Many smart TV users face the need to control multiple devices at once, often when you need to combine the functionality of the Xiaomi Mi Box and the TV itself for ease of use, synchronizing remotes allows you to reduce the number of gadgets in your hand and simplify navigation on the menu.
Modern Mi TVs and Redmi TVs are equipped with advanced Bluetooth modules and infrared receivers, making the mating process as simple as possible. However, there are nuances that depend on the version of the Android TV or PatchWall operating system. In this guide, we will discuss all the current ways of pairing.
The need to connect can arise not only when buying a new console, but also when the main console is lost or broken. Using an alternative controller from the console is often the only quick solution to restore access to content without waiting for the delivery of new equipment.
Preparation of equipment and compatibility check
Before you start pairing, you need to make sure that you can connect technically. Most of today's consoles from Xiaomi, Mi Box S and their peers use Bluetooth Low Energy protocol. Older models can use infrared radiation, which requires a direct view of the receiver.
Check for fresh batteries in the remote control. A weak charge can cause an unstable signal and make it impossible to find the device, and also make sure that the TV itself is on and in standby mode or has an active interface.
☑️ Checking before connection
It's important to distinguish between types of connections. If your remote has a button with a Google Assistant logo or microphone, it definitely requires a Bluetooth connection to transmit voice commands, and the IR remotes will be limited to only basic navigation features.
Automatic pairing via Bluetooth
The most common method is to automatically set up when you first turn on or through the system menu. Android TVs often detect Nearby devices themselves. To start the process, go to the settings section using the on-screen cursor or a connected mouse.
Find Settings → Remotes and Accessories → Add Accessory. At this point, the system goes into active search mode. Press both the Back and Home (or Menu) buttons on the console for 5-7 seconds. The LED indicator should start blinking quickly.
⚠️ Note: If the remote has previously been paired with another device, it may automatically try to connect to it.In this case, temporarily turn off Bluetooth on your smartphone or other TV within a radius of 10 meters.
Once you find the device, the remote name, such as Mi Remote or Xiaomi Bluetooth Remote, appears on the screen, and select it to complete the pairing process. Successful connection is confirmed by the sound signal and the indicator blinking disappears.
Manual setting through the engineering menu
In some cases, standard search doesn't see the device, so you have to go deeper, and this is especially true for PatchWall TVs, where the menu can be hidden, and you need access to advanced Bluetooth settings.
Use a third-party management app, such as Mouse Toggle or physical USB-mouse to open settings. Go to Device Settings → Find the build number and click on it 7 times in a row to activate the developer mode.
In the developer menu that opens, find the option to Enable Bluetooth debugging or similar. This will allow the system to see devices that are usually hidden from the standard HID profile.
Secret button combinations
Use of IR port for universal remotes
If your console doesn't have a Bluetooth module, it's probably using infrared radiation. Xiaomi TVs are usually equipped with an IR receiver located at the bottom of the frame or under the logo. In this case, "connection" as such is not required, you only need direct visibility.
However, if you want the console to control the TV (turn on, change the volume of the TV, not consoles), you need to program the codes. This often uses the Learning feature, if the remote is universal.
The learning process looks like this:
- 📺 Press and hold the setting button on the remote until the indicator lights up.
- 🔴 Bring the original remote from the TV to the training remote for a distance 2-3 centimeter.
- 🔘 Press the button you want to program (for example, "On/Off"), the indicator will start flashing.
- ✅ Press the corresponding button on the original remote. The indicator should blink 3 times, confirming the code record.
This method allows you to turn a simple console console into a full-fledged controller for the entire multimedia system, the codes are stored in non-volatile memory and do not require reconfiguration after replacing the batteries.
Table of compatibility of connection methods
Different models of remotes and TVs support different communication protocols, and below is a table that helps determine the method available for your hardware configuration.
| Model remote control | Type of communication | Support for voice support | Necessity of mating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi Remote (BT) | Bluetooth 4.0+ | Yes. | Required. |
| Xiaomi IR Remote | Infrared | No. | Not required |
| Xbox/PS gamepad | Bluetooth/USB | No. | Required (USB/BT) |
| Universal remote control | IR/RF | No. | Depends on the model. |
Please note that the use of USB-radio-channel adapters (RF) This is rare, but it's possible for specific game controllers, so you need to insert the adapter into the port. USB TV before powering on.
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If the remote stops responding after you connect, try removing the batteries for 30 seconds, which will completely reset the controller inside the remote and clear the error buffer.
Removal and Connection Problems
Even if all instructions are followed, technical failures can occur. Often the problem lies in the overcrowded list of conjugated devices in the TV's memory. Android TV has a limit on the number of accessories saved.
Go to the Bluetooth menu and remove all old, unused devices. After cleaning the list, reboot the TV, completely disconnect it from the power supply for 1 minute, this will reset static charges and update the communication protocol stack.
⚠️ Warning: Do not press remote buttons randomly while searching.This can send incorrect signals and confuse the identification process of the device by the TV.
If the problem persists, check to see if antivirus software or installed launchers block access to system input functions, and in rare cases, resetting application access settings in the developer menu helps.
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90% of connection problems are solved by completely restarting the TV (turning off the socket) and replacing the batteries in the remote with new alkaline ones.
Configure voice control and hot keys
Once the Bluetooth remote is successfully connected, you can access advanced features, voice search only works with an active internet connection and the right privacy settings, and make sure that voice activation is allowed in your Google account settings.
Many users don't know that the remote buttons can be reassigned, and with apps like Button Mapper available on the Google Play Store, you can change the action of the buttons, for example, assign YouTube to launch by long pressing the menu button.
A separate button with a microphone is usually used to activate voice input. If it doesn't work, check the permissions for the Google app under Settings → Apps → Google → Permissions. Access to the microphone should be marked as Allowed.