Xiaomi’s Complete Guide to Remote Management: From Basic Buttons to Hidden Features

Introduction: why to understand the remote Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s remotes are not just plastic button boxes, but real smart control centers that work not only with Mi TVs, but also with projectors, air conditioners, lamps, and even robot vacuum cleaners, but many users have used only 5-10% of their remotes for years, unaware that they can control multiple devices at once, create macros, or even use voice commands.

This article will help you understand everything from basic TV turn on to fine-tuning the infrared port to work with other brands. We will look at all the current Xiaomi 2026 remote models (including Mi Remote Controller Pro and Mi TV Stick Remote), and give practical tips for eliminating typical problems. If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Why does this button not work?” or “Can you make the remote itself switch sources?”, then you’re right here.

Xiaomi Remote Types: What Are You Holding?

Xiaomi makes several types of remotes, and their capabilities are very different. Before you go to the setup, it is important to determine which model you have.

• 📺 The standard remote for the Mi TV comes bundled with most of the Mi TV 4/5 series TVs, the Redmi Smart TV. It has a minimalist design with a touchpad and a Google Assistant button.
• 🎮 Mi Remote Controller Pro is an advanced version with backlighting, a gyroscope for gaming and Bluetooth 5.0 support. Compatible with the Mi Box S and Mi TV Stick.
• 🔄 Universal IR remote (e.g. Mi Universal Remote) - controls other brands' equipment through an infrared port. Works with air conditioners, fans, audio systems.
• 📱 The virtual remote in Mi Home is a smartphone app that replaces the physical remote, and supports all devices in the Xiaomi ecosystem.

To find out the exact model, look at the back of the remote — there should be a sticker with a name (for example, MDZ-26-AA for Mi TV Stick Remote). If there is no label, check in the settings of the TV: Settings → About Program → Accessories.

Basic Functions: What the buttons mean

Even if you've been using the remote for years, some buttons can remain a mystery, and let's look at the purpose of each key using the standard remote for the Mi TV 4A/5A:

The Touchpad (if you have one on your remote) works like a touchpad:

Vertical movement – scrolling lists (for example, on Netflix).

Horizontal movement – rewinding video (in YouTube or Mi Video).

Touch + Retain – activation of the “drag-and-drop” mode (dropping icons on the main screen).

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If the touchpad does not respond well to touch, wipe it with an alcohol napkin - often a problem in fat traces from the fingers.

Setting up the remote via the TV menu

Many of the remote's functions can be configured directly in the Mi TV interface.

1. Go to Settings → DU remote and accessories.
2. Select the button settings of the remote.
3. Here you can: 🔄 Reassign button actions (e.g., make Netflix open by clicking on Prime Video). 🎯 Disable the double-press response (if it works accidentally). 🔋 View the battery level (for battery remotes).

For gyroscope remotes (such as Mi Remote Controller Pro), there are additional options available in this menu:

- Sensitivity of the gyroscope - adjustment for games (values from 1 to 10).

Axe inversion – if the control in the games seems “inverted”.

Calibration - resetting the gyroscope settings with incorrect work.

Universal remote: management of equipment of other brands

If you have an IR-transmitter model (such as Mi Universal Remote or Mi Remote Controller Pro), you can program it to work with air conditioners, audio systems, DVD- players and other equipment.

1. Make sure the remote supports your brand. The full list of compatible devices is available in the Mi Home app (Section Add Device → Remote Control).
2. Press and hold the TV + OK buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds until the indicator lights up.
3. Enter your device code (the list of codes for popular brands below).
4. Check the main buttons (Power, Vol+, Vol-).

If your brand isn’t on the list, try the training mode:

1. Point the original Xiaomi remote and remote at each other (the IP ports should "look" at each other).

2.On the Xiaomi-pool hold TV + 1 (to train the button 1).

3. Press the desired button on the original remote - the signal will be recorded.

Advanced Features: Macros, Voice Control and Games

Today’s Xiaomi remotes are much more than just channel switching, and here are three hidden features that few people know about:

1. Creation of macros (chains of command)

The macro allows you to run multiple actions on a single button, for example, you can turn on the TV at one click, switch it to HDMI1, start Netflix and set the volume to 50%.

1. Open the Mi Home app.
2. Go to the Automation section → Scripts.
3. Click Create a Screenplay → Remote DU.
4. Add a sequence of commands (up to 10 actions).
5. Assign a macro to any button (e.g. F1 or F2).

2. Voice control via Google Assistant

The Google Assistant button on the remote will activate voice input, but few people know that it can:

• 🔍 Search for content by voice: "Enable 2023 comedies on Movie Search."
• 📊 Manage a smart home: Turn off the lights in the living room (if the devices are connected to the Mi Home).
• 🎵 Start music: "Enable a playlist for training on Spotify."

To make voice commands work correctly, in the settings of the TV (Settings → Voice Assistant), select the main language and activate the Recognition option in offline.

3.Game mode with gyroscope

Mi Remote Controller Pro supports motion-controlled games (such as racing simulators or shooters) to enable this mode:

1. Run a game that supports gamepads (such as Asphalt 9 or Call of Duty Mobile via GameSir).
2. Press and hold the Menu + OK button on the remote until the “Game Mode Activated” notification appears.
3. Use the remote as a gamepad: the slopes control the movement, the Vol+/Vol- buttons - gas / brake.

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Macros and voice control work only when the remote is connected to the Internet (via TV or directly via Wi-Fi).

Solving typical remote control problems

Even Xiaomi’s most reliable remotes sometimes fail, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

⚠️ Warning: If the remote is no longer responsive to the press, first check if the batteries are dead. To do this, point the remote with the smartphone camera and press any button — if the IR signal is visible (flickering on the screen), then the problem is not in the battery.

If the remote has stopped responding completely, try the forced reboot:

1. Remove the batteries (if they are removable).
2. Press and hold the Power for 10 seconds.
3. Put the batteries back in and try to reconnect.

⚠️ Warning: If the remote stopped working after updating the TV firmware, try rolling back the software to the previous version. To do this, download the old firmware from the official Xiaomi website and install it through Settings → Software Update → Local Update.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions