Turning a smartphone into a universal remote: why it is necessary
Forgot your TV remote in the country? Batteries sat down at the wrong time? Or just want to control TV from your smartphone screen without getting out of the couch? Xiaomi Redmi smartphones (including Note 12, 10C, 9A and later) can completely replace the physical remote with built-in infrared transmitters and special applications. But not everyone knows that in addition to basic channel control and volume, you can adjust voice control through Google Assistant or Alice, create macros to enable multiple devices at once, and even control Smart TV over IP-free.
In this article, we have 5 proven ways to control a TV with Xiaomi Redmi, including hidden features of the Mi Remote app, bypassing restrictions on older TV models, and solving common mistakes like โdevice not foundโ or โincorrect code โ FAQ Answer the questions that users ask most often.
Method 1: Built-in Mi Remote (for models with an IR port)
Most Xiaomi Redmi smartphones (except the Redmi A line and some budget models) have an infrared transmitter, a small black window at the top of the case, which means your phone can send infrared signals just like a regular remote, preinstalled with the official Mi Remote app (in some regions called IR Blaster).
To take advantage of it:
- ๐ฑ Open the Mi Remote app (if not, download from Google Play or AppGallery).
- ๐ Click Add Add the device โ Choose the Television category.
- ๐บ Type your TV brand (e.g. Samsung, LG, Xiaomi TV). If the stamp is not in the list, select Universal.
- ๐ข Follow the instructions on the screen: the app will offer test commands (on, switch channels). If the TV does not respond, try another code from the list.
โ ๏ธ Note: If your Redmi doesn't find the Mi Remote app, check for an IR port. for example, on Redmi Note 11 Pro models+ 5G redmi K50 He's in Redmi. 10A โ For a full list of supported devices, see the table below.
| Xiaomi Redmi Model | Availability of an IR port | Support for Mi Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G | โ Yes. | โ Complete. |
| Redmi 10C | โ Yes. | โ Complete. |
| Redmi 9A | โ No. | โ Not supported |
| Redmi K60 | โ Yes. | โ Complete. |
| Redmi Note 11 (4G) | โ Yes. | โ Complete. |
Method 2: Wi-Fi control (for Smart TV)
If your TV is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your smartphone, you can control it without an infrared port โ through special applications from the TV manufacturer. This method works with Samsung SmartThings, LG ThinQ, Xiaomi Mi Home (for Mi TV) and others. The main advantage is advanced features: running apps (for example, YouTube or Netflix), voice search and even broadcasting the phone screen to TV.
Instructions for Xiaomi Mi TV:
- Install the Mi Home app from Google Play.
- Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (required!).
- Click Add Device โ Select Television โ Follow the hints.
- After connecting to the device menu, control buttons will appear, as well as tabs for setting up sound, pictures and launching streaming services.
For other brands:
- ๐บ Samsung: SmartThings app (allows you to control even the old models of the J and K series).
- ๐ฎ LG: LG ThinQ (supports WebOS 3.0 and later).
- ๐ฅ๏ธ Sony Bravia: Video & TV SideView (works with Android) TV).
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If the TV is not online, check if it has Remote Management or Network Services on its settings. On Samsung, this is the Settings menu โ General โ External Devices.
Method 3: Universal applications (if Mi Remote does not work)
If the Mi Remote app doesnโt work well on your TV (for example, thereโs no code), try third-party solutions, which often include more extensive codebases and additional features like remote learning (when the phone โremembersโ signals from the original remote).
Top.-3 tested applications:
- ๐ AnyMote Universal Remote โ supports more than 900,000 devices, there is a mode of training IR signals.
- ๐ง ZaZa Remote is a simple interface that works even with rare TV brands (for example, Thomson or the other two brands). TCL).
- ๐๏ธ SURE Universal Remote - can control not only TVs, but also air conditioners, projectors.
โ ๏ธ Note: When using third-party apps, turn off battery optimization for them in Xiaomi settings (Settings) โ Annexes โ Permits โ Auto-run; otherwise, the application may fall asleep and stop sending signals.
Make sure the IR port of the phone is not covered with a case | Connect the phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network (for Smart TV) | Charge the phone at least 30% | Check whether the TV is turned on in the socket-->
Method 4: Voice control via Alice or Google Assistant
If you have a Smart TV with voice assistants, you can control it through Alice (for Xiaomi Mi TV) or Google Assistant (for Android TV).
Customization through Alice:
- Open the Alice app on Redmi.
- Say, โFind my devicesโ โ select the TV from the list.
- Now you can give commands like: "Alice, turn on the TV in the kitchen" "Alice, put on pause" "Alice, find the movie "Lord of the Rings" on the KinoPoisk"
For Google Assistant:
- ๐ Say, OK, Google, plug my TV in".
- ๐ฑ Follow the instructions on the screen (you will need to log in to the same Google account as you do on TV).
- ๐ฌ Now you can control your voice: OK, Google, turn on Netflix on your TV".
What teams does Alice understand for Xiaomi Mi TV?
Method 5: Control over HDMI-CEC (for advanced users)
If your TV and Xiaomi Redmi are connected to the same HDMI device (such as the Mi Box or NVIDIA Shield), you can use the HDMI-CEC protocol. It allows you to control all devices in the chain from a single remote control โ in our case, from a phone.
How to set up:
- Connect Redmi to the console via HDMI (via USB-C โ HDMI adapter).
- In the settings of the TV, turn on HDMI-CEC (on Samsung it is Anynet+, on LG it is Simplink).
- Install a console control app on your phone (such as Mi TV Remote for Mi Box).
- Now commands from the phone will be transmitted to the console, and she will control the TV.
โ ๏ธ Note: Not all TVs support HDMI-CEC For example, on some Philips models, this protocol only works for basic commands (On/Off, Volume) but not for running applications.
Solving common problems
Even with the right settings, sometimes there's a failure.-5 errors and ways of correcting them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The phone can't find the TV on Wi-Fi | Telephone and TV in different networks | Connect both devices to the same 2.4 GHz network (5 GHz may not be supported) |
| IR signals don't pass. | Port closed with cover or mud | Rub the IR port with alcohol, remove the case |
| Mi Remote app flies out | Outdated version of the software | Update the phoneโs app and firmware |
| Voice commands are down. | Microphone locked | Check the permissions for Alice/Google in Settings โ Apps |
| The buttons on the screen do not respond | Network delay | Restart router and TV |
If none of these methods worked, check:
- ๐ Charge of the phone (at a low level of the battery, the IR port can be turned off).
- ๐ถ Wi-Fi signal (for Smart) TV There must be a stable connection).
- ๐ Updates to the TV firmware (older versions of the software may not have drivers for remote control).
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If the TV doesn't respond to IR commands, try manually entering the model code. In Mi Remote, click Add manually and specify the make and year of the TV release, which often solves the problem.