IR port in Xiaomi smartphones: why it is needed and how to use it to the maximum

Ever wonder why many Xiaomi smartphones still have an IR transmitter when most of their competitors have long abandoned it? At first glance, this little black circle on the top of the device seems an anachronism — because now there are Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cloud services to manage smart equipment. But in practice, the IR port at Redmi, POCO or Xiaomi flagships remains one of the most sought-after “hidden” tools that helps in unexpected situations.

In this article, we will not just list the basic functions of the IR port, but will reveal unique scenarios for its use, which are not written in standard instructions – from air conditioning control without a remote to integration with a smart home through the Mi Home. You will learn which Xiaomi models still support IR, how to circumvent the limitations of manufacturers of equipment, and why even in 2026 this “obsolete” module can save you thousands of rubles.

What is an IR port and how it works in Xiaomi smartphones

An infrared port (or infrared transmitter) is a module that sends signals in the 700–1000 nm range invisible to the human eye. In Xiaomi smartphones, it is usually located on the top of the case and looks like a small dark window. The principle of operation is simple: the application encodes a command (for example, “increase the temperature of the air conditioner”), and the transmitter sends it in the form of a series of pulses that the equipment with an IR receiver recognizes.

Unlike Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, infrared signals are:

• 🔹 No pairing required – just point the smartphone at the device (like a remote).
• 🔹 Works without the internet – ideal for cottages or places with poor coverage.
• 🔹 Supports 99% of home appliances (even old appliances made 10+ years ago).
• 🔹 Consumes minimal power – does not land the battery like a permanent Bluetooth connection.

It’s important to understand that the IR port on a smartphone is only a transmitter, not a receiver, meaning your Redmi Note 12 can send commands to the TV, but can’t receive signals from another remote (like copying buttons), and you’ll need specialized applications with a codebase.

⚠️ Warning: Not all Xiaomi models have an IR port. Recent flagships (such as the Xiaomi 14) often exclude it in favor of the thickness of the case. Check whether the module is in specs or visually — look for a black window next to the front camera.

What devices can be controlled through the IR port Xiaomi

The list of equipment compatible with the Xiaomi IR port is much broader than most users think. Of course, everyone knows about TVs and air conditioners, but in practice you can control:

An IR port is especially useful for managing old hardware that doesn’t support modern protocols, for example, if you have a Soviet TV Record or air conditioner from 2005, a Xiaomi smartphone will likely be able to control it, while Google Home or Apple HomeKit won’t even see these devices.

Hidden possibilities of the IR port: what is not written in the instructions

Most users are limited to basic features like turning on a TV, but Xiaomi’s IR port is capable of much more.

• 🔧 Cloning remotes — if you have a physical remote, you can copy all of its buttons into your smartphone, and you'll need the Mi Remote app (built into MIUI) or third-party utilities like AnyMote.
• 📱 Controlling multiple devices at once -- like one command to turn on the TV, switch the receiver to the right HDMI- input, and start the air conditioner -- this is called macros.
• ⏱️ Time/geolocation automation – Tasker or MacroDroid can be configured to turn on the air conditioner 30 minutes before you return home (by GPS).
• 🔄 Backward compatibility with smart home – if your IR lamp doesn’t support Wi-Fi, you can connect it to the Mi Home via a broadcast IR signal (you’ll need a Xiaomi IR Blaster or a smartphone with always on IR).

One of the most useful life hacks is using an IR port to diagnose a device, so if your air conditioner doesn't respond to the remote, for example, you can check if it's sending signals by pointing your smartphone camera at the IR diode of the remote (purple light should appear on the screen), and if there's a signal, but the equipment doesn't respond, the problem is in the receiver of the device, not in the remote.

Step-by-step: how to set up an IR port on Xiaomi

To start using the IR port, you do not need to install additional drivers - everything you need is already built into MIUI.

1. Open the Mi Remote app (if you don't have one, download it from Google Play), which in newer versions of MIUI may simply be called "Remote."
2. Click "Add device" and select the category of equipment (for example, "TV").
3. Choose a brand from the list. If your brand is not, try Universal profiles.
4. Point the IR port of your smartphone to the receiver (usually in the front) and press Test. If the device responds, save the settings.
5. For advanced functions (macros, timers), go to Advanced Settings (the icon ⚙️ in the upper right corner).

