Modern Xiaomi TVs with Android TV or PatchWall offer unlimited multimedia capabilities. One of the most popular features is streaming images from a smartphone or tablet to a large screen, which allows you to enjoy watching photos, video from a gallery or even playing mobile games in maximum detail. However, not all users know how to set up a wireless connection or choose the best method for their tasks.
There are several basic protocols for data transfer, each with its own characteristics: Mi Drop, Miracast, and Google Cast work differently depending on the version of your device’s operating system, and it’s important to understand that both devices must be on the same local network to be stable, which is critical to minimizing latency.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the methods available, from simple built-in features to using third-party apps, how to fix common connection issues and how to ensure the best picture quality for gaming or watching movies in high resolution.
Preparing devices for synchronization
Before you start setting up your broadcast, make sure both devices are ready to exchange data.The first step should always be to check the network connection.The Xiaomi smartphone and TV should be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.If you have a dual-band router, make sure that both devices are running on the same frequency, preferably 5 GHz, as this provides a higher data rate.
You also need to activate the appropriate signal reception mode on the TV. Most Mi TV models have this feature on by default, but in some cases, you need to manually activate the application to receive the signal. Go to the app menu and find the shortcut Wireless Display or Cast. Launching this application puts the TV in standby mode.
⚠️ Note: If your router is set up to split networks (guest and main), devices may not see each other, even if the Wi-Fi names are similar (AP Isolation) in the router settings disabled.
To check the quality of the connection, you can run any video on your smartphone. If the video buffers or twitches, it is possible that the Wi-Fi signal is too weak, in this situation, it is recommended to approach the router or use a wired connection for the TV, if possible.
Use of the built-in function "Wireless display"
The most common way to do this without additional software is Miracast, which is built into Xiaomi’s MIUI and HyperOS shell, and is supported by most of the brand’s TVs, which creates a direct connection between devices, broadcasting everything that happens on the smartphone screen.
To start the process on Xiaomi smartphone, lower the notification curtain and find the Broadcast or Projection button. If the icon is not in quick access, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Broadcast. The system will start searching for available devices within range.
Once the TV is on the list, click on it. The TV screen may have a request for confirmation of connection, which must be coordinated by the remote control, then the image from the smartphone is completely copied to the big screen, which is ideal for showing presentations or showing photo albums.
☑️ Checking before connecting Miracast
It's worth noting that when you use Miracast, the screen of your smartphone should be turned on, and if you lock your phone, the broadcast will stop, and this protocol can also give you a small delay, which is critical for dynamic games, but not noticeable when watching a slideshow.
Broadcasting via Google Home and Chromecast
Xiaomi TVs often have built-in support for Google Cast technology, which allows you to stream content from apps that support the feature, such as YouTube, Netflix or Google Photos. Unlike Miracast, it does not broadcast the entire screen, but a specific video stream, which saves smartphone resources.
To set up, make sure your smartphone has Google Home installed. Open it and find your TV in the device list. Click on the device icon, then select the Cast my screen button. The system will alert you that the sound and image will be transmitted to the TV.
The advantage of this method is that it's stable and high-quality, because the TV itself is streaming, downloading data directly from the Internet, the load on the smartphone's processor is minimal, and you can turn the app down or even use other phone features without interrupting playback.
| Characteristics | Miracast (Translation) | Google Cast (Chromecast) | DLNA (Media Server) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of transmission | Screen cloning | Streaming video | File transfer |
| Dependence on the phone screen | The screen should burn. | You can block it. | You can block it. |
| Delay (Latency) | Medium/High | Minimum | Absent. |
| Battery consumption | High-pitched | Low. | Low. |
Application of third-party broadcasting applications
In some situations, standard protocols may not work properly, especially if you’re trying to connect a device from another ecosystem, such as an iPhone (AirPlay) to a Xiaomi TV, in which case third-party apps installed directly on the TV via the Google Play Store come to the rescue.
One of the most popular solutions is AirScreen, which, once installed on a TV, emulates the AirPlay, Google Cast and Miracast receiver at the same time, which makes the TV visible to Apple devices without having to buy an Apple TV set-top box. Just run the app on TV, and it will give you a connection instruction.
Another powerful tool is ApowerMirror, which requires you to install the client part on both your TV and your smartphone, and it allows you to not only stream the image, but also control the phone from the remote, as well as take screenshots, but it is worth considering that some features may only be available in the paid version.
Why isn’t AirPlay working on Xiaomi by default?
When using third-party software, image quality can vary, often compression of the image or desynchronization of the sound, and it is not critical to watch movies, but it is better to use native tools for working with text or graphics.
Wired connection through HDMI-adapter
If the wireless connection is unstable or requires maximum image quality without compression, the best choice will be a wired connection. For modern Xiaomi smartphones with a USB Type-C port, there are special USB-C to HDMI adapters.
It is important to understand that not all smartphones support video output via USB. This feature (DisplayPort Alt Mode) is usually the flagship models of the Mi and Xiaomi Pro series. Low-cost models of the Redmi or POCO series entry-level may not support video transmission, limited only to charging and data transfer.
To connect, simply connect the adapter to your phone, and connect the adapter to an HDMI cable that goes to the TV. Switch the TV signal source to the appropriate port (e.g. HDMI 1). The image will appear automatically. This method also allows you to charge the phone while in use if the adapter has an additional power port.
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When buying a USB-C to HDMI adapter, pay attention to support for 4K@60Hz resolution. Cheap cables can limit the picture to Full HD (1080p) or 30 Hz, which will make the font on the TV fuzzy.
Setting up image and sound parameters
Once successfully connected, it is important to adjust the output settings correctly so that the content is displayed correctly. Often the aspect ratio of the smartphone (usually 19:9 or 20:9) does not match the TV (16:9), which leaves black bars on the sides. In the settings of the Xiaomi TV, you can change the zoom mode.
Use the Menu button on the remote and go to the image settings. Find the screen format or aspect ratio. Select the screen size mode or 16:9 to stretch the image, or the Original to keep the proportions. Stretching can cause geometry to be distorted, so it's better to leave the original proportions for the photos.
Sound is worth noting, because when you stream it through Miracast, audio is usually transmitted automatically to your TV, but in applications like YouTube, sound can stay on your phone, so check your Bluetooth and media output settings in the Android notification curtain by switching the output to an external device.
⚠️ Note: When connecting through HDMI-The adapter may not switch automatically. In the TV's audio settings, manually select "External speakers" or «HDMI ARC», If there is an image, but no sound.
Addressing problems and delays
One of the most common problems is desynchronizing audio and video. Sound can outpace or lag behind the image. This often happens when the Wi-Fi channel is overloaded. Try switching the router to a less loaded frequency or channel. Also helps reboot the router and clear the cache of applications on the TV.
If the TV can't see the phone, check the firewall settings on the router. Sometimes antivirus programs on a PC connected to the same network can block device detection on the local network.
In case the picture is interrupted or has a low resolution, make sure that the smartphone is not turned on power saving mode. It can limit the operation of the Wi-Fi module to save charge, which leads to a drop in data transfer speed. Add the broadcast app to the list of battery optimization exceptions.
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The stability of wireless broadcasting is 90% dependent on the quality of the Wi-Fi signal and the absence of interference in the air. Using 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz dramatically solves most of the problems with delays.