Xiaomi TV remote: detailed instructions for use and configuration

Xiaomi TVs have gained popularity thanks to a combination of modern technology and affordable prices. However, even experienced users sometimes face difficulties when working with a remote control (DU) – especially when it comes to models with voice control or touch panels. This article will help you understand everything from basic features to hidden features that are not written in the official instructions.

We’ll take a closer look at how to connect the remote to the TV, what buttons are responsible for, how to set up the voice assistant, and what to do if the device stops responding to commands. We’ll focus on the compatibility of remotes between different Xiaomi TV models (Mi TV 4S, Mi TV Q1, Redmi Smart TV, etc.) – this is a common cause of confusion among users. If you just bought a TV or lost your native remote, here you will find the answers to all the questions.

Xiaomi TV Remote Types: How to Distinguish Your Model

Xiaomi produces several types of remote control for its TVs, and their functionality can be significantly different, the main differences are the presence of a microphone for voice control, touch panel and Bluetooth support instead of a traditional infrared signal.

• 📺 Basic IR remote (no microphone): Comes with budget models (e.g. Redmi Smart) TV A Series only works in direct view, without voice control.
• 🎤 Voice-controlled remote (with microphone button): Installed on Mi TV 4S/4A/4X Supports commands for Google Assistant or XiaoAI.
• 🖱️ Touchpad remote: Meet in premium series (Mi-Series) TV Q1/Q2). Allows you to control the cursor as on a smartphone.
• 🔄 Universal Bluetooth remote: Compatible with most Xiaomi and Redmi models. works without line of sight, but requires prior synchronization.

To find out the exact model of your remote, flip it over and find a sticker with an article that usually starts with the letters MDZ- (for example, MDZ-22-AB for voice-controlled remotes). If there is no sticker, focus on the appearance:

If you lost your native remote, you can use the universal remote from Xiaomi (MDZ-26-DA) - it supports all models of the brand's TVs, the remote from the Mi Box S or Mi Stick will also work, but some functions (for example, brightness control) may not be available.

Location and purpose of buttons: the full guide

Even a simple Xiaomi remote has buttons whose functions are not always obvious, and let’s take a look at their purpose using the most common voice-controlled model (MDZ-22-AB):

• 🔴 Power button: Turns the TV on/off. Long press (5 seconds) reboots the system (useful when getting stuck).
• 🔊 Volume control (±): On some models, double-pressing "+" Includes the "Night Sound" mode (smooth out sharp sounds).
• 📶 Home button: Opens the main Android menu TV. Retention triggers list of newly opened applications.
• 🔍 Microphone button: Activates voice assistant, and on remotes without microphones, this function can be triggered by the combination Home + Volume Up.
• ⚙️ Settings button: Quick access to settings. In some firmware, double-clicking opens up extended image settings.
• 📺 Input button: Switches signal sources (HDMI, AV, TV). Retention shows a list of all connected devices.

On touch panels, swipes control the cursor, and tapping the center of the panel is like clicking a mouse. To scroll through the pages, use vertical finger movements. Importantly, the sensor only works when the TV is on!

⚠️ Note: On some models (Mi) TV 5 Pro) Mute button when held for more than 3 seconds turns off the sound at all HDMI-To return the sound, press it again.

If your remote does not respond to the pressing, check:

1. Battery charge (on Bluetooth-based remotes, the indicator flashes red when discharged).
2. No obstacles between the remote and the IR receiver of the TV (for IR models).
3. Synchronization (for Bluetooth remotes: press Home + Back for 5 seconds to reset the connection).

Connecting and synchronizing the remote with the TV

The connection process depends on the type of remote. For IR remotes, no adjustment is required — they work out of the box. But the Bluetooth model must be paired with the TV.

Instructions for Bluetooth remote:

1. Turn on the TV and go to Settings → Devices → Bluetooth.
2. On the remote, hold the Home + OK buttons for 5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing blue.
3. In the list of available devices on TV, select the name of your remote (usually Xiaomi Remote).
4. Confirm the pairing. Once synchronized successfully, the indicator will light up in green.

If the remote is not detected:

• 🔋 Check the battery power (Bluetooth models require at least 20% charge to sync).
• 🔄 Restart the TV (Settings) → System system → Reboot).
• 📱 Update your TV firmware to the latest version (older versions have Bluetooth bugs).

Universal remotes (such as the Mi Box) may require manual code adjustments.

