Xiaomi Mi TV Stick: how to connect your phone to broadcast the screen

Xiaomi’s modern multimedia set-top boxes turn a regular TV into a full-fledged entertainment center, but many users do not know all the features of these devices. Often the question arises how to bring an image from a smartphone to a large screen to watch photos, videos or play mobile games in high detail. The Mi TV Stick functionality allows you to do this in just a few touches using built-in wireless protocols.

There are several proven ways to connect your mobile device to the console, each with its own characteristics: you can use native Android tools, special applications from Google or third-party software for specific tasks. In this article, we will discuss all the options in detail so that you can choose the most suitable for your situation.

Before you start setting up, make sure that both devices – both smartphone and console – are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This is a critical condition without which detecting gadgets on the local network will be impossible. If the router supports dual-band mode, it is advisable to use 5 GHz frequency to ensure more stable video stream without delay.

Basic training and system requirements

The first step to successful synchronization is to update the software on the console itself. Go to the Settings menu, select About device and check for system updates. Often, manufacturers add support for new codecs and broadcast protocols through security patches and system improvements.

You also need to make sure that your smartphone has the appropriate permissions for media transfer enabled.In the Android operating system, this usually doesn't require complex settings, but in iOS, additional apps may need to be downloaded.

⚠️ Note: If your router is set up with customer isolation (AP Isolation, devices won't see each other even on the same network.

For comfortable work, it is recommended to use a smartphone with an operating system at least Android 6.0 or iOS 12. Older versions may not support modern standards for encrypting the video stream, which will lead to permanent connection breaks or no image.

Broadcasting through the built-in Cast function

The easiest and fastest way to connect the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick to your phone is to use the built-in broadcast feature, which is called Translation, Smart View, Wireless Monitor or Cast on most Android smartphones, and is based on the Miracast protocol, which does not require additional software.

To activate the mode, lower the notification curtain on your smartphone and find the appropriate icon. Once clicked, you will start searching for available devices within range. When your console name appears on the list (such as Android TV or Mi Stick), select it to start mirroring.

• 📱 On Samsung smartphones, the feature is called Smart View and is located in the Quick Settings Panel.
• 📺 On Xiaomi and Redmi devices, look for the “Translation” item in the control menu.
• 🍏 The iPhone uses AirPlay technology, which is also supported by the console.

It is important to note that when using this method, the phone screen is completely copied to the TV, which means that all notifications, incoming calls and messages will be visible on the big screen, so it is better to turn on the Do Not Disturb mode before watching movies.

Use of the Google Home app

If the built-in tools don’t work or you want more advanced management functionality, the ideal solution is the official Google Home app, which allows you not only to broadcast the screen, but also to manage media content by running videos directly from the cloud, which saves battery life of the phone.

To get started, download the app from Google Play and log in to your Google account, which is also used on the Mi TV Stick. The app will automatically find connected devices on your home network. Click on the TV icon and then select the "Translate screen" or "Translate audio/video" button.

This is particularly useful for streaming services like YouTube, Netflix or ivi. You can run a video on your phone, press the broadcast button inside the video service app, and choose the console as the output device, in which case the phone acts as a remote, and the video is downloaded directly to the console, ensuring maximum picture quality.

Connecting iPhones and Apple devices

Owners of Apple equipment often wonder whether it is possible to use Xiaomi Mi TV Stick with iPhone or iPad. The answer is positive: the console supports AirPlay 2 technology, which allows you to stream content without installing additional applications on the console itself, since support is built into the system layer of Android TV.

To connect, open Control Point on your iPhone (swipe down from the top right corner or bottom up on older models). Click Screen Replay (an icon of two rectangles). In the list that appears, select your console. If necessary, enter the code displayed on the TV screen in the field on your smartphone.

iOS not only allows you to duplicate the screen, but also display photos and videos from the gallery directly. When viewing videos through the standard Photos app or Safari browser, click on the AirPlay icon in the player, which will provide better synchronization and image quality compared to a full mirror screen.

⚠️ Note: AirPlay on Xiaomi may require an additional recipient app from Google Play to run in some regions if the built-in feature is not automatically activated.

Alternative applications for broadcasting

When standard methods fail, third-party applications come to the rescue, and one of the most popular solutions is Web Video Caster or LocalCast, which allows you to stream video files stored in your phone's memory or stream video from your browser directly to your Mi TV Stick.

Install the app you select on both your phone and console (through Google Play search on your TV). Once you run the app on both devices, they will find each other over the local network, and the advantage of these programs is that they support a huge number of video and audio codec formats that may not be played by standard means.

• 📺 AllCast – a universal solution for photos and music.

Solving Connection and Delay Problems

Even with the right setup, users may experience audio and video out of sync or low frame rates. Often the reason is congestion of Wi-Fi. If you have a dual-band router, make sure that both the phone and the console are connected to a 5 GHz network, since the 2.4 GHz band is often overloaded by neighbourhood networks.

Another common problem is energy saving: Android on a smartphone can aggressively limit the background activity of a broadcast app, go to the battery settings and set the "No Limits" mode for the application being used, which will prevent a sudden data shutdown.

adb shell settings put global wifi_sleep_policy 2

The above command (for advanced users with ADB access) forbids the smartphone from turning off Wi-Fi in sleep mode, which can improve connection stability.

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For games, use a cable connection. If you plan to play dynamic games, wireless transmission can give a delay (input lag). Consider buying a USB-C to HDMI adapter for direct connection, if your phone model supports it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Connection stability is directly dependent on the quality of the Wi-Fi signal and the router version, and using 5GHz band solves 90% of the problems with latency during broadcasting.