How to connect Xiaomi phone to TV via USB and watch a movie

Modern Xiaomi smartphones have huge screens and powerful processors, but sometimes you want to enjoy your favorite movie on a large TV display. Many users mistakenly believe that to transmit the image necessarily need Wi-Fi or Chromecast, forgetting about the classic and reliable wired connection. USB-cable is a method that ensures stable data transfer without delay and compression of quality, which is critical for viewing heavyweight data. 4K-file.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the nuances of wired device connectivity, as direct connectivity is often ignored in favor of wireless technologies that can be unstable. You will learn which cables are suitable for different Xiaomi and Redmi models, how to set up USB mode correctly and which applications will help turn your smartphone into a full-fledged media center. It is important to understand that the TV must support reading of file systems that Android works with, otherwise you will see only an error message.

We're going to look at not only basic techniques, but also advanced settings that allow you to control playback directly from your smartphone screen. If you want to get the best possible picture and sound quality without depending on the speed of the router, wired method is the best solution for you. Let's take a step-by-step look at how to turn your gadget into a source of multimedia content for your home theater.

Equipment and types of cables required

The first step to a successful connection is choosing the right cable. Not all wires are the same: some are solely for charging and have no data lines. To connect a Xiaomi phone to a TV, you will need a quality cable that can transmit a digital signal. If you use modern flagships with a USB Type-C port, make sure that the cable supports USB 3.0 or higher for high bandwidth.

It’s important to consider the version of the connector on your TV. Older models may only have USB 2.0, which will limit the speed of reading large files, but for Full HD video streaming, this may be enough. When using cables longer than 1.5 meters, there may be a drop in voltage, so for long distances it’s better to use active extension cords or additionally powered cables.

• 🔌 USB Type-C to USB-A — standard cable for most modern Xiaomi smartphones and TVs.
• ⚡ Cable with support USB 3.0/3.1 — It is necessary for high-resolution video transmission without buffering.
• 📺 adapter USB-C to HDMI (MHL/Alt Mode – required if the TV does not support reading files directly, but only displaying images.
• 🔋 Additional powered cable – useful when connecting to low-current TV ports.

⚠️ Caution: Cheap cables from low-cost power banks often don't have internal contacts to transmit data. If the TV makes a connection sound but doesn't see files, replace the wire with an original or certified counterpart.

Also worth paying attention to is the phone's flash memory file system. TVs often only understand FAT32 or exFAT formats. If your phone is formatted on a native Android system, the TV may not recognize the device, which would require retraining the drive or the use of special intermediary applications.

Setting up the USB mode on a smartphone

Once the devices are physically connected, the smartphone will default to charging mode. To allow the TV to see the contents of the memory, you need to manually switch the connection protocol. On devices with a MIUI or HyperOS shell, this is done through a notification in the status curtain. Without this step, data transfer is impossible, and the TV screen will remain black.

Click on the notification “Charging through” USB» and select the option File Transfer (MTP). This protocol allows a computer or TV to access the phone’s file system as an external drive, and in some cases, it may be necessary to confirm on the smartphone screen that you are debugging or accessing data, especially if you are connecting for the first time.

If MTP mode is not activated automatically, go to the developer settings. Find the default USB configuration and set the file transfer value, which will make the phone always offer the desired mode when connecting to new devices, eliminating unnecessary manipulation in the future.

Use of built-in MIUI functions for broadcasting

Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers its own tools for interacting with TVs, which often run more stable than third-party solutions. Mi Drop (ShareMe) app and built-in Translation feature allow you not only to open files, but also to display a screen image or specific media files on a large display. This is especially convenient if your TV is a Smart TV brand Xiaomi or Mi TV.

To start the broadcast, open "Settings» → «Connection and sharing» → «Broadcast. The phone will start searching for available devices on the network, although this method is more commonly associated with Wi-Fi, if there is support. DLNA through USB Some TV models can receive the signal directly if the TV drivers allow you to emulate a network connection through a network connection. USB-port.

The Mi Video (Mi Player) app also has a display button. Select a video file, click on the TV icon, and select your device. The system will select the optimal codec for stream compression if direct file transfer is not possible. This reduces the load on the TV processor, which may not support modern compression formats.

• 📲 Open the Mi Video or Gallery app.
• 📺 Click on the Cast icon (rectangle with Wi-Fi signal).
• 🔗 Wait for the name of your TV to appear on the list.
• ▶️ Run playback, control will be available from the phone.

⚠️ Note: The wireless broadcast function (Miracast) works over Wi-Fi Direct. USB-cable, make sure that the wired connection is selected in the settings, otherwise the phone can switch to wireless mode, merging the battery and creating delays.

If the built-in tools don't find the TV, try updating the Mi TV Assistant app through the GetApps store. It contains relevant profiles for different TV models and can offer specific settings for your pair of devices. Sometimes it helps to restart the Google Play Services service, which is responsible for basic communication protocols.

Viewing video through the TV file manager

The easiest and most reliable way is to use the TV's built-in media player, after you've switched your phone to mode. MTP, Go to the signal source menu (Input or Source button) on the TV. USB-port, and the TV scans the connected device.

In the file manager TV window that opens, go to the folder where your movies are stored. Usually this is the Internal Storage → DCIM or Download section. TVs with Android TV or Xiaomi's own OS (PatchWall) have convenient video previews, which makes it easier to navigate. You can sort files by date, size or name.

If the TV sees folders but can't see files, the problem may be the codec or the container. Built-in TV players are often limited in format support, in which case it is better to use a third-party player on the TV itself if its OS (such as Android TV) allows you to install applications, or broadcast the screen completely.

When navigating files from the remote, there can be delays, as the phone acts as a slow drive.Read speed from the phone's internal memory via USB 2.0 is often limited to 30-40 MB/s, which is enough for most videos, but can cause jerks when switching between heavy 4K HDR scenes.

Solving problems with formats and codecs

A common situation is that the file is there, the connection is there, but the TV writes “Format is not supported” or only plays sound without a picture. This means that the built-in decoder of the TV can not cope with a specific video stream. The solution may be to install on the TV (if it is a Smart TV on Android) VLC for Android or MX Player applications.

These players have their own codecs and are not subject to the system limitations of the TV. Once installed, simply open the file through the player's file manager, selecting the following: USB-This often solves problems with subtitles, Dolby Digital multichannel sound and high bit rates.

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If your TV doesn’t see a file larger than 4GB, check the file system. FAT32 doesn’t support files larger than 4GB. Use exFAT or NTFS if the TV supports NTFS reading (many Xiaomi TVs can).

In case the installation of applications on TV is not possible, there is one option - converting video on the computer before recording to the phone or using screen broadcasting (Screen Mirroring), where the decoding takes over the phone processor.

Alternative methods: DLNA and third-party software

If direct reading of files is inconvenient, you can raise it on the phone. DLNA-Applications like BubbleUPnP or built-in Xiaomi features allow you to turn your phone into a media server, and the TV will see it as a network device, even if they are connected via a network. USB-modem (if you have such a network rollover function) or if the phone gives out Wi-Fi that catches TV.

However, in the context of USB-Connection, interesting method USB Tethering (USB-By turning it on in the phone settings (Settings) → Connection and sharing → USB-modem, you can create a local network between your phone and TV (if the TV supports Ethernet via a network). USB Or it has a built-in Wi-Fi module that's in client mode. Then, through the server app on the phone, share the video.

• 🌐 Turn it on. USB-modem in phone settings.
• 📡 Make sure the TV is connected to the network you have created (a rare scenario, more often running over Wi-Fi Direct).
• 📂 Launch it. DLNA-phone-side.
• 📺 Find the server in the list of TV sources.

⚠️ Attention: When you use high-resolution video, your phone can get very hot. MTP or network distribution processor runs under load, and the battery is simultaneously charged from the TV port, which can be unsafe with poor cooling.

This method is more complex to set up, but it allows you to use the TV interface to control the phone’s library, which is more convenient than running with a remote to files. In addition, some Xiaomi smart TVs are able to cache video buffer, reducing the load on the phone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)