Manual connection of the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi to the phone: instructions 2026

Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners have long been an integral part of smart homes, but their first connection to a smartphone is often difficult. Even if the automatic synchronization through the Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Home for new models) didn’t work, there are several manual adjustment methods. In this article, we will examine all the current methods, from scanning the QR- code to alternative protocols like MiOT, and also solve typical errors like “failure to find the device” or “net error”.

Connection problems are most often caused by incompatible versions of the application, incorrect router settings or conflicts with other smart devices on the network. For example, if your Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro refuses to connect to your phone via Wi-Fi, it may be the router’s 802.11r (fast roaming) mode or dual NAT. We will discuss in detail how to circumvent these restrictions and what to do if the vacuum cleaner “can’t see” the network.

Important: The manual is suitable for all modern Xiaomi models, including the Mi Robot Vacuum series, Mi Robot Mop, Dreame (a subsidiary brand) and Viomi. For older devices like Mi Robot 1S (2018), additional steps may be required – we will highlight them separately.

1.Preparation: What to check before connecting

Before you start manual synchronization, make sure that all the components of the system are ready to work. Often the problems lie in small things, such as a discharged vacuum cleaner battery or outdated phone firmware.

Make sure that the robot vacuum cleaner is charged at least 20%

Update the Mi Home app to the latest version

Check that the phone is connected to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network (not 5 GHz!)

Disable VPN and proxy on your smartphone

Remove the vacuum cleaner from the list of devices in Mi Home, if it is already there

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Pay special attention to the type of Wi-Fi network. Xiaomi vacuum cleaner robots do not support 5 GHz networks, as well as enterprise portal-authorized networks (for example, in hotels or offices). If your router is running in 2.4/5 GHz Auto mode, temporarily split the networks or turn off 5 GHz in settings.

Another nuance is the region in the Mi Home app, and if you bought a vacuum cleaner in China, and you selected the region "Russia" in the app, the device may not appear on the list of available ones.

1. Open Mi Home and tap the avatar in the upper right corner.
2. Select Settings → Region.
3. Install China or Singapore for global models.
4. Restart the app.

⚠️ Warning: If you've used a vacuum cleaner before using a Mi Account from another region, if you change region, all the attached devices will disappear from the list. They will have to be reconnected!

2 Method 1: Connect via QR- code (primary method)

This is the most reliable and recommended way Xiaomi. QR- code contains unique device data that the application uses for authorization. Instructions are relevant for models Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite, Dreame D9, Viomi V3 and others.

Steps:

1. Turn on the vacuum cleaner by pressing and holding the power button for 3 seconds (on some models - until the sound signal).
2. Wait for a voice message in Chinese or English: “Please connect me to the app” (or similar).
3. Open Mi Home, click Add Device (+ in the upper right corner).
4. Select the category "Vacilities" and find your model in the list. If it is not, select "Other vacuum cleaner".
5. The QR- code will appear on the screen – bring it to the infrared sensor on the vacuum cleaner (usually located under the lid or on the top panel).
6. Wait for the beep and message in the app “Device connected”.

If QR-code not scanned:

• 🔦 Check the lighting -- the sensor should clearly see the code, and in bright sunlight, shading may be necessary.
• 📱 Make sure the phone’s camera resolution is at least 8MP (on older smartphones, the scan may not work).
• 🔄 Reboot the vacuum cleaner by holding the power button for 10 seconds until the double beep.

3 Method 2: Manual Wi-Fi connection (without QR- code)

If the code scan fails, try connecting directly over a Wi-Fi network, which works for most models but may require additional actions on the router.

Algorithm:

1. Turn on the vacuum cleaner and wait for a voice greeting.
2. In Mi Home, select “Add device” → “Vacciner” → “Add manually”.
3. Choose your model or “Other vacuum cleaner” if it is not on the list.
4. The application will offer to connect to the temporary network of the vacuum cleaner (the name will be in the format roborock-vacuum-XXXX or mihome-XXXX).
5. Connect to this network on your phone (password is not usually required).
6. Go back to Mi Home and select your 2.4GHz home network from the list. Enter your Wi-Fi password.
7. Wait for a message about a successful connection (can take up to 2 minutes).

