How to connect to a Xiaomi printer: full instructions for all devices

Xiaomi printers are not just printers, but full-fledged elements of the smart home ecosystem that integrate with the Mi Home app and support wireless technology. However, their setup often raises questions among users, especially if it is a first connection. Unlike traditional printers, Xiaomi models (such as Mi Portable Photo Printer or Xiaomi Mi Smart Printer) require synchronization with the Mi Account and the correct network configuration.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for connecting a Xiaomi printer to a smartphone (Android/iOS), computer (Windows/macOS), We'll look at common errors, like a printer not found in Mi Home or a connection error. 0x80070005, And we'll give you some recommendations for fixing them. If you've just bought a device or you've had problems with a firmware update, here's the solution.

1. Preparing the Xiaomi printer for the first connection

Before you start setting up, make sure that the Xiaomi printer is ready to go. Unpack the device and check the configuration:

• 📦 The printer itself (model is shown on the box, for example, Mi Portable Photo Printer 2)
• 🔌 Power Cable (USB-Type-C or microUSB depending on the model)
• 📄 Cartridge with ink (if the printer is inkjet) or thermal paper (for portable photo printers)
• 📱 Instructions with QR-Download code for Mi Home

Important: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Smart Printer) 4K) If the printer doesn't turn on or flashes a red light, connect it to the network via cable and wait for the automatic update (may take up to 10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: Do not use the power supply from other devices, even if the connector is the same. Xiaomi printers are sensitive to voltage, and an inappropriate adapter can cause the device to fail.

After you turn on the printer, wait until it initializes (green or blue lights will light up). If the indicator flashes orange, it means a network connection error or no paper/ink.

• 🔋 Charge level (for portable models)
• 📄 The presence of paper in the tray
• 🌐 Wi-Fi network availability (if you plan to connect wirelessly)

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If the Xiaomi printer doesn’t respond to the power button, try resetting it to factory settings. To do this, hold the power button for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes quickly.

2. Connecting a Xiaomi printer to a smartphone (Android/iOS)

The main way to manage Xiaomi printers is through the Mi Home app, which is available for Android (Google Play) and iOS (App Store). QR-Important: for the printer to work correctly, your Mi Account must be linked to the region of China (Mainland China) or Russia (depending on the model).

Step-by-step:

1. Open Mi Home and log in (or register).
2. Click + → Add the device in the upper right corner.
3. Select the Printer category (or enter the model name manually).
4. Follow the instructions on the screen: turn on the printer and wait until it appears in the list of available devices.
5. Connect the printer to a Wi-Fi network (make sure the smartphone is connected to the same network!).

If the printer doesn’t show up in Mi Home, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the printer and smartphone.
• 📶 Switch to another Wi-Fi network (some models don’t support 5GHz).
• 🔧 Update the Mi Home app to the latest version.
• 🌍 Change your account region to China (in profile settings).

The latest update to Mi Home has been installed|Smartphone and printer in the same Wi-Fi network|The printer is on and is next to the smartphone (no further than 2 meters)|Mi Account is tied to the right region-->

For Bluetooth-enabled models (such as Mi Portable Photo Printer 2), you can connect directly without Wi-Fi:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone.
2. Press the button on the printer before the flashing blue indicator appears.
3. In Mi Home, select Add Manual → Bluetooth devices.

3. Computer connection (Windows/macOS)

While Xiaomi printers are optimized for mobile devices, they can be connected to a computer.

• 🖥️ USB-cable (usually Type-C or MicroUSB)
• 🖨️ Drivers (download automatically or from the official Xiaomi website)
• 🌐 Connecting to the same Wi-Fi network (for wireless printing)

For Windows 10/11:

1. Connect the printer to the PC through USB.
2. Open the settings. → Devices → Printers and scanners.
3. Click Add a printer or scanner.
4. Select your Xiaomi model from the list (if not, click the Right Printer is not in the list and specify the path to the drivers).

For macOS:

1. Connect the printer to USB Make sure it’s on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac.
2. Open System settings → Printers and scanners.
3. Press. + and select the printer from the list.
4. If the driver is not installed automatically, download it from the Xiaomi website.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi printers may not support PC printing USB, If they are originally designed for mobile devices (e.g. Mi Portable Photo Printer), then use a wireless connection via Mi Home or cloud printing.

