How to put voiceover on the vacuum cleaner Xiaomi through the iPhone: a complete guide with nuances

Xiaomi vacuum cleaners have long since ceased to be just household appliances, becoming full-fledged members of the smart home ecosystem. One of the most popular features of such devices is voice control, which allows you to give commands without having to get a smartphone. However, iPhone owners often face difficulties in setting up voiceovers due to the limitations of iOS and the peculiarities of working with the Mi Home ecosystem.

In this article, we will explore all the current ways to add voice control to Xiaomi vacuum cleaners (including Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro, Xiaomi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite and others) through the iPhone – from standard integration with Siri to bypass solutions using third-party applications.

1. Which Xiaomi vacuum cleaners support voiceover via iPhone?

Not all Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner models can work with voice assistants on iPhones, the main criteria being support for the Mi Home protocol (or MiOT) and compatibility with the Apple HomeKit platform.

If your model is not in the table, check its compatibility in the official Mi Home app (Devices → Add Device → Model Search).Models older than 2020 (e.g. Mi Robot Vacuum 1) most often do not support voice control due to outdated firmware.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi vacuum cleaners with Cyrillic firmware (for example, purchased in Russian stores) may not appear in Apple HomeKit even with official support.

2. Method 1: Configure via Apple HomeKit (official method)

The most reliable way to add voiceover is to integrate the vacuum cleaner into the HomeKit ecosystem and then manage it through Siri, a method that works for Matter-enabled models or Apple-certified models.

Step-by-step:

• 📱 Install the Mi Home app (App Store) and log in.
• 🔍 Add the vacuum cleaner to the app (if not already added). + → Addition of a device → Choose a model.
• 🏠 Go to the device settings in Mi Home, find the item Work with other platforms → Apple HomeKit.
• 🔗 Follow the instructions on the screen: scan QR-code from the vacuum cleaner body or enter the 8-digit code manually.
• 🎤 After adding to HomeKit, activate Siri and say, “Hey Siri, turn on the vacuum cleaner” or “Hey Siri, start cleaning at Mi Home».

Make sure the vacuum cleaner is connected to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi

Update the device to the latest version

Check that the region in Mi Home is the same as the region in HomeKit (e.g. both are Germany)

Turn it off. VPN on the iPhone during the setup-->

If Apple HomeKit is not in the settings, then your model is not certified to work with HomeKit.

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If HomeKit doesn’t see the device, try dumping the vacuum cleaner to factory settings: press the power button for 10 seconds until the double signal sounds.

Method 2: Voice control via Shortcuts (circumvention)

For models that don’t support HomeKit, you can use Apple’s Shortcuts app, which requires pre-setting in Mi Home and creating automatic scripts.

Algorithm of action:

1. Open Mi Home and Create Quick Teams for the Vacuum Cleaner: 🧹 Start cleaning. 🏠 Back to base. ⏸ Suspend cleaning

Shortcuts

iPhone

1. Press "+" → "Add Action"


2. Select "Applications" → "Mi Home"




3. Find a command (e.g., "Start cleaning")




4. Save the label with the name "Running the vacuum cleaner"

• 🎤 Say to Siri, "Hey Siri, run the label "Run the vacuum cleaner».
• 🔄 For convenience, add a shortcut to the home screen or widget.

Pros of the method:

• ✅ It works with all Xiaomi models.
• ✅ Flexible scenarios (such as starting a cleaning schedule or when leaving home).
• ✅ Possibility of integration with other smart devices.

Cons:

• ❌ Requires technical skills.
• ❌ You need to keep the server on. 24/7.

5. Alternative voiceover apps (without HomeKit)

If setting up through HomeKit or Home Assistant seems too complicated, you can use third-party apps that emulate voice control.

The easiest option is Yandex Alice, as it integrates directly with Mi Home.

1. Open the Yandex app on your iPhone.
2. Go to Alice. → Skills → Smart home.
3. Select Mi Home and log in.
4. Now you can give commands: “Alice, turn on the vacuum cleaner” or “Alice, start cleaning in the living room.”

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When using third-party apps (like Alice for Mi Home), make sure you only give them access to the necessary features. Some apps ask for a password from your Mi Account – it’s not secure!

6. Common mistakes and their solutions

When setting up voiceovers, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

• 🚫 HomeKit doesn't see vacuum cleaner: Check that the vacuum cleaner and iPhone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz only). Update the vacuum cleaner firmware in Mi Home. Change region at Mi Home to Germany or Singapore.
• 🔊 Siri does not recognize commands: Rename your device in HomeKit to a simple name (e.g., "Vacuum cleaner", no spaces). Check if access to the microphone for Siri is enabled in Settings → Confidentiality → Microphone.
• ⚠️ Device Not Responding Error: Reboot the vacuum cleaner (press the power button for 5 seconds). Remove the device from HomeKit and add again.
• 🌐 Home Assistant issues: Make sure the configuration.yaml file lists the correct token. 51827/TCP and 8123/TCP router-bound.

⚠️ Note: If after updating the vacuum cleaner firmware voiceover stopped working, try rolling back the software version. To do this, go to Mi Home Settings Device → General. → Firmware version → Not all firmware works with HomeKit!

7.Safety: How not to lose access to the vacuum cleaner

When setting up voice control, it is important not only to ensure the health of your Mi Account and home network, but also to ensure the security of your Mi Account and home network.

• 🔒 Two-factor authentication: Enable 2FA in the Xiaomi account (Profile) → Security settings → Two-step verification).
• 📶 Guest Network: Connect the vacuum cleaner to a separate Wi-Fi network for smart devices (if the router supports it).
• 🔄 Backup Tokens: If you use Home Assistant, keep the Mi Home token in a secure location (e.g., in a secure location). 1Password).
• 🚪 Access Restriction: In Mi Home, disable Sharing if you don’t plan to share vacuum cleaner control.

Pay special attention to third-party apps, like Alice for Mi Home asking for a username and password from a Xiaomi account, which is risky.

1. Create a separate Mi Account specifically for the vacuum cleaner.
2. Set up limited rights (e.g., vacuum cleaner management only, without access to personal data).
3. Use temporary tokens (if the app supports).

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Periodically check the list of connected devices in your Xiaomi account (Profile → Security Devices). If an unknown device appears, delete it immediately and change your password.

FAQ: Frequent questions on voiceover Xiaomi vacuum cleaner through iPhone