If Mi Remote does not recognize your technique:

• 🔄 Try another model of the same brand on the list.
• 📱 Install a third-party application (e.g. ZaZaRemote or SURE Universal Remote) – they have more extensive codebases.
• 🔧 Update MIUI to the latest version — new profiles are sometimes added.

⚠️ Warning: Some manufacturers (e.g., LG or Samsung) are blocking control through third-party remotes in new models. If your 2022+ TV doesn't respond to commands, check the security settings in its menu - you may need to turn off the "HDMI-CEC Only" or "Anynet+" option.

Top-5 applications for working with an IR port on Xiaomi

The built-in Mi Remote app is suitable for basic tasks, but for advanced functions, it is better to use specialized utilities. We tested dozens of programs and selected the best ones:

For maximum functionality, we recommend combining Mi Remote (for basic commands) and MacroDroid (for automation). For example, you can set a scenario: "When I drive up to the house, the smartphone sends an IR signal to open the gate, turns on the light in the hallway and starts the air conditioner."

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If your device is not recognized by any application, try taking a close-up picture of the remote with the flash on. Some programs (for example, IR Plus) can recognize codes from photos of IR diodes.

Frequent IR port problems and how to solve them

Even if your smartphone is equipped with an infrared port, you may find it difficult to use, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

• 🔴 The smartphone doesn't send signals Causes: the port is contaminated, disabled in settings or damaged. Solution: wipe the module with alcohol, check the permissions for Mi Remote, update the firmware. If it doesn't help, maybe the port is burned (a common problem after falls).
• 🔴 Techniques do not respond to commands Causes: incorrect profile in the application, weak signal, interference. Solution: try another brand on the list, bring the smartphone closer (maximum 5-7 meters), remove obstacles.
• 🔴 The app doesn't find my technique model Reasons: rare brand or new model Solution: use universal profiles or add codes manually (instructions are available on the forums 4PDA).
• 🔴 The IR port only works after rebooting Causes: conflict with other applications or error MIUI Solution: clear the Mi Remote cache, disable battery optimization for that application.

If you suspect that the IR port is broken, check it through the engineering menu:

1. Type the code ##6484## (for MIUI 12+) on your phone keyboard.
2. Select "IR Test" and point your smartphone to the camera of another phone.
3. If you press the buttons, you see a purple flicker, the port works. If it doesn't, it's defective.

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If the IR port stopped working after the MIUI update, try rolling back to the previous version or waiting for a patch, a problem that often occurs in beta versions of firmware.

The future of infrared ports in smartphones: should we expect the technology to be abandoned?

Despite the popular belief that the IR port is the “last century”, Xiaomi continues to equip even some flagship models with it (for example, Xiaomi 13T or POCO F5).

First, infrared remains the most reliable way to control in environments where Wi-Fi or Bluetooth are not available (for example, in an airplane, in a country without Internet or in rooms with high electromagnetic noise); Second, infrared port is cheap to manufacture and does not require certification, unlike RF modules. Finally, in countries in Asia and Africa where old equipment is still widely used, demand for infrared control remains high.

However, the trend towards the abandonment of IR ports is traced:

• 📉 In European and American versions of smartphones, IR port is less common (due to low demand).
• 🔄 Manufacturers are moving to Wi-Fi/Bluetooth (e.g., the new Midea air conditioners support control via an app).
• 📱 In Xiaomi flagships (such as Xiaomi 14 Ultra), the IR port is often absent due to body thickness limitations.

However, a complete abandonment of the technology is unlikely until at least 2027-2030, because:

• ⚡ IR port remains the only universal solution for managing equipment of different brands without being tied to the ecosystem.
• 💰 For Xiaomi, this is a competitive advantage — few smartphone manufacturers still offer this feature out of the box.
• 🔧 The technology is used in industrial and medical devices where reliability is more important than speed.

If you are planning to buy a new smartphone and the IR port is important for you, pay attention to the models of the Redmi Note series, POCO X or Xiaomi Civi - they are the module is saved most often.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions about the IR port in Xiaomi