Turning a typical TV panel into a full-fledged multimedia center is one of the main reasons for buying Xiaomi’s Android TV Box. However, basic firmware, even in the latest versions of MIUI for TV, often limits the user to a pre-installed set of programs that do not always meet real needs. The owner of the device faces the issue of expanding the functionality immediately after the first turn on, wanting to access content that is not in the official Google Play Store.
The Android TV ecosystem offers great opportunities, but requires a smart approach to choosing software. Installing redundant or poorly optimized programs can lead to slowdowns in the interface, especially on models with little RAM. So it is important to understand which utilities are really necessary for comfortable operation and which are better to ignore. In this article, we will discuss the list of mandatory software, how to install it and the finerities of system configuration.
The main difficulty is that many popular smartphone apps are not adapted to control the remote. Trying to run a regular version of the program can turn navigation into chaos, where the mouse cursor runs around the screen and the remote buttons stop responding, which is why priority is given to versions marked TV or Android TV, which have a special interface sharpened for the large screen and remote control.
Installation of third-party applications and APK-file
The first step for any advanced user is to install applications from sources outside the official Google Store. Android's standard security system blocks the installation of programs from unknown sources by default, which requires prior preparation. You'll need a file manager and a way to transfer installation files to the console.
First you need to load on the prefix. APK-This can be done through the built-in browser, if any, or using an external drive. The most universal method is to use the Send Files to utility. TV, which allows you to transfer files over a local network from a computer or smartphone directly to the TV.
- 📂 Download. APK-files of necessary programs on a computer or smartphone.
- 📡 Install the Send Files to app TV on both devices (TV and phone/PC).
- 📥 Transfer files over Wi-Fi and start the installation directly from the program interface.
After the file is transferred, the system will request permission to install from unknown sources. You will need to go to Settings → Security and Restrictions → Unknown Sources and activate the switch for the file manager or bootloader used. Without this step, installing third-party software is impossible.
⚠️ Attention: Install APK-files from verified sources, such as 4PDA, APKMirror or official developer sites. Files from questionable forums may contain malicious code that could steal your Google account details.
An alternative and safer way to expand the toolkit is to install alternative app stores, a niche that is dominated by Aptoide TV, which is fully adapted to the TV interface and contains thousands of apps that may not be in Google’s official directory or not available in your area.
The installation of Aptoide TV similar to the installation of any other APK-Once you're up, the store will offer you a quick sign-up or a guest, and the interface is completely remote controlled, and the search allows you to find programs by voice input or text query, which makes it much easier to find specific software without having to search every time. APK browser-wise.
☑️ Preparation for software installation
Multimedia players and codecs
Xiaomi’s regular video player is often unable to play all existing video file formats, especially when it comes to heavyweight video files. 4K-Rips with bitrates above 100 Mbps or specific audio tracks. To unlock the potential of the console hardware, you need to install a third-party media player that takes over stream decoding, bypassing the limitations of system software.
The undisputed leader in this category is VLC It's a free, open-source player that supports almost every known video and audio codec out of the box, and it doesn't require a complicated setup: just specify the folder with the files on the connected device. USB-the drive or local network, and the library of media files will be generated automatically.
For more demanding users who value image and sound quality, Kodi is perfect. It's not just a player, but a whole multimedia platform. Kodi allows you to install skins that change the appearance of the interface, plug-ins for streaming, weather and news. However, it is worth considering that the Kodi interface can be heavyweight for older Xiaomi consoles with 1 GB of RAM.
Another great option is the MX Player, which is famous for its powerful hardware acceleration, which allows smooth video playback even on weak devices. An important feature of the MX Player is excellent support for external subtitles and the ability to fine-tune the audio stream, including volume normalization and multichannel audio.
| Annex | Type of license | Support for codecs | Interface. |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLC for Android | Free of charge. | Full (all formats) | Minimalist |
| Kodi | Free (Open Source) | Full + Plugins | Complicated, customizable |
| MX Player | Freemium | High (requires codec packs) | Clear, functional. |
| Nova Video Player | Free of charge. | Tall. | Modern, TV-oriented |
When choosing a player, you should pay attention to support HDR And Dolby Vision. Not all programs correctly display dynamic range, which can lead to faded images or, conversely, overlights. VLC Kodi in the latest versions cope with the transfer perfectly. HDR-Content on compatible TVs.
How to solve the problem of desynchronization of sound and video?
File Managers and Networking
Without a quality file manager, internal memory and connected storage management USB-Xiaomi's standard conductor often hides system folders or doesn't know how to work with network resources. To work properly, you'll need an application that supports protocols. SMB, FTP and DLNA.
