Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have long since moved beyond being just calling devices, becoming powerful work tools capable of handling office peripherals. The ability to instantly print a document or photo without a computer significantly saves time and simplifies workflow. However, setting up wireless printing often presents difficulties for users due to the variety of printer models and MIUI versions.
In this article, we will examine in detail all the available methods for connecting your Redmi Connect to a printing device over a local network. You'll learn about native Android features, specialized apps from manufacturers, and cloud services that allow you to bypass geographic restrictions. Proper setup will ensure stable data transfer and high-quality documents.
To get started, you don't need complicated cables or adapters; a stable wireless network signal is enough. We'll cover the nuances of working with different protocols, such as Mopria And Google Cloud Print (in its current variations), and we'll also focus on Xiaomi's proprietary solutions. Understanding how these technologies work will help you avoid common connection errors.
Preparing equipment and network
The first and most critical step is ensuring the correct network infrastructure. Both devices—a smartphone Redmi and your printer—must be on the same local network. This means they must be connected to the same router using the same frequency (usually 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, although modern routers combine them into a single SSID network).
Check the connection status on the printer itself. On most models with a display, the Wi-Fi indicator should be solid or blinking slowly, indicating it's ready to print. If the printer is connected via Wi-Fi Direct, the connection method will differ, but the classic router connection provides greater stability and allows printing from multiple devices simultaneously.
⚠️ Important: If your router uses AP Isolation, devices will not be able to see each other. Make sure this feature is disabled for the guest or main network in your router settings.
It's also worth updating the printer's firmware if the model supports this feature via the menu. Manufacturers frequently release patches that improve compatibility with new versions of Android and WPA3 security protocols. Older firmware may simply not recognize requests from modern smartphones.
Using Android's built-in printing service (Mopria)
Starting with Android 4.4, the system has built-in support for the standard Mopria, which is a universal printing solution. In smartphones Redmi This feature is often enabled by default or requires minimal activation in the settings. This is the easiest way, requiring no additional third-party software.
To activate, go to your phone's settings menu. The path may vary slightly depending on the version. MIUI, but usually it looks like this: Settings → Connection and sharing → Printing. Here you'll see a list of available services. Make sure the "Default Print Service" or "Mopria Print Service" switch is enabled.
Once the service is enabled, your phone will automatically scan the network for compatible printers. If your device supports AirPrint or has a built-in Mopria server, it will appear in the list of available printers. Now, when you open any document, photo, or webpage and select "Print" from the share menu, the system will prompt you to select the detected device.
☑️ Checking the Print Service
Completed: 0 / 1
It's important to note that this method may not work for older printer models that don't support modern discovery standards. In this case, the system simply won't find the device, even if it's turned on. In this case, specialized apps come to the rescue.
Printer manufacturer proprietary applications
If standard Android tools fail to solve the problem, the best solution is to use the official software from the manufacturer of the printing device. HP, Canon, Epson And Brother We've developed powerful utilities that not only manage printing, but also allow you to scan documents directly to your phone, monitor ink levels, and perform diagnostics.
Let's look at popular solutions for different brands:
- 🖨️ HP Smart — a universal application for HP equipment that allows you to create short links for printing and scan to PDF.
- 🖨️ Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY — supports borderless printing of photos and creating collages before sending them to the device.
- 🖨️ Epson iPrint — focused on working with cloud storage and printing documents from Microsoft Office.
- 🖨️ Brother iPrint&Scan — provides fast scanning to the cloud and printing of web content.
The setup process for these apps is standardized. After installation and launch, the app will prompt you to find the printer on the network. If the device isn't found automatically, the app may prompt you to connect your phone to the printer's temporary Wi-Fi network to transfer your home router settings. This is a secure procedure that takes no more than a minute.
What should I do if the app doesn't see the printer?
Make sure location and Bluetooth are enabled on your phone. In newer versions of Android (10 and above), location access is required to scan for devices on the local network, even if GPS isn't needed. Without this permission, the app simply won't be able to access the list of available devices.
