How to turn on Bluetooth on the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi: all ways and models

Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners are some of the most popular smart home devices, but their functionality is often left undisclosed, and many users are unaware that their vacuum cleaner supports Bluetooth — which opens up additional possibilities from remote control without Wi-Fi to firmware through specialized utilities. However, the inclusion of this module is not always intuitive, especially if it is a budget model or devices without a screen.

In this article, we will look at all the ways to activate Bluetooth on the robot vacuum cleaners Xiaomi, Viomi and Dreame – from flagship models with the Mi Home application to the “naked” versions without proprietary software. You will learn how to check the support module, where to look for settings and what to do if Bluetooth is not turned on or detected by the phone, and what hidden features become available after connecting via Bluetooth (for example, manual control or error diagnosis without the Internet).

What Xiaomi Robot Vacuums Support Bluetooth?

Not all Xiaomi models are equipped with Bluetooth modules, depending on the year of release, series and even the region of sale.

• 🔹 Mi Robot Vacuum (1st generation, 2016–2017) – no Bluetooth, only Wi-Fi and IR port.
• 🔹 Mi Robot Vacuum 1S / 1C — Bluetooth is available, but is often disabled by default.
• 🔹 Viomi V2 / V3 / SE — Bluetooth is always on, used to communicate with the remote.
• 🔹 Dreame D9 / D10 / F9 — Bluetooth is activated via the Dreamehome app.
• 🔹 Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 / 2 Pro / 2 Ultra — Bluetooth + Wi-Fi 5 GHz, maintains direct communication with the phone.

To find out if your model has Bluetooth, check:

1. Sticker on the case - look for inscriptions BLE Bluetooth 4.2/5.0 near-serial number.
2. Instructions - in the section "Technical characteristics" (if the box is preserved).
3. App – in Mi Home or Dreamehome, open device information (Icon) ⚙️).

If your model doesn’t make it to the list above, don’t worry: some “Chinese” versions (like AliExpress) can have Bluetooth even if it’s not officially announced. In this case, try the methods in the next section – it’s possible that the module is simply hidden in the service menu.

Method 1: Enable Bluetooth via the Mi Home app

The easiest way is to use the official Mi Home app (or Dreamehome for Dreame devices).

• 📱 Mi Home – works with most Xiaomi and Viomi models.
• 🏠 Dreamehome is for Dreame Robots Only (D9, D10, F9 etc.).
• 🔄 Update firmware – if Bluetooth is not turned on, check the relevance of the software.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Mi Home and select your vacuum cleaner.
2. Go to Settings. → Device parameters → Additionally.
3. Find Bluetooth or pairing mode (on some models – Local Control).
4. Activate the slider. If it's not there, try press Add the device. → Manual connection.

If the Bluetooth item is not on the menu, it doesn't mean it's not on the device, it may be hidden in the service menu (discussed below) or it needs a firmware update. 1S Bluetooth only appears after the firmware version 3.5.8_003077 higher.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Viomi) V3, Dreame D10 Plus) Bluetooth is automatically activated when you first connect to the application. If you reset the vacuum cleaner settings, the module can turn off - you will need to re-assign.

Method 2: Activate through the service menu (for advanced)

If the app doesn’t have Bluetooth enabled, try the service menu, which works on most Xiaomi and Viomi models, but you need to be careful – doing the wrong thing can reset your settings.

How to open the service menu:

1. Turn off the vacuum cleaner (hold the power button for 3 seconds).
2. Press the buttons at the same time (🏠) and power for 5-10 seconds until you hear a beep.
3. On some models (Viomi) V2) I need to press power. + Cleaning.

After entering the service menu:

• 🔊 The vacuum cleaner will issue a voice message or flash indicators.
• 📡 Use buttons on the case for navigation (usually Food - choice, Home - transition).
• 🔍 Find a point. BT Enable or Bluetooth (can be in the Network section).

Important: Do not change other options (such as Motor Speed or Fan Test) on the service menu unless you are sure of their purpose, which can cause engine failure or sensor calibration reset.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro models, the service menu is blocked for users. Attempting to log in can cause the device to freeze - in this case, only resetting through the Reset button (clip in the hole on the bottom of the device will help).

