How to add a button to the Xiaomi remote: all ways for Mi Remote, TVs and consoles

Adding a new button to Xiaomi’s remote is a challenge faced by owners of smart TVs, Mi TV Stick consoles or Mi Remote universal remotes, most often to control additional devices (such as a sound bar or air conditioner), activate the voice assistant, or restore lost functions after resetting. In this article, we will examine all the current ways to add buttons, from standard settings in the menu to manual programming using engineering codes.

It is important to understand that the configuration options depend on the remote model and the firmware of the device. For example, the remotes for Xiaomi Mi TV 4S/5 TVs support adding buttons through the settings menu, whereas for the universal Mi Remote Controller, a mobile application may be required. We will consider solutions for all popular scenarios, including cases where the button is physically absent on the body, but its function can be emulated software.

1. Ways to add buttons on Xiaomi remotes

There are three main methods of setting up additional buttons on Xiaomi remotes:

• 📺 Through the TV/set-top box menu – suitable for built-in Mi TV and Mi Box remotes. Allows you to reassign existing buttons or activate hidden functions.
• 📱 With a mobile app — relevant for universal remotes Mi Remote (white or black version) requires a connection to a smartphone via Bluetooth.
• 🔧 Manual code programming is an advanced method for adding support for third-party devices (air conditioners, fans, etc.) through engineering commands.

The choice of method depends on your goal, for example, if you want to add a Netflix button to your TV remote, you need to have standard settings, and to control Gree air conditioning through Mi Remote, you need an application and codebases, and then we'll go through each method in detail.

2. Add buttons via the TV menu (Mi TV, Mi Box)

Modern Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV 4S, 5, Q2, A2) and Mi Box S/Mi TV Stick consoles allow you to customize the remote buttons directly in the system settings. This method works to reassign existing buttons (for example, make a long press on Home opening voice search) or activate hidden functions.

Instructions for televisions:

1. Open Settings → Devices and accessories → Remote DU.
2. Select button settings (or personalization of the remote in new firmware).
3. Tap the button you want to reassign (e.g. F1 or F2).
4. In the action list, select the desired function: launch the application, voice assistant, adjust the volume of the sound panel, etc.

For the Mi Box consoles, the path is slightly different:

Settings → Preferences → Accessibility → Remote control settings

Make sure the remote is paired with the TV (the indicator is green)

Update the TV firmware to the latest version

Connect your TV to the Internet to download the list of available features

Remember the current button settings (you can take a picture of the screen)

-->

Method limitations: you can’t add a physically missing button (for example, if the remote does not have a Mute, it can not be created out of thin air) and not all models support reassignment – in budget TVs (for example, Mi TV 4A), this option may not be available.

💡

If you don’t have a feature in the list (like running a specific app), try adding a shortcut to the TV’s main screen first, and then the option may appear in the remote settings.

3. Set up the universal remote Mi Remote through the application

Xiaomi Mi Remote (white or black version with touch panel) is customized exclusively through the Mi Home mobile application (available for Android and iOS), which allows you to add support for new devices (air conditioners, fans, projectors) and customize additional buttons.

Step-by-step:

1. Install the Mi Home app and log in to your Xiaomi account.
2. Add the remote to the application: press + → Add the device → remotes DU.
3. Select your remote model (Mi Remote White or Black) and follow the on-screen instructions for pairing.
4. After adding, go to the remote settings and select Add a new device.
5. In the category list, select the type of device (such as Air Conditioning or TV).
6. Follow the customization wizard: the app will suggest selecting a brand (e.g. LG, Samsung) and testing the buttons.

If your device is not in the database, you can try:

• 🔍 Use the Manual Code Search function in the application (you need to enter the codes sequentially until the remote controls respond).
• 📋 Contact Xiaomi to request that you add your model to the database (specify the exact make and model of the device).
• 🛠️ Use alternative applications like BroadLink or eControl to program IR commands.

Important: After the remote firmware update in July 2023, some users experienced a problem resetting settings. Before updating, back up the configuration in the Mi Home app (Remote Settings → Backup).

4 Manual programming of buttons using engineering codes

For advanced users, it is possible to add buttons through the engineering menu or special ADB commands.

• 🔧 Add support for a device that is not in the Mi Home database.
• 🔄 Reassign system buttons (e.g., make Power run Google Assistant).
• 📟 It is necessary to emulate buttons that are not physically present on the remote (for example, Input to switch signal sources).

For Xiaomi TVs based on Android TV, you can use ADB- commands. Example of adding a button to launch the YouTube app:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "https://www.youtube.com" -n com.google.android.youtube.tv/com.google.android.apps.youtube.tv.activity.ShellActivity

For universal Mi Remote remotes, the engineering codes are entered through the Mi Home app in developer mode to activate it:

1. Open Mi Home and go to your account profile.
2. Click 5 times in a row on the application version (bottom of the screen).
3. Return to the remote settings and a new Engineer Mode section will appear.
4. Enter the device code in the BRAND_MODEL_FUNCTION format (e.g., LG_TV_VOLUME_UP).

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect use of engineering codes can cause the remote to malfunction. Before experimenting, back up your settings in Mi Home and write down the factory codes of the devices (you can find them in the About section of the remote settings).

5. Solving typical problems when adding buttons

Even when following instructions, users often face difficulties, and consider the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:

• 🔴 The remote does not respond to new buttons Check if the remote is paired with the TV (the indicator should burn green). If you use Mi Remote, reconnect it to Mi Home. For Xiaomi TVs, try resetting the remote: Settings → Devices → DU remote → Reset.
• 🔍 No device in the Mi Home database Try to choose a similar model (for example, for Ballu air conditioner, select Gree). If this does not work, use Manual Code Search or contact support to request the addition of the device.
• 🔄 The buttons are not working properly (e.g., turn up the volume instead of switching the channel) This means that the wrong IR protocol is selected. In Mi Home, delete the device and add it again by selecting another brand from the list. For TVs, check if the remote settings conflict with the functions of HDMI-CEC (turn off Settings → CEC).
• 📱 The Mi Home app doesn't see the remote, make sure: Remote is charged (the indicator flashes when you press the buttons). Bluetooth on your smartphone is on. You're using the original app (not a clone). The remote is in pairing mode (press Home + Back for 5 seconds).

⚠️ Warning: If customized buttons are missing after the TV firmware update, this is due to Xiaomi's policy of resetting custom configurations. To avoid losing settings, export them via Settings before upgrading → System → Backup (available on Android TV 9+ TVs).

💡

If the remote stopped working after adding new buttons, reset to the factory settings. To do this, press the Home + Menu buttons for 10 seconds (for Mi Remote) or select Reset option in the TV menu.

6. Alternative ways to control without adding buttons

If you can’t add a button to the remote, consider alternative options:

• 🎮 Using Game Controllers Connect a Bluetooth gamepad (e.g., Xiaomi Game Controller) to your TV. In Settings → Devices → Game Controller, you can assign gamepad buttons to any action, including launching apps or adjusting sound.
• 🗣️ Voice assistant Activate Google Assistant or Alice (for Russian firmware) and control the TV with your voice. For example, "OK Google, turn on Netflix on your TV." You need to link your Xiaomi account to Google Home.
• 📱 Remote app on your smartphone Install Mi Remote (for Android) or Xiaomi TV Remote (for iOS). These apps allow you to emulate all the features of the physical remote, including hidden buttons.
• 🖱️ Mouse and keyboard over Bluetooth Connect the wireless keyboard to the TV via Settings → Devices → Bluetooth. This is convenient for navigating menus and typing text.

Xiaomi TVs with Android TV 10+ have a Quick Action feature, which allows you to create shortcuts for frequently used commands right on the home screen, such as adding a button to switch to Game Mode or launch Disney+.

7.Where to find official support and codebases

If the self-configuration did not bring results, refer to the official resources of Xiaomi:

• 🌐 Official Support Site: mi.com/support – Here you can find instructions for specific models of remote controls and TVs.
• 📧 Feedback in Mi Home: in the app, go to Profile → Feedback and describe the problem with adding a button (attach screenshots).
• 💬 Xiaomi community on 4PDA: the Mi Remote theme – where users share codes for rare devices and solutions to non-standard problems.
• 📄 Developer documentation: iot.mi.com – if you’re proficient in JSON and API, you can find technical specifications for custom commands.

The following resources are also useful for searching IR device codes:

If you found working code for a rare device, share it in the comments to this article – it will help other users save time!

FAQ: Frequent questions about adding buttons on Xiaomi remotes