Connecting Xiaomi Phone to a TV via USB: The Complete Guide

Modern users of the Xiaomi ecosystem are often faced with the desire to bring content from a smartphone to the big screen. USB-The cable for this purpose seems to be the most logical and reliable solution, not requiring complex Wi-Fi or Bluetooth configuration. However, contrary to popular misconception, a simple physical connection by cable does not always automatically broadcast the image to the TV display.

Unlike HDMI, the USB port was originally designed to transmit data and charge, not to make a video signal. To make this bundle work, you need to understand the differences between interface modes. In this article, we will discuss all possible scenarios, from banal viewing photos to creating a wired video bridge.

Owners of Mi and Redmi devices must be prepared for the fact that the result depends on the hardware support of a particular model. Some flagships can transfer video streaming through Type-C, while budget segments will be limited to only the functions of the drive or modem, we will figure out how to make the most of the existing equipment.

Physical limitations and types of connection

The first thing to realize before you start manipulating is the physical capabilities of ports. The standard USB Mass Storage protocol, which is activated by default when you connect to a PC or TV, is designed solely to access the file system. The TV sees the phone as a regular flash drive, allowing you to open photos and video files through the built-in media player, but does not display the Android desktop.

This is different if your smartphone is equipped with a USB Type-C port with support for USB 3.1 or higher and DisplayPort Alt Mode technology. In this case, a special adapter (hub) can get a full video output. Xiaomi budget models often lack this feature, using cheaper controllers that are physically unable to generate a video signal through the charging port.

⚠️ Note: Use of cheap adapters "USB on HDMI" without an external graphics card (DisplayLink) on phones without native video output support will not work.

To test your device’s capabilities, you should consult the specifications on the official website. If the specifications are only USB 2.0, then the option with direct output over the wire is not available to you, in which case there are alternative methods, which we will also discuss below.

Regime. USB-modem: Internet on Smart TV

One of the most useful but often ignored use cases USB-The connection is the distribution of the Internet. If your Android TV TV Or another smart platform doesn't see the Wi-Fi network or the signal is too weak, Xiaomi's smartphone could become a wired bridge.

To activate this function, you need to connect the devices with a cable and go to the phone settings. The path usually looks like this: Settings. → Connection and sharing → USB-The TV must determine a new wired network connection after switching on the tumbler, and unlike Wi-Fi, it eliminates interference from microwave ovens and neighboring routers.

It's important to note that in this mode, the video signal is not transmitted. The phone screen is not duplicated on the TV. You just access online cinemas directly through the apps on the TV, using your mobile operator's traffic or home Internet thrown through the phone.

File transfer and multimedia

The classic way to use a phone-TV bundle is to drive mode. When you connect the cable, select MTP (File Transfer) mode in the notification on your smartphone. The TV will display the phone's internal memory or memory card as an external signal source. You can start watching movies stored in Xiaomi memory through the standard media TV player.

This method is ideal for viewing “heavy” files that the TV cannot play through the air due to codec or bitrate limitations. Locally reading data from USB ensures smooth playback without buffering. However, it is worth considering that the Android file system may not be fully compatible with the file managers of older TVs.

If the TV can’t see files, the problem can be in file system format. Android often uses proprietary formats for internal partitions that are not readable by third-party devices. For compatibility, it’s better to store media files on an external microSD card formatted in FAT32 or exFAT.

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Use a file manager on your TV, rather than a gallery, to search for video files on a connected phone – this often solves folder visibility problems.

Using Miracast technology and Wi-Fi Display

Since direct connection to USB Not everyone can stream the screen, but Xiaomi owners should pay attention to built-in wireless technologies, which often work more stable than cheap cables. MIUI HyperOS is called “Translation” or “Wireless Monitor".

To run, you need to open the curtain control panel and find the Broadcast item. Your phone will start looking for available devices on the network. If your TV supports Miracast, it will appear in the list.

The advantage of this method is that you can see everything that happens on your smartphone on your TV, including menus, games and the browser, and it has minimal latency with good Wi-Fi signal, and it's the most versatile solution for models without a video output.

Specifics of working with the MIUI and HyperOS shell

Xiaomi's software has its own features in connection management, and newer firmware versions may turn on Charge Only when connected to a PC or TV by default, for security reasons, to prevent unauthorized access to data.

To change this behavior, you unlock the screen, lower the notification curtain, and click on the charging notification, and you open a menu where you select File Transfer (MTP), without this step, the TV will not get access to the device's media library.

⚠️ Warning: When connecting to an unknown device (such as a public TV at a hotel), never select debugging mode. USB, to avoid leakage of personal data.

Also worth mentioning is the Mi Remote feature, which, although it works over Wi-Fi, allows you to use your phone as a remote control for your TV, which is convenient when you want to run a movie on your phone and "send" it to TV using built-in DLNA or Chromecast protocols, if the TV supports them.

Solving Problems with Device Recognition

Often, users are faced with a situation where the cable is connected, but the TV says "No signal" or "File is not supported." The first reason is the cable itself. Many of Xiaomi's complete cables are only charging and have no data lines. Replacing the cable with a quality analogue with the Data label often solves the problem.

The second reason is the video file format. Even if the phone is defined as a flash drive, the TV's built-in player may not understand the audio codec (e.g., DTS or AC3) or the MKV container. In this case, installing a third-party player on an Android TV, such as VLC or MX Player, which can decode most formats, will help.

The third problem is the lack of nutrition. USB-A hub for connecting your phone and other devices, the TV may not have enough current to power the port, which requires additional power for the hub.

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90% of connection problems are solved by replacing the cable with a high-quality analogue with data support or setting the correct USB mode in the notification curtain.

Alternative wired solutions

If wireless methods are unstable and the video output through Type-C is not, there are alternative wired options, such as using Wi-Fi Display (dongle) adapters that connect to the device. HDMI-The TV port, and the phone connects to them via Wi-Fi Direct, is a hybrid method that eliminates direct connection delays.

You can also consider using game consoles or Android-based TVs, and if you plug your phone into one of these consoles over USB, you can use it as a media server, and it's a workaround that turns a stupid TV into a powerful multimedia station.

In conclusion, Xiaomi can connect directly to the TV via USB to display images only on flagship models with video output support. For other cases, the best solution is a combination of the file storage mode and Miracast technology for broadcasting the screen.