Method 3: Connect without application (direct mode)

Some Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners (e.g. Viomi) SE or dreame F9) They support direct Bluetooth connectivity without an app, and this is useful if you want to:

• 🌐 No Wi-Fi access (for example, in a hotel or in a country house).
• 📱 You need to control the vacuum cleaner from your phone without the Internet.
• 🔧 You need to flash the device through Xiaomi Home Assistant or Valetudo.

How to connect directly:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone.
2. Hold the power button on the vacuum cleaner for 3 seconds until you hear an audible signal (on some models - double squeak).
3. In the list of available devices on your phone, find the name of your vacuum cleaner (for example, MIROBO-XXXX or VIOMI-YYYY).
4. If you want to, you can connect. PIN-code, try 0000, 1234 or 8888.

💡

If the vacuum cleaner doesn’t appear in the Bluetooth device list, try restarting it (hold the power button for 10 seconds) and try again. On models with LiDAR (laser sensor), you may need to press the Reset button on the bottom before connecting.

After you connect, you can:

• 🎮 Control the vacuum cleaner through specialized applications (for example, Robot Vacuum Controller for Android).
• 📊 Receive data from sensors (battery charge, cleaning status).
• 🔄 Update the firmware manually (via Mi Home Hack or DustBuilder).

Note that not all features will be available in direct mode, for example, you can't set up a cleaning schedule or change the suction power - this will still require the Mi Home app.

Solving problems: Bluetooth is not turned on or not

If you followed the instructions but Bluetooth still doesn’t work, check out the following points:

Additional steps for diagnosis:

• 🔋 Check battery power – if the level is below 15%, Bluetooth can automatically shut down.
• 📶 Turn off Wi-Fi on the vacuum cleaner – sometimes modules conflict (in Mi Home, select Forget Network»).
• 🔄 Reset network settings - hold power + Home 10 seconds (before the sound signal).

💡

If none of the methods worked, your Bluetooth model may be physically missing or damaged, leaving only control over Wi-Fi or remote control (if included).

On Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Ultra and later, the problem may be related to region locking. For example, if the vacuum cleaner is bought for the Chinese market but used in Europe, some features (including Bluetooth) may be limited.

The hidden capabilities of Bluetooth in robot vacuum cleaners Xiaomi

Many users include Bluetooth only to connect to their phone, but in fact, this module opens up a lot more possibilities:

• 🎮 Manual control – you can “drive” the vacuum cleaner as a radio-controlled machine (applications Robot Vacuum Controller or Valetudo).
• 📊 Error Diagnosis – reading sensor logs (e.g., the state of brushes or laser scanner).
• 🔧 Custom firmware – installing alternative firmware (for example, Valetudo for full control without the Xiaomi cloud).
• 🔄 Local control without the Internet – cleaning on schedule works even without Wi-Fi.
• 📡 Smart Home Integration – Connect to Home Assistant, OpenHAB or IoBroker without cloud services.

For example, using Valetudo (open source firmware) you can:

• 🗺️ Save your cleaning cards to your server (not to Xiaomi’s cloud).
• 🔒 Disable sending statistics to China.
• 🛠️ Set up cleaning areas to within centimeters.

Another interesting option is to use a Bluetooth remote. Some models (Viomi) V3, Dreame D10) Supports the connection of an external remote to control without a smartphone. The remotes are sold separately (for example, Viomi Remote Control) and connect in the same way as a phone.

Security: Risks of using Bluetooth

Despite the convenience, a Bluetooth connection can become a vulnerability to your vacuum cleaner.

• 🔓 Unauthorized access – if PIN-Standard code (0000), anyone can connect to a vacuum cleaner within a radius of 10 meters.
• 📡 Data interception – when transferring a map of an apartment via Bluetooth, it can be intercepted (relevant for Valetudo).
• 🔄 Resetting – via Bluetooth you can accidentally or intentionally dump the vacuum cleaner to factory settings.

How to defend yourself:

1. Change the standard. PIN-code for complex (if there is such an option in the service menu).
2. Turn off Bluetooth after use (in Mi Home or via the service menu).
3. Do not connect the vacuum cleaner to public networks (for example, in a cafe or airport).
4. Regularly update the firmware – new versions close vulnerabilities.

⚠️ Note: On models Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro with firmware older than 2022, there is a bug: when connected via Bluetooth, the vacuum cleaner can start cleaning on its own, even if it is not planned. To avoid this, before connecting, switch the device to Sleep mode (hold the Home button for 3 seconds).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Bluetooth in Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners