If you own a Xiaomi smartphone or tablet, youβve probably noticed a program called Mi Video on the app list. Many users wonder what the app is, why itβs needed, and can it be removed? In this article, weβll go through all aspects of Mi Video, its capabilities, hidden features, and alternatives.
At first glance, Mi Video seems like a regular video player, but in fact it is a powerful tool with integration into the Xiaomi ecosystem: the program not only plays local files, but also interacts with cloud services, supports streaming video and even offers content recommendations. However, not all users like its presence - especially those who prefer third-party players like the one that is not available. VLC or MX Player.
In this guide, you will learn how Mi Video works, what formats it supports, how to customize an app to suit your needs, and what to do if it slows down or doesnβt open files, and we will also tell you how to completely remove it from your smartphone β if you are determined to get rid of a standard player.
What is Mi Video and Why You Need It on Xiaomi
Mi Video is a standard video playback app preinstalled on all Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO. It is part of the package of branded services MIUI It replaces Googleβs universal player (e.g. Google Play Movies, now called Google). TV).
The main objectives of the programme are:
- π¬ Playback of video files from the memory of a device or microSD card.
- π Streaming content from the Internet (in some regions).
- βοΈ Sync with Mi Cloud Cloud Storage to access video across devices.
- π Automatic scanning and categorization of video files by folder.
- πΊ Chromecast and Miracast support for TV broadcasts.
The difference between Mi Video and third-party players is deep integration with the video. MIUI. For example, an app can automatically create thumbnails for video in a gallery, offer quick access to the latest files viewed, and even analyze user preferences for recommendations. Many people complain about automatic playback of ads in some versions of the app (especially in regions with limited support).
It's important to understand that Mi Video is not just a player, it's part of the ecosystem, and it's closely linked to other Xiaomi services like Mi Account, Mi Cloud, and even Mi Home (for smart device management). TV, You can stream video from your smartphone directly to the big screen without additional apps.
What video formats support Mi Video
One of the key issues when choosing a player is compatibility with video formats. Mi Video supports most popular extensions, but there are nuances.
| Type of content | Supported formats | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Video files | .mp4, .mkv, .avi, .mov, .flv, .3gp, .wmv | No problem with it. H.264 and H.265 (HEVC). |
| Audio tracks | .mp3, .aac, .flac, .wav, .ogg | Multi-channel audio support depends on the device model. |
| Subtitles | .srt, .ass, .ssa, .sub | Automatic identification of the encoding (including: UTF-8 and CP1251). |
| Streaming video | HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), DASH | It only works with supported services (e.g. Mi Video Online in China). |
| VR 360Β° | .mp4 (spherical-video-marked) | Requires a gyroscope in the device for full viewing. |
Despite the wide list, Mi Video may not be able to handle some rare codecs, such as DivX or Xvid in high resolution, in which case the video will either not play or will go with artifacts, the solution is to install a third-party codec (for example, through the use of a third-party codec). MX Player) or convert a file.
It is also worth noting that support 4K and HDR It depends on the hardware capabilities of your device, for example, on budget models of Redmi video in resolution. 3840Γ2160 It can be played with jerks, even if the format is supported.
β οΈ Note: If Mi Video doesnβt open a file with the.mkv extension, try renaming it to.mp4. Sometimes the problem lies in the wrong container labels, not in the codec itself.
How to use Mi Video: basic features and hidden features
At first glance, the Mi Video interface seems simple, but it has some useful features that many people don't know about.
- π Automatic Sorting: The app itself finds all the videos on the device and divides them into folders (Downloads, WhatsApp, Camera, etc.).
- π Content Search: You can search not only by file name, but also by tags (e.g., βtravelβ or βfamilyβ) if they were added manually.
- π± Control gestures: Swipe up/down adjusts brightness, swipe left/right rewinds. Double tap - pause/playback.
- π Sound setting: There is an equalizer with presets (Cinema, Music, Voice) and the ability to manually adjust.
- π Night mode: Automatically reduces brightness and blue light in the dark.
One of the most useful hidden features is the Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode, which allows you to roll up a video into a small window and continue watching while you're working on other applications.
- Open the video in Mi Video.
- Press the Home button (or swipe up for multitasking).
- The video will automatically roll up into a floating window.
The size of the window can be changed by dragging corners, and the position - moving around the screen.
Another little-known possibility is to create playlists, which is handy if you watch TV shows or training videos a lot and don't want to manually search for the next episode.
- Press your finger on the video in the main menu.
- Select Add to Playlist β Create a new one.
- Give me a name and add other files.
