Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smart TVs often face the inconvenience of typing: the standard remote control has a limited number of buttons, which makes searching for movies or entering passwords in Wi-Fi a real torture. Fortunately, the Android TV operating system on which these devices are based allows you to use external peripherals for comfortable management. Connecting a full keyboard greatly expands the functionality, turning the TV into a multimedia center.
There are several ways to do this, each with its own characteristics depending on the model of your TV and the type of equipment you connect. USB-Keyboards, wireless models with a radio channel, or even a virtual keyboard on a smartphone. In this article, we will go into detail all available methods, including hidden settings and solving common driver problems.
Before we get to specifics, it's important to understand that MIUI TV or pure Android TV interfaces can vary slightly depending on the region and firmware version. However, the basic principles of peripheral connectivity remain the same across the ecosystem. The system's readiness to work with external input devices is laid down by the manufacturer, but sometimes requires manual activation or installation of additional software.
Choosing the right input device for Smart TV
The first step to comfortable handling is to choose the right hardware. Not all keyboards work equally well with TVs, as the latter have power consumption limitations and support for specific multimedia functions. The optimal choice will be compact wireless models, often called "air mice" or mini-keyboards.
When choosing a device, pay attention to the presence of a built-in touchpad or joystick, as this will completely abandon the regular remote: USB-receiver (2.4 GHz) or Bluetooth. Wired models require free USB-port, which may be needed for flash drives with movies.
- 🎮 Mini-keyboard with touchpad – an ideal option that combines the functions of the keyboard and mouse in a compact case.
- 📡 Bluetooth keyboards - save money USB-ports, but may require pairing via the settings menu.
- ⌨️ Standard wired keyboards – work on the principle of “insert and work”, but occupy the port and require space.
- 📱 Virtual keyboards – applications on a smartphone that transmit input over Wi-Fi do not require the purchase of equipment.
It is worth noting that for Xiaomi PatchWall TVs, it is better to choose devices that emulate standard Android keycodes so that the navigation on the interface does not get confused. HID-device.
Connecting wired USB-keyboard
The easiest and most reliable way to do this is to use a wired connection. Android has built-in drivers for most standard input devices, and you don't have to search for and install additional programs if your goal is just to type.
First, plug in. USB-The keyboard cable to the free port on the side or back of the TV, the system automatically recognizes the new device, and the screen may display a notification of the connection. USB-A device that can be ignored or closed, at which point the cursor or text field should start to respond to the keystrokes.
☑️ Connection check USB
If you use an old keyboard with a connector PS/2, You will need an active converter in USB, You can't plug it in directly, and you can also keep in mind that some powerful, brightly lit gaming keyboards can consume more power than they can give off. USB-TV port, which requires an external power supply or active connection USB-hub.
⚠️ Warning: Do not connect or disconnect USB-devices during a firmware update or installation of heavy applications, which may cause software failure or damage to the file system.
Configuring wireless Bluetooth keyboards
Using a Bluetooth connection eliminates the unnecessary wires and receivers that can stick out of the TV body. However, the initial setup process requires accuracy, since the Bluetooth menu on Xiaomi TVs is sometimes hidden or unstable. Before you start, make sure that the keyboard is charged and is in search mode.
To activate the pairing mode, go to the settings menu. The path usually looks like: Settings → Controllers and accessories (or Remotes and Accessories). Here you need to select "Add Accessory". The TV will start scanning available devices within a radius of several meters.
When the name of your keyboard appears in the list, select it with the remote and press the confirmation button. The screen may show a confirmation code that you need to enter on the keyboard (if it has a screen) or simply confirm the pairing. After successful connection, the status will change to "Connected".
| Type of device | Connection method | Delayed input | Energy consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wired USB | Plug & Play | Minimum | From TV. |
| Radio channel (USB-whistle) | Automatically. | Low. | Batteries. |
| Bluetooth | Through the settings menu | Medium | Batteries/Battery |
| Wi-Fi (Smartphone) | Annex | Depends on the router. | From the phone. |
In this case, it helps to restart the TV with the Bluetooth keyboard already on.
What if Bluetooth doesn’t see the keyboard?
Using a Smartphone as a Keyboard
If you don't have a physical keyboard at hand and it's not convenient to type on the remote, a great solution is to turn your smartphone into a touchpad and keyboard. For this device, you need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. This method is especially relevant for iPhone and Android owners who do not want to buy an additional gadget.
The most popular and functional application is Google Home (formerly Chromecast built-in) or specialized utilities like Android TV Remote Control. Install the app on your phone, launch it and select your TV from the list of available devices. On the TV screen, you will see a request for permission to connect — confirm it with the remote.
Once paired, the app interface will suggest a virtual remote. By clicking on the keyboard icon, you get a full-on-screen layout. Text typed on the phone instantly appears in the TV or browser search bar. It also allows you to use voice input from the smartphone microphone, which often works more accurately than the built-in microphone of the remote.
💡
For a stable virtual keyboard, make sure your router distributes a 5GHz network, if possible, which will reduce the delay between tapping on your phone and the character appearing on the TV screen.
Solving problems with recognition and text entry
Despite the automatic setup, users may find themselves in a situation where the keyboard is connected but does not type, or type "krakozyabr" (often the problem lies in the layout of the language. By default, the system can use English layout, and switching to Russian may require a key combination other than the usual Shift + Alt).
Try using the standard Android combinations: Ctrl+Space or Shift+Space. If that doesn't work, check the system settings of the language. Go to Settings → Device → Settings → Keyboard. You can force active input languages to choose from here.
In some cases, especially with Chinese versions of Xiaomi TVs, you may need to install a third-party keyboard manager, such as TV Keyboard or Hacker's Keyboard.These applications allow you to flexibly configure button mapping and add the necessary language packages that are not available in stock firmware.
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party APK-Install your files from a flash drive, enable security settings to allow "Install from unknown sources." Be careful and download apps only from trusted sources, such as Google Play or Google Play. 4PDA.
Specificity of work in different applications
Keep in mind that keyboard support is not just dependent on the TV, but also on the specific application. While browsers (Chrome, Firefox) and search engines (Google, YouTube) are great for external input, some streaming services can beg the keyboard, requiring navigation with arrows.
For example, in a Netflix or Kinopoisk app, the keyboard can only work in the search field, but not control playback (pause, rewind). Play control often still requires a remote or media control button on the keyboard itself (Play/Pause) if supported by the TV driver.
For web surfing, using a mouse or touchpad on a keyboard becomes indispensable. Standard navigation "up-down-left-right" in the browser is extremely inconvenient. If your keyboard does not have a touchpad, you can emulate clicks with your mouse using special keyboard shortcuts or by connecting a regular computer mouse in the second. USB-port.
💡
The compatibility of the keyboard with a specific application (YouTube, browser, games) is determined by the developer of the application, not only the capabilities of the Xiaomi TV.