Owners of modern Smart TVs from Xiaomi often face a situation where the standard way of entering characters is inconvenient or not available. This can occur when you try to log in to the application, enter a password from Wi-Fi or search for video in the browser. A virtual keyboard controlled by a cross remote is not always effective, especially if you want to type long text or a complex password.
There are several proven methods to get around the limitations of the standard interface: you can use your smartphone as a full-fledged keyboard, connect a physical keyboard via USB, or even copy text from the clipboard if the system version allows, and in this article we will discuss each of these methods in detail so that you can choose the most suitable for your Xiaomi Mi TV or Redmi TV model.
The ease of managing the Android TV interface has a direct impact on the experience of using the multimedia features of the device. Understanding how to insert text in different methods will save you time and nerves. Next, we will look at the technical nuances of each approach, starting with the most popular option – using a mobile application.
Using a smartphone as a keyboard
The most common and ergonomic way to enter large amounts of information is using a smartphone, which requires devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network. The official Google Home app or the specialized Mi Remote allows you to broadcast keystrokes directly to the TV screen.
Once you connect your smartphone to your TV, you often see a notification on your TV that you want to access, and you allow it to connect, and you open a field on your phone, which is perfect for typing search queries into YouTube or login to Netflix, where you want to be very accurate.
Some users prefer third-party solutions, such as Android TV Remote Control, which is often more stable than regular tools and supports voice input, which is then converted into text on the TV screen, which greatly speeds up the process of finding content.
It's important to note that a stable wireless signal is critical to this method, and if the router is far away, input delays can be significant, and if you're doing that, you should consider physically connecting the periphery.
Physical connection USB-keyboards and mice
Xiaomi TVs running on Android TV, Supports the connection of standard input devices through USB-You can use both a wired and a wireless keyboard with USB-It turns your TV into a computer, allowing you to type text at the same speed.
Just insert it to connect. USB-keyboard plug to the free port on the back or side of the TV. The system automatically recognizes the device. HID-devices are already built into the operating system, so the installation of additional software is not required.
⚠️ Note: When connecting powerful external drives together with the keyboard through USB-Hub may be power-strapped. Use active USB-Hub with its own power supply if the TV can’t see the connected devices.
Using a mouse also provides additional navigation options, so you can highlight text fields with a click, which is sometimes more convenient than moving the focus with the remote buttons, which is especially true for browsers where you need to interact with page elements.
If you have a Bluetooth keyboard, you can also connect it through the settings menu. Go to Settings → Device and Accessories → Add Accessory. The TV will start searching for devices, and you just have to press the pairing button on the keyboard.
☑️ Preparation for the connection of the periphery
Voice input and search engines
Modern remote controls for Xiaomi TVs often have a built-in microphone, which allows you to use voice input. Instead of manually typing, you simply dictate the request, and the system converts speech into text.
To activate the function, press and hold the microphone button on the remote. Once the listening indicator appears, clearly pronounce the phrase. The algorithms of Google Assistant or Xiaomi's built-in speech recognition system handle Russian-language queries quite accurately.
This method is particularly effective when searching for YouTube videos or movies in online cinemas. You don't have to switch between input modes, which makes the search process as fast as possible. However, in the password fields, voice input is usually not supported for security reasons.
The quality of recognition depends on the diction and the level of background noise in the room. If the room is quiet, the accuracy of the input reaches 95-98%. In noisy environments, the system can err, requiring a repeat command.
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To improve the quality of voice input, speak close to the remote microphone and try not to take long pauses between words in the query.
Specifics of the Android TV and MIUI TV interface
Xiaomi TVs can be based on a pure version of Android TV or on the proprietary shell of MIUI TV (PatchWall). Depending on the version of the software, the keyboard call mechanism and the available input methods may differ. New versions of the system often implement a Quick Input feature that allows you to quickly enter code from the phone.
In the MIUI TV shell, navigation is often tailored to use a remote with a limited set of buttons. Here, the virtual keyboard can appear automatically when focusing on the text field. If this does not happen, try pressing the central confirmation button.
Sometimes users encounter bugs when the keyboard doesn't pop up, which is when cleaning the cache of the application that inputs, or rebooting the TV by shutting down the plug, helps, and software failures in the input service are a common cause of problems.
| Input method | Speed. | Convenience | Equipment required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote (cross-country) | Low. | Low. | Staff remote |
| Smartphone (App) | Tall. | High. | Smartphone, Wi-Fi |
| USB-keyboard | Maximum | High. | USB/Bluetooth keyboard |
| Voice input | Medium | Average. | Remote with microphone |
Solving problems with displaying the keyboard
If you don't see a keyboard when you try to type in, the problem may be in the system service that's disabled. Go to Settings → Applications → Show system processes. Find the Android TV Keyboard or Gboard app and make sure it's not disabled.
Often, resetting the settings of the particular application you're trying to type in helps, for example, if your browser search doesn't work, clear your browser data, and that will return the input settings to factory values.
⚠️ Warning: Cleaning up system applications data may cause the TV's personalized settings to reset. Be careful when selecting "Reset all settings" if the problem is only about text input.
In some cases, you need to update the system component of Android System WebView. Go to the Google Play Store on your TV, find this application and update it. Outdated versions of WebView often conflict with modern methods of text input in web forms.
Hidden Developer Settings
Entering text in the browser and specialized applications
When working with a browser (for example, TV Bro or Puffin TV), the input mechanism may differ from the system. Browsers often use their own rendering engines, which require separate activation of the input field. Double pressing the OK button on the remote often helps to focus.
The logic of streaming apps is different, like Netflix or IVI automatically suggests an on-screen keyboard when you select a search box, and if it doesn't appear, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
There are also specialized keyboard apps in the Play Market store, such as: TV Keyboard. They replace standard system input and can offer a more user-friendly interface adapted to control from the remote. QWERTY-screen-laying.
Remember that some older versions of Xiaomi firmware may have limited support for complex input methods. USB-Keyboard remains the most reliable "crut" that works at any level of software error.
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If standard methods don’t work, installing a keyboard app from Google Play or connecting a physical keyboard is guaranteed to solve the typing problem.