If in step 5 the phone does not see the temporary vacuum cleaner network:

• 📶 Reset the vacuum cleaner and try again.
• 🔌 Turn off Band Steering (combining 2.4 and 5 GHz into one network) on the router.
• 🛡️ Temporarily disable the firewall or antivirus on your phone (they may block the connection).

⚠️ Warning: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi Robot Vacuum E10) require that the Wi-Fi network name be free of Cyrillic characters or spaces. If your network is called "My Network 2.4," rename it Latin (e.g., My_Net_24).

Method 3: Connect via Bluetooth (for new models)

Xiaomi models from 2022 to 2026 (such as Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Ultra or DreameBot X30 Ultra) support initial setup via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

Instructions:

1. Turn on Bluetooth and geolocation (required!).
2. In Mi Home, click “Add device” → select a vacuum cleaner.
3. The application will prompt you to turn on Bluetooth – confirm the request.
4. Bring the phone to the vacuum cleaner at a distance of 10-20 cm.
5. Wait for the device to be detected (it can take up to 30 seconds).
6. Follow the instructions in the application to switch to Wi-Fi connection.

If the Bluetooth connection is broken:

• 🔋 Make sure the phone has enough charge (less than 15% can cause crashes).
• 📱 Reboot the phone's Bluetooth module (turn off/on in settings).
• 🚫 Disable other Bluetooth devices (earphones, fitness bracelets) that may interfere.

Important: Android 12+ may require permission for the “exact location” to work with the BLE, and if it is not provided, the connection will be interrupted during the search phase of the device.

5. Solving common connection errors

Even with the right actions, users are faced with errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

If you see an error Code: 10004, it means that Xiaomi servers are temporarily unavailable.

• Check your phone’s internet connection (open your browser).
• Try changing the region in Mi Home to China or Singapore.
• Wait 10-15 minutes and try again.

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If the vacuum cleaner plugs in but shuts down immediately, check your router settings. Turn off the AP Isolation and IGMP Snooping options, as they can block the exchange of data between devices on the local network.

6.Alternative methods: MiOT and third-party applications

If the standard methods didn't work, you can use MiOT protocol or third-party utilities, and this is true for advanced users or custom firmware owners.

Connecting via MiOT (for Android):

1. Install the MiOT Explorer app from Google Play.
2. Turn on the vacuum cleaner and connect to its temporary Wi-Fi network (roborock-XXXXX).
3. In MiOT Explorer, click Scan and the app will find the vacuum cleaner at the MAC- address.
4. Select the device and enter the token (if required).

1. Install Packet Capture on your phone.


2. Run traffic capture when connecting via Mi Home.




3. Find the string with token= (32 characters). in the logs

This method circumvents the limitations of the region, but requires technical skills.

For iPhone, the alternative is the Home Assistant app with the Xiaomi Miio plugin.

1. Install Home Assistant on the server (or use the cloud option).
2. Add the integration of Xiaomi Miio.
3. Enter IP- vacuum cleaner address and token (it turns out the same as for MiOT Explorer).

⚠️ Warning: Using third-party apps may violate Xiaomi’s warranty, and informal firmware (like Valetudo) disables cloud sync, making it impossible for you to operate a vacuum cleaner via Mi Home.

7. Resetting vacuum cleaner to factory settings

If all the connection attempts fail, the last option is to completely reset the device, which will delete all the stored networks, room maps and settings.

How to reset:

• 🔄 For most models: Hold the Wi-Fi and Home buttons at the same time for 5-10 seconds before the beep.
• 🔊 On the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro: Press and hold the power button for 20 seconds (until the light flashes).
• 📱 On Dreame D9: Use the Spot Clean + Home combination for 8 seconds.

Once reset, the vacuum cleaner will issue a voice message in Chinese (Chong zhi cheng gong) and reboot, and can now be reconnected as a new device.

If the reset doesn't work, the problem may be a hardware malfunction (e.g., a Wi-Fi module is damaged).

• Check if the Wi-Fi indicator on the vacuum cleaner is on when turned on.
• Connect the vacuum cleaner to another router (for example, from your phone in access point mode).
• Contact the Xiaomi service center with a check to buy.

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Factory reset is a last resort, and before that, make sure to try connecting via another phone or network, for example, take a friend's smartphone with a clean Mi Home installation and repeat the procedure.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner