Modern Xiaomi Mi TVs and Mi Boxs come with advanced remote controls that run not on infrared but via Bluetooth, which allows you to control the device without the sensor’s line of sight, but creates certain difficulties when you first set up. Users often face a situation where after replacing batteries or buying a new device, the remote does not respond to commands, requiring a manual pairing procedure.
Unlike classic IR remotes, it requires a secure connection between the controller and the TV. The setup process can vary depending on the version of the PatchWall shell or Android TV installed on your device. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible connection scenarios, reset methods and the subtlety of working with voice control.
If you've just unpacked a new TV or replaced the remote with a third-party one, you'll need to do the primary binding. It's important to understand that basic functions like turning on and off the power can work through an infrared port, but navigating the menu will require successful Bluetooth pairing. Without this step, smart functions will remain unavailable.
Primary pairing and device search
The initial setup process is usually triggered automatically when the TV is turned on for the first time, and the welcome screen suggests pressing a specific key combination to detect the remote, and if the automatic search fails, you need to manually go to the settings menu. For this, you will need either a working remote or a connection. USB-keyboards and mice, or use of a mobile application.
To start the search manually, go to Settings → Remote and Accessories → Add Accessory. The TV will go into scan mode. At this point, you need to activate pairing mode on the remote itself. This is usually done by pressing two buttons at once. Different models may have different combinations, so it's worth checking the bottom of the remote or the instructions.
The most common combination of home buttons (house icon) and menu buttons (three dots or lines) is used. Hold them simultaneously for 5-10 seconds by pointing the remote to the TV. The remote indicator, if any, should flash to signal the transmission. Once successful, the device name, such as Mi Remote or Xiaomi Bluetooth Remote, will appear on the screen.
⚠️ Attention: During the pairing process, keep the remote no more than 20 cm from the bottom of the TV where the Bluetooth module is located to provide a stable signal.
- 🔘 Press the Home and Menu buttons at the same time before the indication appears.
- 📺 Make sure the TV is in the device add menu.
- 🔋 Check the polarity of the battery before the procedure.
- 📡 Keep the remote close to the TV's IR receiver while searching.
Once you select the device in the list, the TV will request confirmation. Click OK or Confirm. The system will set the required drivers and profiles, after which the remote will be fully functional. If the device is found but the connection is cut off, try removing it from the list of previously connected devices and repeat the procedure again.
Using a smartphone as a remote
In situations where the physical remote is lost, discharged or unmatched, the use of a smartphone is a great solution. Mi Remote (for devices with an infrared port) or Android TV Remote Control (for Wi-Fi) applications allow you to fully control the TV, which is especially true for Android TV models.
To connect via Wi-Fi, make sure your smartphone and TV are on the same local network. Launch the app, click Device Search, and select your Mi TV from the list. The TV screen will show a confirmation code that you need to enter on your smartphone, and then the phone will become a full-fledged controller with support for voice input and keyboard.
If your smartphone has an infrared port (which is typical of many Xiaomi and Redmi models), you can use the built-in Mi Remote app, in which case you do not need to connect to one Wi-Fi network. Choose the model of your TV in the application, and the phone emulates the signal of the original remote, but it is worth noting that voice functions and audio transmission through this method will not work.
- 📱 Install the official Google Home or Mi Remote app.
- 📶 Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network for maximum functionality.
- 🎤 Use your smartphone microphone for voice search if the remote doesn’t have a button.
- ⌨️ Entering text through the screen of the smartphone is much more convenient than the buttons of the remote.
Using a smartphone also allows you to quickly check whether the TV itself is working, and if the phone is running and the physical remote is not, the problem lies in the hardware of the controller or its batteries, an important stage of diagnosis before contacting the service.
Resetting settings and reconnecting the remote
Sometimes the remote is not working properly, sticking buttons, losing communication or cursor moving chaoticly, in which case a complete reset of the pairing list helps, this forcibly breaks all active Bluetooth connections and clears the controller cache.
