How to control a Xiaomi TV with iPhone: 5 proven ways

Why iPhones aren’t always friends with Xiaomi TV and how to fix it

Xiaomi TVs (including Mi TV 4S/5/5X/Q2/Q1E and Redmi Smart TV) are officially optimized for Android smartphones. But what do iPhone owners do if the remote is lost or sat down and only an Apple device is on hand?

The main problem lies in the communication protocols: Xiaomi uses its own Mi Home ecosystem with support for Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi Direct, which are limited on iOS, but the manufacturer has provided workarounds from the official Mi Remote app (yes, it is for the iPhone!) to universal remotes like BroadLink. And if the TV is connected to the same network with the phone, even voice control is available through Siri and Apple HomeKit (for models with Mi TV Box).

In this article, the current 2026 ways to control Xiaomi TV from iPhone, including hidden features and bypassing the limitations of iOS. All methods tested on iPhone 12-15 with iOS firmware 15-17 and Xiaomi TVs on MIUI TV 3.0+.

Method 1: Official Mi Remote app – setup in 5 minutes

Xiaomi’s Mi Remote app is the most reliable option, but with nuances. First, it should not be downloaded from the App Store, but through TestFlight (the official distribution channel for beta versions from Apple). Second, it does not support all Xiaomi TV models – the full list of compatible devices is below.

To connect:

• 📱 Install Mi Remote via TestFlight (Apple account required) ID).
• 🔗 Connect your iPhone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network (required!).
• 📺 In the app, select Add Device → Television → Xiaomi and follow the instructions on the screen.
• 🔄 If the TV is not found, restart it and re-search.

⚠️ Warning: If the volume buttons or channel switching do not work after connecting to Mi Remote, update the TV firmware to the latest version via Settings → On TV. → Software updates. Old versions MIUI TV (2.5) is compatible with iOS.

Method 2: Universal remotes for iPhone – BroadLink and AnyMote

If Mi Remote doesn't work (like your old TV model), universal apps will come to the rescue, the best of which are BroadLink and AnyMote Universal Remote. IR-Blaster (infrared port), which is in some models Xiaomi TV, or Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.

Instructions for BroadLink:

1. Download BroadLink from the App Store.
2. Add the TV manually: Add the device → TV → Xiaomi → Select the model.
3. If the TV is not found automatically, use the training mode: hover your iPhone over the original remote and press the buttons to record commands.

The benefits of AnyMote:

• 🎛️ Macro support (e.g., one button to turn on TV) + Netflix launch).
• 🔄 It works without the internet (via Bluetooth).
• 📱 Compatible with Apple Watch (can be controlled from the clock).

⚠️ Note: Apps like BroadLink require access to a local network. VPN or firewall, turn them off while you set them up, and check that the TV and phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi subnet (e.g., both of them are connected to the same Wi-Fi subnet). 192.168.1.x, Not the guest net).

Shut down. VPN iPhone|Check the connection to a single Wi-Fi network|Update the TV firmware|Charge your iPhone to 50%+|Make sure that IR-TV port is not closed by decor-->

Method 3: Voice control via Siri and HomeKit

If you have a Xiaomi TV with Mi TV Box (or Xiaomi TV A2/A Pro 2023+), it can be integrated into Apple HomeKit and voice control via Siri. This will require a bridge, a device that connects the Mi Home and HomeKit.

• 🔌 Home Assistant (on Raspberry Pi or server).
• 📦 Aqara Hub (officially supported by Xiaomi).
• ☁️ HomeBridge Cloud Service (for Advanced Users).

Step-by-step instructions for HomeBridge:

1. Install HomeBridge on a Mac or Linux server (instructions here).
2. Add the homebridge-mi-tv plugin via the command: npm install -g homebridge-mi-tv
3. Configure config.json by specifying the IP of the TV and the access token (it can be obtained through the Mi Home Token Extractor).
4. Add the TV to the Apple Home app on your iPhone.

Now you can say to Siri:

• 🎤 «Hey, Siri, turn on the TV in the living room».
• 🎤 «Set the volume to 50%».
• 🎤 «Open YouTube on Xiaomi TV» (It only works for embedded applications).

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If Siri does not recognize commands, check in the Apple Home settings that the TV is added to the Home zone and the Allow Control from Outside option is enabled.

Method 4: Manage Google Home (if you have a Chromecast)

If your Xiaomi TV is connected to Google Chromecast (or Google TV is built in, as in Xiaomi TV A Pro models), you can control it through Google Home on iPhone. This method works more stable than Mi Remote, and supports streaming from the phone.

How to set up:

1. Download Google Home from the App Store.
2. Connect the Chromecast to your TV and set it up through the app.
3. In Google Home, add TV as a device: Add → Set up your device → Chromecast.
4. Now you can:

• 📱 Transmit videos from your iPhone to the screen (e.g. from YouTube or Netflix).
• 🔊 Control volume and on/off.
• 🎮 Use iPhone as a gamepad for games on Google TV.

⚠️ Note: When transferring video from iPhone to Chromecast, audio delays (up to 2 seconds) are possible.This is a feature of the Google Cast protocol, not a bug. To reduce lag, connect your TV and phone to the router via 5 GHz Wi-Fi.

Method 5: Alternative methods from AirPlay to HDMI-CEC

If none of the above methods are suitable, less obvious, but working options remain:

1. AirPlay (for models 2023+)

Xiaomi TV A2/A Pro supports AirPlay 2, which allows:

• 🎥 Transfer video and photos from iPhone to the screen without lag.
• 🔈 Use iPhone as a remote control to control playback.
• 🎵 Stream music from Apple Music or Spotify.

To enable AirPlay, go to Settings → Connections → AirPlay on your TV and activate the option.

2. HDMI-CEC (HDMI control)

If the TV is connected to an Apple TV or other device via HDMI, you can use HDMI-CEC to control it.

1. Enable HDMI-CEC in the settings of the TV: Settings → HDMI → HDMI Management (CEC).
2. On Apple TV, activate the Settings → Devices and Remotes → TV Control.
3. Now the buttons on the Apple TV remote will be duplicated on the TV (on/off, volume).

3. Web interface (for advanced)

Xiaomi TVs on MIUI TV 3.0+ have a hidden web interface to manage.

1. Find out. IP-TV address in network settings.
2. Enter in the Safari browser on the iPhone address of the view http://[IP_TV]:7676 (for example, http://192.168.1.100:7676).
3. Sign in (username and password from Mi Account, tied to the TV).

The web interface has the basic functions: channel switching, volume control, application launch.

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HDMI-CEC is the most reliable way to control if you have an Apple TV or other device that supports this protocol, and it works even without the Internet and does not require additional applications.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after the right setup, there can be failures.-5 errors and ways of correcting them:

If nothing helps, try resetting the network settings on your TV:

1. Go to Settings → Network → Reset network settings.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi again.
3. Restart the TV and reset the app.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions