Xiaomi Mi TV 4S is one of the most popular smart TVs in the budget segment, but out of the box it is far from working at full capacity. The manufacturer often limits functionality for the sake of stability or energy savings, and standard picture and sound settings rarely satisfy demanding users. This article will help unlock the hidden potential of your device, from fine-tuning the screen to installing alternative firmware and optimizing performance.
We’ll look at both the official improvement methods (through the Settings and Software Updates menu) and the advanced tricks from enabling developer mode to overclocking the processor. We’ll focus on the lag problems that often arise after installing third-party apps, and show you how to fix them without losing functionality. If you want to turn your Mi TV 4S into a real media center with cinematic sound and picture, read on.
1. Firmware Update: Why This Is the First Step to Pumping
Even if your TV is stable, outdated firmware can limit its capabilities. Xiaomi regularly releases updates that not only fix bugs, but also add new features — such as support for additional codecs or improved image processing algorithms. Check the current version of the software in the Settings menu → About TV → System Update.
There are three ways to update the Mi TV 4S:
- 🔄 Automatic updates over the Internet (the easiest, but requires a stable connection).
- 💾 Manual update through USB-drive (you need to download the firmware from the official Xiaomi website and follow the instructions).
- 🛠️ Install custom firmware (for experienced users, gives access to hidden functions, but deprives of guarantees).
Before upgrading, make sure the TV is connected to an uninterruptible power supply – interrupting the upgrade process can lead to a “bricking” of the device that will require flashing through the service port. If you have a 2020 Mi TV 4S 55” or 43” model, check firmware compatibility: some versions of the software are designed for specific modifications only.
⚠️ Warning: If after the update the TV began to brake, try resetting to factory settings (Settings) → Additionally. → This often helps in conflicts between old data and new software.
2. Performance optimization: how to remove lags and speed up work
Xiaomi Mi TV 4S runs on an Amlogic processor (depending on the model – S905X or S905Y), which is not very high performance. Over time, after installing dozens of applications, the interface begins to “hang”, and switching between channels takes a few seconds, you can solve this problem in several ways:
Methods of expediting work:
- 🧹 Cleaning the cache (in the Settings menu) → Annexes → Clear the cache. Do this once in a while. 1-2 month.
- 🚫 Disabling Auto-Run Unnecessary Applications (via Settings) → Annexes → Auto-start).
- 🔄 Switching to a light design theme (in the appearance settings).
- 🔧 Enabling Developer Mode and Disabling Animation (more on this in the next section).
If the lags appear when watching a high-resolution video (for example, 4K HDR), The problem may be insufficient capacity. HDMI-Try replacing it with a certified High-Speed cable. HDMI 2.0 or higher. Also check if the TV overheats. TV 4S Prone to trottling (automatic performance decline) at a chip temperature above 70°C.
Remove unused applications
Clear cache and application data
Disable auto-start background processes
Check the temperature of the TV (should be <65°C)
Update the firmware to the latest version-->
3. Hidden developer settings: overclocking and fine-tuning
Like Android smartphones, the Xiaomi Mi TV 4S has a hidden developer mode that gives you access to advanced settings.
- Go to Settings. → On TV.
- Find the MIUI TV version and quickly click on it 7 times in a row (the notification “You became a developer” should appear).
- Return to the main settings menu – there will be a new item for developers.
This menu can be used:
- 🔍 Disable animation (Scale of window animation) = 0.5x), This will speed up switching between the menus.
- 🖥️ Enable debugging on USB (You need to connect to the PC and use ADB).
- 🔄 Change the screen refresh rate (if supported).
- 📡 Activate regimes GPU-rendering to speed up the graphics.
Be careful not to turn off the screen – its constant use reduces the life of the backlight. GPU-rendering, as this may lead to image artifacts.
What happens if you include all the options of the developer?
4. Screen calibration: how to achieve theatrical image quality
The standard image modes (Standard, Movie, Dynamic) in Mi TV 4S rarely meet the requirements of moviegoers. To get the most natural and detailed picture, you will have to manually calibrate the parameters. Start by selecting the User mode in the image settings (Settings → Display and Sound → Image Mode).
The best settings for movies (on the example of the model 55) are:
| Parameter | Recommended value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness | 45-50% | Depends on the lighting in the room. |
| Contrast | 85-90% | 90% of the details are lost in dark scenes. |
| Color temperature | Warm (6500K) | Cold adds blue, not natural to movie content |
| Sharpness | 0% | Any value above 0 creates artificial contours. |
| Noise suppression | Off. | Blurring details, it is better to use the built-in player |
To check the calibration quality, use test videos from rtings.com or Spears & Munsil HD Benchmark. Pay attention to the uniformity of the backlight - the Mi TV 4S often has a dimming at the edges (vignetting effect), which can be slightly reduced by reducing the brightness to 40%.
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If after calibration the colors seem too dull, try to turn on the mode. HDR even SDR-content (in some firmware, this is available through the engineering menu).
5. Sound enhancement: from bass to surround sound
The built-in Xiaomi Mi TV 4S speakers (usually 2×8W or 2×10W) can’t provide deep bass or surround sound, but even these can be improved software. Start by choosing Movie or Music in Settings → Display and Sound → Sound Mode.
Ways to improve sound without external acoustics:
- 🎛️ Equalizer setting: increase sliders on 100 Hz (bass) and 10 kHz (high frequencies) by 2-3 division.
- 🔊 Enable virtual surround (if available in your firmware).
- 📱 Using Bluetooth headphones with AptX support for better quality.
- 🔌 Connecting the soundbar through HDMI ARC (It gives better quality than optical output).
If you are connecting external acoustics, make sure the right output is selected in the audio settings (HDMI ARC or Optical).For the 2021 Mi TV 4S 65, Dolby Audio mode is available, but it only works with compatible sources (such as Netflix or Disney+).
⚠️ Note: When connecting the soundbar through HDMI ARC You may experience a lipinic delay. To eliminate it, in the TV's audio settings, find the "Lard of Sound" option and set the 0 ms value or experiment with 10 ms increments.
6.Installation of third-party applications and alternative launchers
The standard PatchWall launcher in Xiaomi Mi TV 4S is not always convenient, especially if you use a lot of streaming services. Fortunately, alternative shells such as ATV Launcher or Leanback Launcher can be installed on Android TV.
- Download. APK-launcher USB-accumulator.
- Connect the flash drive to the TV and install the application through the File Manager.
- In settings (Settings → Applications → Default Apps), select a new launcher.
It is also useful to establish:
- 🎬 Kodi – to play local files with support for all codecs.
- 📺 Smart YouTube TV — User-friendly YouTube client without advertising.
- 🎮 Moonlight – for streaming games from PC (requires a powerful router).
- 🔒 Blokada – to block ads in apps.
Before installing third-party APK-Enable Unknown Sources in Security Settings. Be careful with pirated versions of apps, which may contain malicious code that slows down your TV or steals your account details.
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Installing an alternative launcher does not require root rights, but resetting the TV settings will return the standard shell.
7. Advanced tricks: acceleration, engineering menu and ADB-team
For experienced users willing to risk the guarantee, there are several ways to get the most out of the Mi TV 4S:
Ways of advanced optimization:
- ⚡ Overclocking the processor through the engineering menu (accessible by code ##3646633## on the remote.
- 🔧 Change of change DNS to unlock regional restrictions (e.g. 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8).
- 🖥️ Connection to ADB For example, adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1 (unlock API, It can disrupt stability).
- 📱 Install Magisk for root rights (requires unlocking the bootloader).
Before using these methods, back up your current firmware through ADB:
adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.abThis will help restore the TV in case of a failure.
⚠️ Note: Changes to the parameters in the engineering menu, such as: DDRI Voltage or CPU Clock, can lead to unstable work or even failure of the motherboard. If you are not sure of your actions, it is better to consult specialists.