Modern smart TVs Xiaomi Mi TV and Mi Box offer a lot of multimedia, but often users lack web browsing on the big screen. Standard browsers on Android TV can work slowly or have an uncomfortable interface sharpened under the remote rather than under the mouse. That is why the solution of the question of how to broadcast the phone browser to the Xiaomi TV, becomes a priority for comfortable viewing content.
There are several proven ways to do this, from built-in Mi Cast features to using third-party apps and DLNA protocols. The specific method you choose depends on the version of the MIUI operating system on your smartphone, the TV model, and the type of content you plan to view.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the synchronization options available, the nuances of Wi-Fi and HDMI connectivity, and the typical problem of latency. You will learn how to turn your smartphone into a powerful remote control and a source of content for a large screen.
Technical requirements and equipment preparation
Before you start setting up, make sure that both devices — a smartphone and a TV — are connected to the same wireless network.This is a basic requirement for most data protocols, such as Miracast and Google Cast. If a router distributes two networks (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), it is desirable that both gadgets are on one of them, although modern routers usually allow devices to see each other inside the same subnet.
Check the software’s relevance. On Xiaomi TV, go to Settings → About TV → System Update and make sure you have the latest PatchWall or Android TV installed. It’s also worth updating the system components on your smartphone, as older versions of Android can have bugs when working with broadcast protocols.
⚠️ Warning: Using a guest Wi-Fi network or corporate client isolation networks will make it impossible for the phone to detect the TV.
For stable high-resolution video streaming, the recommended Wi-Fi connection speed should be at least 20 Mbps. At lower speeds, compression artifacts or audio and video desynchronization may appear, especially when viewing 4K content through a browser.
Use of the built-in Mi Cast (Without installing applications)
The easiest and fastest way to do this without third-party software is to use the native Mi Cast feature built into Xiaomi’s MIUI shell and Android TV operating system, which implements Miracast technology, which allows you to duplicate the screen of your smartphone in real time.
To start the process on the TV remote, click the button with the image of the target or the icon of the Mi Cast application. The screen will display a message about waiting for a connection. On the Xiaomi smartphone, lower the notification curtain and find the Broadcast (or Cast) switch. If there is no switch, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Broadcast and activate the function.
The system will start looking for available devices. When your Xiaomi TV appears on the list, click on it. The desktop image of the phone, including open apps and the browser, will instantly appear on the big screen.
It's important to understand the difference between modes of operation. Miracast broadcasts exactly what's happening on the phone screen. If you fold your browser or you get a notification, everyone in the room will see it. It also consumes a lot of battery power on your smartphone, because the video encoder is active.
Broadcasting via Google Home and Chromecast
Most Xiaomi TVs with Android TV have built-in support for Google Cast (Chromecast built-in) technology, which is more advanced than simply duplicating the screen, as it allows you to transfer content directly from the app to the TV, unloading the smartphone.
However, it is the browser tabs (such as Chrome or Firefox) that often require a “Cast Screen” feature to broadcast, which requires the official Google Home app available on Google Play, install it and log in to your Google account.
Open the Google Home app and find your TV in the device list. Click on the device icon, then select the Cast my screen button. Once confirmed, the smartphone will start transmitting the image.
- 📱 Open your browser on your phone and go to the desired site with video.
- 📺 Make sure that the TV is selected as an active audio and video output device.
- 🔊 Volume control will now be done by the TV remote, not by phone buttons.
The advantage of the method is that Google Cast often provides lower latency and better picture quality when watching videos from supported sources. However, if the site uses a non-standard video player, the system can simply duplicate the screen, which will return us to the battery costs described earlier.
Specialized applications for broadcasting (Web Video Caster and analogues)
If the built-in tools are unstable or do not support the video format on the site, specialized browser applications with casting function come to the rescue. The leader in this niche is the Web Video Caster application, which has versions for both Android and Android TV.
The way these apps work is that they analyze a web page, find a video stream, and send a link directly to the TV, which already downloads and plays the video, which frees the phone from the task of encoding the video.
Install the application on the smartphone and, if necessary, it TV-version to the TV via the Google Play Store on the TV. In the app on your phone, open the built-in browser, go to the site with the video and click the broadcast button.
☑️ Check before broadcasting launch
The Web Video Caster app has an important setting, "Use built-in player" or "Translate to device." For Xiaomi TVs, it's better to choose direct stream mode if the site allows, which ensures that even when an incoming call is made, the video on the TV is not interrupted.
⚠️ Note: Some sites with pirated content use sophisticated security scripts that can prevent third-party apps from capturing the video stream).
Comparison of Connection Methods and Their Characteristics
To make it easier for you to choose the best way, we have prepared a comparative table of the main methods of broadcasting your browser to Xiaomi TVs. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses depending on your goals.
| Method | Image quality | Delay (Latency) | Battery consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Cast (Miracast) | High (depends on Wi-Fi) | Medium (0.5-1 sec) | High-pitched |
| Google Home (Cast) | Adaptive (up to 4K) | Low. | Medium. |
| Web Video Caster | Original (without clamping) | Minimum | Low. |
| HDMI Cable | Perfect. | Absent. | Charging. |
As you can see from the table, the best way to watch movies and TV shows is Web Video Caster or Google Home, because they provide better performance. If you want to show a presentation, a photo gallery or a site with interactive graphics, where every detail on the screen is important, then Mi Cast will be the only option, albeit more energy-intensive.
And it's also worth mentioning wired connectivity. If you have a USB-C to HDMI adapter, you can connect your phone directly to your TV, and that's the only way you can get an image without any compression or delay, which is critical for gaming or displaying dynamic content.
Elimination and optimization of quality
Even with a perfect setup, users can run into problems, most commonly audio and video desynchronization or periodic image slowdowns, which almost always indicates wireless bandwidth problems.
Try rebooting the router. Often, long run times lead to buffer overflows or Wi-Fi module overheating. Also make sure there are no thick concrete walls or powerful sources of interference, such as microwave ovens, between the router and the TV.
The secret developer mode
If the image twitches, try lowering the output resolution in the broadcast settings on your phone. Instead of 1920×1080, choose 1280×720, which will reduce the load on the channel and can stabilize the picture.
💡
To reduce the latency of the sound when broadcasting via Mi Cast, try turning off surround sound (Dolby Digital Plus) in the TV settings by switching to stereo (PCM).
When broadcasting to the big screen, sites can automatically switch to the mobile version. In the browser settings (usually in the three-dot menu), force the PC version to be turned on so that the site interface is correctly displayed on the TV.