4. Wi-Fi Connection: Solving Problems

The most common mistake when setting up a Xiaomi printer is not being able to connect to Wi-Fi. This can happen for several reasons:

• 📶 The printer does not support 5 GHz frequency (use 2.4 GHz).
• 🔒 The network requires authorization through a web page (e.g. in hotels or offices).
• 🔄 The router uses non-standard security settings (e.g, WPA3).
• 📵 Wi-Fi signal is too weak (the printer should be near the router).

How to fix it:

1. Reboot the router and printer.
2. Turn off the router settings WPA3 Just leave it alone. WPA2-PSK.
3. If the network is hidden (SSID It is not broadcast, make it visible temporarily.
4. Try connecting to another network (e.g., from the mobile internet via an access point).

If the Xiaomi Mi Portable Photo Printer 2 printer constantly loses connection to Wi-Fi, update its firmware via Mi Home. To do this, go to the device settings in the application and select Update firmware. The software version should be at least 1.2.34 (current for 2026).

5. Printing from the phone: applications and formats

Xiaomi printers support printing from various applications, but for full work it is recommended to use:

• 📱 Mi Home – for device management and basic printing.
• 🖼️ Xiaomi Print – a dedicated photo printing app (available for Mi Portable Photo Printer).
• 🌐 Google Cloud Print (Old, but Some Models Still Support Google Cloud Print).
• 📄 Microsoft Print to PDF — to save documents before printing.

File formats that are supported by most Xiaomi printers:

• 📑.jpg,.png – for photos (resolution up to) 4800×3600).
• 📄.pdf,.docx – for documents (requires conversion in some models).
• 🎨.psd – only in professional models (e.g. Mi Smart Printer) 4K).

For printing from iPhone:

1. Open a photo or document.
2. Press Share. → Seal.
3. Select a Xiaomi printer from the list (if it’s connected to the same network).

If the printer doesn’t appear in the list of iOS printers, install the Xiaomi Print app and log in via Mi Account.

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To print from your iPhone, be sure to use the Xiaomi Print app – the standard AirPrint driver is not supported by most Xiaomi models.

6. Cloud Printing and Remote Access

One of the key advantages of Xiaomi printers is that it supports cloud printing, which allows you to send documents to print from anywhere in the world, if the printer is connected to the Internet.

1. Make sure the printer is connected to Mi Home and Wi-Fi.
2. Enable Remote Access in the device settings in the application.
3. Sign in to Mi Cloud on the device you want to type from.
4. Select a file and send it to print via Mi Cloud Print.

Important: for cloud printing, the printer must always be on and connected to the Internet, and some models (such as the Mi Laser Printer) support sleep, but in this case, the cloud printing will not work.

If the cloud printing system is not working:

• 🔄 Restart the printer and check the Wi-Fi connection.
• 🔒 Make sure that Mi Home has Remote Access enabled.
• 📵 Check if the firewall or antivirus is blocking the connection to Xiaomi servers.

For business users, Xiaomi offers Mi Office Print, a multi-printer management service in the office.

• 📊 Tracking the consumption of ink and paper.
• 🔐 Set up access rights for employees.
• 📤 Automate printing of reports on schedule.

7.Typical errors and their elimination

Even when connected properly, Xiaomi printers can produce errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If the Xiaomi printer prints stripes or pale colors:

• 🎨 Check the ink level (in Mi Home or through test printing).
• 🧹 Clean the print head (nozzle cleaning function in printer settings).
• 📄 Use Xiaomi’s original paper (especially for photo printers).

⚠️ Note: When using non-original cartridges, Xiaomi printers can block printing. In some models (for example, Mi Smart Printer). 4K) A chip is installed that recognizes only branded consumables.

8. Alternative ways of connecting

If standard methods do not work, you can use alternative connection options:

• 🔌 OTG-cable – for direct printing from Android-smartphone without Wi-Fi (support required) OTG device).
• 🖥️ Sharing the printer – if the printer is connected to a PC, it can be shared over a local network.
• 🌐 Third-party services, such as PrinterShare (Android/iOS) printable.

Connection through OTG:

1. Connect. OTG-smartphone-mount.
2. Connect the printer to the cable via USB.
3. In the phone settings, turn on USB-debugging (for Android).
4. Use the Xiaomi Print or PrinterShare app to print.

To share the printer on the network (Windows):

1. Connect the printer to the PC through USB.
2. Open the control panel. → Devices and printers.
3. PKM printer → Printer properties → Access.
4. Mark Shared access to this printer and apply the settings.

Now other devices on the local network will be able to connect to the printer through the IP-pc.

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OTG-Connectivity doesn’t work on all Xiaomi models. Before buying a cable, check the compatibility of your printer and smartphone on the manufacturer’s website.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi printers