Phone as a gamepad for Xiaomi TV: all ways to connect and configure

Turn your smartphone into a full-fledged gamepad for Xiaomi TV — The brand’s modern TVs support several ways to use a mobile device as a gaming controller, from built-in Mi Remote features to dedicated applications with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct support. This is especially important for Mi owners. TV Stick, Mi Box or Smart TVs Xiaomi Mi series TV A2/P1/Q2, where the standard remote is not always convenient for dynamic games.

The main advantage of this solution is the savings on the purchase of a separate gamepad (the price of the original controllers for Android). TV Start from 3,000 ₽) For example, the touch screen allows you to assign gestures for quick actions, and the gyroscope allows you to control the game of the phone's tilts. However, not all games support such a connection: native compatibility is guaranteed only for applications with support for the protocol. HID (Human Interface Device, such as emulators or cloud services such as Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce NOW.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the working methods, from standard MIUI tools to ADB circumvention, and how to minimize input delays (latency) and adjust tactile returns. If you have tried connecting your phone to your Bluetooth TV and encountered a device not supported error, here you will find a solution.

1. Ways to connect your phone as a gamepad to Xiaomi TV

There are three main ways to use a smartphone as a game controller:

• 📱 Mi Remote is an easy way to manage basics (only works with Android TVs) TV Google TV).
• 🔵 Bluetooth connection is a universal option, but requires profile support HID (Available on most Xiaomi models after 2020).
• 🌐 Third-party applications such as Octopus or GameSir that emulate the gamepad via Wi-Fi or USB-OTG.

Each method has limitations, such as Mi Remote does not support analog sticks, and Bluetooth connectivity can slow down in high frame rate games, depending on the model of the TV and smartphone, and the type of games you plan to play.

2. Connection via Mi Remote: step-by-step instructions

The Mi Remote app (available for Android and iOS) is originally designed to control the TV, but in Game Control mode it can emulate the basic gamepad buttons. This method works on all Xiaomi TVs with Android TV 9.0 and later.

Install the latest version of Mi Remote from Google Play or App Store

Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network

Turn on Bluetooth on both devices

Update the TV firmware to the latest version-->

Instructions:

1. Open Mi Remote on your phone and select your TV from a list (e.g. Mi TV P1 55).
2. Go to the Control section → Game mode.
3. On the TV, go to Settings → Input Devices → Add a controller and select Mi Remote Controller.
4. Confirm the pairing on both devices.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ No support for analog sticks (cross and 4 buttons only).
• ❌ Delayed input up to 80-120 ms (critical for shooters).
• ❌ It only works in applications that support DPAD-control (e.g., RetroArch emulators).

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If the buttons in Mi Remote don’t respond, restart the TV and clear the app cache on the phone.

3. Bluetooth Connection: A Universal Method

Most Xiaomi TVs (starting with the 2019 Mi TV 4S) support Bluetooth gamepad connectivity in HID mode. To recognize the phone as a controller, you will need to:

1. Activate the “Debugging by USB” mode on the phone (Settings → About Phone → Assembly Number – tap 7 times, then return to Settings → System → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your TV by Bluetooth manually (in Settings menu → Devices → Bluetooth on TV).
3. Use a gamepad emulator app, such as Game Controller 2 Touch or Tincore Keymapper, to assign virtual buttons.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Support for analog sticks and triggers (using emulator applications).
• ✅ Minimum delay (30–50 xiaomi 12/13 series).
• ✅ Compatible with most games from Google Play Games.

If the TV doesn’t see the phone in the list of available Bluetooth devices, reset the network:

Settings → System → Reset → Network settings reset

4. Third-party applications for gamepad emulation

For advanced users, specialized utilities that convert the touch screen or physical buttons of the phone into gamepad signals are suitable.

For example, Octopus allows you to assign any gestures or tilts of the phone to the gamepad buttons, and also supports macros.

1. Install Octopus on your phone and the server part on your TV (available on Google Play for Android TV).
2. Connect your devices to a single Wi-Fi network.
3. In the app, select the game profile (such as Call of Duty Mobile) and assign buttons.

⚠️ Note: When using Octopus over Wi-Fi, latency depends on the speed of the router. To minimize lag, use the 5 GHz band or connect over the router. USB-OTG (adapter).

5. Tactile recoil (vibration) adjustment

To the buttons of the gamepad on the phone responded with vibration, you will need:

1. Enable vibration in the phone settings (Settings → Sound and vibration → Vibration when touched).
2. In an emulator application (e.g. Tincore Keymapper), activate the option "Haptic Feedback".
3. For games with controller support (such as Genshin Impact), additionally enable vibration in the game settings.

On Xiaomi TVs with Android TV 12 and later, the vibration is transmitted automatically if the gamepad is connected via Bluetooth in HID mode.

Settings → Devices → Controllers → Gamepad test

⚠️ Attention: On phones POCO or Redmi with custom firmware vibration may not work due to limitations MIUI. Solution: Install Magisk with the "Haptic Enabler" patch".

6. Solving Connection Problems

If the phone is not defined as a gamepad, check the following points:

• 🔄 Restart both devices – often helps with the error “Device failed to connect".
• 📋 Update the firmware – on Xiaomi TVs to Android TV 10 may not have drivers for HID-device.
• 🔌 Use it. USB-OTG — If Bluetooth is not working, connect your phone with a cable (support required) USB Host on TV).
• 🛠️ Reset Bluetooth settings on your TV: Settings → Devices → Bluetooth → ⚙️ → Resetting settings

Use Bluetooth Connection Diagnostics ADB-team:

adb shell dumpsys bluetooth_manager

In the output, look for the line “Connected devices” – if the phone is displayed but does not work as a gamepad, the problem is in the HID profile.

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If the TV does not support HID-The only way out is to use apps like Octopus over Wi-Fi.

7.Performance optimization for gaming

To minimize the lags when playing with a gamepad phone:

• 📶 Use a router with Wi-Fi 6 support – the delay will decrease to 10-20 ms.
• 🔋 Activate the performance mode on the TV: Settings → The device → Performance mode → Playing
• 📱 Close the background apps on your phone (especially messengers and social networks).
• 🔌 Connect your TV via Ethernet cable – this stabilizes the connection for cloud gaming (Xbox Cloud, GeForce) NOW).

To test the input delay, use the Input Lag Test app (available on Google Play).

• <30 ms - ideal for shooters
• 30-60 ms – acceptable for RPG or racing
• >60 ms - delays are noticeable (optimization is needed).

Frequently asked questions