How to turn on Xiaomi TV without remote control: a step-by-step guide

When a remote control suddenly stops responding, it often takes you by surprise, especially when you’re planning to relax before watching your favorite movie or TV series. Fortunately, today’s Xiaomi Mi TV and Redmi TV smart TVs are designed to take into account different use cases, including the loss or breakdown of the main control tool.

In most cases, the device can be run using alternative methods that do not require the original remote. The key here is to understand the model of your TV, since the location of the physical buttons and the presence of an IR receiver can be significantly different, some users do not even suspect that their device can be completely controlled using a conventional smartphone.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can activate your Xiaomi TV without using a regular remote control, learn about hidden body functions, how to connect the peripherals and use the Mi Remote mobile application, and help you quickly return the system to working condition and continue to use the multimedia capabilities of your equipment.

Search for physical control buttons on the body

The first step to take when you lose your remote is to take a thorough visual inspection of the TV body. Xiaomi engineers often hide the control buttons to keep the aesthetics of the device's minimalist design intact, and they can be located at the bottom of the frame, at the end of the side, or even at the back, closer to the connectors.

Many Mi TV series models use a joystick or swing button that acts as a menu, which usually turns on the TV if it is in standby mode, and in other cases, you may find individual power and volume buttons that are difficult to spot in low light.

⚠️ Warning: Don't put too much effort into pressing controls.If the button doesn't get squeezed easily, you may have found a decorative element or logo rather than a function key.

To activate the device, simply press and hold the power button for 2-3 seconds. If the TV is connected to the power grid and is in sleep mode, the screen must light up. In some cases, double short pressing or long retention is required depending on the version of the Android TV or PatchWall firmware.

Use of the USB-interface-control mice

One of the most effective and often ignored ways to manage is to connect a regular computer mouse. TV, Xiaomi TVs are based on which it has built-in support. HID-This allows you to use a cursor to navigate the menu, which is especially convenient when the remote is not available.

To implement this method, you will need any wired USB-Just put it in one of the free ports. USB It's automatically recognized the device, and it's going to have a cursor on the screen that you can control the switch and move.

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Use a wireless mouse with USB-If all ports are occupied or the TV is hanging close to the wall, the adapter will take up less space than the tail of the wire of a normal mouse.

If your mouse is wireless and it's running over Bluetooth, it can also make money, but only if the TV is already on and paired. So for the initial turn on, you'd better use a wired version or a mouse with your own. USB-This method allows you not only to turn on the device, but also to fully configure the network or install applications.

Mi Remote app on your smartphone

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones have a unique advantage: an integrated IR port, which allows you to turn your phone into a universal remote control. Even if you have a different brand phone, but with an IR emitter, you can install a third-party app from Google Play to emulate signals.

The setup process takes only a couple of minutes. Open the Mi Remote app (or analog), select the TV device type and Xiaomi brand. Follow the on-screen instructions by pressing the buttons to check the signal. Once successfully paired, your phone will be able to turn on the TV even if it is completely off but plugged into the outlet.

It is important to note that to operate the IR remote, the phone must be in line of sight with the TV receiver. If your smartphone does not have an IR port, but both devices (TV and phone) are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, you can use the remote control function through the Google Home app or the official Mi Remote app in Wi-Fi mode.

Checking the IR port on a smartphone

Not all modern smartphones have an infrared port, so you should make sure that this feature is available before you try to set up. Usually, the IR hole is located on the upper edge of the device, next to the noise-cancelling microphone or speaker.

If you're not sure if you have an IR port on your phone, you can use another smartphone's camera flashlight, point the top of your phone over the camera lens, and press any button in the remote app, and if you see a purple or white flash on the screen of the second phone, it means that the port is active and functional.

The lack of an IR port is not a critical problem if the TV and phone are on the same local network, in which case the control is carried out through Internet protocols, which is sometimes even more convenient, since it does not require direct visibility and works through walls.

Alternative Incorporation Methods via HDMI

Current HDMI-CEC standards allow you to control the power of your TV through connected devices. If your Xiaomi TV is connected to a game console (PlayStation, Xbox), console or even some laptop models, you can try turning on the TV by activating these devices.

When an HDMI input is signaled, the TV often automatically exits sleep mode and switches to the appropriate signal source, and for this, the CEC function must be activated in the TV settings (usually on by default), which works like a "magic remote" - the console is turned on, and the TV comes to life.

However, if the TV has been completely de-energized or placed in deep sleep, the HDMI method may not work without first turning on the display with a button on the case.

Setting up voice control of Google Assistant

If your Xiaomi TV has a built-in microphone or is connected to the Google Home system, you can use voice commands.Saying the phrase "Ok Google" or "Hey Google" and then the command "Switch on the TV" (if scripts are configured) or "Switch to HDMI" can control the device.

To fully operate voice control without a remote, you need to have the TV set up at least once and linked to your Google account, in which case the smartphone acts as a microphone, sending commands to the TV through the cloud, especially when hands are busy or the remote is lost in the bowels of the couch.

You should consider the latency of the cloud commands, and unlike an IR signal, which is instantaneous, the voice command travels through Google's servers, so it can take 1-2 seconds for the TV to react, which is normal system behavior, depending on the speed of your Internet connection.

Resetting and emergency activation

In rare cases, the TV may not respond to any of these methods because of a software failure, in which case a forced reboot can help: Find the power button on the case (or use the power button in the socket, if any) and hold it for 10-15 seconds.

If the TV has a hidden Reset button (often a small hole), you can use a paper clip to activate it, but be careful: long-term clamping of this button can lead to a complete reset to factory settings (Factory Reset), which will require reconfiguration of all applications and accounts.

⚠️ Warning: Forced reset via the Reset button will delete all user data, Wi-Fi passwords and installed applications. Use this method only as a last resort when other methods do not work.

After the restart, the system will boot again. If the problem was the software freeze, the TV should work normally. In the future, it is recommended to check for firmware updates, since new versions of MIUI for TV often contain stability fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The fastest way to turn on the TV without a remote is to find the hidden power button on the case or use it. USB-mouse to navigate the menu.