What player to install on Xiaomi Mi Box S: comparison, installation and settings

Xiaomi Mi Box S is one of the most popular Android TV-Music and Video often can't handle playing heavy formats, network streams or local files from external drives. Choosing the right media player can dramatically improve the viewing experience: from support 4K HDR Dolby Vision and Dolby Vision until smooth playback MKV multichannel.

In this article, we will analyze 5 Best players for the Mi Box S (including Kodi) 20 "Nexus", VLC 3.6 and MX Player Pro, compare them on key parameters - from codec support to ease of control from the remote - and give step-by-step instructions for installation (including through the use of codecs). APK and ADB). Particular attention will be paid to solving typical problems: stuttering video, lack of sound in the video. AC3/DTS and brakes when reproducing with NAS or USB 3.0.

If you are looking for something for movies, a tool for working with local collections, IPTV Or online cinemas – here you will find proven solutions with the limitations of the Mi Box S (Amlogic processor). S905X, 2 GB of RAM).

Top.-5 Players for Xiaomi Mi Box S: comparison of capabilities

The choice of player depends on your tasks, for example, Kodi is ideal for organizing a media library with metadata. VLC It can handle raw streams and corrupted files better. Below is a key setting comparison table.

The Mi Box S: The Amlogic processor S905X It does not support hardware decoding AV1 And some Dolby Vision profiles, and if you want these formats, consider alternatives like the Nvidia Shield.

For most users, the best choice is Kodi (for media libraries) or MX Player Pro (for simplicity) If you need to play "complex" files with minimal settings — VLC remain out of competition.

How to install a player on Xiaomi Mi Box S: 3 ways

Installing players on the Mi Box S has nuances due to the limitations of Android TV. For example, Google Play may not show some apps (like Google Play). MX Player, and installation APK It requires permission to unknown sources.

Method 1: Installation via Google Play (the easiest)

Most of the players are available on Google Play, but they are TV-The versions may be different from mobile, VLC Android TV It has a simplified interface compared to the smartphone version.

1. Open Google Play on the Mi Box S.
2. In the search, enter the player name (for example, Kodi).
3. Select the version marked "For Android" TV".
4. Click Set and wait until it is completed.

Problem: Some applications (e.g, MX Player Pro) may not appear in search. Solution is to use the web version of Google Play on PC:

1. Go to play.google.com from your computer.
2. Find the right player and click Install.
3. Select your Mi Box S from the device list.

Method 2: Installation APK via file manager

If the player is not in Google Play (for example, a modified version of Kodi or a beta build) VLC), can be installed APK manually, for this purpose:

Include "Unknown Sources" in Settings → Security

Download APK on USB-cloud-storage

Install a file manager (for example, FX File Explorer)

Connect USB Open the cloud in the manager-->

1. Download. APK Player from the official website (for example, kodi.tv for Kodi).
2. Transfer the file to USB-storage device (formatted in FAT32) Upload to the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox).
3. Connect the drive to the Mi Box S or open the cloud through the browser.
4. Use a file manager (for example, FX File Explorer to find and run APK.
5. Confirm the installation and wait for completion.

⚠️ Attention: Installation APK From unverified sources, you may be infected with malware. download files only from official sites or trusted repositories (e.g. APKMirror).

Method 3: Installation via ADB (for power users)

The method is suitable for installing players without a graphical interface (for example, server versions) or if the Mi Box S does not recognize the device. USB.

1. Turn on the debugging. USB In the Mi Box S settings: Settings → The device → About the programme → Assembly number (click 7 times) Settings → The device → For developers → Debugging by USB
2. Connect boxing to PC via USB (use the port USB 2.0 on PC for stability).
3. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder.
4. Open the command line in the folder with ADB and execute: adb devices adb install path to file.apk

💡

If the Mi Box S is not defined by ADB, Try to disable/enable debugging or use another USB-Also check that the developer settings include Debugging by USB (safe-haven).

Kodi setup on Xiaomi Mi Box S: optimization for 4K and network disks

Kodi is the most functional player for the Mi Box S, but it needs to be set up properly to avoid the brakes when playing. 4K HDR or work with NAS. Below are the key parameters.

1. Enabling hardware acceleration

By default, Kodi can use software decoding, which leads to stuttering, to activate hardware acceleration:

1. Go to Settings. → Player. → Video.
2. In the Acceleration section, select: Video Decoding: MediaCodec (Surface) Video Output: MediaCodec (Surface)
3. Enable the option to Allow hardware acceleration (DXVA).

2. Network disk configuration (SMB/NFS)

If your films are stored on NAS or PC, connect the folder as the source:

1. Go to Videos. → Files. → Add a video.
2. Select the Review → Add network storage.
3. Specify protocol (SMB or NFS) and enter data: Server: 192.168.1.100 (IP yours NAS) Username: Your login Password: Your password General folder: films

⚠️ Note: When connecting to SMB Windows 10/11 You may need to enable guest access or use a Microsoft account. In Windows settings, go to Control Panel → Programme programmes → Turning Windows components on or off and activating File Sharing Support SMB 1.0/CIFS (If the old version of the protocol is used).

3. optimization for Dolby Vision and HDR

Mi Box S supports the support HDR10 Dolby Vision, but you need to play it correctly:

• 🔧 B Settings → System system → Screen and sound to enable Dolby Vision.
• 📺 In Kodi go to Settings → Player. → Video and select: Color range: Limited (16-235) Color space: BT.2020
• 🎬 For Dolby Vision files, use Profile 5 profile (it is best supported by Mi Box S).

💡

If Dolby Vision video is played in green, it means that the TV or receiver does not support this profile. HDR10 Disable Dolby Vision in the Kodi settings.

Solving problems: stuttering, lack of sound, brakes

Even with a properly configured player, there can be problems on the Mi Box S, and below are the typical bugs and ways to fix them.

1.The video is braking or hanging

Reasons:

• 🔋 Insufficient resources (2 GB of RAM Mi Box S may not be able to cope with 4K HDR + DTS-HD).
• 📶 Slow network connection (when playing with the NAS cloud).
• 🛠️ Incorrect settings of codecs in the player.

Decisions:

• 🔄 In Kodi, reduce the cache buffer: go to Settings → Player. → Video → Cash and set buffer size: 100MB.
• 📡 Connect the Mi Box S to the router via Ethernet cable (via USB-to-Ethernet adapter, as there is no built-in port in the box).
• 🔧 V MX Player select Software Decoder (in playback settings) – this will reduce the load on the processor.

2. No sound in AC3/DTS

Mi Box S does not support hardware decoding DTS-HD MA TrueHD, but can transmit them over the HDMI passthrough format (if your receiver or TV supports these formats).

Setup in Kodi:

1. Go to Settings. → System system → Sound.
2. Install: Audio output: HDMI Number of channels: 7.1 Enable passthrough: Yes Passthrough formats: DTS, AC3, E-AC3, TrueHD, DTS-HD
3. Save the settings and restart Kodi.

⚠️ If there is no sound, check if your TV supports or AV-The receiver's formats are selected. For example, many budget TVs don't decode. DTS-HD, and it needs to be recoded into AC3 (This can be done in Kodi through the sound settings).

3 The player can't see the external disk (USB or SD)

Mi Box S supports the support USB 2.0 and microSD, but there may be problems with the:

• 📁 File system (only) FAT32, exFAT or NTFS).
• 🔌 Insufficient power (for 2.5′′ hard drives, a Y cable may be required).
• 🔒 Access rights (Android) TV Can block access to the root of the disk).

Decisions:

• 🔧 Format the disk in exFAT (supports files) >4GB).
• 📌 Connect the drive via an externally powered hub if the Mi Box S doesn't recognize it.
• 🔓 In Android settings TV Allow access to the disk: Settings → The device → Warehouse → [Disc name] → Allow access.

IPTV Online Cinemas: Which Players Support

Not only are you looking at local files, but you are also looking at IPTV Or streaming services, the player's choice is narrowed. Below are the best options for different tasks.

1. Kodi + plug-ins (for IPTV and torrent streaming)

Kodi supports the installation of plugins for:

• 📡 IPTV (through PVR IPTV Simple Client).
• 🎬 Torrent streaming (Elementum or Quasar plugins).
• 🌍 Online cinemas (such as The Crew or Seren for premium content).

How to set up IPTV Kodi:

1. Install the plugin PVR IPTV Simple Client through Settings → Supplements → Install from the repository → Kodi Add-on repository → PVR clientele.
2. Download. M3U-Playlist from your provider IPTV.
3. In the plugin settings, specify the path to the playlist (you can download from Google Drive or local drive).
4. Restart Kodi and open the section TV.

2. VLC (for direct flows and M3U)

VLC open-minded M3U-playlists and play direct streams (HTTP, RTMP). For that:

1. Copy the link to the playlist or stream.
2. V VLC select the Net. → Open up. URL.
3. Insert the link and click Replay.

3. TiviMate (specialized) IPTV-player)

TiviMate is one of the best players for IPTV Android TV. Its pluses:

• 📺 Support EPG (television).
• 🎚️ Flexible interface settings (change the size of channel logos, color schemes).
• 🔄 Ability to record broadcasts to an external disk.

How to install TiviMate:

1. Download. APK from the official website Tivimate.com.
2. Transfer the file to Mi Box S and install it through the file manager.
3. Add a playlist in format M3U or XSPF.

Alternative means: DLNA, Plex and Cloud Players

If you don’t want to install players on the Mi Box S itself, you can play content through the device. DLNA, Plex or cloud services. Let's look at the pros and cons of each option.

1. DLNA (via built-in player or Kodi)

DLNA Allows you to stream content from PC, NAS Or a smartphone without a direct drive connection:

• 🖥️ On the PC, turn it on. DLNA-Server (in Windows, this is done through the Control Panel) → Network parameters → Multimedia streaming).
• 📺 On the Mi Box S, open Kodi or Google Play Play Player Music and Video.
• 🔍 In the Network or UPnP section, find your PC and select a file to play.

⚠️ Note: The built-in Mi Box S player does not support many codecs through the DLNA. For reproduction MKV or DTS Use Kodi or VLC.

2. Plex (for transcoding media libraries)

Plex is a server solution that transcodes video on the fly under the capabilities of the Mi Box S.

• 🎞️ Automatic format conversion (e.g., format conversion, DTS-HD into AC3).
• 📱 Sync between devices (you can start the movie on your phone and continue on TV).
• 🔍 Convenient interface with covers and descriptions.

How to set up Plex:

1. Install Plex Media Server on PC or NAS.
2. Add the movie folders to the Plex library.
3. Install Plex for Android TV on the Mi Box S.
4. Log in and select a server to play.

3. Cloud players (Google Drive, Mega, Yandex Disk)

If your files are stored in the cloud, you can play them directly through:

• 🌥️ Kodi with Google Drive or WebDAV plugin.
• 📁 VLC (Supports opening files via direct link).
• 🔗 Built-in Mi Box S File Manager (but only for basic formats).

💡

To play with Google Drive in Kodi, use the Google Drive Kodi plugin. It allows you to mount the drive as a local folder, but requires authorization via OAuth (the instructions are on GitHub).

FAQ: Frequent questions about players on Xiaomi Mi Box S