Controlling the Xiaomi Mi TV 4S from a smartphone is not only convenient, it also opens up new possibilities for integration into the smart home ecosystem: you can use the phone as a remote, transmit media without wires, switch channels with voice, or even automate the onset of TV on a schedule. However, many users have difficulty in the first setup: the application does not find the TV, commands are executed with a delay, nothing works at all.
In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to manage Xiaomi TV 4S from your phone, from the standard Mi Remote app to alternative solutions like Google Home or Wi-Fi Direct. We’ll focus on common bugs (such as why the TV isn’t displayed on the list of devices) and give checklists for quick diagnosis of problems. If you want to not just replace the physical remote, but make interaction with TV as flexible as possible, read on.
How to control Xiaomi 4S from your phone
Xiaomi Mi TV 4S supports several remote control protocols, and the choice of method depends on your tasks:
- 📱 Mi Remote app is the official solution from Xiaomi with support for infrared port and Wi-Fi. Suitable for basic control (channel switching, volume control, application launch).
- 🎤 Google Home / Assistant – Voice control via Google Assistant or Alice (requires setting up a smart home) Allows you to turn on TV with the command “OK, Google, turn on the TV in the living room».
- 📶 Wi-Fi Direct - Directly connecting your phone to your TV without a router, useful for file transfer or screen duplication, but not replacing the remote.
- 🔧 Third-party applications (such as Unified Remote or Yatse) – advanced features for those who want more than standard software offers.
It is important to understand that not all methods are interchangeable, for example, Wi-Fi Direct will not allow you to switch channels, and Google Home may not support some Xiaomi TV 4S models (especially if they are released for the Chinese market).
Configure management through the Mi Remote application
The official Mi Remote app is the most reliable way to replace the physical remote, and it works on two protocols:
- 🌐 Wi-Fi – for control over a local network (requires the connection of the TV and phone to the same router).
- 📡 IR port – for direct commands (works even without the Internet, but requires the presence of an IR transmitter in the phone).
To set up Mi Remote:
- Download the app from Google Play or the App Store.
- Turn on the TV and connect it to the same Wi-Fi network as the phone.
- Launch Mi Remote, click Add Device → Select Television → Xiaomi → Mi TV 4S.
- If the TV is not automatically found, enter it. IP-address manually (you can find out in the settings of TV: Settings) → On TV. → Network information).
If the app can't see the TV:
Check that your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz, not 5 GHz)|
Make sure that the TV is on Remote Control (Settings → Remote Control → Enable) |
Restart router and TV|
Update your TV firmware and Mi Remote app to the latest version-->
What to do if Mi Remote asks for a password?
Important: on some Xiaomi TV 4S firmware (especially Chinese versions), the remote Wi-Fi management feature is disabled by default. To activate it, go to Settings → Developer → Network Management and turn on the option “Allow LAN management”.
Voice control via Google Home and Alice
If you have a Google Nest speaker or a smartphone with Google Assistant, you can control the Xiaomi TV 4S voice.
- Make sure that your TV and phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the Google Home app on your phone.
- Click "+" → "Configure device" → "Configure new devices."
- Select Xiaomi from the list of brands and log in to your Mi Account.
- Once you find the TV, assign it a room (such as the Living Room) and save the settings.
Now you can use commands like:
- 🎬 «Okay, Google, turn on the TV in the living room»
- 🔊 «Okay, Google, turn the volume on the TV 50%»
- 📺 «Okay, Google, open YouTube on your TV»
For Alice (Yandex), the process is similar, but requires connection via Yandex Smart Home.
⚠️ Note: Voice control only works with global versions of Xiaomi TV 4S (The model with the prefix Global in the title (CN) Google Home integration is often not supported due to manufacturer restrictions.
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If Google Home doesn’t find a TV, try manually adding it through the option “Do you already have a device?” → “TV” → “Xiaomi”.
Control over Wi-Fi Direct: file transfer and screen duplication
Wi-Fi Direct allows you to connect your phone directly to your TV without a router.
- 📁 Quickly transfer photos, videos or music from your phone to the big screen.
