Infrared port on Poco X3 Pro: how to turn on and configure for control equipment

Why do IR port in a smartphone and whether it is in Poco X3 Pro

Infrared port (IR port) in smartphones is a sensor that allows you to control household appliances (TVs, air conditioners, music centers) without additional remotes. In the era of smart homes and Bluetooth devices, this technology seems outdated, but it is still in demand: IR signal works without Wi-Fi connection, does not require pairing and is compatible with 99% of equipment older than 10 years.

Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro (model) M2012K11AG For the global market, it has an IR transmitter, but by default it can be turned off in firmware or hidden in settings. In this article, we will discuss how to check for a module, activate it through standard and hidden menus, and configure it to work with popular brands of technology. We will focus on the problems faced by users after the update. MIUI before version 13.0+.

Before you go to the instructions, make sure your Poco X3 Pro is not a regional option without an IR port (such as some batches for India), which can be checked physically – the sensor is located on the top of the case next to the front camera (see photo below) or through the engineering menu.

Step 1: Check for an IR port on the Poco X3 Pro

Not all versions of the Poco X3 Pro are equipped with an infrared transmitter. To avoid wasting effort, perform a diagnostic:

• 🔍 External inspection: light a flashlight on the top of your smartphone – look for a small black glass (5×3 (mm) to the left of the speaker, on some shells it is marked with dot markings.
• 📱 Checking through the "hardware test": enter the dial code ##6484## → Choose the Manual Test → IR Test. If the test is available, the module is present.
• 🛠️ Firmware Analysis: Go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If the firmware version ends with EEA (Europe) or Global, the chances of having an IR port are higher than those of Indian (IN) Chinese (CN) modification.

If the test shows an IR Test Failed error, it could mean:

1. Physical damage to the sensor (for example, after a fall).
2. Software shutdown in custom firmware.
3. Regional restrictions (in some markets, the IR port is deactivated by the manufacturer).

⚠️ Note: On devices with root rights or unofficial firmware (for example, LineageOS), the IR port may not work even if you have a hardware module.

Step 2: Enable the IR port through standard MIUI settings

If the hardware check is successful, we move to activate the function. In MIUI 12/13/14, the path to settings may be different:

1. Open the Remote Controller app, if you don't have one, download the official Mi Remote Controller app from Google Play.
2. When you first start, the app will request permissions to access the Camera and Location – be sure to confirm.
3. Click on the three dots in the top right → Add device → select the type of equipment (e.g., TV).
4. Follow the instructions on the screen: the app will automatically test the IR port by sending a signal. If the indicator on the app console lights up in red, the module will work.

Important: Poco X3 Pro with MIUI 13.0.4+ firmware may require additional IR port resolution from the Special Permissions menu. To enable it, go to Settings → Apps → Permissions Management → Special Access → Physical Activity and sensors and activate the Remote app switch.

Install the official Mi Remote Controller app

Check the permissions for the application (Camera, Location, Sensors)

Update MIUI to the latest stable version

Make sure the battery is more than 30% charged (the power port is energy-consuming)-->

Step 3: Solving the Problems of a Broken IR Port

If after all the manipulations the IR port does not respond, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔋 Energy conservation: MIUI aggressively optimizes background processes. Add the Remote app to exceptions: Settings → Battery → Choice of applications → remote → No restrictions.
• 📱 Firmware conflict: Some custom builds (e.g. Pixel Experience) don't support IR port. MIUI via Fastboot.
• 🔄 Calibration Failure: Reset the Remote App Settings in Settings → Annexes → remote → Warehouse → Clear the data.
• 🛡️ Antivirus blocking: Software like Avast or 360 Security can block access to sensors.

To diagnose hardware malfunctions, use the engineering menu:

Enter the dialer: ##4636###


Select “Phone Information” → scroll down to the “Sensors” block.




If the "IR Sensor" line is missing or shows "Not Supported", the problem is in the hardware.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI The IR port stopped working, try to roll back to the previous version via Recovery. To do this, download the firmware from en.miui.com and select the Install option. update.zip recovery menu.

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If the IR port is unstable (signal interrupted), try disabling the dual applications feature for the Mi Remote Controller, a MIUI option that can create sensor access conflicts.

Step 4: Set up the management of equipment from different brands

Xiaomi's Remote app contains a codebase for 5,000+ devices, but not all brands are supported out of the box.

1. Open the Remote app → Press + → select a category (e.g. Air Conditioning).
2. If your brand is not on the list, choose Another Brand → Manual Input.
3. Point the remote from the original device to the front camera of the smartphone (range 5-10 cm) and press any button.
4. If automatic recognition fails, enter the code manually. Codes for popular brands: LG TV: 0178, 0004 Samsung AC: 0021, 0088 Sony Audio: 0000, 0125

For dynamic coded vehicles (such as some Daikin or Mitsubishi Electric models), the standard method may not work.

• Use alternative apps like AnyMote or ZaZa Remote.
• Update the code base in the Remote via Settings → Update the database.
• Contact Xiaomi support via Settings → About Phone → Review, specifying the model of the equipment.

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If your appliances are released after 2020, check their compatibility with IR control on the manufacturer’s website. Some modern models (for example, QLED 2022+ TVs) use only Bluetooth or Wi-Fi for remote control.

Step 5: Alternative ways to control equipment without an IR port

If your Poco X3 Pro is not equipped with an IR transmitter or the module is defective, consider these options:

• 📶 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth-Management: Modern TVs (Samsung SmartThings, LG ThinQ and air conditioners (Gree, Midea) support direct connections through brand apps.
• 🔌 Smart sockets: Devices like Xiaomi Mi Smart Plug allow you to turn on/off equipment by schedule or voice (via Google Assistant).
• 🤖 Voice assistants: Set up Alice (Yandex) or Google Assistant to manage compatible appliances through the cloud.
• 🔄 IR adapters: External transmitters (e.g. BroadLink) RM4 Pro) connect to a smartphone over Wi-Fi and emulate IR signals.

For technology without smart protocols (like old Sony or Philips), the only option is to buy a universal learning remote (like Logitech Harmony), which copies the signals of the original remotes and can be controlled from a smartphone via Bluetooth.

Step 6: Optimize the IR port and save charge

The IR transmitter consumes more energy than it seems: when used actively (for example, frequent commands to the air conditioner), battery consumption can increase by 5-7%.

• 🔋 Disable the Remote app from the background processes if you don’t use it constantly: Settings → Annexes → remote → Close it.
• 📵 Enable charge saving mode in settings MIUI, But add "Remote" to the exceptions.
• 🔄 Update the application "Remote" to the latest version - in new releases optimize energy consumption.
• 🛡️ Use a dark theme in the app: AMOLED-poco X3 Pro spends less energy on displaying black background.

To verify the actual consumption:

1. Charge the phone to 100%.
2. Activate the IR port and send commands every 5 minutes for an hour.
3. Check the statistics in Settings → Battery → Battery use. Normal consumption for an IR port is up to 3% per hour.

⚠️ Warning: If after using the IR port, the smartphone begins to overheat (temperature above 45)°C), this may indicate a module malfunction or conflict with other sensors.In this case, contact the Xiaomi service center - self-repair can lead to loss of warranty.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions