to Xiaomi servers in China.
• 🔋 Charge the kettle: Make sure the base charge level is at least 20%.At low charge, the Bluetooth module may not turn on.

Pay special attention to the privacy settings:

1. Open Settings → Privacy → Geolocation Services.
2. Find Mi Home and select “Always” (not “When used”).
3. Go back to Settings → Bluetooth and make sure the feature is enabled.

⚠️ Note: If you previously denied Mi Home geolocation, the app will not be able to detect the kettle even when Bluetooth is turned on.

Step-by-step: how to connect the kettle to Mi Home on iPhone

Follow this algorithm in strict order. If there is an error at some point, don’t go any further, fix the problem first (the solutions are given in the next section).

1. Download Mi Home from the App Store. Open the app and sign up (or log in to an existing Xiaomi account) after installation. Importantly, use Mainland China (China) – in other regions, some of the kettle’s features may not be available.
2. Add a device Press + → Add a device in the top right corner. Type the model name (e.g., "Viomi Kettle") in the search box. Choose your kettle from the list.
3. Hold the power button on the kettle for 5-7 seconds until the indicator flashes blue and orange (Bluetooth search mode). If the indicator is only on blue, the device is already connected to another phone (reset).
4. Bluetooth Mi Home will request Bluetooth access — allow. Wait for the app to detect the kettle (can take up to 30 seconds). If the process is stuck in the “Connecting...” stage, go to iPhone → Bluetooth Settings and manually connect to a device called “VIOMI-XXXX” or “MIJIA-XXXXX.”
5. Select your home Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz only!) and enter a password.The kettle doesn't support 5 GHz - if your router is running in two bands, temporarily disable 5 GHz in your router settings.
6. After successfully connecting, assign a name to the kettle (e.g., "Kitchen - Teapot") and select a room in Mi Home. Ready! Now the device will appear on the home screen of the app.

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even with the correct following of the instructions, problems can arise, and below is a table with the most frequent errors and ways to fix them.

If your problem is not listed in the table, try resetting the kettle to factory settings:

1. Turn the kettle off the net.
2. Hold the power button for 15 seconds (up to double beep).
3. Connect to the network and repeat the pairing process.

⚠️ Warning: After resetting, all stored temperature settings and timers will be deleted. If the kettle previously worked with another phone, remove it from the Mi Home on the old device before connecting to the iPhone.

💡

If the kettle still doesn't connect, try using a friend's or family member's iPhone for initial setup, and once connected successfully, you can transfer the device to your account via the "Shared Devices" feature in Mi Home.

Set up notifications and manage through Siri

Once you've successfully connected, you can set up automation and voice control.

• ⏰ Boiling timers: Set a schedule in Mi Home → The device → Timers, for example, the kettle will automatically turn on in the morning at 7:00.
• 🔥 Temperature control: In supported models (e.g. Mijia Kettle Pro), you can select a temperature target (from 40).°C to 100°C).
• 🗣️ Siri management: Add Mi Home to HomeKit. Open Mi Home, go to Profile → Settings → Apple HomeKit and Follow the Instructions.
• 📲 Notifications: Enable the notifications about the completion of the boil in the settings of the device. while making sure that in the settings of the iPhone → Notifications → Mi Home Allowed Banners.

For integration with Apple HomeKit:

1. Open Mi Home and go to the kettle settings.
2. Click "Add HomeKit to Apple".
3. Scan it. QR-code from the kettle body or enter the code manually.
4. The kettle will now appear in the Home app and can be controlled via Siri (e.g., "Hey Siri, turn on the kettle in the kitchen").

Note that not all models support HomeKit. For example, the Viomi Smart Kettle 1C only works through the Mi Home, and the Mijia Electric Kettle Pro is compatible. Check the specifications of your model on the official Xiaomi website.

Update firmware and hidden kettle functions

Regular firmware updates add new features and fix bugs to check the relevance of the software:

1. Open Mi Home and select your kettle.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → "Firmware Update".
3. If a new version is available, follow the instructions on the screen. Don't interrupt the process! Power outage during the upgrade can knock the kettle out.

Among the hidden features (not available on all models):

• 🌡️ Anticipation mode: Automatic water temperature maintenance (e.g. 80)°C for green tea. Included in device settings.
• 🔄 Eco mode: Reduces power consumption in standby mode (useful for energy savings).
• 🛡️ Child Protection: Blocking buttons on the case (activated via Mi Home).
• 📊 Use statistics: Shows how many times a kettle boiled water per day/week.

⚠️ Note: After updating the firmware, some settings (such as timer schedules) may reset.We recommend taking screenshots of current settings before updating.

💡

Updating the firmware through Mi Home is the only official way.Do not use third-party firmware or "custom" versions of the software: this will void the warranty and may lead to a break in the heating element.

Safety: What not to do with a smart kettle

Xiaomi’s smart kettles come with a variety of safety mechanisms, but misuse can lead to breakage or even fire.

• 🔌 Do not use extension cords: Only connect the kettle to a grounded socket. Extension cords can cause contacts to overheat.
• 💧 Do not boil water twice: Secondary boiling increases salt concentration and shortens the life of the heating element.
• 🧼 Do not wash the case under running water: Use wet cloth to clean. Water entering the electronic unit can disable the kettle.
• ❄️ Don’t put the kettle in the refrigerator: A sharp temperature drop damages the internal components.
• 🔋 Don’t leave the kettle on overnight: Even in standby mode, electricity is consumed and the risk of short circuit increases.

If the kettle has started to turn on itself or does not respond to commands, follow the following steps:

1. Shut it off the grid for 10 minutes.
2. Remove the device from Mi Home and reconnect.
3. If the problem recurs, contact the service center (the warranty for electronic components is 12 months).

In models with remote on (via 4G/LTE), make sure that the settings of the Mi Home turn off the option "Schedule Auto Update" if you do not use this feature, otherwise the kettle may turn on in your absence, which creates a risk of fire.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions