Owning a modern ecosystem often involves using devices from different manufacturers, for example, Apple iPhone and smart TV Xiaomi Mi TV. Users often face the need to show friends bright pictures from vacation or family albums on the big screen, but do not know how to properly configure the connection between iOS and Android TV. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to broadcast content without unnecessary wires and complex settings, if you know the right algorithms of action.
There are several proven methods for streaming media files, and the choice of the particular one depends on your version of the operating system, the TV model and the availability of additional accessories. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to watch photos from an iPhone on a Xiaomi TV using built-in system functions, third-party applications and wired connections. You will learn to avoid common errors and ensure maximum image quality when displaying the gallery on a 4K screen.
Using the built-in AirPlay 2 feature on Xiaomi TVs
The easiest and most native way for Apple appliance owners is to use AirPlay 2 technology, which has been actively introduced in recent years by TV manufacturers, including Xiaomi. Many modern Mi TV models running on Android TV or PatchWall’s own shell already have built-in support for this protocol, which eliminates the need to install additional software.
The connection process takes seconds: open the standard Photos app on your iPhone, select the desired image or album to view. Click on the Share button (square arrow up) or the AirPlay icon (rectangle with triangle at the bottom), which can be located right in the slide viewing interface. The name of your Xiaomi TV will appear in the list of available devices; after selecting on the TV screen, a confirmation code may appear, which you need to enter on the smartphone.
⚠️ Note: If the TV is not displayed in the AirPlay list, check the settings of the TV. → Annexes → Built-in apps find AirPlay and make sure the feature is enabled and doesn’t stand in “First Run Only” mode».
The quality of the image being transmitted depends on the bandwidth of your wireless network. If you notice delays or compression artifacts, try bringing the router closer to the TV or using the 5GHz band, which provides a more stable channel for transmitting heavy photos in high resolution.
Broadcasting through Mi Remote and the Mi Home ecosystem
If the built-in AirPlay protocol doesn’t work for some reason or your Xiaomi TV model is from earlier generations, you can use the official software from the manufacturer. Mi Remote (or Mi Home) app serves as a universal control panel and media center, allowing you to stream content from iOS to the Smart TV screen. This method is especially relevant for models where Apple’s system protocols work unstable.
To implement this method, you will need to install the Mi Home app from the App Store and register with your Mi Account. Once you add your TV to the list of devices in the app, open the TV control menu and find the Translation or Cast icon. Choose the Photo or Gallery source, and the system will offer access to your iPhone’s media library, which is often more stable when working with large albums.
☑️ Pre-broadcast checks
It is important to note that third-party applications from Xiaomi can experience a slight compression of images, which is done to speed up data transfer over the network, so it is better to use other methods to view photos for professional evaluation of color or details, but for family viewing and displaying pictures on social networks, the quality is quite sufficient.
Third-party broadcasting apps: Video & TV Cast and analogues
When regular funds are not functional enough, specialized intermediary applications such as Video & TV Cast or Web Video Caster come to the rescue, and these programs work on the principle of DLNA or Chromecast, creating a bridge between the iOS file system and the TV media player, and they are especially useful if you want to stream photos not from a standard gallery, but from closed storage or cloud services.
The way these apps work is by installing the server part on the TV (if required) and the client part on the iPhone. Once you run the program on your smartphone and select the Xiaomi TV device in the list, you can use your browser inside the app to open a folder with photos or even upload them over HTTP protocol, which gives you more control over the format and sequence of the display.
- 📲 Video & TV Cast: Supports the broadcast of photos, videos and web pages, has a convenient interface for creating slideshows.
- 📺 LocalCast: It works great with network folders and allows you to customize subtitles if you stream video content along with a photo.
- 🌐 Web Video Caster: A universal solution that can “pull” media files from sites and send them directly to the Mi screen TV.
Using third-party software may require advertising in free versions or subscriptions to unlock features like 4K support.However, this is often the only way to get older Xiaomi TV models running newer versions of iOS, where security protocols can block direct connection.
Wired connection via Lightning to HDMI adapter
For situations where maximum image quality is required without compression and delay, or when the wireless network is overloaded, wired connectivity is the ideal solution. Using a Lightning to HDMI adapter (or USB-C to HDMI for the new iPhone 15/16) allows you to digitally stream the image directly to the TV port, this method ensures the stability of the picture, regardless of the state of the Wi-Fi router.
You’ll need the adapter itself, the HDMI cable, and preferably the power supply for the adapter, as the high-resolution video transfer process can consume a significant battery charge of the iPhone. Connect the adapter to the smartphone, insert the HDMI cable into the adapter and into the free port of the Xiaomi TV. Switch the signal source to the TV to HDMI 1 or HDMI 2 mode corresponding to the used connector.
| Adapter type | Permit supported | Do you need an external current? | Signal delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| The original Apple | Up to 1080p/4K | Recommended | Minimum |
| Certified MFi | Up to 1080p. | Preferably. | Low. |
| Chinese analogue | Depends on the model. | Often required | Possible. |
⚠️ Note: Cheap uncertified adapters may not support HDCP protection, which will cause a black image to appear on the TV screen when you try to open photos from some applications or cloud storage.
The advantage of the wired method is that the Xiaomi TV in this case acts as a monitor, and all the operations of the gallery take place on the screen of the smartphone. This is convenient if you want to quickly flip through photos, zoom them or edit them on the go while friends see the result on the big screen.
Sharing access through cloud services
An alternative and very convenient way to organize viewing photos is to use cloud storage, such as Google Photos, Yandex.Disk or iCloud. If your Xiaomi TV has the corresponding application installed from the Google Play Store, you can simply log in to your account and access your entire media library without the need to transfer files in real time.
This method is particularly effective if you plan to create a slideshow of photos that are already uploaded to the cloud. You don't have to keep your phone on or near the router; playback controls can be done via the TV remote or by leaving autoplay. Image quality when streaming from the cloud is usually high, because services use adaptive bitrate.
How to save traffic with cloud synchronization?
Keep in mind that this method requires a stable Internet connection on the TV side. If you use mobile Internet via a router, keep track of the amount of traffic spent, as uploading original photos in high resolution can quickly exhaust the limits of the plan.
Solving Connection and Image Quality Issues
Despite the simplicity of technology, users often face problems: the TV can’t see the phone, the image twitches or the colors look faded. Most often the reason lies in the network settings: devices must be in the same network segment (the same SSID), and the router must be turned off the isolation of AP Isolation clients, which prevents devices from seeing each other.
If the image looks blurry, check the zoom settings on your Xiaomi TV. From the image menu, select Accurate or Just Scan mode to remove unnecessary fields and stretching. Also make sure that on your iPhone in the Photo → View settings, there is no economical data transfer limit if you use a mobile hotspot.
- 🔄 Reboot: A banal, but effective step is to reboot the router, and TV, and smartphone to reset the cache of network services.
- 🛡️ Antivirus: Temporary shutdown of firewalls on routers or antivirus on phones can help if they block ports for the use of a computer. DLNA/AirPlay.
- ⚙️ Software Update: Check for updates for Android TV Apple apps TV (if used) in the relevant stores.
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If the sound when watching a video photo is through your phone, not your TV, run the Control Point on your iPhone (swipe down from the top right corner), click on the AirPlay icon in the music control unit, and select the Xiaomi TV manually.
In some cases, the problem may be in file format. iPhone default shoots in HEIF/HEVC format, which older TV models may not support. In this case, in the settings of the camera Settings → Camera → Formats, you should choose “Most compatible” so that the photos are saved in a classic JPEG.
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The stability of 5GHz Wi-Fi connection is critical for wireless photo transfer to 4K, as the 2.4GHz band is often overloaded by neighbouring routers.