Turning a modern TV into a full-fledged gaming station is one of the most popular features of the Android platform. TV, It's the home of Xiaomi devices. TV They often underestimate the potential of their screens, limiting themselves to streaming services, while connecting a physical controller gives access to thousands of games from the Google Play Market. TV or Redmi TV It is much easier thanks to Bluetooth modules and support. USB-protocol.
To start, you need to make sure your Xiaomi TV is running the current version of the Android TV operating system. Old firmware may not support some new communication protocols or require manual driver installation, which complicates the task. Modern models released after 2019 have built-in support for most popular controllers out of the box without the need to install additional software.
There are two main ways of switching: wireless connection via Bluetooth and wired connection via Bluetooth. USB-The wireless method provides greater freedom of movement and no unnecessary wires, but may require periodic recharging of the gamepad itself. The wired version guarantees minimal input delay (input lag), which is critical for dynamic shooters and fighting games, where the score goes on milliseconds.
Before you start pairing, prepare the controller itself: charge it or insert fresh batteries if it works on them. Make sure that the remote control is at hand, as navigation in the settings menu will be done with it. In some cases, an adapter may be required if your gamepad uses a Micro-USB or USB-C connector, and the cable has a standard Type-A type.
Preparation of equipment and compatibility check
The first step is to check the compatibility of your gaming controller with the Android operating system. TV. Not all gamepads running on PCs or smartphones are properly displayed on the big screen.Compatibility leaders are traditionally considered the original controllers from Sony PlayStation. 4/5 Microsoft Xbox One/Series X. These devices use standard protocols. HID, What Xiaomi TVs will automatically recognize.
If you use third-party Bluetooth gamepads from Chinese manufacturers, the situation can be more complicated. Often such devices require transfer to a special pairing mode other than the PC mode. The case of such devices may have a mode switch designated as Android, iOS or PC. For a Xiaomi TV, you need to switch the lever to Android or 3.0 if such markings are present.
⚠️ Attention: Cheap universal gamepads can be defined by the TV as a text input device, rather than a game controller, in which case the buttons will print characters on the screen instead of controlling the character, the solution will be to install a third-party driver or use a third-party driver. USB-Adapter, complete with a gamepad.
For wired connection, make sure that USB-The port of your Xiaomi TV is giving you enough voltage. SS (Super Speed) or blue, which is recommended for power-intensive devices. If the port is weak, the gamepad can constantly shut down or vibrate intermittently.
Instructions: Connect via Bluetooth (Wireless)
Wireless is the most aesthetically pleasing and convenient option for sofa gaming. To start the process, turn on the TV and go to the main menu. You will need to find the system settings section, which is usually indicated by the gear in the upper right corner of the screen or located in the drop-down profile menu.
The sequence of actions to activate the device search mode:
- 📺 Go to the Settings menu on the Android home screen TV.
- 🔍 Select Remotes & Accessories or Bluetooth.
- 📡 Click on Add Accessory to start scanning.
- 🎮 Transfer the gamepad to pairing mode (usually by pressing the Share button or a special Pairing button until the indicator flashes quickly).
Once a Xiaomi TV detects a device, it will appear on the list of available ones. The name can be displayed as Wireless Controller (for Sony), Xbox Wireless Controller or a model of your device. Select it with the TV remote and confirm the pairing. If successful synchronization, the indicator on the gamepad will stop flashing and light up with a flat light.
☑️ Checklist of successful Bluetooth connection
It's important to note that when you use a Bluetooth connection, you can have micro-latency input. It's completely uncritical for story games, RPGs or strategies. However, in competitive shooters, you may notice that the character's response is a little late, and in such cases, it's recommended to switch to a wired method or use a special Bluetooth adapter if the gamepad model supports this.
What if the gamepad is not visible in the list?
Wired connection through USB-port
The wired method is considered the “gold standard” for eSports and high-response games. Connecting a gamepad to a Xiaomi Mi TV via cable eliminates battery discharge and radio interference problems. You’ll need a cable that matches your controller’s connector: USB-C for new Xbox and DualSense models, Micro-USB for DualShock 4, or a standard USB for old wired gamepads.
