Why does the wet cleaning on Xiaomi Vacuum Mop not work out of the box?
When buying a Xiaomi Vacuum Mop robot vacuum cleaner (or its modifications like Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P, Xiaomi Mijia 1T), many users are faced with the surprise: the wet cleaning function is not activated automatically. The reason lies in the design of the device - the manufacturer turns off the default mode to avoid accidental wetting of the floor or damage to mechanisms during the first run. Moreover, some models (for example, Xiaomi Vacuum Mop 2 Lite) require a physical installation of a water tank, which users often miss.
Another common problem is the missetting of the Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Home in newer versions), and the robot can ignore the wet cleaning command if:
- 🔋 Water tank not connected (or installed incorrectly).
- 📱 The device profile does not select Mop or Vacuum & Mop mode.
- 🚫 Battery discharged below 20% – for safety purposes, the robot blocks the function.
- 🔄 Firmware is outdated (relevant for models 2020-2022).
In this article, we will analyze all the ways to enable wet cleaning - from the basic (through buttons on the case) to hidden (through the service menu), and also tell you how to avoid typical mistakes, because of which the robot refuses to wash the floor.
Method 1: Activate through physical buttons on the body
The easiest method is to use mechanical controls on the vacuum cleaner itself.It is suitable if you do not have access to a smartphone or problems connecting to the Mi Home. The instruction is universal for most Xiaomi Vacuum Mop models, except for the Pro versions with touch panels.
Sequence of action:
- Make sure the robot is off (the indicator does not blink).
- Install a water tank on the back of the case (should be a click).
- Pour 150-200 ml of clean water into the tank (do not use detergents!).
- Press and hold the Mop (or Vacuum & Mop) button for 3 seconds until you hear the beep.
- Press the Clean (or Start) button to start cleaning.
Important: If the robot only vacuums after this, and the cloth remains dry, check the position of the water intensity regulator (located on a water tank). In Xiaomi Vacuum Mop 2 Pro models, it can be blocked by a transport plug.
Install the water tank before clicking |
Pour water (not above the maximum mark) |
Check the position of the water regulator |
Make sure the cloth is clean and properly secured |
Charge the robot to at least 30%
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Method 2: Configure via the Mi Home app (Step-by-step)
The Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Home for new devices) gives you more options for managing wet cleaning, so you can not only turn on the mode, but also adjust the water intensity, select areas for washing or schedule cleaning.
Instructions for activation:
- Open Mi Home and select your robot vacuum cleaner from the device list.
- Go to Cleaning (or Cleaning in English).
- Click on the Mop (or Mop) icon in the bottom panel.
- Choose one of the modes: 💧 Mop Only (only wet cleaning. 🧹💧 Vacuum and Mop (Vacuum & Mop) – Combined Mode.
water-supply
Low.
High-pitched
Start.
Start
If the application does not have Mop option, update the firmware of the robot:
- Go to Settings → Update firmware.
- Make sure that the software version is not lower than 3.5.8 (for models 2021-2023).
- If the update is not available, check the server region in Mi Home (should match the robot purchase region).
To ensure that the teams work, first:
- Connect the robot to your Mi Home account.
- Activate the Xiaomi Smart Home skill in the voice assistant settings.
- Make sure that the robot is on the same Wi-Fi network with the device through which you give the command.
⚠️ Warning: Voice commands may not work if the device name in Mi Home has Cyrillic characters, Xiaomi_Vacuum_Kitchen).
Adjustment of water supply intensity: table of modes
Water levels affect cleaning quality and safety for your floors. Too high can damage laminate or parquet, and too low can leave swelling. Below is a table of recommended settings for different types of coatings.
| Type of gender | Recommended water level | Cleaning mode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiles, porcelain porcelain | High-pitched | Mop Only or Vacuum & Mop | Resistant to moisture, you can use the maximum flow. |
| Laminate (water resistant) | Medium. | Vacuum & Mop | Avoid puddles – the cloth should be wet, but not wet. |
| parquet | Low. | Mop Only | Use the minimum water level, pre-vacuum. |
| linoleum | Medium/High | Vacuum & Mop | Check the joints - at high levels, water can seep under the coating. |
| Marble, natural stone | Low/Mediocre | Mop Only | Frequent cleaning with a lot of water can damage the surface. |
In Xiaomi Vacuum Mop 2 Pro and later, automatic coating recognition (via humidity sensors) is available. If the robot detects the flooring, it automatically reduces the water supply.
- Open Mi Home → Select the robot → Cleaning settings.
- Activate the Auto Water Adjustment switch.
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If you have left a stain after cleaning, add 1-2 drops of glass washing (no abrasives!) to the water, which will improve the sliding of the rag and reduce the traces.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Even after you set it up properly, wet cleaning may not work, and here are the most common problems and solutions.
- 🚫 The robot doesn't wash the floor, although mode is on: Make sure the cloth is installed correctly (should fit tightly to the tank). Make sure the water pump isn't locked (in models with electronic pumps). Clean the water tank filter (clogged mesh prevents water supply).
- 💦 Water is not supplied or is running too weak: Check the water level in the tank (minimum 100 ml). Make sure the regulator on the tank is not closed (turn it counterclockwise). Update the firmware - old versions of the software had pump control bugs.
- ⚡ Robot refuses to turn on wet cleaning: Charge the battery to 30% or higher. Reboot the robot (hold the power button for 10 seconds). Reset to factory settings (in Mi Home: Settings) → Reset).
⚠️ Note: If the robot has stopped responding to wet cleaning commands after resetting, check the firmware region. Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Vacuum Mop 2) block the mop function when running in China or Europe if the device is purchased in another region. The solution is to reflash the robot to the global version of the software.
How to reflash a robot on a global firmware?
Additional settings for experienced users
If standard features are not enough, you can use hidden settings or third-party firmware (for example, Valetudo).
- 🔧 Set up custom cleaning areas with different water intensity.
- 📊 Get detailed reports on water consumption and covered area.
- ⚙️ Change the speed of the robot during wet cleaning.
To activate the extended settings:
- Connect to the robot via SSH (root access required).
- Edit the configuration file /etc/mop_config.json (Use Vi or Nano).
- Change the parameters: "water_level": { "low": 30, "medium": 60, "high": 90 }, "mop_speed": 15 where water_level — percentage-intensity, mop_speed — speed).
- Save the file and restart the robot with the reboot command.
⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of configuration files can result in loss of warranty or robot failure.Before changes, back up the original file!
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Use custom firmware only if you are confident in your skills. For most users, standard settings in Mi Home are enough.