Smart TV owners often face the need to quickly transfer media files from their smartphones to the big screen. In Xiaomi’s ecosystem, which uses Android TV or PatchWall, this process is simplified, but requires understanding the nuances of connectivity. Direct data transfer provides access to viewing personal video archives, family photos in high resolution and listening to music through a quality acoustic system of the TV.
There are several proven ways to synchronize devices, from wireless protocols to wired connections, and the specific method depends on the type of content being transmitted, the version of the operating system, and the hardware available. Wireless technology is convenient for streaming, while USB-The cable provides maximum speed when working with heavy files.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at each option available so you can choose the best scenario for your situation. Whether you are using Android or iOS, you can communicate in minutes. The right network setup and choice of the right application are the key to stable multimedia functions.
Use of the built-in screen broadcast function
The fastest way to bring an image or video from a smartphone to a Xiaomi TV is wireless display technology. In Android, it is often called Translation, Smart View or Wireless Monitor, and in Apple devices, Screen Replay. Mi TVs support Miracast and AirPlay 2 protocols, making them compatible with most gadgets.
To get started, make sure that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This is a critical condition, since the data is transmitted locally through the router. On the TV remote, click the settings button or select the signal source to find the external device connection menu. In some PatchWall models, the corresponding item may be called “Wireless Connection”.
On your smartphone, open the notification curtain and find the broadcast icon. After searching for available devices, select your TV from the list. If you need confirmation, go to the TV and allow remote connection. The image from your phone will instantly appear on the big screen.
☑️ Pre-broadcast checks
⚠️ Note: When broadcasting the screen in high resolution (4K) You can delay the image or desynchronize the sound if the Wi-Fi signal is unstable.
The quality of the transmission depends on the power of your router and the distance to it. The Miracast protocol creates a direct connection, which can reduce the speed of the Internet on other devices while browsing. If you notice artifacts or twitches, try to get closer to the router or switch to the wired method.
Transfer of files over the local area network and DLNA
If your goal is not to duplicate the screen, but to play a specific video file or photo gallery, you should use DLNA technology. This standard allows the TV to see media files stored in the phone's memory and play them on its own without loading the smartphone processor.
A popular solution is the BubbleUPnP app or Xiaomi's built-in file manager. Once you install the app, launch it and allow access to media files. In the settings, select the Renderer or Playback option and specify your Mi TV. Now you can select the files in the app on your phone, and they will open on your TV.
The advantage of the method is that you can control playback (pause, rewind) from your phone while lying on the couch while the TV is running autonomously, which is especially convenient for viewing heavy files, since the decoding is done by the TV's media processor, not the phone's battery.
It's worth noting that not all video file formats can be supported natively by the TV. If the file doesn't open, maybe the TV doesn't have the right codec, so try using a third-party video player on the TV itself, like VLC for Android, which is able to "grab" the stream from the phone.
Wired connection through USB-cable
When the wireless network is overloaded or you need to transfer large files (for example, a movie to the Internet). 4K Weighing 50 GB, the most reliable solution is cable. To connect your smartphone to your Xiaomi TV, you will need to use a cable. USB-cable (usually) USB Type-C or Micro-USB and free USB-port on the back or side panel of the TV.
After the physical connection of the devices, a notification about the new device will appear on the TV screen. USB-On the phone, you need to select the mode of operation in the notification curtain. USB. The default is often “Charge Only”, so be sure to switch it to File Transfer mode» (MTP) or “Photo transmission» (PTP).
The path to files on TV: My applications → Explorer → USB (device name)Now the TV sees the phone as a flash drive, so open the built-in file manager on the Mi TV, find the partition with the name of your smartphone, and go to the DCIM/Camera or Download folder, and you can run videos, music, and view photos from there.
| Type of cable | Transmission speed | Nutrition support | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB 2.0 | up to 480 Mbps | Yes. | Photo, music, video 1080p |
| USB 3.0 (Type-C) | up to 5 Gbps | Yes. | 4K movies, big archives |
| Micro-USB | up to 480 Mbps | Limited. | Old smartphones, documents |
| Lightning (iPhone) | adapter-dependent | No. | Only with a Camera Kit adapter |
Why can't the TV see the phone on USB?
Normally, Android TVs read FAT32 and NTFS without any problems. If the phone is formatted in exFAT, you may have trouble reading on older TV models.
Use of cloud storage and network folders
Modern ecosystems allow you to not think about direct connection of devices at all. If your files are already uploaded to the cloud (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk, Dropbox), you can install the corresponding application on the Xiaomi TV through the Google Play store.
Sign in to the app on your TV with the same account as your phone, and all your files will be instantly viewable, which is ideal if you want to show a presentation or a photo report that is already online and you don't want to waste time copying.
The alternative is to create a shared network folder on a computer or a NAS available for a TV, and in this case, the phone acts as a remote control: you throw the file into a folder on your PC, and the TV immediately sees it in a network environment, and you will need to configure the SMB protocol on the local network to implement it.
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Use the application "All File Manager"+) on the TV for easy connection to SMB-Folders and cloud services in one interface.
The main disadvantage of the cloud method is the dependence on Internet speed. To view video in high bitrate, you will need a stable channel of at least 50-100 Mbit / s. The local network in this regard benefits, since the speed is limited only by the router.
Specialized transmission applications
In the Google Play store, you can find many utilities on your TV that are designed specifically for smartphone interaction, with the leading apps in this niche being Send Files to TV (SFTTV) and XShare, which work on the principle of creating a local tunnel between devices.
Install the app on your TV and your smartphone. Run the program on both devices. On your TV, select Receive mode and Send mode on your phone. The app will find the TV on your Wi-Fi network. Select files and send them.
The transmission speed through such applications is often higher than through standard DLNA, And you can also transmit not only media, but also media. APK-Files for installing applications directly on the TV.
⚠️ Note: When transferring files through third-party applications, make sure you are on the home network. In public Wi-Fi networks (cafes, airports), your data can be accessed by other users, unless client isolation is enabled.
Some apps allow you to control your TV like a mouse or keyboard, which is a nice bonus, but for purely media tasks, it is better to use specialized software that can correctly process file metadata (album covers, movie descriptions).
Solving Connection and Format Problems
Even if all instructions are followed, there can be technical difficulties, most often users are faced with the fact that the TV “cannot see” the file or plays video without sound, due to the lack of necessary codecs in the standard Android TV player.
To solve the problem, it is recommended to install a universal player, such as VLC or MX Player, which contain built-in codecs and are able to play almost any video and audio format transmitted from the phone.
If devices are not finding each other on the network, check your router settings. AirPlay or Miracast can be blocked by Wi-Fi security settings. Also make sure that geolocation (GPS) is enabled on both devices, as this is required in Android to find devices on the local network.
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Installing a third-party video player (VLC/Kodi) solves 90% of file format incompatibility issues with the phone.
In rare cases, rebooting the Wi-Fi module on the TV helps, so you can temporarily turn off the router or turn off the Wi-Fi adapter in the settings of the TV. IP-address and resets the cache of network services.