Modern Xiaomi TVs running on Android TV or Google TV are equipped with Chromecast, a technology that wirelessly transfers multimedia content from mobile devices to the big screen, but many users face situations where this feature becomes unnecessary or even annoying, for example, constant pop-up notifications about available devices can interfere with comfortable viewing.
Turning off the built-in Google Cast receiver can be necessary for a variety of reasons, from simple system resource savings to home network security issues. Smart home owners often want to limit the visibility of the TV for guests or children. There are also cases when the feature does not work correctly, causing the interface to freeze, and its temporary shutdown helps diagnose the problem.
It’s important to understand that in recent firmware versions, Google is gradually removing the ability to completely turn off the system component through the standard menu. However, there are workarounds and settings that allow you to minimize the activity of the function or completely block access to the network. Next, we will consider all the available methods, from simple switches in settings to more advanced actions with the router.
Why users need to turn off the built-in cast
The main reason Xiaomi Mi TV owners are looking for a way to deactivate this feature is because of the intrusive notifications: When you watch a video on a smartphone, the TV may suddenly suggest broadcasting content by covering part of the screen. This is especially annoying if you didn't plan to use the big screen at the moment. By removing this feature, you're returning a clean interface without unnecessary visual noise.
The second aspect is network security. The built-in Chromecast makes the TV visible to all devices on the local Wi-Fi network. If guests or outsiders connect to your Internet, they can theoretically access the management of the media player or stream their content to your screen. Disabling the feature hides the TV from the list of available casting devices.
⚠️ Warning: A complete shutdown of Google’s system services could disrupt the voice assistant and some apps tied to the Google ecosystem.
The third factor is performance. While Chromecast built-in consumes a bit of resources in the background, on low-cost TVs with little RAM, every megabyte counts, and turning off background services can slightly speed up the interface and reduce the CPU load when running heavy applications.
Settings inside Android TV and Google TV
The first step any user needs to take is to check the TV's standard settings. The interface may vary depending on the version of the operating system installed on your Xiaomi Mi Box or TV. In most cases, Google allows notifications to be disabled even if it doesn't allow the module to be turned off completely.
To access the settings, go to the profile menu. This is usually the user's avatar in the upper right corner of the screen. This is the account and related device management center. You need to find the section responsible for managing devices and broadcasting. The path can look like Settings → System → Chromecast built-in or through Google settings.
Inside the Cast settings menu, look at Notifications, which is the one that handles pop-ups, and if your goal is to just stop seeing suggestions to stream videos, just turn that switch off, and that doesn't turn off the protocol, but it does away with visual discomfort.
If you use the newer Google TV shell, the logic remains similar, but the location of the items changes. Here, settings are often hidden in your account profile. Click on your avatar, select Chromecast Settings, and turn off the option "Enable notifications." This action blocks pop-up messages, but leaves you with the option of forced connection from your phone if you want to.
Using the Google Home app to manage
An alternative and often more effective way to manage the built-in cast is to use the Google Home mobile app. Since Xiaomi's Android TV is technically a Google Home device, many settings are available from here, a technique that is especially useful if the menu on the TV itself seems confusing or limited.
To start, make sure your smartphone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Open the Google Home app on your phone. Find your Xiaomi TV in the list of devices. Click on the device icon and you'll be taken to the control panel. There may be a settings button (cog) available where the availability options are hidden.
In some versions of the firmware, you can temporarily suspend caste through the app, but a more reliable method is to manage guest mode. Turning off guest mode prevents devices that are not on the same Wi-Fi network from connecting, which adds an additional layer of control, and you can check which accounts are authorized to control the TV.
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If the TV appears as “Out of Network” in the Google Home app, try rebooting your router, as the problem is often the local connection break, not the TV settings.
It is worth noting that the app’s functionality is constantly updated. Google can move settings between menus, so if you do not find the right item right away, check the “Additional settings” or “Device Recognition” section.
Blocking through router settings
The most radical and effective method that guarantees 100% results is network-level locking: If the TV doesn’t have access to certain Google servers or is isolated in a separate network, the Chromecast feature won’t physically work, ideal for those who want to eliminate any caste option altogether.
To implement this method, you will need access to your router’s admin panel. Usually, the login address is listed on the sticker at the bottom of the device (often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). Once logged in, look for the Wi-Fi settings section. Modern routers support the Guest Network function.
Create a separate guest Wi-Fi network. The main advantage of this network is that it isolates customers. Devices connected to the guest network can't see each other. If you connect the TV to the guest network and leave the phone in the main network, the Chromecast feature will not detect the TV, since the protocol only works within the same local subnet.
☑️ Set up network isolation
An even more advanced method is to use firewall rules or parental controls, which can block ports used by Google Cast (usually UDP ports in the 1900 range for SSDPs and other specific ports), but this requires a deep knowledge of the network infrastructure and can disrupt other smart devices in the home.
Comparison of disconnection methods: pros and cons
The right method depends on your technical skills and the ultimate goal. There is no one-size-fits-all solution that works the same way. Below is a table comparing the main ways to deactivate the function so you can choose the best option for your situation.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Impact on other functions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disabling notifications in the menu | Low. | Medium (only conceals notifications) | No. |
| Settings in Google Home | Low. | Medium (restricting access) | Minimum |
| Guest Wi-Fi network | Medium | High (complete isolation) | Requires reconnection. |
| Port lock (Router) | Tall. | Maximum | Network failure risk |
As you can see from the table, for the average user who is just pissed off by pop-ups, the first method is enough, it is safe and reversible. If your goal is to keep the device safe and hidden from outsiders, then creating a guest network is the most sensible tradeoff between convenience and efficiency.
Port locking is recommended only for experienced users who understand the risks. A firewall setting error can cause the TV to stop updating or lose access to streaming services that require a time check or license.
Possible problems and solutions
Users may encounter a number of challenges when they turn off the feature, often when they reset their settings or the menu item disappears, a standard behavior in the Android TV ecosystem where Google is committed to keeping services active.
If you have disabled notifications but they keep popping up, try clearing the cache of the Google Play Services for TV app. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Google Play Services for TV → Clear the cache. Sometimes this helps to reset the stuck notification settings.
⚠️ Warning: When cleaning system applications data, the TV may temporarily restart or run slowly for several minutes.
Another common problem is that the TV stops seeing the voice control panel after an aggressive shutdown of Google services, and if that happens, you need to reset your microphone access settings or reinstall system updates, and a full factory reset would help in the extreme, but that's a last resort.
What to do if the Cast settings menu is hidden?
Also, it is worth considering that some applications, such as YouTube or Netflix, can initiate a cast request themselves, ignoring the system settings of notifications, in which case blocking is possible only at the network level (router), since the application is forced to search for devices on the local network.