How to turn on Xiaomi TV channels without internet: a complete guide

Why Xiaomi TVs can’t find channels without internet and what to do about it

You bought a Xiaomi Mi TV, Redmi Smart TV or Xiaomi TV A Pro, but after connecting an antenna or cable, the screen remains empty? Many users face the problem when the device refuses to search for air or cable channels without connecting to Wi-Fi. The reason lies in the architecture of PatchWall firmware, Xiaomi's proprietary shell, which by default tries to download channel data from the cloud.

But setting up channels without the Internet is possible, by manually searching for signals through hidden menus or alternative methods. In this article, we will examine all working methods, from standard auto-search to manually adding frequencies for analog and digital TV (DVB-T/T2, DVB-C).

Important: instructions are relevant for models Xiaomi Mi TV 4/4A/4C/4S, Redmi Smart TV X, Xiaomi TV Q1/Q2 and others based on Android TV with PatchWall firmware. If you have a TV on Google TV (for example, Xiaomi TV A2 2023), the process may be different - see the section on the features of new models.

Preparing TV for channels without the Internet

Before you turn on the channels, make sure that the basic conditions are met:

• 📶 The antenna or cable is connected correctly. For terrestrial TV, use a 75 Ohm coaxial cable; for cable, check the F connector for no damage.
• 🔌 Power antenna. If you have an active antenna (amplifier), connect it to the 220V network or USB- TV port (if supported).
• 📡 Antenna direction. For DVB-T2, turn it toward the nearest tower (see RTR site for direction).
• 🔧 Port check. Make sure the cable is connected to the ANT IN connector (or CABLE IN for cable TV) and not to HDMI or AV.

If you use cable TV (from a provider such as Rostelecom, MTS, Beeline), check with the operator whether your model of Xiaomi TV is supported for direct connection.

⚠️ Warning: On Xiaomi TVs with PatchWall firmware, channel search can be blocked if the settings are on Hotel Mode. To turn it off, press the Menu + Volume Down button on the remote for 5 seconds.

Check the connection of the antenna/cable |

Turn off Hotel Mode (Hotel Mode) |

Point the antenna at the TV tower (for DVB-T2)|

Make sure the cable is not damaged.|

Reboot the TV (turn off the network for 30 seconds)

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Method 1: Standard channel autosearch (for DVB-T2 and DVB-C)

The easiest way is to use the built-in autosearch function, which works even without the Internet, but requires the right settings:

1. Turn on the TV and press the Menu button (or Settings on new models).
2. Go to Settings → Channels → Channels → Channels Configure (on some models, the path may differ: Settings → TV → Antenna).
3. Select Automatic Search (Auto Tuning).
4. Specify the signal source: 📶 Etheric TV (DVB-T/T2) for the antenna; 🖇️ Cable TV (DVB-C) for the cable from the provider.

OK.

If the TV doesn’t find channels, try:

• 🔄 Reset TV settings (Settings → System → Reset).
• 🔍 Change the region to Russia or Europe (sometimes helps with DVB-T2 issues).
• 📡 Check the signal level in the Manual Setup menu – if it is below 50%, the problem is in the antenna or cable.

⚠️ Warning: On Xiaomi Mi TV 4A TVs (models 2018–2019), a No Service error may appear when auto-searching. In this case, use manual settings (see next section).

Etheric (DVB-T2)|

Cable (DVB-C) |

Satellite (DVB-S) |

IPTV (via the Internet) |

I don't know.

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Method 2: Manual channel setup (for power users)

If the autosearch doesn't work, try adding channels manually.

• 📡 Etheric TV (if multiplex frequencies are known)
• 🖇️ Cable TV (if the provider has provided data);
• 📻 Analog broadcasting (if it is still supported in your region)

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Channels → Manual setting.
2. Select the signal type (DVB-T2, DVB-C or Analog).
3. For DVB-T2, enter multiplex frequency (e.g. 546 MHz for RTRS-1) and flow rate (8 Mbps). For DVB-C, enter frequency (306 MHz), symbol speed (6875 kSmv/s) and modulation (256 QAM).

Search

Where to get the frequencies for manual settings:

• 📡 For on-air TV: check out the RTRS website (select your region).
• 🖇️ For cable TV: request from the provider or search forums (e.g. for Rostelecom: 298 MHz, 6875, 256 QAM).

💡

If the TV doesn't save the channels you find, try turning off Parental Control in the settings, and it sometimes blocks the addition of new channels.

Method 3: Use an external tuner (if the built-in one doesn't work)

If the built-in Xiaomi tuner refuses to catch the signal, you can connect an external device:

• 📺 A DVB-T2 digital set-top box (e.g., Selenga HD950D or BBK SMP143HDT2) connects via HDMI and does not require internet.
• 🖥️ USB- tuner (e.g., AVerMedia A835) Only works on OTG TVs (check model specifications).
• 🌍 Satellite console (if you have a satellite dish).

How to connect the console:

1. Connect the set-top box to the TV with an HDMI cable.
2. Connect the antenna/cable to the console (not the TV!).
3. Turn on the console and switch the TV to the corresponding HDMI- input (Source button on the remote).
4. Run the auto search on the console (the instructions usually come with a set).

Important: Some Xiaomi models (such as the Mi TV 4S 55) may conflict with consoles due to HDMI-CEC settings. If the image flashes or disappears, turn off the CEC from the Settings menu → HDMI → CEC Management.

The solution to the problem: why Xiaomi TV does not find channels

If none of these methods worked, check for typical causes:

Additional steps for diagnosis:

1. Check if the antenna is working on another TV.
2. Update the TV firmware manually (instructions in the next section).
3. Disable VPN or proxy in network settings (they can block access to update servers).

⚠️ Warning: On Xiaomi TV A2 2023 and later, search for channels without internet may be blocked due to Google's policy, in which case use an external set-top box or connect to Wi-Fi at least while you're setting up.

Update firmware without internet (if the TV is not looking for channels due to a failure)

If the problem is in the firmware (for example, after a reset or update), you can install a new version of the software via USB:

1. Download the firmware for your model on the Xiaomi Support website (select the TV section).
2. Unpack the archive and copy the update.zip file to the flash drive (FAT32 format).
3. Put the flash drive in. USB-television-port.
4. Go to Settings → About TV → System Update → Update via USB.
5. Select a file and wait until the installation is complete (don’t turn off the TV!).

After the update:

• Reset the settings to factory (Settings → System → Reset).
• Repeat the channel search.

💡

Updating the firmware via USB is the only way to restore the tuner if the TV stopped finding channels after a failure.

Features of customization on new models (Xiaomi TV A2, Q2, etc.)

Xiaomi 2022-2026 TVs based on Google TV have a different interface and limitations:

• 🔍 Search for channels without internet can be hidden. To turn it on, go to Settings → Channels → Source → Antenna and hold OK on the remote for 3 seconds.
• 📱 Some models require Google Account authorization, even for on-air TV. If there is no internet, create an account on your phone in advance.
• 🔄 On Xiaomi TV Q2, you have to connect to Wi-Fi for activation when you first turn on.

For models with Google TV, an alternative way to customize is also available through the Live Channels app:

1. Install the app from Google Play (if you have internet) or via APK.
2. Connect the antenna and start scanning in the application.
3. The channels will appear in the Direct section.

Frequently asked questions