Disable automatic playback in settings|
Enable default subtitles|
Activate the "Do Not Disturb" mode during viewing|
Set up control gestures for yourself-->
Mi Video problems: why not play video and how to fix it
Despite optimizing for MIUI, Mi Video sometimes doesn't work well. Here are the most common problems and their solutions:
- π« Video won't open: Check if the format is supported (see table above). Install a third-party codec (e.g, MX Player Codec. Rename the file by removing the special characters from the title.
- π’ Video slows or tears: Close the background applications that consume resources. Lower the resolution in the player settings (Settings) β Playback quality: Move the file to the memory card if the internal memory is overloaded.
- π No sound: Check if the audio is turned off in the video itself (sometimes the tracks are turned off by default); Reboot the device, which sometimes helps with the failure of the audio driver; try playing the file in another player to prevent file damage.
- π± App crashes: Clear the cache (Settings) β Annexes β Mi Video β Warehouse β Clean the cache. Update the app through the Play Market or App Store. Reset the player settings to standard.
If none of these things worked, try resetting your media settings.
- Go to Settings β Applications β Application Management.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset app settings.
- Confirm the action and restart the device.
This procedure will reset all default permissions and settings, but will not delete personal data.
β οΈ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (Mi Video can block the playback of files with pirated content. If you see a message saying "This video can't be played", try renaming the file or using it. VPN.
How to turn on debugging mode in Mi Video
How to remove Mi Video from Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions
If you're determined to get rid of a standard player, there are several ways to remove it, but keep in mind that Mi Video is a system application, and removing it can affect stability. MIUI.
The safest method is to disable (not completely delete):
- Go to Settings β Applications β Application Management.
- Find Mi Video in the list and open its page.
- Click Disable (or Remove Updates if the button is active).
This hides the app from the menu and stops it from working, but doesnβt delete files completely.
For complete removal, root rights or use will be required. ADB. Instructions through ADB:
- Connect your phone to your PC and turn on Debugging USB (Settings β The phone. β Version. MIUI β 7 times to press to unlock the developer settings).
- Download Platform Tools from Google and open the command line in the adb folder.
- Enter the command: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer
- Reset the device.
After that, Mi Video will disappear from the system, but can return after a reset or update. MIUI.
β οΈ Warning: Removing system applications may cause malfunctions MIUI, Especially if you're using features like Quick Ball or Second Space, which depend on standard services!
π‘
If after deleting Mi Video, video files from the gallery stop opening, install any third-party player (for example, VLC) and select it as the default application for formats.mp4 and.mkv.
Mi Video Alternatives: Which Players Are Best for Xiaomi
If the standard player doesnβt suit you, there are plenty of options with advanced features. Here are the best options for Xiaomi:
| Player. | Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|---|
| VLC | Supports all formats, no advertising, there is an equalizer and network flow. | The interface is overloaded, sometimes slowing down on weak devices. |
| MX Player | Lightweight, fast, supports gestures and hardware acceleration. | The free version has advertising, some codecs require additional installation. |
| Kodi | Ideal for media library, supports plugins and streaming TV. | Difficult for beginners, high consumption of resources. |
| nPlayer | Minimalist design, support DLNA Chromecast. | A paid version is required for some functions. |
| Google TV | Integration with YouTube and Google Cast, content recommendations. | Not all formats are supported, Google Account requires. |
If you are interested in privacy, pay attention to MPV β It's an open source player that doesn't collect user data, and it's down to the lack of a nice interface, but it works even on very old devices.
For online content lovers, TeaTV or Stremio are a good choice, as they aggregate videos from multiple sources (including torrents) and allow you to watch movies without downloading. However, beware: these apps may violate copyright laws in your country.
π‘
If you watch high-resolution videos often (4K HDR), Choose a player with hardware decoding support (for example, MX Player or VLC with Hardware acceleration enabled).
Mi Video and privacy: What Xiaomi knows about your videos
Many users worry that Mi Video can collect data about the content they view, so letβs look at whatβs being transferred to Xiaomi and how to disable it.
By default, the application collects the following information:
- π Usage statistics: How often you open the player, duration of views.
- π File Tags: Video and folder titles (but not the content itself!).
- π Regional data: Country, interface language, device model.
- π Reproduction errors: Failure logs to improve stability.
Important: Mi Video does not send the video files themselves to Xiaomi servers, but can analyze tags and titles for personalized recommendations. If this is a concern, disable data collection:
- Open Mi Video and go to Settings.
- Choose Privacy.
- Disable items: Send error reports Personalized recommendations Use analytics
For full control, you can block the application's access to the Internet:
- Go to Settings. β Annexes β Mi Video β Mobile data.
- Turn off background traffic and Wi-Fi.
This will not prevent local reproduction, but will prevent the statistics from being sent.
β οΈ Note: In Chinese versions MIUI (For example, on smartphones for the domestic market, Mi Video can have advanced data collection, including content analysis for censorship. If you use such a device, we recommend replacing the player with an alternative player.