Xiaomi’s modern robot vacuum cleaner is not just a dust-collecting device, but a full-fledged smart home gadget that can keep floors clean with minimal human involvement. Wet cleaning adds new depth to the process, allowing not only to suck up garbage, but also to wipe floors, removing sticky dirt. However, in order for the appliances to work correctly and delight you with the results, you need to properly perform the initial setup and synchronization with your smartphone.
In fact, Xiaomi’s ecosystem is designed to make it as easy as possible to interact with the app through the Mi Home app. In this article, we’ll take a look at every step from unpacking and physical preparation to fine-tuning the app’s operating modes.
The connection phase is particularly important, because the quality of the connection between the router and the vacuum cleaner is critical to the stability of the task and the ability to manage remotely. The wrong network configuration often results in the device being permanently offline, and you can't start cleaning from outside the home. Let's get everything ready and start setting up.
Preparation of a robot vacuum cleaner and working space
Before we get to the software part, it's important to get the device properly prepared, and the charging station should be mounted against the wall in a place where there's free access from all sides, so that the robot can maneuver freely in the parking lot and not get stuck, and the side obstacles should be at least 0.5 meters away, and at the front - at least 1.5 meters.
Turn on the device with the power button and wait for a voice greeting or an audible signal. If the indicators flash in orange or red, this can mean low battery power or sensor error. In this case, let the device stand on the base for about 30 minutes. Also make sure that there is no protective film on the bottom panel where the charging contact areas are located.
⚠️ Warning: Before installing the vacuum cleaner on the base, be sure to remove all transport locks from the side brushes and main roller, if any, in your model.
For models with wet cleaning function, it is critical to check the condition of the water tank. Make sure that the electronic pump (if you have one in your model, for example, in the Pro or Ultra series) is not locked. If you use a model with a flowing water system, check the integrity of the valve at the bottom of the tank.
☑️ Connection readiness
Installation and configuration of the Mi Home application
The control center of your smart equipment will be the Mi Home app (also known as Xiaomi Home), you can download it from the official App Store or Google Play stores. After installation, you need to create a Mi Account or log into an existing one.
When you first log in, the app will ask for permission to use geolocation. This is not spying, but a technical necessity: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi protocols on Android devices require GPS enabled to scan the surrounding devices. Without this item, the gadget search menu may simply not see your new robot vacuum cleaner.
The important thing is to choose a region. In the application settings (user profile), make sure that you select the region that corresponds to your location or the region that your device is tied to when you purchase (often “China” or “Russia/Europe”). If you choose the wrong region, some models may not be added to the list of available ones.
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If the app doesn't see the device, try temporarily changing the region in your profile settings to China, adding the gadget, and then returning the region back, often helping you find gray deliveries of equipment.
Once logged in, press the + button in the upper right corner of the home screen. The app will automatically search for devices within Bluetooth range. If your phone is connected to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, the process will go faster. Don't connect to 5GHz networks, as most Xiaomi smart home devices do not support them.
The process of connecting to a Wi-Fi network
When the app detects your robot vacuum cleaner, a device card will appear on the screen prompting you to add it. Press "Connect." Then the system will ask you to enter a password from your Wi-Fi network. Make sure you enter the password correctly, observing the register of letters, as an error in even one character will interrupt the process.
There are two main methods of pairing that can be proposed depending on the model:
- 🔗 Automatic: the phone itself transmits the network settings to the robot via a Bluetooth channel. You only need to confirm the action on the smartphone screen and wait for the sound signal from the vacuum cleaner.
- 🔘 Hand-held (AP-Mode: If the automatic fails, press the on and back buttons (or on and mode, depending on the model) at the same time until you hear the message to turn on the pairing mode.
When transmitting data, keep your smartphone as close to the charging station as possible, the process can take from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. If the timeout or failed connection error appears on the screen, try restarting the router and repeating the procedure.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure that your router settings do not include customer isolation AP (AP Isolation: This feature prevents devices within the local network from sharing data, which means that the phone cannot pass the password to the vacuum cleaner.
Successful connectivity will be confirmed by a robot voice message (“Wi-Fi is connected” or similar in the system language) and the device’s appearance in the Mi Home app’s gadget list. Now you can rename the device, for example, to “Kitchen Robot” or “Living Vacuum” so as not to get confused if you have several of them.