To perform reset on most models of Xiaomi Mi TV, you need to press the buttons Back (arrow left) and Menu (three dots) at the same time. Hold them for about 10-15 seconds. LED on the remote should quickly blink, which signals a reset, and then the remote will go to search for a new device.
☑️ Checklist for remote reset
In parallel with the actions on the remote, it is recommended to clear the list of devices on the TV itself. Go to Settings → Remotes and accessories, select your remote control and click "Unplug" or "Forget the device." Only after removal from the list of TV should repeat the pairing procedure.
⚠️ Warning: After resetting the remote settings, you may need to re-set the power and volume buttons if they have been programmed to control the external audio system.
In the rare cases where software reset doesn't work, you can try to remove the batteries, hold all the remote buttons for 30 seconds (to discharge the capacitors), insert new batteries and repeat the procedure, which helps eliminate static electricity that can block the chip.
Setting up power buttons and sound control
One of the key features of Xiaomi Bluetooth remotes is the ability to control external devices, such as a soundbar or receiver, through an IR port built into the remote, which allows you to use one pair of volume buttons to adjust the sound throughout the system.
To set up this feature, go to Settings → Remote and Accessories → Set up power and sound buttons. Here you can select the type of device you want to control (TV, Soundbar, Receiver).
| Type of device | Protocol of transfer | Conditions required |
|---|---|---|
| Television | Bluetooth/IK | Basic setting |
| Sound panel. | Infrared (IR) | Direct sensor visibility |
| Receiver | Infrared (IR) | Direct sensor visibility |
| Prefix. | Bluetooth / HDMI-CEC | Active HDMI-CEC |
After selecting the manufacturer, the TV will suggest testing the commands. Press the check button, and if the external device reacts (for example, changes volume), confirm the choice. If there is no reaction, try another code from the suggested options or select Autopoisk if this option is available in your version of the software.
Calibration of the gyroscope and voice control
Xiaomi’s flagship consoles feature a gyroscope to control the cursor in the style of “aeromish” and a microphone for voice commands. Calibration may be required to work properly, especially if the cursor “flies” to the side or shakes.
The gyro calibration often happens automatically when you put the remote on a flat surface and don't touch it for a few seconds. However, some firmware versions have manual tuning. Go to Settings → Special Options → Calibration of the remote (the path may vary). Follow the on-screen instructions that usually ask you to put the remote still.
Voice control requires a separate privacy setting. When you first use it will ask for permission to record voice. You can choose voice activation or just by pressing a button. It is important for Russian-speaking users to check if the correct language model is selected in the Google Assistant settings.
- 🎙️ Check the microphone settings in the Google privacy section.
- 🖱️ To calibrate, place the remote on the table and do not touch for 10 seconds.
- 🗣️ Speak clearly and no more than 30cm from the remote for better results.
- 🌐 Make sure that the system has selected the Russian input language for voice commands.
If voice search doesn’t work, check for updates to the Google app and Google Play services on your TV. Often, speech recognition problems are related to outdated components of the system, not the remote itself.
Solving delays and communication gaps
Users may experience delays in pressing buttons or intermittent connection breaks, and the main cause of such problems in apartment buildings is congestion in the 2.4 GHz band, which runs Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and microwave ovens.
To minimize interference, it is recommended to connect the TV to a 5GHz Wi-Fi network, if possible, freeing up the 2.4GHz band for Bluetooth connection of the remote, and remove sources of strong electromagnetic radiation from the TV, such as routers, USB 3.0 hubs without shielding or wireless chargers.
Another cause of lag can be overcrowded TV memory: If the system partition is clogged, the OS does not have time to process incoming commands from the remote, cleaning the application cache and removing unused software often returns the remote to its former responsiveness.
⚠️ Attention: Using cheap low-recoil current batteries can cause the Bluetooth remote module to work unstable even if the indicator is on. Use only high-quality alkaline elements.
In case of persistent problems, it is worth checking the TV firmware version. It is known that in the Xiaomi software versions until 2023 there was a bug that caused the Bluetooth stack to be desynchronized, which was fixed in Android security patches. Updating the system to the latest available version is a mandatory step in troubleshooting.