The Xiaomi Mi Remote is not just a replacement for a traditional remote control, but a full-fledged assistant for controlling a Mi TV and other smart home devices, which can switch channels, adjust volume, run apps and even control lighting — all with voice, without having to press buttons. But many users have difficulty connecting for the first time or are unaware of the hidden capabilities of the device.
In this article, we will explore how to properly configure the Xiaomi Mi voice remote, what commands it supports, and how to solve typical problems, from lack of voice response to synchronization failures. Particular attention will be paid to integrating with a smart home and setting up multilingual control, which is relevant for Russian-speaking users. If you just purchased a remote or want to unleash its potential 100% – this guide is for you.
1. Connecting the Xiaomi Mi voice remote to the TV
Before using voice commands, the remote must be synchronized with the TV. The connection process takes no more than 5 minutes, but requires a few nuances. First, make sure that your Mi TV supports voice control - it is available on models, Released after 2018 (Mi TV 4S/4X/5/5 Pro/Q1/Q2 series and later). Second, check that the TV is connected to the Internet - without this synchronization is impossible.
First, turn on the TV and put the batteries in the remote (comes with the kit).
- 🔄 Press and hold the Home buttons. + Back on the remote for 5 seconds until the indicator flashes.
- 📺 A notification will appear on the TV screen to search for a new device. Confirm the connection by selecting Add Remote.
- 🎤 After successful synchronization, a voice greeting will sound (by default in Chinese - more on this later).
If the TV doesn’t respond to the remote, try restarting both devices or updating the Mi TV firmware through Settings → About TV → Software Update. On 2020–2021 models (such as the Mi TV Q1 55), additional confirmation may be required via the Mi Home app.
⚠️ Note: Do not use a remote from another Xiaomi model (e.g., the Mi Box) – even if it is externally identical, the communication protocol may differ, and voice commands will not work.
2.Tune in the language and voice assistant
By default, the Xiaomi Mi voice remote is set up in Chinese, which makes it difficult for Russian-speaking users, and fortunately, the language can be changed — not through the menu of the TV, but through the proprietary app.
- Download Mi Home (available for Android and iOS).
- Sign in to your Xiaomi account (if not, register).
- Add TV to the app via Devices → Add device → TV.
- Go to the TV settings in Mi Home and select Voice Assistant → Language.
In the list of available languages, choose Russian (Russia) or English (USA). Once the language is changed, the remote will automatically reboot, and voice commands will begin to be recognized in the selected language. Note: not all functions are available in Russian - for example, smart home management works more stable in English.
If the list does not include Russian, update the firmware of the TV and remote via Settings → About TV → Software Update. On models Mi TV P1 and newer supports multilingual recognition – you can switch between languages by voice command “change language to English”.
3. Basic voice commands for TV control
Xiaomi Mi voice remote recognizes more than 100 commands, but most users use only basic ones. Below we have collected the most useful phrases by subcategorizing them. Importantly, you need to pronounce commands clearly, without pauses, otherwise the remote may not recognize the request. If the TV does not respond, try repeating the command louder or closer to the microphone.
| Category | Examples of teams (Russian) | Examples of teams (English) |
|---|---|---|
| Inclusion management | "Switch on the TV," "Switch off the TV." | "Turn on TV", "Power off" |
| Channel switching | Channel One, Switch to NTV | "Switch to BBC", "Channel up" |
| Sound adjustment | "Listen up the volume," "Switch off the sound." | "Volume up", "Mute" |
| Launching applications | "Open YouTube," "Start Netflix." | "Open Prime Video", "Launch Disney+" |
| Search for content | "Find the Interstellar Movie," "Show the Comedies." | "Search for The Mandalorian", "Show action movies" |
For convenience, you can create voice shortcuts for commonly used actions. For example, the phrase "Evening cinema" can turn off lights at the same time (via a smart home), launch Netflix and set the volume to 50%. Shortcuts are set in Settings → Voice Control → Shortcuts.
⚠️ Note: Channel or app names only work if they are installed on the TV, for example, the phrase "Open Twitch" will not work if the Twitch app is not downloaded from the Mi App Store.