- 🖥️ Duplicating the smartphone screen (mirroring) to view content from applications.
- 🎮 Using the phone as a gamepad for TV games.
To enable Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi TV 4S:
- On TV: Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi Direct → Enable.
- On your phone: Open your Wi-Fi settings → “Wi-Fi Direct” (or “Device Connection” on some Xiaomi models).
- Select your TV from the list (the name will start with MiTV-XXXXX).
- Confirm the connection on both devices.
After connection:
- To transfer files, use the standard “Conductor” on your phone or the Mi Share app.
- To duplicate your screen on Android, click Translation (or Smart View on Samsung) and select your TV.
| Function | Wi-Fi Direct | Mi Remote (Wi-Fi) | Google Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel switching | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes) |
| Volume control | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. |
| File transfer | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ❌ No. |
| Screen duplication | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ❌ No. |
| Working without a router | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ❌ No. |
Limitation: Wi-Fi Direct does not replace the remote — you can't control the TV menu, just transfer content. Use Mi Remote or Google Home for full control.
Third-party applications for extended management
If the standard methods do not suit you, you can use alternative applications:
- 🛠️ Unified Remote – supports custom remotes, media management, and even scripting. Requires the installation of a server part on a PC (if you need to control it through it).
- 🎛️ Yatse: Remote Control is an advanced solution with support for widgets, voice control and automation (for example, turning on TV when you start Netflix on your phone).
- 🖥️ TeamViewer QuickSupport - a non-standard way: allows you to remotely control the TV through the Android interface TV (If you have TeamViewer Host installed on TV).
To configure Unified Remote:
- Install the application on your phone and server utility on your PC (if necessary).
- On your TV, turn on USB debugging: Settings → About TV → Build Number (click 7 times) → Back to Settings → For developers → Debugging over USB.
- Connect your phone to your TV via USB (or via ADB over Wi-Fi) and follow the instructions in the app.
⚠️ Note: Using third-party apps may violate the warranty if you modify the system files of the TV.In addition, some features (for example, debugging by the Internet) USB) It can be blocked on Chinese versions of Xiaomi. TV 4S.
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Third-party apps provide more features, but require technical skills, and Mi Remote + Google Home is enough for most users.
Typical problems and their solutions
Even with the right setup, there can be errors.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The TV is not in Mi Remote. | Remote control on TV is disabled | Include in Settings → Remote management |
| Commands are executed with a delay | Weak Wi-Fi signal or overloaded router | Reconnect to 2.4 GHz network or reboot router |
| Google Home doesn't see TV | Chinese firmware or outdated version of the software | Update your TV firmware or use Mi Remote |
| Wi-Fi Direct shuts down on its own | Energy saving on the phone | Add Wi-Fi Direct to battery optimization exceptions |
If none of these methods work:
- Check if your model supports Xiaomi TV 4S Remote management (some of the OEM-The versions for operators may be limited).
- Reset your network settings on your TV: Settings → Network and Internet → Reset network settings.
- Install an alternative firmware (like LineageOS for TV) if you are an experienced user.
How to protect your TV from unauthorized access
Remote management is convenient, but it opens up potential vulnerabilities. To protect the Xiaomi TV 4S:
- 🔒 Set a complex password for remote management (12345678 by default). Change it every 3-6 months.
- 🌐 Turn off access to the TV from the external network (if not used): Settings → Remote control → Only the local area network.
- 📱 On your phone, turn off automatic connection to public Wi-Fi networks to avoid interception of traffic.
- 🔄 Regularly update the firmware of the TV – new versions close vulnerabilities.
If you’ve connected your TV to Google Home or Yandex Smart Home, check which devices have access to it:
- On Google Home: Open your TV card → Settings → Access Management.
- In Yandex: “Smart Home” → select TV → “Access settings”.
⚠️ Warning: If you sell or transfer a TV to another person, be sure to reset it to factory settings (Settings) → On TV. → Reset settings) and unplug Mi, Google and Yandex accounts, otherwise the new owner will be able to manage your devices in a smart home!