How to Reprogram Xiaomi Remote: The Complete Guide

Modern users of Xiaomi smart equipment often face the need to fine-tune equipment, especially when standard features no longer meet the increased needs. The question of how to reprogram the Xiaomi remote becomes especially relevant when buying a new console Mi Box S, TV with Android TV or universal remote Mi Remote, which is designed to replace a mountain of plastic devices in the house. Deep tuning allows you not only to add missing buttons, but also completely change the logic of the device for yourself.

The reprogramming process can range from simple region change in Bluetooth settings to complex modification of system configuration files via ADB. It is important to understand that universal remotes and specialized Mi Remote work on different protocols, requiring a customized approach. In this article, we will discuss all available methods, from secure settings in the menu to advanced techniques for power users.

Before you start to take action, you need to clearly define the type of device you have. If you have a classic IR remote with a red LED, the methods will be one, and for Bluetooth versions with voice search – completely different. Misuse of instructions can cause the remote to stop responding to commands, and you have to look for ways to recover from the disaster.

Determination of the type of remote and preparation for setting

The first step in the reprogramming process is to accurately identify the model of your controller. Xiaomi devices fall into two main categories: infrared (IR) and Bluetooth (BT). Infrared remotes like the Mi Remote transmit a signal through a light flash and require a line of sight with a receiver. They are often used to control household appliances of different brands.

Bluetooth models, such as the remotes for the Mi Box S or the new Mi TVs, run over a radio channel and do not require pointing at the device. These models most often need to reprogram buttons or reassign functions. To get started, make sure that the remote has fresh batteries installed, and the Xiaomi device itself is connected to a Wi-Fi network or local network to download profiles.

⚠️ Warning: Before you start any manipulation of software or system files, make sure that the battery level of the remote and TV (if it is Smart) is checked. TV) Abrupt power outage during writing new macros or updating a profile may result in a software failure.

For advanced customization methods, you may need a computer with an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) platform installed, which will allow you to make changes to hidden parts of the system that are not available through the standard menu. If you plan to use a PC, download the drivers for your Xiaomi device in advance and install ADB Tools.

Reprogramming through the Mi Remote Menu

The easiest and safest way to change the behavior of the remote is to use the built-in Mi Remote app or the system settings of the TV, which is suitable for adding new devices to the universal remote or changing the assignment of individual buttons in training mode. The interface may vary depending on the version. MIUI for TV Android TV.

To start, go to the main menu of your TV or console, and you need to find the accessory management section. → Device and preferences → Remote and accessories. This shows all the connected devices. Select the right remote from the list to access its settings.

If your goal is to teach the remote to control another brand’s TV (for example, set up the IR port of a phone or the Mi Remote remote to control the sound bar), select the option “Add device”. The system will suggest choosing the type of equipment and manufacturer. The algorithm will automatically select the codes and test them.

In some cases, the standard codeset is not suitable for the old or rare model of technology, then activate the manual selection or "learning" mode. In this mode, the Xiaomi remote reads the signal from the original remote and remembers it. This is the simplest form of reprogramming available to everyone.

Configure buttons and macros in advanced mode

Xiaomi Android TVs and consoles are more customized, and the standard menu often restricts the user, but there are ways to reassign buttons through third-party apps or hidden settings, such as forcing the Netflix button to launch YouTube or any other app.

One effective tool is to use keyboard mapper applications like Button Mapper. Once you install such an app on your TV or console, you get access to a list of all the physical buttons on the remote, and you can assign any action to a short press, long hold or double press.

• 🎮 Launch specific applications for pressing color buttons.
• 🔊 The purpose of adjusting the volume of a particular application (for example, only the browser).
• ⌨️ Emulation of complex key combinations for gaming or navigation.

It is important to note that some of the mapper features may require special permissions issued through ADB. Without these permissions, the application will run in limited mode. The process of obtaining rights usually takes a couple of minutes and requires you to enter a command through a computer or terminal on the TV itself.

⚠️ Note: When installing third-party button reassignment apps, download them only from the official Google Play store or trusted sources (such as APKPure). Modified versions may contain malicious code that can intercept keyboard input.

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Use the Voice Enter feature for quick search if the microphone button on the remote has stopped working correctly – sometimes reconnecting the remote over Bluetooth helps.

Using ADB for deep reprogramming

For experts and enthusiasts, there is a method of reprogramming over the Android debugging bridge (ADB), which allows you to make changes to system configuration files that are not available through the usual interface, for example, it can completely disable unnecessary buttons or change their scan codes at the system level.

To start, you need to activate the developer mode on your Xiaomi device. Go to Settings → Device → About the system and quickly click 7 times on Build Number. Once you have the message "You became a developer", a new section "Developers" will appear in the menu. Enable "Debugging by USB" there.

Connect the device to your computer over a network (via Wi-Fi) or USB-Open the command line on your PC and enter the device address. To get a list of all the buttons and their current assignments, you use the dumpsys input command. Analyzing the output of this command will help you find the desired keycode for reassignment.

adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_HOME

This command emulates the home button. In a similar way, you can test any button. Constant reassignment often requires creating or editing a.kl (Key Layout) file in the system folder, which requires root rights or the use of special script patchers.

Changing the region and resetting the Xiaomi remote

Often the problem with remote control or lack of features lies in the wrong region. Xiaomi servers can block certain functions or remote profiles for specific geographic areas. Changing the region to China or India sometimes unlocks hidden reprogramming capabilities.

To change region, go to Settings → Device → System → Region. After changing the interface, you may need to reboot the device. However, if the remote is behaving incorrectly, glitching or not executing new commands, the most effective solution is a complete reset.

Hard Reset is performed by a combination of buttons for most Xiaomi remotes. Usually, you need to simultaneously press the Home and Back buttons (or Menu and Back) on the buttons. 10-15 So, the LED on the remote doesn't blink, and that brings the device back to the factory Bluetooth settings.

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Changing the region is the first step to take if Xiaomi’s remote has stopped executing commands or doesn’t see new devices on the list of available devices.

Removal and frequent errors

Even if you follow all the instructions, users can run into problems, and one of the most common is that the remote stops working after you update the TV firmware, because of a conflict of driver versions, and then it helps to re-pair or clear the Remote app cache in the application settings.

Another common mistake is using inappropriate batteries: Xiaomi remotes, especially Bluetooth versions, are sensitive to power quality. Cheap salt batteries can give enough voltage for an IR signal, but they are not enough for a stable Bluetooth connection, which causes delays and misses commands.

• 🔋 Use only high-quality alkaline batteries.
• 📡 Make sure there are no powerful sources of interference between the remote and the receiver.
• 🔄 When you freeze, remove the device from the Bluetooth list and connect again.

If nothing works, it may be the hardware of the receiver itself in the TV that requires the Mi Box or the TV to be flashed through the TV in rare cases. USB-Recovery with the Recovery Engineering Menu.