Setting up the wet cleaning module
Once the robot is online, you need to activate and configure the wet cleaning function. To do this, go to the device control menu in the app and select Water or Wet Cleaning mode, where you will be prompted to install a platform with a water tank and an electronic pump (if the model supports feed adjustment).
You can choose the intensity of the water supply in the settings, and there are usually three or four levels available:
- 💧 Low: suitable for daily cleanliness or for floors sensitive to moisture (parquet, laminate flooring).
- 💧💧 Medium: optimal mode for tiles and linoleum under normal conditions.
- 💧💧💧 High: used for severe contaminants in the kitchen or in the hallway where intense soaking is required.
Also available in modern models is the Smart Water Supply feature, which automatically adjusts the amount of moisture depending on the speed of the robot. When you turn or stop, the water supply stops so that puddles do not form. Activate this option in the cleaning settings menu to save water.
Remember to place a wet cleaning mat (a microfiber wipe) on the platform. Dry cleaning with a tank installed, but without a wipe, can cause dust to smear the floor, turning it into dirt. The wipe must be washed regularly so as not to reduce the efficiency of cleaning.
How often do you change the water in the tank?
Mapping and zoning of premises
The first start of the robot should be in map-building mode. Make sure all doors to the rooms are open, and there are no extra items on the floor (wires, toys, clothes) that can confuse the wheels. Press the "Map" or "Build a map" button in the application.
The robot will travel all the way around the area, scanning the room with a laser rangefinder (LDS) or using camera navigation (VSLAM), and once you're done, you'll see the plan of the apartment on your smartphone screen, and you can now start zoning, which is dividing the space into rooms.
In the map editor you can:
- 🏠 Separate Zones: If a robot has combined the kitchen and living room into one room, use the Divide tool by drawing a line along the wall.
- 🚫 Install virtual walls: forbid the robot to go under the sofa with a long fringe or in the area where there is a bowl of water for the pet.
- 🧹 Set up the cleaning order: Set a sequence in which the robot will visit the rooms to optimize the route and battery charge.
| Parameter of the map | Description of function | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Name of the room | Name for voice commands | Kitchen, Bedroom. |
| Virtual wall | Prohibition of travel | Animal bowls. |
| Zone cleaning | Spot cleaning | 1-2 times a day |
| Keeping the map | Memorizing planning | Included. |
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A properly configured map and virtual walls are 90% of the robot’s autonomous performance.Spend 15 minutes editing the map on the first run to avoid future problems.
Voice control and automation
For maximum comfort, use voice assistants. Xiaomi integrates perfectly with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Yandex.Alice (through the Mi Home skill). In the Mi Home app, go to profile, select Other Platforms and link accounts. After that, you can say, "Alice, turn on the kitchen vacuum cleaner."
Automating scripts allows you to start cleaning without you, for example, you can set up a script that says, "If everyone left home (geolocation of phones outside Wi-Fi radius), launch the robot," which will ensure that you get back clean.
You should also set up a cleaning schedule. You can find a schedule or a timer on the device menu, and you can set different scenarios for different days of the week, like a quick kitchen cleaning at 10:00 on weekdays, and a full wet cleaning at 12:00 on weekends.
⚠️ Attention: When setting your schedule, consider the time it takes to charge. If the robot is discharged, it will go to the base first, and then start cleaning, which can shift the schedule.
Check the app's cleaning log regularly, showing the area of cleaned space, operating times and the history of replacement supplies, and helping you plan to buy new filters and brushes in advance.
Possible problems and solutions
Even when you set it up properly, you can have a breakdown, and most of the time, you're going to have a loss of communication, and if you're writing "Offline," check if your Wi-Fi password has changed, if your router is working, and sometimes it helps to reconnect your device in your app.
Problems with wet cleaning are often associated with clogging of water supply channels.If you notice that the napkin remains dry when the feed is turned on, try cleaning the outlet with a soft toothbrush or running a deep pump cleaning mode (if available on the menu).
Sensor errors (such as "Stuck" or "Impact Sensor") are solved by cleaning the wheels and bumper of hair and dust. Regular maintenance prolongs the life of the device and ensures high-quality cleaning.