How to turn on and configure the IR port on Xiaomi Mi A3: from activation to control equipment

The Xiaomi Mi A3 is one of the few mid-range smartphones to retain an infrared port (IR port) during the era of ubiquitous Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This module allows you to turn the phone into a universal remote control for TVs, air conditioners, music centers and other equipment. However, many owners face the problem: the IR port on the Mi A3 does not work out of the box or it simply cannot be seen in the settings.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to enable an infrared port on the Xiaomi Mi A3, from standard methods to hidden MIUI functions and workarounds. You will learn how to check the module’s health, what applications to use to control equipment, and what to do if the infrared port is not determined by the system, pay special attention to the typical errors that users make when setting up, and give recommendations for optimizing the remote.

Important: While the Mi A3 is from the Android One series (with pure Android), the IR port is implemented at the hardware level, as with other Xiaomi models, meaning that it may require proprietary utilities or manual settings to activate it.

Check the availability of an IR port on Xiaomi Mi A3

Before you try to turn on the IR port, make sure it is physically present in your device. On the Xiaomi Mi A3, the infrared transmitter is located at the top of the case, next to the speaker and LED indicator, visually it looks like a small black glass or plastic window (~2 mm in diameter).

If you are not sure if your model has an IR port, follow these steps:

• 🔍 Look at the top of your smartphone in good light. The IR port is usually to the right of the headphone jack (when you look at the screen).
• 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → All the specifications and find Infrared Port. If not, your device may be a regional version without an IR module (e.g. some batches for the European market).
• 🛠️ Use a test application like this IR Tester (available on Google Play) will show if the IR transmitter is recognized by the system.

If the IR port is not physically available, all further instructions will be useless, in which case consider the alternatives: Bluetooth remotes or Wi-Fi control via Mi Home (for Xiaomi equipment).

⚠️ Attention: Some Mis on some A3, For those purchased in 2020-2021, the IR port could have been disabled at the software level due to a conflict with Android 11 firmware.

Standard way to enable an IR port via Mi Remote

The easiest way to activate an IR port is to use the proprietary Mi Remote (formerly Mi Remote Controller) app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones, but it may not be available on the Mi A3 (with pure Android) in which case download it from Google Play:

• 📲 Open Google Play and find Mi Remote app (developed by Xiaomi Inc.) and make sure it's an official app (the icon is a black remote on an orange background).
• 🔄 After installation, run Mi Remote and provide all the requested permissions (camera access is not required, but physical activity access is required to operate the IR port).
• 🎛️ When you first start up, the app automatically scans the device for an IR module. If the port is active, you'll see a message saying, "Infrared port detected".

If the IR port is not detected, try the following:

1. Reboot your smartphone.
2. Make sure that the latest firmware version is installed on the phone (update via Settings → System → System Update).
3. Check if the IR port is blocked by third-party software (such as Greenify or Battery Saver).

Download the official Mi Remote|Append all permissions to the app |Update the firmware of the smartphone to the latest version |Disable battery optimizers for Mi Remote|Check the physical presence of the IR port-->

Once you've successfully detected the IR port, you can add control devices, like a TV.

1. Click Add Device → Select a category (e.g., TV).
2. Select your TV brand from the list (if not, choose Universal).
3. Direct the smartphone’s IR port to the TV and follow the on-screen instructions for button testing.

Alternative applications for IR port management

If Mi Remote doesn't work or you need advanced features, consider third-party apps.They often support more devices and offer flexible settings.-3 tested:

To install any of these applications:

1. Download it from Google Play.
2. Start and provide access to the Infrared Port (the permission may be called Physical activity or Other sensors).
3. Follow the setup wizard by selecting your device (TV, air conditioning, etc.).

Important: Some applications (such as AnyMote) require manual adjustment of the frequency of the IR signal. For the Xiaomi Mi A3, the optimal frequency is 38 kHz, but in rare cases, it may require 36 or 40 kHz.

Mi Remote|AnyMote|Za Remote|SURE Universal|Other/I don't know-->

Manual activation of the IR port through the engineering menu

If the IR port is not defined by any application, you can try to turn it on through the Engineering Mode, which is suitable for advanced users, since improper actions can disrupt the smartphone.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337###
2. You will be taken to Engineer Mode. Go to Hardware Testing → IR.
3. Press the IR Test and watch for the reaction. If the port is working, you'll see an IR Test Pass message.
4. If the port is disabled, try changing the IR Enable option to On (if you have one).

If the engineering menu is missing or does not contain an IR partition, this means that the IR port is disabled at the firmware level, in which case only flashing or installing custom software (more about this in the next section) will help.

⚠️ Attention: Changing the settings in Engineer Mode can cause sensor or communication failures. Do not change settings that you do not know the purpose of. For example, disabling Proximity Sensor will disrupt the proximity sensor during calls.

Solving IR port problems on Mi A3

If the IR port does not work despite all attempts, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔄 Outdated firmware: On versions MIUI below 12.0.3 or Android below 10 IR port can be disabled. → System system → Updating the system.
• 🛠️ Optimizer conflict: Apps like Greenify or AccuBattery can block access to an IR port. Add Mi Remote to the exceptions.
• 🔧 Hardware malfunction: If the IR port is not detected even after resetting, it may be damaged. IR Tester.
• 📱 Regional restrictions: Some Mi parties A3 For Europe and the United States, they were delivered without an IR port.

If the problem is firmware, try the following steps:

1. Reset to factory settings (Settings → System → Reset). Attention: this will delete all data!
2. Install custom recaps (e.g. TWRP) and swipe the IR port module separately (files can be found on the XDA Developers forum).
3. Reflash your smartphone on Global ROM (if you have an EEA or India ROM).

To check the hardware serviceability of the IR port:

1. Download the IR Tester app from Google Play.
2. Run the test and direct the IR port to the camera of another smartphone (the IR signal should be visible as a purple flicker).
3. If there is no signal, the port is faulty or disabled at the iron level.

Optimization of the IR port: tips and tricks

Even if the IR port works, its effectiveness depends on the right setup, and here are some tips to improve stability:

• 📶 Distance and angle: Keep your smartphone 3-5 meters away from the device and guide the IR port at an angle of 30-45 degrees. Direct angle (90)°) may not work.
• 🔋 Battery savings: Turn off battery optimization for Mi Remote (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Remote → Battery → No restrictions).
• 🔄 Device database update: In Mi Remote, periodically update the list of supported devices (Settings) → Update the database).
• 🛡️ Interference protection: Avoid using an IR remote in direct sunlight or near infrared sources (e.g. incandescent lamps).

If you run an air conditioner or a music center, create macros in Mi Remote for commonly used commands. For example, the Evening Theater macro can simultaneously:

• Turn on the TV;
• Turn it over. HDMI-entrance;
• Set the sound to 20;
• Activate air conditioning at 24°C.

For this:

1. Open Mi Remote and select the device.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Add macros.
3. Write down a sequence of commands and save it under a convenient name.

💡

If the IR port stopped working after the MIUI update, try to roll back to the previous firmware version via Fastboot.For instructions and firmware files, look for the official Xiaomi or XDA Developers forum.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)