The advantage of using proprietary software is access to advanced settings. You can select paper type, print quality, scaling, and duplex printing, if your printer supports it. The standard Android driver often offers only a basic set of options.
Specifics of working with Xiaomi and Mi Print
Device owners Redmi have a unique advantage in the form of an ecosystem Mi Home and built-in plugin Mi PrintAlthough this feature was originally developed for Xiaomi photo printers, it is often compatible with other network printers that operate using standard protocols.
To use this method, open your gallery or file manager, select the file you want to print, and click the "Print" button. From the list of services, select Mi PrintIf you see your device, the protocol is compatible. This solution is often more stable than the standard Google driver, thanks to its optimization for Qualcomm and MediaTek processors.
Connection method
Difficulty of setup
Functional
Compatibility
Built-in Mopria
Low
Base
High (new models)
Manufacturer's application
Average
Full
Only your own brand
Google Cloud Print (via PC)
High
Extended
Any printer with a PC
Wi-Fi Direct
Average
Limited
Depends on the driver
It is worth considering that the interface MIUI It may aggressively close background processes, considering the printing service unnecessary. If printing stops mid-sentence or the status freezes, go to battery settings, find the printing app, and set it to "Unlimited" mode.
Printing via cloud services and PC
The situation becomes more complicated if your printer doesn't have a built-in Wi-Fi module, but is connected to your computer via USB. In this case, cloud technologies come to the rescue. Although the classic Google Cloud Print was abolished, its functional analogues work successfully through the PC-Smartphone connection.
One of the effective ways is to use the program Chrome on your computer. If the printer is connected to your PC, you can set up remote printing. However, a more flexible solution is to install a print server, such as PrintNode or using Windows sharing features in combination with Android client apps, such as PrinterShare.
⚠️ Caution: When using third-party cloud services, please be mindful of data privacy. Do not send documents containing personal data, passwords, or financial information via public cloud printers.
An alternative option for advanced users is to set up a CUPS server on a Linux home computer or via WSL on Windows, forwarding ports externally. This allows you to send a print command from any internet-enabled device directly to your home printer. However, this setup requires a static IP address or DDNS settings, as well as a properly configured firewall.
Troubleshooting connection and driver issues
Even with proper settings, conflicts can still occur. A common issue is that the phone sees the printer, but when sending a document, the task gets stuck in the queue or disappears immediately. In 80% of cases, this is resolved by restarting the print service or clearing the cache of the corresponding app in the [Print] section. Applications → Application Management.
Another nuance is the router's frequency separation. Many modern routers automatically separate the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks under the same name. Printers often only operate on 2.4 GHz, while phones may operate on 5 GHz. In rare cases, this can interfere with detection. Try temporarily separating the networks in your router by giving them different names and connecting both devices to the 2.4 GHz network.
- 🔍 Check if your router has MAC filtering that blocks new devices.
- 🔍 Make sure the printer is not in Sleep or Deep Sleep mode, which disables the network module.
- 🔍 Try resetting your phone's network settings if the problem is system-related.
If nothing helps, try this method Wi-Fi DirectIn this mode, the printer automatically creates a network to which the phone connects. The downside is that the phone may lose internet access during printing (if it doesn't support mobile data transfer in addition to Wi-Fi), but for urgent printing, this is an excellent solution.
Why can't my Redmi phone see the printer on the network?
Most often, the problem lies in router settings (AP isolation), using different subnets (for example, a guest network for a phone and a primary network for a printer), or outdated printer software. Also, check whether the antivirus software on your router or phone is blocking local device discovery.
Is it possible to print without the Internet?
Yes, you can. Local printing via a Wi-Fi router or Wi-Fi Direct doesn't require internet access. Data is transferred directly between devices within your local network. Internet access is only required for the initial driver download or when using cloud services.
How to improve the quality of photo prints from your phone?
Use the manufacturer's original apps (HP Smart, Canon Print), select "Photo" or "Glossy" as the paper type and maximum DPI in the settings. Also, make sure the image file has sufficient resolution (at least 300 dpi for print size), otherwise, stretching a small photo will result in pixelated results.