Installation of "viewers" - applications for viewing IPTV, Movie theaters or streaming platforms — Xiaomi TVs often raise questions from users. TV cannot be installed APK-Files from unknown sources, and the official Google Play store is not on most models, but you can circumvent these restrictions by legal means without risking a guarantee.
In this guide, we will discuss 5 proven methods for installing applications such as PeersTV, Kodi, SS IPTV or TiviMate on Xiaomi TVs of all generations (including Mi TV 4S/5X/6 Pro and Redmi Smart TV). Particular attention will be paid to bypassing APK installation lock through ADB debugging, the only way for models with MIUI TV 3.0+ firmware, where developer mode is disabled. All instructions are current for 2026 and tested on the latest versions of the software.
1. TV Preparation: Turn on Developer Mode
Before installing any "viewbars" you need to activate hidden settings for developers. Without this step, most methods will not be available. The procedure is the same for all Xiaomi TV models except for the Mi TV Stick (it requires a separate algorithm).
Follow the following steps:
- 📺 Go to Settings. → On TV. → Version. MIUI TV.
- 🔄 Quickly click on the line with the software version (7-10 once, until the notice "You became a developer" appears!".
- ⚙️ Return to the main settings menu - there will be a new item "For developers".
- 🔓 Enable options: Debugging by USB (ADB) — for installation via computer; Unknown sources for manual installation APK; Stay active – so that the screen does not go off during the setup.
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi TVs with firmware MIUI TV 4.0+ (Post-2022) may not be available under the "Unknown Sources" clause. ADB (section).
If the Unknown Sources option did not appear after activating the developer mode, check:
- 🔄 Update your TV firmware to the latest version via Settings → System system → Update of the PO;
- 📋 Make sure your model supports third-party installation APK (For a list of incompatible models, see the table below).
Method 1: Installation via file manager (for MIUI TV up to 3.0)
The easiest method is to download APK-file USB-drive and install it through the built-in conductor. Works on Xiaomi TVs until 2021 (firmware) MIUI TV 2.0–3.0).
Step-by-step:
- Download. APK I'm looking at the computer: 🌐 PeersTV (version for Android) TV); 🌐 Kodi (choose) ARMV7A or ARM64 model-wise); 🌐 SS IPTV (Only for TVs with Google Play).
formatted in FAT32
📺 Connect the drive to USB-television-port.
File manager
🔍 Find it. APK-You can click on the file and confirm the installation.
If you click on the APK error "Installation is blocked", do:
☑️ What to do if APK not installed
⚠️ Attention: Some Xiaomi models TV (Like Mi. TV Q1E 2023 - Blocking the installation APK Even when the developer mode is on, in which case, use it. ADB (section 3) or Send Files to TV (section).
| Model Xiaomi TV | Support for Unknown Sources | Need an ADB? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi TV 4S (2018–2020) | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | The flash drive method works. |
| Mi TV 5/5X (2020–2021) | ⚠️ Partially. | ⚠️ Sometimes. | Depends on the firmware version. |
| Redmi Smart TV X (2021–2022) | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | Requires ADB or Send Files to TV |
| Mi TV Q2/Q1E (2022–2026) | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | Locking at firmware level |
Method 2: Installation via ADB (for new models)
If your Xiaomi TV is released after 2022, the most reliable way is to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that bypasses firmware restrictions and works even on the Mi TV 6 Pro with the latest version of MIUI TV 4.0.
You'll need:
- 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux;
- 🔌 USB-cable (to connect TV to PC) or shared local area network;
- 📦 Utility. ADB Tools;
- 📱 APK-Application file (e.g., PeersTV).
Instructions:
- 📥 Download and unpack. ADB Tools on the computer.
- 📺 On the TV, turn on: Debugging by USB (ADB) in the developer settings; Debugging over the network (if you connect over Wi-Fi).
- 🔌 Po Po Po USB: use the cable USB-A → USB-A (not micro-USB!);
- 📶 On Wi-Fi: Write down IP-TV address from the section About TV → State of the network.
- 🖥️ Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux) file ADB and do: adb connect [IP_television]:5555 For USB-Connections: Adb devices (the device should appear) Xiaomi_MiTV).
- 📤 Install. APK command: adb install path to file.apk Example: adb install C:\Downloads\peers.tv.apk
Advantages of the method:
- ✅ Doesn't require a computer;
- ✅ Works on MIUI TV 4.0+;
- ✅ Supports files up to 2GB.
Disadvantages:
- ❌ Slower than ADB;
- ❌ It may not work on some Redmi Smart firmware TV.