1. Press Settings + Volume Down for 3 seconds until the red light light lights up.
2. Enter the code for your TV model (the list of codes is in the instructions to the remote). For Xiaomi TV, 0126 or 0041 is usually suitable.
3. Press OK to save. If the TV doesn't respond, repeat the process with a different code.

⚠️ Warning: After resetting the TV to factory settings (Settings) → System system → Reset) all paired Bluetooth remotes automatically shut down. They'll have to be reconnected! 💡If the TV doesn't respond to the IR remote, wipe the IR port on the front of the TV with an alcohol wipe, which can block the signal from dust and fat. Xiaomi remotes with a microphone button support voice control via Google Assistant (on international firmware) or XiaoAI (in Chinese).To activate this feature: Make sure the TV is connected to the Internet (voice commands are processed in the cloud). Press and hold the microphone button on the remote until the listening animation appears. Say the command in English (for Google Assistant) or Chinese (for XiaoAI). Examples of supported commands: 🔍 "Find Action Movies – Search for Google Play Movies. 📺 "Switch to HDMI 1" - switching to the first HDMI-port. 🔊 "Set volume to 50%" - set volume to 50%. 🌙 "Turn on night mode: Turn on night mode when voice assistant is not working: 🌐 Check the TV region in settings (Settings) → System system → Language and region: Google Assistant must select a voice-enabled region (e.g., USA or UK). 🔄 Update the TV firmware and Google Play Services app. 🎤 On Chinese firmware (XiaoAI), voice control is only in Chinese. To change the language, you will need to flash it to the global version. TV 10+ You can now have Voice Search in Apps, for example, you can say, "Play Stranger Things on Netflix," and the system will automatically open the series in the app. On most Xiaomi TVs, the Russian language for voice assistant is not officially supported. However, you can use a workaround: 1. Install the Yandex Alice app on the TV via Google Play. 2. Connect the Bluetooth speaker or headphones to the TV. 3. Activate Alice with voice through the speaker, and transmit commands for the TV through HDMI-CEC (if you have an Alice-enabled receiver or sound panel) This solution is not ideal, but allows you to control the main functions in Russian. Troubleshooting: the remote does not work on the TV. 3. 3. Activate Alice with the battery, for example, you use the battery on the battery, you use the Duraer, and use the battery quickly from this one, for example, you use the battery, you use the device, you use the battery, you use the battery, you use the device, for example, you use the battery, you use the battery, you use the battery, you use it, you use the device, you use the battery, you use it, you use it, you stop using the battery, for example, 1. On Bluetooth remotes, the charge indicator flashes red at below 15%. 2. IR signal diagnostics To check the IR transmitter: Turn on the smartphone camera and point the remote to the lens. Press any button - if the IR signal is correct, you will see purple light flickering in the viewfinder. If there is no flicker, the remote is faulty (replacement or repair required). 3. Reset remote settings To reset the connection (relevant for Bluetooth models): Remove the batteries from the remote for 10 seconds. Hold the Home buttons + Back 5 seconds. Put the batteries back in and repeat the connection procedure. 4. Check the TV If the remote is working, but the TV is not responding: 🔌 Reconnect the TV power cord (sometimes IR receiver settings are lost). 📡 Update the TV firmware (Settings) → System system → Update of the PO). 🔧 Reset the TV settings to factory settings (Settings) → System system → Reset). Symptoms Probable Reason Remote solution only works from close range Weak IR signal or discharged batteries Replace batteries, wipe IR port on TV Buttons react with delay CPU overload TV Close background applications, restart Bluetooth TV remote Connected Crash in Bluetooth Module Reset network settings on TV Voice assistant does not respond No Internet or wrong region Check network connection, change region to USA ⚠️ Note: If the remote has stopped working after updating the TV firmware, try rolling back the firmware to the previous version. TV 4S Android 9 to Android 10) changes the protocol with the remote, which leads to incompatibility. 💡If the remote is physically functional but not working, 90% of the time the problem is solved by replacing batteries or resetting Bluetooth connections. Hidden features of Xiaomi remote TV Many users don't know that Xiaomi's remote has more than just switching channels. Here are a few hidden features: 🎮 Gamepad mode: On remotes with touch panel hold OK + Volume Up 3 seconds to activate a virtual joystick for games (works in emulators and some mobile games via Google Play Games). 🔍 Quick Search: Double-clicking the Home button opens the search bar for all installed apps. 📼 Screenshot: Press Home + Volume Down at the same time – the picture will be saved in the folder Pictures/Screenshots (Android-ready TV 9.0+). 🔇 Mode of the cinema: Hold the Mute 5 seconds to turn on Cinema Mode (disables all sound effects, leaving only the original track). 🔄 Profile switching: On remotes with a microphone, triple tapping the microphone button switches user profiles (if multiple accounts are set up). TV Q1/Q2 with a sensor remote, the function "Gestural" is available": 👆 Swipe up - opens the notification panel. 👇 Swipe Down – Converts the current app. 👈 Swipe left – returns to the previous screen. 🖱️ Circular motion - activates Mouse mode for precise control. To activate gestures, go to Settings → Devices → DU remote → Gestures and enable the option "Advanced Management". 💡If you have a remote without a touch panel, but want to control the cursor, connect a wireless mouse via Bluetooth – Xiaomi TVs support this feature out of the box. Alternative ways to control your TV If your native remote is lost or broken, you can control your Xiaomi TV in several ways: 1. The official application from Xiaomi allows you to use your smartphone as a remote. To set up: Download Mi Remote from Google Play or App Store. Select the device type - "TV" → "Xiaomi. Follow the on-screen instructions for sync (you will need to connect to one Wi-Fi network). The app supports voice search and gestures, but not all TV models are compatible with it (the full list is available on the Xiaomi website). 2. Control through the HDMI-CEC If a receiver, game console or sound panel is connected to the TV through HDMI, You can use their remotes. HDMI-CEC in the settings of the TV (Settings) → Devices → HDMI-CEC). From the external device menu, select the option "Television Control" (the name may vary). Now the volume and power buttons on the receiver remote will be duplicated on the TV. 3. Keyboard and mouse on Bluetooth Xiaomi TVs on Android TV support the connection: 🖱️ Wireless mice (e.g., Xiaomi Mi Bluetooth Mouse). ⌨️ Bluetooth keyboards (convenient for entering passwords and searching). 🎮 Gamepads (e.g. Xiaomi Game Controller). Go to Settings to connect → Devices → Bluetooth and select the device from the list. 4. Manage via Google Assistant If the TV is connected to the same Google account as the smartphone, you can use voice commands: 📱 Say, OK Google, turn on Xiaomi. TV" — TV on. 🔊 "Google, set the volume 30 on the TV, change the sound level. 🎬 "Google, launch YouTube on Xiaomi TV" — To do this, the Google Assistant settings on your smartphone must enable access to devices (Settings) → Google → Devices). ⚠️ Note: When using alternative management methods (e.g., through the use of HDMI-CEC) Some of the native remote's features may not be available, such as brightness adjustment or settings menu calling often don't duplicate on third-party remotes. FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi remotes TV 🔋 What type of batteries are needed for the Xiaomi remote TV? Most models of remotes are required 2 battery-type AAA. Exception - remotes for Mi TV Q1/Q2, They have an integrated battery and they charge through a USB-Type C (the cable comes with it). Don't use rechargeable batteries (Ni-MH) because they give off lower voltages, which can cause the remote to run unstablely. 🔄 Can you use the remote from Mi Box to control Xiaomi? TV? Yes, but with limitations. The remotes from the Mi Box S and Mi Stick are compatible with Xiaomi TVs, but: The brightness and image setting buttons do not work. Voice control is only available if the TV supports Google Assistant. Synchronization may require input of code (usually 0126. 🎤 Why does the voice assistant on the remote not understand Russian? Xiaomi officially did not add support for Russian for voice control on most TV models. However, there are workarounds: Install firmware with support for Google Assistant (for example, Android). TV 10+). Use external devices with Alice (such as Yandex Station) and control the TV through the device. HDMI-CEC. Connect a Bluetooth speaker with voice assistants. On Chinese firmware (XiaoAI), Russian is not supported even after the region changes. 📱 How to connect the Xiaomi remote TV TV-to-TV? Xiaomi remotes only work with this brand’s TVs (or Android devices) TV However, you can try: For IR remotes: Set up a universal remote to code 0041 or 0126 (suitable for some Sony and TV sets). LG). For Bluetooth remotes: Try pairing it with an Android console (like the Nvidia Shield), but the functionality will be limited. For full compatibility, it is better to use the remote that comes with the TV. 🔧 How to Reset Xiaomi Remote TV Reset procedure depends on the type of remote: IR remote: Remove the batteries for 10 minutes - it will reset all the temporary settings. Bluetooth remote: Hold Home + Back 10 seconds. The indicator should flash red 3 times, which is a reset signal. Then reconnect the remote via the Bluetooth menu on the TV. If the remote still doesn’t work, check it out on another Xiaomi TV – it may be physically faulty.