Using the Xiaomi Redmi smartphone as a media center for the big screen is a task that often arises for users who want to enjoy a quality image without unnecessary costs. USB-And the cable seems to be the easiest and most reliable way, because every Android device owner has one. HDMI or wireless protocols, the wired method has its own technical nuances, requiring an understanding of the Android architecture.
The main difficulty is that the standard USB mode on phones is charging or transferring files (MTP), but not broadcasting a video signal in real time. To broadcast content from the Internet or gallery to a Smart TV or a regular TV screen via a wire, the system needs to “explain” how to process the video stream. In this article, we will discuss all possible scenarios for connecting Xiaomi to a TV, focusing on the wired connection and its software implementation.
It’s worth noting that not all Redmi models support hardware-level cable output, depending on the USB Type-C interface version and whether you have DisplayPort Alt Mode technology. If your budget smartphone doesn’t have this feature, the system will offer alternative software solutions, which we’ll also look at in detail below.
Technical limitations USB-Connection to Xiaomi Redmi
Before you start a physical connection, it’s important to understand the difference between data transfer and video transmission. When you connect Xiaomi to a computer or TV with a conventional cable, the phone defaults to Charging Mode, or MTP (Media Transfer Protocol), in which the TV sees the phone as an external flash drive, but not as a video source.
Screen Mirroring requires a cable-based interface that can transmit high-density video streams. In Xiaomi’s world, this feature is supported mainly by the flagship Mi series models and some top-end Redmi Notes with USB 3.0 and higher. Budget devices are most often limited to USB 2.0, which cannot physically transmit a video signal without special compression and software crutches.
⚠️ Note: Trying to use cheap adapters «USB on HDMI» On smartphones without support for DisplayPort Alt Mode will only charge the device, but will not give an image on the screen.
However, there are software methods to circumvent these limitations by using the processing power of a Redmi processor to encode a video stream and transmit it through a stream. USB-This requires more complex setup, but it results on devices that don't officially support video output.
Preparation of equipment and compatibility check
To succeed, you will need not only the Xiaomi Redmi smartphone itself, but also the right set of peripherals. A conventional charging cable may not be enough, especially if you are talking about transmitting large amounts of data or video, and the quality of the cable directly affects the stability of the connection.
You need to make sure your TV has a USB port that supports reading media files, or use a special adapter if you plan to go live. In most cases, a wired connection will require a USB-C to HDMI adapter if the phone supports video output, or use Smart TV functions to receive the signal.
Check your device specifications in the settings menu, and the path to information is usually hidden deep in the system:
- 📱 Open Settings and go to About Phone section.
- 🔍 Find the line Version of the kernel or All the characteristics.
- 🔌 Look for a mention of the standard USB 3.0, 3.1 or support for DisplayPort.
- 📺 Make sure the TV supports your phone's file system format (usually NTFS exFAT).
If the characteristics are only specified USB 2.0, don't despair. There are software solutions that allow you to stream through the Internet. USB-debugging, turning the cable into a channel for transmitting a compressed video stream, although the delay in this case may be higher than when using the HDMI-adapter.
☑️ Checking connection readiness
MTP Method: Viewing files from your phone as from a flash drive
The easiest and most versatile way to use Xiaomi + TV bundle via USB is MTP mode. In this scenario, the phone does not broadcast its screen in real time, but acts as an external drive. The TV reads the files of movies that you have previously downloaded to the smartphone and plays them back with its built-in player.
To implement this method, you don't need complex settings or root rights. USB-The port of the TV. On the screen of the smartphone will appear a notification about the mode of operation USB. By default, “Charge Only” can be selected, so you need to manually switch it.
Click on the notification and select File Transfer Mode (MTP) Or Android Auto if the TV supports it, and then on the TV screen, select the appropriate source menu (Source or Input) for the TV. USB-port. MIUI Allows the TV to see folders with video files.
| Parameter | MTP mode | HDMI mode (Adapter) |
|---|---|---|
| Signal type | File (data) | Video stream (image) |
| TV requirements | Support for USB Media | Availability of HDMI input |
| Quality. | Depends on the TV codecs. | Maximum (Native) |
| Management | Remote TV | Smartphone |
This is ideal if you download a movie over Wi-Fi and want to watch it in high quality without buffering, but it won’t work for you to view online content (YouTube, streaming services) directly from your phone’s browser, because it requires you to stream the image.
Broadcasting the screen through USB-Debugging (Scrcpy and analogues)
For those who want to stream a Redmi image to a TV via USB, including online video, it will require the activation of hidden functions of the system. With standard Android tools, this is difficult to do, so we will turn to the method of debugging over USB, which allows you to transmit images and sound with minimal latency.
The first step is to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7-10 times on the MIUI Version. After the message “You became a developer” appears, go back to the main settings menu, find the section Additional → For developers.
In the menu that opens, find and activate the debugging switch USB. You may also need to include the option “Debugging by USB (security settings)" which allows the phone to be controlled from a computer or other device via ADB-protocol.
What is ADB and why is it needed?
Next, you’ll need a client app on the TV itself (if it’s a Smart TV on Android) or an intermediate device. A popular solution is to use Scrcpy utility in conjunction with the server part on the TV, or specialized applications from the Google Play store on the TV, such as “USB Camera” or analogues that support input from ADB. By connecting the phone, you must confirm the debugging permission in the pop-up window on the smartphone screen.
⚠️ Note: When connecting through debugging USB To an unknown device (TV) always check the key print RSA Do not confirm the connection unless you are sure of the security of the receiving device.
Use USB-C to HDMI adapters for Xiaomi
If your Xiaomi Redmi is a flagship or advanced mid-range model, the best solution is to use a hardware adapter, which converts the digital signal from the USB-C port into a standard HDMI that any modern TV understands.
To work this method, the phone must support DisplayPort Alt Mode technology. Unlike software methods, here the load of video encoding falls on the hardware, which ensures perfect smoothness and no lag when watching movies in 4K.
The connection process is as simple as possible:
- 🔌 Connect the adapter. USB-C to HDMI smartphone-jack.
- 📺 Connect the adapter and TV with a cable HDMI.
- ⚡ If the adapter has an additional power port, connect the charging for stable operation.
- 📺 Turn the TV on mode HDMI.
MIUI automatically recognizes an external device. Some models activate Desktop mode, turning the phone interface into a computer OS, which is very convenient for navigating through websites with movies.
💡
The USB-C to HDMI hardware adapter offers the best picture quality and no delays, but requires physical support from the smartphone’s processor.
Problem Solving and Frequently Related Errors
Despite the apparent simplicity, users often experience a TV that cannot see the phone or a distorted image, and one of the common causes is power shortages, and when transmitting a video signal or data in MTP mode, power consumption increases, and a standard USB port on the TV may be lacking.
In this case, use a cable with two USB-Connectors (if the adapter design permits) or connect the phone to an external charge in parallel with data transmission if the adapter allows. Also problems can arise due to the format of video files. Embedded TV players often do not support modern codecs, such as: HEVC (H.265) audio-format DTS.
In such cases, it is recommended to use third-party players on the phone itself (such as VLC or MX Player) and broadcast an already decoded image, or convert files to a more compatible MP4/H.264 format. Another common mistake is the use of cheap “charging only” cables that do not have data lines.
💡
If the image on the TV twitches or there is no sound, try in the phone settings (Screen or Connected Devices section) to change the output resolution or refresh rate of the hertz to a lower one, for example, 1080p 60Hz.
Also make sure that the TV is on MHL or Anynet+ (for Samsung) if you use specific adapters. Without activating these features in the menu of the TV itself, the signal may not be processed correctly.