IR port on Xiaomi Redmi 4A: how to turn on and configure for control equipment

Introduction: Why do I need an IR port in a smartphone?

The infrared port (IR port) in smartphones is a convenient tool for remote control of household appliances: TVs, air conditioners, music centers and even some lighting. Xiaomi Redmi 4A, despite its budget position, was equipped with this module in most versions. However, many users face the problem: the port is physically, but the function of managing equipment in the menu is absent.

The reason lies in software constraints: the manufacturer does not always activate the IR function out of the box, especially in regional firmware. In this article, we will discuss how to check for a module on your Redmi 4A, turn it on through hidden settings and configure it to work with popular brands of equipment, and you will learn what alternative solutions exist if the standard method does not work.

Importantly, not all Redmi 4A versions have an IR port, and for example, models for the European market (marked EEA) often lack this module, and we'll teach you how to test this indiscriminately.

How to check for an IR port on Xiaomi Redmi 4A

Before you try to turn on the feature, make sure your smartphone is physically equipped with an infrared transmitter. Here are 3 reliable ways to check:

• 🔍 External inspection. On the top end panel of Redmi. 4A (And there's got to be a little black plastic rectangle next to the headphone jack -- that's the IR port. If you don't have one, you don't have one.
• 📱 Check through Engineering Mode. Enter the code ##36446337### in the phone application, then go to Hardware Testing. → IR Test: If the test is available, the port is available.

If neither method has confirmed the module, then further attempts to activate it are pointless, in which case consider the alternatives: Bluetooth remotes or Wi-Fi control via smart outlets.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse the IR port with the proximity sensor! The latter is located on the front panel next to the front camera and looks like a small hole. The infrared transmitter is always on the top end of the device.

Standard way to include an IR port

If the port is physically present but the appliance management feature is not on the menu, try activating it through standard settings. This method works on global and Chinese MIUI firmware versions 8-12:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Additional Features (or Extended Features in English).
3. Find Mi Remote (or Infrared Port) if you don't have one, read the next section on hidden settings.
4. Click Add Device and select the type of equipment (TV, air conditioning, etc.).
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to bind the remote.

If Mi Remote is missing but the port is physically present, the feature is disabled at the firmware level, in which case installing third-party software or manual activation via Engineering Mode (more on this below) will help.

Make sure the IR port is on your phone |

Update MIUI to the latest version|

Download the Mi Remote app from the official store|

Check the compatibility of your equipment with the base of Xiaomi remotes-->

Activation of the IR port through Engineering Mode

If the standard method didn't work, try turning on the port through the engineering menu, which requires caution but doesn't require root rights:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##36446337##
2. In the menu that opens, select Hardware Testing.
3. Find the IR Test (or Infrared Test) section.
4. Press Start Test. If the test is successful, the port is activated.
5. Go back to the basic settings and check for the Mi Remote item.

If the function never appeared after the test, the firmware will block the module, in which case only flashing to the global or Chinese version of MIUI will help (but this is risky and voids the warranty!).

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other settings in Engineering Mode without understanding their purpose! Incorrect settings can lead to network loss, battery discharge or processor overheating.

Installation of third-party software for equipment management

If standard methods don't work, but the IR port is in place, install one of the specialized applications, which often support more models of equipment than the regular Mi Remote:

Check reviews before installing – some apps may not work with Redmi 4A Also note the permissions: the app will need access to the camera (to scan). QR-Remote codes) and files (to save settings).

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If the app doesn't find your model, try the "Remote Learning" feature, which requires the original remote control: point it to the IR port of the smartphone and press the buttons sequentially so that the app records the signals.

Solving common problems

Even after successful activation of the IR port, users face difficulties, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

• 🔴 Phone does not respond to commands: Check if the IR port is covered with a cover or film, and make sure you point the smartphone directly at the receiver (the angle should not exceed 30).°). Distance - not more than 5 meters.
• 🔄 The application does not save the remote settings: Clear the application cache in Settings → Annexes → [Title of the programme] → If it doesn't help, reinstall it.
• 📶 The IR port is unstable: This may be caused by a conflict with other applications using the infrared port (such as some fitness trackers).Close all background programs and restart your phone.
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge after IR activation: Infrared port consumes minimal power, but some remote applications run in the background. MIUI.

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be the IR module itself, which means that you can only contact a service center or use alternative methods of controlling the equipment (for example, via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth adapters).

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Before contacting the service, check the performance of the IR port on another device (for example, a friend's TV). If the port does not work with any equipment, it is a hardware malfunction.

Alternatives to IR control on Redmi 4A

If you can not activate the IR port or your model is not equipped with them, consider alternative ways to control the equipment:

• 📡 Wi-Fi Control: Modern TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony and air conditioners (Daikin, Mitsubishi) support control over a local area network, LG ThinQ or Samsung SmartThings).
• 🔵 Bluetooth remotes: Devices like BroadLink RM4 Xiaomi Mi Bluetooth Remote connect to the phone via Bluetooth and duplicate the signals of IR remotes.
• 💡 Smart sockets and relays: For simple appliances (for example, lamps or fans), smart sockets Xiaomi Mi Smart Plug are suitable. They are controlled through the Mi Home application and do not require an infrared port.
• 🎮 Universal remotes with support for smartphones: Some remotes (for example, Logitech Harmony) have their own applications and synchronize with a smartphone).

The choice of alternatives depends on your equipment and budget, for example, for an old TV without Wi-Fi, a Bluetooth adapter will suit, and for a modern Smart TV, an official application from the manufacturer is enough.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions