Why can’t Xiaomi TV find channels without the internet?
Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV 4A, 4S, 5X, P1, and others) try to download channel lists over the Internet by default, even for on-air TV. This is due to PatchWall's proprietary firmware, which is optimized for online services, but setting up without the Internet is possible and does not require complex manipulation.
The main problem with the TV is that it doesn't offer manual search at all, or it freezes during the scanning phase, because it doesn't have EPG data and automatically links to regional settings, and without the Internet, it can't locate you, and it offers a standard set of parameters that often doesn't work for analog or digital broadcasting.
This article provides step-by-step instructions for all Xiaomi TV models (including old and new firmware versions), as well as solutions to typical bugs, from no signal to an “empty” list of channels after a search.
Preparing the TV for manual tuning
Before setting up, make sure that:
- 📶 The antenna is properly connected to the connector RF IN (or ANT IN) It's on the back of a TV set (DVB-T2) You may need an active antenna with power.
- 🔌 If you use cable TV, make sure that the provider does not require you to do so. CAM-module or prefixes (for example, for coded channels).
- ⚡ The TV is connected to the network and is not in power saving mode (the power indicator should burn blue, not red).
Important: on some models (for example, Mi TV 4A 32), the antenna connector can be combined with AV IN. In this case, use the RF-to-AV adapter, which comes with the kit.
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If the TV was previously connected to the Internet, reset the channel settings: go to Settings → TV → Reset TV settings. This will delete the saved lists and allow you to start the search “from scratch”.
Step-by-step: manual channel search
The algorithm is the same for most Xiaomi models, but the menu items may differ.
- Open the settings menu: press the Settings button on the remote or select Settings → All settings.
- Go to TV: the path can look like: Settings → TV → Channel settings (for PatchWall 3.0+) Settings → Channels → Auto-setting (for older versions)
- Select the source of the signal: 📡 For terrestrial TV: Antenna (DVB-T/T2) or Analog TV 📺 For cable: Cable TV (DVB-C)
Run a manual search.
- Turn off the Quick Scan option (if any).
- Enter the multiplex frequency (for DVB-T2) or the range (for analog TV). For Russia, frequent multiplexes are 554 MHz (RTRS-1) and 490 MHz (RTRS-2).
- Click Search and wait until it is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).
Make sure the antenna is connected to the correct connector |
Select the correct signal source (DVB-T2 digitally)|
Disable the option "Only free channels" (can hide encrypted)|
Check that the TV is not in Hotel mode (limits functions)
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If the TV doesn’t find channels, try:
- 🔄 Change the search mode from Auto to Manual and enter the frequency manually.
- 📶 Reconnect the antenna or use a signal amplifier.
- 🔧 Update the TV firmware through USB (guideline).
Multiplex Frequencies for Manual Input
If the automatic search failed, enter the frequencies manually. Below are the current data for digital terrestrial TV (DVB-T2) in Russia and CIS countries (2026):
| Region | RTRS-1 Multiplex | RTRS-2 Multiplex | RTRS-3 Multiplex (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow and the region | 554 MHz (Channel 31) | 490 MHz (Channel 23) | 666 MHz (Channel 45) |
| St. Petersburg | 754 MHz (Channel 56) | 770 MHz (Channel 58) | 698 MHz (Channel 49) |
| Kazan | 602 MHz (Channel 37) | 474 MHz (Channel 21) | — |
| krasnodar | 570 MHz (Channel 33) | 778 MHz (Channel 59) | — |
| Ukraine (Kiev) | 690 MHz (Channel 48, MX-1) | 778 MHz (Channel 59, MX-2) | — |
For analog TV, enter the frequency range:
- 📻 VHF (MW: 48–230 MHz (channels 1–12)
- 📻 UHF (DMV: 470–862 MHz (channels 21–69)
How to find out the frequency of multiplex in your region?
Update firmware without the Internet
If the Xiaomi TV doesn’t find channels due to outdated firmware, update it manually:
- Download the latest firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi Support website. The file will be in.zip format.
- Unpack the archive and copy the update.zip file to the flash drive (FAT32 format, up to 32 GB).
- Connect the flash drive to USB-television-port.
- Go to Settings → About TV → System Update → Update via USB.
- Select a file and wait until the end (don’t turn off the TV!).
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Updating the firmware will reset all channel settings, and after the procedure, you will have to repeat the search again.
List of models with manual update support:
- ✅ Mi TV 4A (diagonally)
- ✅ Mi TV 4S (2018–2022)
- ✅ Mi TV 5X, Mi TV P1
- ❌ Mi TV Q1, Q2 (Require the Internet for updates)
⚠️ Warning: Do not use firmware from third-party sources! this may lead to a TV lock (error) E100001) The official files always have a name of the type. mi_tv_[model [version].zip.
Solving typical mistakes
If the channels don’t appear after the search or the TV makes an error, check:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| No signal. | Weak antenna signal or incorrect frequency | Check the antenna connection, use an amplifier, or enter the multiplex frequency manually. |
| No Services (Empty List) | Incorrect signal source or coded channels | Select DVB-T2 (not DVB-C) and turn off the Free Channels filter. |
| E00001 error | Firmware failure or settings conflict | Reset your TV settings to factory settings (Settings → TV → Reset) |
| No sound on the channels. | Incompatible audio codec (e.g. AC-4) | Update your firmware or use external acoustics via HDMI ARC |
For Mi TV 4A models with firmware older than 2020, a factory reset can help: Settings → About TV → Reset to factory settings (you need to enter PIN – by default 0000 or 1234).
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi TVs with Android TV 10+ (Like Mi. TV P1 2022) Manual frequency input can be blocked, in which case use an external console (for example, Xiaomi Mi Box S) or contact support with a request to unlock.
Alternative ways to watch TV without the Internet
If you can’t adjust the channels through the TV menu, consider the alternatives:
- 📡 External tuner: connect the console DVB-T2 (for example, Selenga HD950D or BBK SMP143HDT2) through HDMI. The TV will be used as a monitor.
- 💽 USB-Player: record television programs on a flash drive in format.mp4 or.mkv and play through Media Player on TV.
- 🎮 Game console: PlayStation 4/5 or Xbox supports TV viewing apps (e.g. Plex with local server).
For the flash drive:
- Format the drive in FAT32 or exFAT.
- Create a folder called TV and put video files in it.
- Connect the flash drive to the TV and open the Media Player.
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If you use an external tuner, select the HDMI signal source in your TV settings and disable the built-in TV module to avoid conflicts.