Why Xiaomi is Managing TV From the phone, it's convenient?
Modern Xiaomi TVs (series Mi) TV, Redmi Smart TV, Xiaomi TV A and others support full control from the smartphone โ from basic commands to advanced functions. This eliminates the need to search for a remote, allows you to use a touch screen to enter text and opens up access to unique features, such as streaming content from a phone or voice control.
The benefits of this approach are obvious: one gadget instead of multiple remotes, the ability to control TV from another room (if both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network), and integration with the Mi Home ecosystem to automate scripting, for example, you can set your TV on when you launch your favorite app on your smartphone or synchronize notifications.
But how does it work in practice? What apps do you need, what settings do you want to activate, and what to do if your phone doesn't find the TV? This guide provides a complete overview of all the ways Xiaomi can manage. TV Android, including hidden features and solving common bugs.
Which Xiaomi TVs support phone control?
Almost all Xiaomi models released after 2018 support smartphone control. MIUI TV And these are the key series and their capabilities:
- ๐บ Mi TV 4S/4X/4A โ Basic support via Mi Remote, limited set of commands.
- ๐บ Redmi Smart TV X โ full integration with Google Home and Mi Home, voice control.
- ๐บ Xiaomi TV Q2/Q1E โ Extended features including screen streaming (Miracast) and gesture management.
- ๐บ Xiaomi TV A Pro (2023โ2026) โ Matter support for smart home, improved sync with Android.
To find out exactly if your model supports phone control, check:
- Firmware version in the Settings menu โ On TV.
- The presence of the item Smart home or Mi Home in the settings.
- Google Cast support (if you plan to stream content)
โ ๏ธ Attention: Xiaomi TVs based on Android TV (Like Mi. TV Stick or Mi Box managed via Google TV Remote, not through Mi Remote branded apps.
How to manage Xiaomi TV Android: Comparison of methods
There are several ways to turn a smartphone into a remote for Xiaomi TV. Each of them has its own pros and cons. Below is a comparison table:
| Method | Annex | Advantages | Deficiencies | Required. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Mi Remote Remote Remote | Mi Remote Controller | It works without the Internet, a full set of buttons | I need an IR port on my phone. | IR transmitter on a smartphone |
| Wi-Fi management | Mi Home or Google Home | Works through the network, support voice commands | Depends on the stability of Wi-Fi | General Wi-Fi network |
| Screen streaming | Google Cast or Miracast | Full control from the phone, broadcast content | Delays at weak signal | Miracast support for TV |
| Voice control | Google Assistant or Alice | Convenient for finding content | Limited set of teams | Microphone on the phone. |
For most users, the best solution is a combination of Mi Home (for basic commands) and Google Cast (for streaming), if your phone is equipped with an infrared port (for example, Redmi Note models or a new model). POCO Until 2022, you can use Mi Remote as a backup option.
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Before setting up the control, check that the network mode is turned on on on the TV. โ Remote management: This option can be hidden in the developer menu (activated by 7-fold tapping on the Software version in the settings).
Step-by-step: how to connect your phone to Xiaomi TV
Consider the two most reliable ways: through the Mi Home application (for Wi-Fi management) and through Mi Remote (for IR management).
Method 1: Managing Wi-Fi through Mi Home
This method works on all Xiaomi TVs with support MIUI TV 3.0 and higher:
- Install the Mi Home app from Google Play.
- Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (required to be the same as you would on your TV!).
- Turn on the TV and connect it to the same Wi-Fi network as the phone.
- In Mi Home, click Add Device (+) โ Choose the Television category.
- Follow the instructions on the screen. The TV should appear on the list of available devices.
- After connecting to the device menu, a virtual remote with buttons On / Off, Volume, Sources, etc. will appear.
If the TV is not displayed in Mi Home, check:
- ๐ Is the TV firmware updated (in the Settings menu) โ Update of the PO).
- ๐ถ Are both devices connected to the same network (not to different bands) 2.4 GHz/5 GHz).
- ๐ Is remote control enabled in TV settings (Network) โ Remote control).
Install Mi Home on your phone |
Update the firmware of the TV |
Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network|
Enable remote control in TV settings-->
Method 2: IR control via Mi Remote
If your phone has an IR transmitter (check the model specifications), you can use it as a universal remote.
