How to turn on and configure Mi remote on Xiaomi TV: the complete guide

Have you taken out of the box a new Xiaomi TV or purchased a separate remote control Mi Remote, but it refuses to work? Don’t panic – in 90% of cases, the problem is solved in 2-3 minutes. This article will help you understand how to properly turn on and sync the remote control with the TV, even if the instructions are lost or written in an incomprehensible language.

We're going to look at all the scenarios, from basic setup of a new remote to fixing connectivity issues after a TV reset, and focus on hidden Mi Remote features that aren't written about in the official manuals, like how to activate voice search or reassign buttons. If your remote is flashing but not responding to commands, or if your TV doesn't see it, you'll find proven solutions here.

Note: the instructions are valid for all modern Xiaomi Mi TV models (including the P1, A2, ES, Q2), as well as for universal Mi Remote remotes (including versions with backlighting and voice control).

1.Preparation: What to check before turning on the remote

Before you set up the remote, make sure that the problem is not the basics. Experience shows that 30% of the appeals in support of Xiaomi are due to trivial omissions:

• 🔋 Battery charge: Even if the remote is new, the batteries could run out during storage. Try replacing them with a known working one (we recommend Duracell or GP).
• 📺 TV power: If the TV light is not on, check the power outlet and cable. Some models (Mi TV Q1E) require pressing the Power button on the case after the power outage.
• 📶 Distance and obstruction: maximum distance for IR remotes is 8 meters, for Bluetooth 10 meters. Remove furniture, mirrors or other devices that may block the signal.
• 🔄 Reboot TV: disconnect the TV from the network for 30 seconds, then turn it on again. This will reset the temporary errors of the Bluetooth/IC module.

If the Mi Remote is backlit, press any key, it should light up for 2-3 seconds. The lack of response indicates a malfunction of the battery or the remote itself. For models with a touch panel (for example, Mi TV Master), check if it is locked - to unlock hold the Home button for 5 seconds.

2. How to turn on the IR remote on Xiaomi TV

Infrared remotes (used in Xiaomi’s budget models) don’t require synchronization — they work immediately after the batteries are installed.

1. Make sure that the remote has the correct polarity batteries (the diagram inside the compartment usually shows the location of + and -).
2. Point the remote directly to the IR receiver of the TV (usually located at the bottom of the screen or on the side, next to the Mi logo).°.
3. Press the Power button (🔄) and hold it for 3-5 seconds. If the TV is on, the remote is ready to go.

If there is no reaction:

• 🔍 Check if the IR receiver is covered with decorative film (relevant for new TVs).
• 📱 Try to control your TV through the Mi Remote app on your smartphone — if it works, the remote is the problem.
• 🔧 On some models (Mi TV 4S, the IR ports are disabled by default. To activate them, go to Settings → Devices → Remote → Enable the IR receiver.

3. Synchronize Bluetooth remote with Xiaomi TV

Bluetooth-enabled remotes (found in Mi TV Q1, Mi TV P1 and higher) require pre-binding, taking no more than a minute to complete:

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on the TV with a button on the case or through the Mi Home app.
2. On the remote, press and hold the Home (🏠) + Back (↩️ buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds until the indicator flashes blue.
3. The TV screen will display a notification "New remote is detected. Connect?" and select "Yes".
4. Wait for the message "Remote is connected." Now you can use all the functions, including voice search (button with microphone).

If the TV does not respond to the synchronization attempt:

• 🔄 Reboot the TV through the Settings menu → About TV → Reboot.
• 📱 Make sure that the Bluetooth settings (Settings → Devices → Bluetooth) have enabled detection mode.
• 🔋 Check if other Bluetooth devices (earphones, gamepads) are connected to the TV – they can block the connection.

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If the remote refuses to sync, try resetting it: remove the batteries, press and hold any button for 10 seconds, then insert the batteries back and repeat the procedure.

4. Customization of the universal remote Mi Remote

Mi Remote universal remotes (such as the Xiaomi Mi Remote Bluetooth model) support control not only of TVs, but also other equipment: air conditioners, audio systems, projectors.

For fine tuning:

• 📺 If the remote doesn’t find the code for Xiaomi TV, try manually entering the code 1234 or 0001 (universal for most models).
• 🔍 To check all available commands, click Settings → Check Code. The remote will consistently test all features (volume, channels, menus).
• 🔄 If some buttons don’t work (e.g. Netflix or Prime Video), they can be reassigned via the Mi Home app.

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Mi Remote universal remotes support up to 12 devices at a time, and to switch between them, use the buttons at the top of the remote (TV, AC, AV, etc.).

5. Solving typical Mi remote problems

Even after successful setup, the remote may not behave properly, and here are the most common symptoms and their causes:

⚠️ Warning: If the Mi Remote flashes red for more than 10 seconds, this indicates a hardware malfunction.Don't try to disassemble it yourself - contact Xiaomi Service Center (the warranty is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase).

If the remote stopped working after updating the TV firmware:

1. Check the software version in Settings → About TV → System Update. Mi Remote requires a version at least MIUI TV 3.0 to work smoothly.
2. Reset the remote settings: Press Home + Menu for 10 seconds until the indicator goes out.
3. Reconnect the remote manually through Settings → Devices → Remote → Add remote.

6. Additional Mi remote features you didn't know about

Mi Remote remotes hide a few useful features that make it easier to control the TV:

• 🎤 Voice control: Press and hold the microphone button (🎙️) to activate Google Assistant or Alice (depending on the region). Examples of commands are "Like Netflix," "Like Volume 20%."
• 🔍 Search by Content: The Search button (🔍) allows you to search for movies, TV shows, and apps across your TV, including YouTube and Prime Video.
• 📱 Smartphone management: in the Mi Home application, you can configure the remote as a universal center for all Xiaomi equipment (light bulbs, robot vacuum cleaner, air conditioning).
• 🎮 Gamepad mode: On some models (Mi TV Q2) when connecting the game console, the console automatically switches to joystick mode (buttons W/A/S/D simulate arrows).

For models with button highlighting (Mi TV Master):

• 🌓 Automatic lighting when moving your hand over the remote control (even in the dark).
• 🔋 Charge savings: The backlight goes out after 5 seconds of inactivity.
• 🎨 Change the color of the backlight through Settings → Devices → Remote control → Backlight settings.

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If you lose your remote, you can temporarily control your TV through the Mi Remote app on your smartphone (available for Android and iOS), and both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

7. compatibility of Mi remotes with other devices

Mi Remote remotes don't just work with Xiaomi TVs, but here's a table of compatibility with other devices:

To add a new device:

1. Press the button with the device icon on the remote (for example, 🌡️ for air conditioning).
2. Select a brand from the list (use the ↑/↓ buttons for navigation).
3. Point the remote to the device and press OK for the connection test.
4. If the device reacts, press OK again to save settings.

⚠️ Warning: When you connect the remote to devices from other brands (e.g. Samsung TV), some features may not work properly, in which case use the original remote for critical operations (e.g., resetting settings).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi remotes