How to transfer a file to a Xiaomi TV: everything from USB to cloud services

Transferring files to a Xiaomi TV is a challenge that every Smart TV owner from this brand faces. Whether you want to show photos from a vacation on a big screen, run a high-resolution movie or play a playlist with music, there are several options for data transfer. However, they are not all equally convenient: somewhere you will need additional equipment, and somewhere you will have a stable Internet connection.

The main problem is that Xiaomi doesn’t always provide intuitive file sharing tools, especially when compared to competitors like Samsung or Samsung. LG. For example, the built-in file manager may not display the connected files. USB-Drives due to inappropriate file system, and Wi-Fi transmission is often slowed down due to firmware limitations. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, including bypassing typical errors, and help you choose the best method for your TV model.

It is important to consider that the functionality depends on the version of MIUI TV (or Google TV on new models) and the year of release of the device. For example, Xiaomi Mi TV 4S (2018-2020) supports DLNA, but may not see some video formats, while Xiaomi TV Q2 (2023+) offers advanced options through Mi Home. If your TV is released before 2017, some methods may not work – check the model specifications.

Transfer through USB-The storage system: a simple, but not universal way

Connecting a flash drive or external hard drive is the most obvious method, but it has a number of nuances: Xiaomi TVs support FAT32 file system (up to 4 GB per file) and NTFS (without size restrictions), but there may be problems with exFAT - it is supported only by models on Google TV (for example, Xiaomi TV A2 4K).

To transfer files:

• 📁 Prepare. USB-The storage device: format it in NTFS (if the files are larger than 4 GB; or FAT32 (Compatibility with older TVs).
• 🔌 Connect the flash drive to the port USB 2.0/3.0 on the TV (usually side or back).
• 📺 On the remote, press Home. → File manager → USB-device.
• 🔍 Select the file you want and play it (for video/music) or open it through an app (for example, Gallery for photos).

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Not all video formats are supported out of the box (e.g..mkv with codec). HEVC may not reproduce).
• ❌ Reading speed depends on the version USB-port: on Xiaomi Mi TV 4A (USB 2.0) large files will be opened with a delay.
• ❌ Files with Cyrillic names may not appear – rename them to Latin.

The flash drive is formatted in NTFS/FAT32|

File names without Cyrillic and special characters |

USB port on TV undamaged |

Files are not larger than 4GB (for FAT32)

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⚠️ Warning: If the TV can't see USB-Driver, try to connect it through USB-externally powered hub – some Xiaomi models don’t provide enough current for hard drives.

2. Wi-Fi transmission via the Mi Home app

The Mi Home app (available for Android and iOS) allows you to send files directly to your TV without wires, a method that works on most Xiaomi models released after 2019, but requires that the TV and smartphone be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Instructions:

1. Install Mi Home on your smartphone and log in to your Xiaomi account.
2. Connect your TV to the same account: go to Settings → Account and Security → Add your device.
3. In the Mi Home app, select your TV, then go to Files → Send to TV.
4. Select files (maximum 10 at a time, total size up to 2 GB) and confirm the transfer.

Pros of the method: no need for cables, files are stored in the internal memory of TV. Cons: size limit (2 GB), slow transmission speed on weak Wi-Fi, support for not all formats (for example,.flac is not played).

USB-accumulator|

Mi Home via Wi-Fi |

DLNA/UPnP|

Cloud services |

Another option

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⚠️ Note: If files are not displayed in Mi Home, upgrade your TV firmware to the latest version.On models up to 2020, you may need to manually install the device. APK-Application file via Send Files to TV (available on Google Play).

3.Using DLNA/UPnP for streaming without copying

DLNA technology allows you to stream files from your computer or smartphone to your Xiaomi TV without physically copying them, which is convenient for one-time views, but requires you to set up a server on your source device.

How to set up DLNA:

• 💻 On Windows: Enable streaming in the Control Panel → The Internet and the Internet → Multimedia streaming.
• 📱 On Android: install an application server, such as BubbleUPnP or LocalCast.
• 📺 On TV: Open Media Player or Gallery app, select source DLNA.

Advantages: there are no file size restrictions, almost all formats are supported. Disadvantages: dependence on Wi-Fi speed (at 1080p you need at least 15 Mbps), possible lags when playing 4K HDR.

For Mac or Linux owners, MiniDLNA or Plex Media Server is suitable, and the latter also allows transcoding files on the fly if the TV does not support their format.

4.Cloud Services: Google Drive, Mi Cloud and Alternatives

If files are already uploaded to the cloud, they can be played on a Xiaomi TV via the appropriate apps, a method that is suitable for rare use, as it requires a stable Internet and can consume traffic (relevant to TVs with a mobile phone). 3G/4G-modem).

Supported services:

• ☁️ Google Drive: Available on Google models TV (for example, Xiaomi TV A2). Install the app through Google Play.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Built into firmware MIUI TV, But limited to 5GB of free space.
• ☁️ Yandex Disk or Mail.ru Cloud: require installation APK via Send Files to TV.

How to play a file with Google Drive:

1. Open Google Drive on TV.
2. Find the file and click Open with → External player (e.g, VLC or MX Player).
3. If the file is not played, download it to the TV's internal memory (Settings → Memory).

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To speed up downloading large files from the cloud, connect your TV to your router via Ethernet (if you have a port) – this will reduce delays and the risk of a transmission interruption.

⚠️ Note: When playing video in 4K You can buffer through the cloud, and to avoid this, you can download the file on TV first, or use it. DLNA.

5. Direct transmission from smartphone via Send Files to TV

Send Files to TV (available on Google Play) allows you to send files directly to Xiaomi TVs with Android TV or Google TV over a local network. Unlike Mi Home, it does not require authorization in a Xiaomi account and supports files up to 20 GB.

How to use:

1. Install Send Files to TV on your smartphone.
2. Launch the app and select the TV from the list of devices.
3. Mark the files and click Send.
4. On TV, confirm the file's acceptance in the notification.

Features:

• ✅ It works without the Internet (local network is sufficient).
• ✅ Supports batch sending (up to 100 files at a time).
• ❌ On old models, Mi TV 3) may not work due to lack of Android support TV.

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Send Files to TV — Best choice for transferring large files (up to) 20 GB) without registration in the cloud services, suitable for Android models TV/Google TV.

6.Alternative methods: FTP, ADB and manual installation of APK

For advanced users, there are less obvious ways to transfer files, such as: FTP-server ADB. These techniques require technical skills but allow you to bypass the limitations of standard tools.

FTP transmission:

1. Put it on TV. FTP-server, FX File Explorer via Google Play).
2. Connect to the server from the PC at the address ftp://[IP_television]:2221 (The username and password are the data of the Xiaomi account).
3. Drag files to /storage/emulated/0/Download.

Transfer via ADB: Suitable for installing APKs or system files.

adb connect [IP_ TV]:5555


adb push local path /sdcard/Download/

On Xiaomi models with blocked ADB (such as Mi TV 4X), this method will not work without unlocking the bootloader.

7.Typical errors and their solutions

When transferring files to a Xiaomi TV, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, try resetting the network settings on your TV (Settings → Network → Reset) or updating your firmware manually via USB.

FAQ: Frequent questions