One of the best solutions is the X-plore File Manager, which is designed as a two-panel folder tree, which is extremely convenient for moving files between internal storage and a flash drive, it can mount network drives, work with cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive), and even has a built-in video and music viewer.
The alternative is File Commander or Solid Explorer (although the latter is more touchscreen-focused, on TV works with restrictions), File Commander offers a more modern and simple interface, convenient for quick file search. It automatically scans the network and finds shared folders on computers and NAS-storage, which makes it easier to access the media library without using USB-cable.
- 🔍 Support for archives: ZIP, RAR, 7z for unpacking downloaded files.
- 🌐 Network Protocols: Access to folders on PCs through SMBv1/v2/v3.
- ☁️ Cloud: Integration with Yandex.Disk and Google Drive for streaming video directly.
Special attention should be paid to configuring access to network resources. If your computer and console are on the same Wi-Fi network, the file manager on the TV will be able to see the shared folders of the PC, to do this, Windows needs to enable network discovery and provide access to the desired folder through the properties of shared access.
⚠️ Note: When connecting to network resources, avoid using the protocol SMBv1, Because it has security vulnerabilities, modern file managers default to using the same security. SMBv2 or SMBv3, Older routers or older versions of Windows may have compatibility issues.
For users who plan to actively download content directly to the console (for example, through torrents), a file manager will not be enough. You will need to install a specialized client such as Torrent Stream Commander or Flud. These programs allow you to download files or stream them on the fly, bypassing the full download stage.
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Use an external hard drive with its own power to store the media library. Xiaomi's built-in console memory is often limited 8 GB, of which only about 4-5 GB, which will quickly end when installing heavy games and 4K-film.
Screen broadcasting and DLNA-server
Often, you have to bring content from your smartphone, tablet or laptop to the big screen. Android TV’s built-in Cast function works well, but it’s not always stable with iOS or Windows devices. Third-party solutions are used to expand the capabilities.
AirScreen is one of the most popular solutions for receiving signals using the AirPlay, Miracast and Google Cast protocols. It turns your Xiaomi console into a universal receiver, allowing you to broadcast the screen of your iPhone or iPad without delays and artifacts, and this is especially true for viewing photos or videos from applications that do not support direct TV output.
If your goal is to have a home media server where the console distributes content to other devices, you'll need server applications. Although Xiaomi has built-in DLNA, it's limited. Installing Serverless DLNA or using Kodi's built-in capabilities (UPnP mode) allows you to open up access to console files to other TVs or media players on the network.
An important aspect is the stability of the Wi-Fi connection: when broadcasting the screen in high resolution (1080p and above), high channel bandwidth is required. If the router is far away or operates in the congested range of 2.4 GHz, image twitching and sound desynchronization are possible.
It is convenient to use the Chrome bundle (on PC) and the built-in Translation feature in the console menu to stream browser tabs from your computer. However, for more advanced management, such as running YouTube on your phone and switching playback to TV (Connect feature), both devices must be logged in to the same Google account or on the same network.
Memory Cleanup and System Optimization
Android TV tends to slow down over time, due to cache accumulation, file system fragmentation, and auto-run background processes. Unlike smartphones, there is no way to just swipe all applications, so you need specialized tools to maintain the system.
The leader in this area is TV App Repo or specialized versions of cleaners adapted for the remote, such as Clean Master for Android TV (with caution, as it can contain advertising) or lighter analogues like Sideloader with cleaning functions. However, the best solution is often built-in cleaning function in the system settings or using Send Files to TV in conjunction with manual cache removal.
Special attention should be paid to controlling the boot. Many installed programs prescribe themselves to start-up, consuming RAM even when it is turned off (standby mode). To manage this process, you can use utilities such as Disable Service (requires root or ADB rights), but for the average user it is safer to simply turn off unnecessary applications in the Settings → Applications menu.
Regularly restarting the console is a simple but effective method of maintaining performance, recommended at least once a week, and if the remote does not have a separate shutdown button, you can use a voice command or install an assistant app that adds a reboot button to the menu.
- 🗑️ Cache Deletion: Regularly clear the cache of heavy apps (YouTube, browsers).
- 🚫 Disabling system applications: Do not remove Xiaomi system components unless you are sure of their purpose – this can lead to a “bootloop” (cyclical reboot).
- 🔄 Resetting: In case of critical slowdown, perform a full reset to factory settings.
It's important to understand the difference between cleaning up cache and cleaning up data. Cache cleaning is secure and deletes temporary files. Data cleaning resets the application to a "just installed" state, removing all your logins, settings and saves. Be careful when using these features.
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The most effective way to speed up Android TV is to not overload the start page with widgets and regularly remove unused apps, freeing up internal memory.