The connection process is as simple as possible and does not require complex configuration, just insert one end of the cable into the gamepad and the other into the free one. USB-TV port. Android system TV automatically recognizes the device as HID-Compatible input. A notification may appear on the screen "New device" USB Connected, and the controller is ready to work.
| Type of controller | Type of connector | Support for wired regime | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox One / Series X | USB-C / Micro-USB | Complete. | Perfect compatibility, all buttons are working |
| DualShock 4 (PS4) | Micro-USB | Complete. | You need a data cable, not just charging. |
| DualSense (PS5) | USB-C | Partial | Works like a gamepad, but touchpad functions may not be supported |
| Nintendo Switch Pro | USB-C | Limited. | Often requires third-party applications to work properly |
When using long-term USB-cables (more than 2 meters) may experience a drop in signal quality or unstable vibration. Xiaomi TVs have a limit on the current strength of the device. USB-port, usually 0.5A or 1A. If your gamepad requires more power, it may not start without an active USB-feed-in.
Setup of emulators and retro games
One of the main reasons for connecting the gamepad to the TV is to run emulators of older consoles.Android platform TV It is possible to transform Xiaomi TV To do this, you will need to install emulators through the Google Play Store or sideload. APK-Popular options include RetroArch, Lime3DS or separate emulators for PlayStation 1 and PSP.
In most cases, the buttons are set up automatically. However, if the layout is knocked down or the buttons are confused, you need to go to the settings of a particular emulator. Find the Input Settings section or Control Settings, where you can manually reassign each button by pressing the on-screen element and the corresponding button on the physical gamepad.
Special attention should be paid to the RetroArch emulator, which is the most flexible tool. In its Settings → Input menu, you can adjust the portability of saves, hot keys to exit the game and even support for turbo mode. For Xiaomi TVs with a remote that has a voice button, there is sometimes a conflict: the microphone button can be perceived as a “Start” button in games.
⚠️ Warning: When using heavy console emulators (like the GameCube or Wii) through the Dolphin app, make sure your TV's CPU is powerful enough. Models with 1GB of RAM may not pull the load. 3D-Games despite the connected gamepad.
💡
For retro games, calibrating analog sticks is critical. If the character moves by itself, find the emulator's "Deadzone" settings and increase its value.
Solution: Gamepad is not working or is not working correctly
Even when set up correctly, there can be technical failures, and the most common problem is that the TV sees the device but the buttons don't respond, often because Android TV misidentified the profile of the device, in which case it helps to reboot the TV with the gamepad already connected.
Another common situation is Bluetooth desynchronization. The signal can be interrupted due to the operation of the Wi-Fi router at the same frequency of 2.4 GHz. If you notice that the gamepad “stutters” or turns off, try to move the router from the TV or switch the TV Wi-Fi network to 5 GHz in the Network and Internet settings.
If you press buttons but the game is not doing the right thing (for example, you open a menu instead of jumping), you are waiting for the Xbox layout and you are using a PlayStation gamepad (or vice versa), and the solution is to install a mapper application such as Button Mapper or Gamepad Companion, which allows you to reassign system commands at the operating system level.
- 🔄 Reboot the TV and gamepad at the same time.
- 🗑️ Remove the device from the Bluetooth list and pair again.
- 📲 Update the firmware of the gamepad via a PC or smartphone before connecting to TV.
- 🔋 Replace the batteries or fully charge the controller battery.
In rare cases, the problem lies in the very port of the Xiaomi USB TV. Try to switch the cable to another port. It is also worth checking whether USB power saving mode is on, which can turn off the port power when it is down. You can use the ADB TV app to access the hidden settings of engineers, but this requires advanced skills.
Optimization of the game process and useful applications
To unlock the potential of Xiaomi TV + Gamepad, it is recommended to install a specialized launcher. The standard Android TV interface is not adapted to control games using a controller. Apps like Flauncher or ATV Launcher allow you to create a gaming shelf where navigation is carried out exclusively by a joystick, without the need to reach for the remote.
For PC games streaming (via Steam Link, Moonlight or Parsec), the connection quality depends on the network. Make sure the TV is connected to the router via Ethernet cable or is in a 5GHz Wi-Fi confident reception zone. Network latency will negate all the benefits of a wired gamepad.
Don't forget the sound. Built-in speakers on TVs often have audio lag, which can be disorienting in rhythm games or shooters. If you notice a synchronization of sound and pictures, try connecting an external speaker system or headphones via Bluetooth (if the TV model allows simultaneous operation of Bluetooth headphones and a gamepad, although more often this is not possible without a special transmitter) or via optical output.