Make sure the microphone is not closed.|Check the Internet connection|Speak commands clearly, without accent|Update the firmware of the TV and remote-->
4.Integration with Xiaomi Smart Home
One of the key features of the Xiaomi Mi voice remote is the ability to control smart home devices. To do this, all gadgets (lamps, sockets, robot vacuum cleaners) must be connected to one Xiaomi account and added to the Mi Home app. After synchronization, you can use commands like:
- 💡 "Turn on the light in the hall" (for Yeelight or Mi lamps) LED).
- 🔌 "Turn off the socket in the kitchen (for smart sockets Mi Smart Plug).
- 🤖 "Start cleaning (for the Mi Robot Vacuum robot vacuum cleaner).
- 🌡️ "Show the temperature in the nursery (for sensors Mi Temperature Sensor).
To activate this feature, go to TV Settings → Smart Home → Voice Control and enable Device Management. Note: not all devices are supported. For example, Xiaomi Mi Home Security cameras cannot be controlled with voice due to security restrictions, but you can request that an image of them be shown on the TV screen with the command “Show the camera at the door”.
If the remote doesn't recognize device names, check their names in Mi Home — they should be unique and without special symbols. For example, instead of Lamp 1, you should use Bedroom Lamp. Also make sure that the TV and smart home devices are on the same local network.
How to add a device to Mi Home if you can not see it?
5. Common Problems and Their Solutions
Even after setting up the Xiaomi Mi voice remote correctly, it can malfunction. Below we have collected the typical problems and ways to fix them. If your situation is not described, try resetting the remote to the factory settings (press Home + Menu for 10 seconds) and repeat the connection procedure.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The remote does not respond to the voice | Microphone contaminated or turned off | Wipe the microphone with a cotton swab, check settings → Voice control → Microphone sensitivity |
| Commands are executed with a delay | Weak Internet connection | Connect your TV to the network via Ethernet cable or restart your router |
| The remote doesn't switch channels. | Incompatibility with the TV provider | Update the channel list in Settings → Channels → Autosetting |
| Voice assistant responds in Chinese | Language settings are lost | Reinstall the language through Mi Home as described in Section 2 |
If the remote stopped working after updating the firmware of the TV, try rolling back the version of the software.
- Download the old firmware from [forum] 4PDA](https://4pda.to/forum/index.php?showtopic=900000) (partition of your Mi model TV).
- Copy the file to a flash drive in FAT32 format.
- Insert the flash drive into the TV and go to Settings → About TV → Local Update.
⚠️ Note: Firmware rollback may result in data loss (such as saved Wi-Fi passwords or application settings). → System system → Backup.
💡
If the remote starts to glittle after a fall, check the integrity of the infrared port. To do this, point the remote to the smartphone camera and press any button — if the infrared signal is visible (flickering), then the port is functional.
Advanced Features: Automation and Scenarios
The Xiaomi Mi voice remote can not only execute individual commands, but also run chains of action (scenarios).
- Turn off the lights in the room.
- Launch the Netflix app.
- Set the screen brightness to 70% and enable Dolby Vision.
- Activate the sound profile of the Theatre.
To create this scenario:
- Open the Mi Home app and go to Automation → Create a script.
- Add the voice command condition and enter the trigger phrase (for example, "Movie Mode").
- Select the devices and actions that need to be performed.
- Save the script and test it from the remote.
On Mi TV Q2 2023 and later, contextual commands are available. For example, while watching a movie, you can say, "Who plays this actor?" and information from IMDb or Kinopoisk will appear on the screen. To activate, go to Settings → Voice Control → Contextual prompts.
The remote also supports gesture control (on gyroscope models), for example, you can rewind the video with a wave of your hand or adjust the volume with a tilt of the remote. To enable this feature, go to Settings → Remote → Gesture Control.
💡
Scenarios only work if all devices in them are connected to the same Xiaomi account and are on the same Wi-Fi network.
7. Alternative methods of control without remote control
If the Xiaomi Mi voice remote is broken or lost, you can control the TV in alternative ways.
- 📱 Mi Remote app: Download it to your smartphone (Android or iOS) and connect to your TV via Wi-Fi. The functionality is identical to the physical remote, including voice control (smartphone microphone).
If you use Mi Remote on your smartphone, make sure your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. To manage through Google Assistant, you will need to link your Xiaomi account to the Assistant settings. Example of the command for Google Home:
Ok Google, turn on Mi TV on NetflixTo manage through Alice, you need to install the skill "Xiaomi Mi TV" in the Yandex application and link accounts.
Alice, show the weather on TV for tomorrow.