Xiaomi’s current TVs, particularly the popular Mi TV 4S, have become full-fledged multimedia centers capable of displaying content from external devices in high resolution, and connecting a laptop to such a screen opens up access to 4K movies, running demanding games and holding presentations on a large display, which many users buy to create a home entertainment system, but face difficulties in initial synchronization.
There are several proven ways to connect your computer to your TV panel: you can use a classic HDMI cable to transmit your signal consistently without delay, or you can choose Wi-Fi and Miracast wireless technologies for convenience. Each method has its own customization features, which we will discuss in detail in this article.
It is important to understand that the quality of the final image depends not only on the selected cable, but also on the correct resolution settings in the operating system of your laptop. Xiaomi Mi TV 4S supports HDR10 standards and a resolution of 3840x2160, so the correct configuration will unlock the potential of the matrix. Let's look at all available options for connecting Step-by-step.
Connecting via HDMI cable: the classic method
The most reliable and easy way to display an image from a laptop to a TV screen is to use a cable. HDMI. This interface transmits video and sound simultaneously, eliminating the need to plug in additional audio cables. - Xiaomi Mi TV 4S Use of 2.0 or higher cables to provide support 4K-Content at 60 frames per second.
The physical connection process is extremely simple: one end of the cable is inserted into the laptop port and the other into any free HDMI connector on the back of the TV. After connecting, you need to switch the signal source on the remote control by pressing the input select button and selecting the appropriate port, for example, HDMI 1 or HDMI 2. If the image does not appear automatically, check if the connectors are tightly seated in the sockets.
Important: If your laptop is equipped with only modern USB Type-C or Mini DisplayPort ports, you will need a special adapter or dock with HDMI output. Make sure the adapter supports 4K resolution, otherwise the picture may only be broadcast in Full HD or not appear at all.
☑️ Connection check HDMI
Once a physical connection is established, Windows or macOS must automatically identify the new display. In some cases, you may need to manually activate the duplication or expansion of the desktop. Windows uses the Win + P keyboard combination, where you can select the screen mode.
⚠️ Note: Do not connect or disconnect the cable HDMI, While both devices are on, unless you're sure that ports are protected, and while current standards allow for hot connectivity, power surges can damage the power controller.
Setting up image and sound in Windows
When a laptop sees a Xiaomi Mi TV 4S as a second monitor, fine-tuning output settings is often required. By default, the system can choose the wrong resolution or refresh rate, which will lead to blurring or no image. You can access the settings through the desktop context menu by selecting Screen Settings.
In the window that opens, you need to find the Multiple Displays box, and you can choose how the bundle will work: duplicate screens, expand the desktop, or only show the image on the TV, and for viewing movies, you can choose the "Second Screen Only" mode, which will unload the laptop's graphics card.
The audio output settings deserve special attention. Often the sound continues to go through the speakers of the laptop even when the TV is connected. To fix this, click on the speaker icon in the tray and select the playback device with the name of your Mi TV or Intel/AMD/NVIDIA Audio.
- 🖥️ Scaling: If the text on the TV is too small, change the percentage of zoom in the display settings to 150% or 200%.
- 🎨 Color Transmission: in the control panel of the video driver (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel) You can adjust the dynamic range to Full so that black is really black.
- 🔊 Sound format: In the properties of the playback device, make sure that the 24-bit, 48000Hz or higher format is selected for the best quality.
Remember that Xiaomi Mi TV 4S supports HDR technology. To activate it in Windows 10 and 11, you need to go to the HDR settings and turn on the corresponding switch, which will significantly expand the color coverage and improve contrast when viewing compatible content.
Why is there no sound through HDMI?
Wireless connection via Miracast and Wi-Fi
If you don't want to mess around with wires, the Xiaomi Mi TV 4S offers great wireless broadcasting capabilities. Miracast technology (called Wireless Display Connection in Windows) allows you to stream an image directly through Wi-Fi Direct, without the need for a router, ideal for quickly showing photos or videos from a gallery.
To get started, make sure your laptop is equipped with a Wi-Fi module. On the TV, you need to start the Wireless Display application, which is usually preinstalled in the Android TV system. After starting, the name of the device ready for pairing will appear on the screen.
On your computer, click Win + K or go to the notification center and select Connect. Your Mi TV 4S should appear in the list of available devices. Once selected, the connection process will begin, and the laptop screen will appear on the TV.
| Parameter | HDMI Cable | Wi-Fi (Miracast) | Chromecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image quality | Maximum (no compression) | Good (depending on the signal) | High (online) |
| Delay (Input Lag) | Minimum | Notable. | Medium |
| Convenience | It requires wires. | Fully wireless | Browser only. |
| Stability | 100% | Depends on the interference. | Depends on the network. |
It is worth noting that when wirelessly connected, there is a slight delay in the mouse cursor, so it is not recommended to play dynamic shooters in this way, but for watching YouTube, Netflix or presentations, this method is ideal.
Broadcasting via Google Chrome (Chromecast built-in)
Since the Xiaomi Mi TV 4S runs on Android TV, it has built-in support for Google Cast technology, which allows you to stream the contents of the tab of the Google Chrome browser or the entire desktop directly to the TV, the main condition is that the laptop and TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network.
Open the Chrome browser on your laptop, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Cast. The system will find the available devices. You can choose to stream a single tab or the entire screen (Cast desktop).
This method is convenient because it does not require complex configuration and works consistently on most home networks, and the image quality adapts automatically depending on the speed of the Internet and the power of the router.
- 🌐 Local area network: make sure both devices are connected to the same network (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) or they won't see each other.
- 🎞️ Tabs: When broadcasting tabs, the sound may not be transmitted unless you include the option "Translate sound" in the broadcast settings menu.
- 🚀 Performance: Full screen broadcasting loads the laptop processor more than broadcasting a single tab.
If you use browsers running Chromium (like Edge or Opera), the streaming feature will also be available, but it may not work as well as the original Chrome.
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To reduce the delay during wireless broadcasting, connect the TV to a 5 GHz network. This will free the air from interference from microwaves and neighboring routers.
Using DLNA to play media files
If your goal is to just watch a movie stored on a laptop hard drive, you don’t have to duplicate the entire screen. DLNA technology allows the Xiaomi Mi TV 4S to see shared folders of the computer and play files directly using its own decoder.
In Windows 10 and 11, the media streaming function is built into the system. Just go to the Media Streaming Options in the control panel and allow access for your TV, and then a computer will appear in the device list in the standard Mi Video video player or through the Media app on the TV.
The advantage of DLNA is that the laptop is just a storage device, so you can turn off the laptop screen or roll the windows, and the movie will continue to run on the TV without the jerks caused by the background processes of the OS.
For more advanced management of film and TV series libraries with covers and descriptions, it is recommended to install a media server on a laptop, such as Plex or Jellyfin.
⚠️ Note: When reproducing heavy 4K-files with high bitrates through DLNA Wi-Fi buffering is possible, and in such cases it is preferable to use an external hard drive connected directly to the computer. USB-television-port.
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DLNA is the best choice for viewing local video files, as it unloads the laptop processor and allows you to control playback from the TV remote.
Addressing common problems
Even with the right setup, there can be technical difficulties, and one of the common problems is the lack of a signal or the message "No signal", in which case, first of all, check the integrity of the HDMI cable and try to switch it to another port, as one of the connectors on the Mi TV 4S can be reserved for ARC.
If there is an image, but it is cropped at the edges (not included in the screen), you need to find the "Screen Format" or "Speciality ratio" in the settings of the TV and select the "Size of the screen" or Just Scan mode. On some models this option is in the "Image" menu -> "Screen settings".
Sound problems are often solved by simply restarting devices, and it's also worth checking if Windows audio settings have an exceptional mode for other devices, and sometimes changing the sampling rate in the speaker's properties helps.
- 🔄 Reboot: Turn off the TV for 30 seconds to reset errors HDCP-protocol.
- 🔌 Power: Make sure that the cable is HDMI Connected directly to TV, bypassing older receivers or amplifiers that may not support 4K.
- 🛡️ Antivirus: Windows Firewall can block network connection, try temporarily disabling it for check.
In rare cases, a firmware update is required. Go to Settings → About TV → System Update and check for new versions of the software. Xiaomi regularly releases patches that improve compatibility with external devices.