- Download Mi Remote Controller from Google Play.
- Launch the app and select Add Device โ TV โ Xiaomi.
- Direct the phone's IR port to the TV and press the Test to check the connection.
- If the test was successful, save the settings. You can now control the TV via the virtual remote in the app.
โ ๏ธ Attention: IR control only works within line of sight (up to 5-7 meters) and does not support advanced features such as streaming or voice commands, but it does not depend on Wi-Fi and works even without the Internet.
Advanced features: streaming, voice control and automation
Basic control is just the beginning, and not only can you switch channels from your phone, but you can also:
- ๐ฌ Broadcast your smartphone screen to your TV via Miracast or Google Cast.
- ๐ค Manage voice via Google Assistant or Alice (on supported models).
- ๐ค Automate scripts in Mi Home (e.g., turning on TV when you start Netflix on your phone).
- ๐ฑ Use your phone as a gamepad for games on Xiaomi TV.
Let's look at the most useful ones.
Screen streaming (Miracast/Google Cast)
To duplicate the phone screen on Xiaomi TV:
- Make sure that your TV and phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- On your TV, activate Miracast in the Settings menu โ Connections โ Wireless display.
- On the phone, open Settings. โ Connected devices โ Screen broadcast (the name may be different).
- Choose your Xiaomi TV from the list of available devices.
To stream content (such as YouTube or Netflix videos), use Google Cast:
- Open a supported app (e.g. YouTube).
- Click on the broadcast icon (๐บ) and choose your TV.
Why isn't Miracast working?
Voice control via Google Assistant
If you're Xiaomi. TV It works on Android TV (Like Mi. TV Stick or Google Play models, you can use voice commands:
- Activate Google Assistant on your phone (hold the Home button or say โOK, Googleโ).
- Tell a command, such as โTurn on Netflix on TVโ โTurn up the volume on Xiaomiโ TV 50% Find the movie Interstellar on YouTube"
- Make sure that your TV and phone are linked to the same Google account.
For models on MIUI TV (Android TV) Voice control is available only through Mi Home with a limited set of commands (on/off, volume control).
Problem Solving: Phone Can't Find TV or Teams Are Not Working
Even with the right setup, you can have failures, and here are the typical errors and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Phone can't find TV in Mi Home | Different Wi-Fi networks or remote control disabled | Connect both devices to the same network, check the settings of the TV |
| Teams are leaving, but TV is not responding | Outdated firmware or synchronization failure | Update the TV, restart both devices |
| The IR panel in Mi Remote does not work | Incompatible TV model or discharged IR transmitter | Check the support of your model in the list of applications |
| Delays in screen streaming | Weak Wi-Fi signal or network congestion | Reconnect to 5GHz network or reduce the distance to the router |
If nothing helps, try resetting the network settings on your TV:
- Go to Settings โ Network โ Reset network settings.
- Connect to Wi-Fi again.
- Repeat the connection procedure through Mi Home.
โ ๏ธ Note: On some Xiaomi models TV After resetting the network, you may need to re-authorize your Xiaomi account!
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If the TV doesn't respond to commands from Mi Home, but the connection is successful, try removing the device from the app and adding it again, often solving synchronization problems.
Hidden Features: What Can You Do With Your Phone?
In addition to basic control, you can activate little-known Xiaomi features from the phone TV:
- ๐ฎ Use your phone as a gamepad for games from Google Play (on Android models) TV). Connects through Settings โ Input devices.
- ๐ View usage statistics in Mi Home (view time, popular apps).
- ๐ Configure audio profiles remotely (for example, enable the mode "Night" or "Cinema").
- ๐ Update the TV firmware via your phone if the TV is not connected to the Internet (the firmware file is downloaded to your smartphone and transmitted over the local network).
One of the most useful hidden features is the developer mode, to activate it:
- On the TV, go to Settings โ About TV.
- Find the version of the software and click on it 7 times in a row.
- Return to the main settings menu and a new section for developers will appear.
In this mode, you can:
- Enable Debugging on USB (PC-connect).
- Change the screen resolution (useful for testing applications).
- Activate Independent Brightness Adjustment for each application.
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In the developer mode, you can turn on the option "Show touches" - this will help to more accurately control the cursor on the TV screen from the phone.