How to connect Xiaomi to a TV like a flash drive: a step-by-step guide

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones are capable of much more than just calls and instant messengers. One of the useful features is using the device as a mobile device. USB-It allows you to watch movies, photos or listen to music directly from your phone without having to use any additional flash drives or cloud services, but not everyone knows how to set up a connection, especially if the TV doesn't recognize the device the first time.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways Xiaomi connects to the TV as an external drive, including smartphone settings, cable selection, and solving typical problems. MIUI TV models (from Samsung and other LG Xiaomi TV). If you want to transfer files quickly and without unnecessary wires – read on.

Why use Xiaomi as a flash drive for a TV?

The main advantage of this approach is versatility. Instead of buying a separate flash drive, you use a smartphone memory that often exceeds 128 GB.

• 🎬 You often watch movies on the road and want to continue watching on the big screen;
• 📷 Show photos or videos of your family vacation;
• 🎵 Want to play a playlist over a TV without connecting to Wi-Fi;
• 📄 It is urgent to transfer the document to the screen for presentation.

In addition, Xiaomi supports the OTG (USB On-The-Go is available in almost every model, starting with the Redmi Note 4 and later, which means your phone can work as a full-fledged phone. USB-storage device for any port device USB-A or USB-C, smart TV, consoles and even car multimedia systems.

Another plus is data speed. Xiaomi's modern smartphones are interfaced. USB 3.0/3.1, It allows you to transfer files faster than many budget flash drives. 4K weight 10 GB is copied in a few minutes.

⚠️ Note: Not all TVs support exFAT, a file system that smartphones often use for memory cards over 32GB. TV Can't see files, you may need to format the map to FAT32 (but with a 4GB file size limit).

What Xiaomi models support the regime USB-storage?

Function USB Mass Storage is available on all Xiaomi,Released smartphones after 2016, but there are nuances:

To check for support OTG on your device:

1. Connect to any smartphone USB-plug-in OTG.
2. If a notification about the connected device appears, the function works.
3. If not, check the settings in the settings. → Additionally. → OTG.

Important: MediaTek-based smartphones (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) They may have problems transferring large files due to the limitations of the chipset, and in such cases, it is recommended to use a microSD memory card instead of internal memory.

Step-by-step: how to connect Xiaomi to the TV

The connection process depends on the type of ports on your TV and smartphone.

Scenario 1: Television with USB-A, smartphone USB-C

This is the most common option. You'll need:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C → USB-A (It usually comes with a smartphone);
• 📺 Port TV USB 2.0/3.0.

Steps:

1. Connect one end of the cable to the smartphone, the other to the port USB TV-wise.
2. On the screen of the smartphone will appear notification "USB To transfer files. Put a tap on it.
3. Select the "File Transfer" mode (or "USB-"Drive" in older versions MIUI).
4. On the TV, open the Sources (or Media) menu and select USB-device.

Enable debugging over USB (for older models)

Check the free space on your smartphone

Use the original cable

Update the TV firmware-->

Scenario 2: Television and Smartphone with USB-C

If both devices have a port USB-C (For example, Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi TV A2), You'll need a cable. USB-C → USB-C supportive OTG.

Steps:

1. Connect the cable to both devices.
2. On your smartphone, select the "File Transfer" mode.
3. On the TV in the menu Settings → Devices → USB activate the option "External drive".
4. If the TV can’t see the files, try restarting both devices.

If the TV still does not recognize the smartphone, check:

• 🔄 Try another cable (not everyone supports data transfer);
• 📱 Update the firmware on your smartphone and TV;
• 🔧 In the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap it 7 times) turn on "Debugging by USB".

💡

If the TV can't see files, but the smartphone is connected, try creating a folder on your phone called Video or Movies and putting movies in it. TV Only standard folders are automatically scanned.

What if the TV doesn’t see Xiaomi as a flash drive?

Recognition issues are the most common user complaint, and here are the main reasons and solutions:

1. Incompatible file system

Televisions are usually only supported by FAT32 or NTFS. If your Xiaomi is formatted in exFAT (for example, a 128GB memory card), TV Maybe you can't see the files.

Decision:

• 📁 Copy the data onto a computer;
• 🔄 Format the memory card in FAT32 (But remember the 4GB file size limit);
• 🖥️ Or use it. NTFS, If the TV supports it (check the instructions for the TV).

Lack of nutrition

Some TVs do not provide enough current on the USB, Especially if other devices are connected (e.g., a TV set-top box).

Decision:

• ⚡ Use it. USB-feed-in;
• 🔌 Connect your smartphone to charging in parallel;
• 📵 Turn off the others. USB-TV-device.

