How to control a Xiaomi TV from your phone: 5 proven ways

Introduction: Why control Xiaomi TV from a smartphone?

Modern Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV 4/5, Redmi Smart TV, Mi QLED) support full control from the smartphone – from basic commands to voice search and application launch. It is not just a replacement remote, but advanced functionality: fast text input, streaming content from the phone, integration with a smart home and even games using a gyroscope.

The main advantage is versatility. You don't have to search for a remote in the dark or buy additional accessories: you just need an Android or iOS phone with an installed application. And if you use the Xiaomi ecosystem (for example, a Redmi smartphone or POCO), then sync is automatically through your Mi Account.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of connecting, including hidden functions (for example, ADB management for advanced users), as well as solve typical problems such as signal delay or lack of response to commands.

Method 1: Official Mi Remote app

Mi Remote (formerly Mi TV Remote) is a basic tool for managing Xiaomi TV from a phone.It supports all models of the brand’s TVs, starting with Mi TV 3 (2016), and allows you not only to switch channels, but also to customize sound, run apps, and use voice search through Google Assistant or Alice.

To connect:

• 📱 Install Mi Remote for Android or iOS. app weighs ~20 MB and works on Android 5.0 devices+ iOS 11+.
• 🔗 Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network. It's a must-have, and without it, synchronization won't happen.
• 🔍 In the app, click "Add device» → Choose "TV» → Xiaomi will automatically find yours. TV locally.
• 🔑 Confirm the pairing on the TV screen (a code of 4 digits will appear).

After connecting, 4 tabs will appear in the application:

⚠️ Note: If the TV is not online, check if Miracast or Wi-Fi Direct is enabled in Xiaomi settings. TV (Settings → Network → In some models (Mi) TV 4A) This option is hidden – it must be activated through the Developer.

Install Mi Remote on your phone|Connect the phone and TV single-wire|Update the TV to the latest version|Enable the "Network Discovery" mode in the settings TV-->

Method 2: Manage Google Home (for Android)

If you have an Android smartphone with Google Home installed, you can control Xiaomi TV through Google Assistant — even without additional apps.This method is suitable for Chromecast-enabled models (such as Mi TV Q1/Q2 or Redmi Smart TV X).

Instructions:

• 🔄 Make sure your TV is Chromecast enabled (Settings) → Connections → Chromecast).
• 🤖 Open Google Home on your phone → press «+» → «Set up the device» → «Configure compatible devices».
• 📺 Choose your Xiaomi TV from the list (if not, click "Do you see your device?" and enter the model manually).
• 🎤 Now you can give voice commands: “OK, Google, turn on Netflix on your TV” or “Set volume at 50%».

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ It works without a remote control – enough voice.
• ✅ Integration with other Google devices (e.g. Nest speakers).
• ✅ The ability to create automation scenarios (e.g., “Evening Cinema” – dimms lights, includes: TV and launches the film).

⚠️ Note: On some of the firmware Xiaomi TV (Especially Chinese) Chromecast can be disabled by default. To activate it, go to Settings → On TV. → Software version and 5 times click on the line with the build number – the developer menu will open, where you need to turn on Enable Chromecast.

Official Mi Remote app|Google Home / Assistant|Wi-Fi Direct|Another way.|I can't control my phone.-->

Method 3: Wi-Fi Direct for direct connection

If you don't have a router, or if you want to connect to a TV without the Internet, use Wi-Fi Direct, which creates a direct network between your phone and TV, which is convenient for traveling or in the country, and the data transfer speed is lower than Wi-Fi, but it's enough to control the remote.

How to set up:

1. On TV: go to Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Direct and turn on the function. Remember the network name (e.g. MiTV-1234).
2. On your phone: open Settings → Wi-Fi → find the TV network and connect to it. Password is usually not required.
3. Start Mi Remote – the TV must be automatically determined.

Limitations of the method:

• 📶 The distance between the devices should not exceed 10 meters.
• 🔋 Increased battery consumption (up to 15% per hour with active use).
• 🎮 Some features are not supported, such as streaming high-resolution video.

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If Wi-Fi Direct is not enabled, upgrade your TV firmware to MIUI TV 3.0+. On older versions, this feature may not work well.

Method 4: Manage through Mi Home (for Xiaomi ecosystem)

If you have other Xiaomi devices (like Yeelight light bulbs, Mi Robot robot vacuum cleaner or smart socket), you can control your TV through the Mi Home app.

• 🌃 «Evening mode”: when switched on TV After 20:00, the lamps are muted and the curtains are closed.
• 🔊 «Cinema: when you launch a movie on Netflix, the sound panel of Xiaomi is turned on.
• 🚪 «No one at home: when all family members leave TV switch off automatically.

To add a TV to Mi Home:

1. Open the app and go to the Devices section → Add the device.
2. Select the category “TV” → Xiaomi → your model.
3. Confirm the pairing on the TV screen (the code will appear in the upper right corner).
4. After the connection, the TV will appear in the main menu next to other devices.

Important: To work with this method, the TV must be linked to the same Mi Account as the phone, and if the accounts are different, sync will not occur.

Method 5: Advanced ADB management (for technical users)

If the standard methods don't work, and you want full control of Xiaomi TV, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a debugging tool that lets you send commands directly to the TV system.

• 🛠 Install applications manually (such as Kodi or Stremio).
• 🔧 Change system settings (screen resolution, refresh rate).
• 📱 Emulate remote presses through scripts.

Instructions for connection:

1. On the TV, turn on Developer Mode: go to Settings → About TV → Software version and 7 times click on the line with the build number.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate USB Debugging and Network Debugging.
3. Install ADB Tools on your computer or phone (for example, via Termux for Android).
4. Connect to the TV on the TV. IP-Address: adb connect [IP_TV address]:5555 (IP You can find out in Settings → Network → State of the network).
5. Check Connection: Adb devices should show up on your TV list.

Examples of useful commands:

• Turn on/off TV: adb shell input keyevent 26
• Update: Adb shell input keyevent 24
• Open YouTube: adb shell am start -n com.google.android.youtube.tv/com.google.android.apps.youtube.tv.activity.ShellActivity

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can cause a system failure. Don't change the system files (/system) Do not remove pre-installed apps – this will deprive you of warranty and can make the TV inoperable.

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ADB gives you complete control of your TV, but it requires technical knowledge, and standard methods (Mi Remote or Google Home) are enough for ordinary users.

Typical problem solving

Even with the right setup, errors can occur. Let's consider the most common and ways to fix them:

If nothing helps, reset the network on the TV:

1. Go to Settings → Network → Network Reset.
2. Confirm the action (the TV will restart).
3. Reconnect to Wi-Fi and try to sync your devices again.

FAQ: Frequent questions