3. Firmware problems

In some versions MIUI (particularly MIUI 12.5 and below) there are bugs with OTG-regime.

Decision:

• 📲 Update your smartphone to the latest version MIUI;
• 🔄 Reset the settings. USB In Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting settings USB;
• 🛠️ Install custom recovery (for example, TWRP) and run the module OTG Fix.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Xiaomi.eu or custom firmware, check if it is disabled. OTG In some assemblies, this function is blocked to save battery power.

How to transfer files from Xiaomi to a TV without wire?

If you don’t want to use cables, there are several alternative ways:

1. On the local network (DLNA/UPnP)

Most of them are smart. TV protocol DLNA, which allows you to broadcast files over Wi-Fi.

How to set up:

1. Connect your smartphone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network
2. On Xiaomi, install the Mi Home or LocalCast app.
3. In the application, select the file and click "Translate";
4. Select your TV from the list of devices.

2. via Mi Share or Xiaomi Quick Share

The Mi Share feature (formerly Xiaomi Share) allows you to quickly transfer files between Xiaomi devices.

How to use:

• 📲 Enable Mi Share in your smartphone settings (Settings) → Connection and sharing → Mi Share);
• 📺 On Xiaomi TV, open Settings → Public access → Mi Share;
• 📎 Select files on your smartphone and click "Send";
• 🔗 Confirm the reception on the TV.

Limitations:

• 🚫 It only works between Xiaomi devices;
• 📶 Requires stable Wi-Fi or Bluetooth;
• 📥 Transmission speed is lower than cable speed.

3. Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)

If the TV has Internet access, you can upload files to the cloud and open them through a browser or Google app. Photos/Mi Cloud.

Pros:

• ☁️ No wire binding;
• 🌍 Access from any device;
• 🔒 Backup of files.

Cons:

• 🐢 Dependence on Internet speed;
• 💰 Restriction of free space (15 GB in Google Drive);
• 🔒 Risk of data leakage when using public networks.

💡

To transfer large files (e.g. movies to the 4K) And the reason why we don't have wireless is because of the speed limit, and in those cases, it's better to use a cable.

How to optimize files for viewing on TV?

Even if you successfully plugged in Xiaomi as a flash drive, the TV may not play some files, due to codec and resolution limitations.

Supported formats

Most modern televisions support:

• 🎥 Video: MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV (codeced H.264 or H.265);
• 🎵 Audio: MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV;
• 📷 Photo Photo: JPEG, PNG, BMP.

Problem formats:

• 🚫 WMV, RMVB — require conversion;
• 🚫 FLV — not supported by the majority TV;
• 🚫 APE, DTS — They can not play without an external player.

Recommended settings for video

To avoid playback problems, bring files to the following standard:

• 📺 Permission: 1920×1080 (Full HD) or 3840×2160 (4K);
• 🎞️ Codec: H.264 (for maximum compatibility) or H.265 (for 4K);
• 🔊 Audio: AAC or MP3;
• 📏 Bitrate: no more than 20 Mbit / s for 1080p and 50 Mbps for 4K.

For conversion, you can use programs:

• 🖥️ HandBrake (free, cross-platform);
• 🖥️ FFmpeg (for advanced users);
• 📱 Video Converter (for Android).

Example of a command for FFmpeg (convert to a H.264):

ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 22 -c:a aac -b:a 192k output.mp4

⚠️ Note: Some TVs (especially budget models) TCL or Hisense not supported DTS Or Dolby Digital in the MKV. In such cases, you will have to recode the audio track or use an external player (for example, Kodi on Android). TV).

Security: How to protect data when connected to a TV?

Connecting your smartphone to other people’s devices (such as at a hotel or at work) can be risky.

1. Disable automatic data transmission

By default. MIUI It can allow access to all files when connected to USB. To avoid it:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory. → Settings USB;
2. Select “Only Charge” as the default mode;
3. When connecting to the TV, manually select "File Transfer".

2.Use guest mode

If you connect your smartphone to a public TV (such as in a conference room), activate guest mode:

• 🔒 Settings → System system → Guest mode;
• 📁 Create a separate folder with files to show and only give access to it;
• 🔄 After use, turn off the guest mode.

3. Encryption of sensitive data

If important documents are stored on your smartphone, encrypt them:

• 🔐 Use applications like this. ES File Explorer or Solid Explorer to create encrypted archives;
• 📂 Place sensitive files in a folder with a password (for example, through Folder Lock);
• 🔑 Set up the lock. USB Smart Lock in Security Settings.

It is also recommended that:

• 🛡️ Install antivirus (such as Avast or Bitdefender);
• 🔄 Regularly check connected devices in Settings → Connected devices;
• 📵 Shut down. USB-post-use.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's TV connection