Xiaomi’s Translation app: A complete guide to features and setup

If you own a Xiaomi smartphone or tablet, you've probably noticed a mysterious "Translation" item on your pre-installed app list, which many users mistake for watching TV or streaming videos, but it's actually a powerful tool for wirelessly transferring screens to other devices. In an era where multimedia content is consumed simultaneously on multiple gadgets, it's becoming an indispensable tool.

In this article, we will take a closer look at what Xiaomi’s Translation app is, how it integrates into the ecosystem. MIUI, What devices it supports and how to set it up correctly, and we'll focus on the hidden features that aren't written about in the official instructions, and the typical problems and ways to solve them. If you have ever tried to broadcast a smartphone screen on a TV and faced delays or communication interruptions – here you will find the answers.

What is the Translation app on Xiaomi?

The Translation app (Mi Screen Cast or Wireless Display in international firmware) is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for wirelessly transferring images and sound from a mobile device to external screens. Unlike universal standards like Google Cast or Miracast, it is optimized specifically for work in the Xiaomi ecosystem, which provides more stable connectivity and additional features.

The main tasks that Translation solves:

• 📺 Duplication of screen on TVs with Miracast support or DLNA (including Xiaomi models TV, Redmi TV).
• 🎮 Lower latency game mode for streaming games to the big screen.
• 🔊 Transmitting only sound to wireless speakers or soundbars (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Soundbar).
• 📱 Backcast – control of the smartphone from the TV screen (available on some models).

It's important to understand that Translation isn't just a shell for Miracast, but Xiaomi has added proprietary protocols that improve connection stability and reduce latency, such as when streaming video at resolution. 1080p The delay can be as low as 50–80 ms, whereas the standard Miracast often has a delay of more than 150 ms.

Which devices support the Translation app?

The list of compatible devices depends on the version MIUI The table below shows the main categories of technology that the application can work with:

The app works especially well in tandem with Xiaomi TVs, such as Xiaomi. TV Q2 2023 when broadcasting with Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Automatically activated mode (low latency), which reduces lag to 30-40 ms – this is critical for gaming or watching sports broadcasts.

⚠️ Note: Some budget smartphones (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO C31) The Translation app may not be on the menu, and in this case, use alternative methods such as Google Cast via YouTube or third-party apps like ApowerMirror.

How to turn on and configure the screen broadcast?

The setup process depends on which device you are broadcasting the screen to, and consider the most common scenario, which is sending an image to a Xiaomi TV.

Step-by-step:

1. Make sure your smartphone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (preferably 5GHz for less latency).
2. On the TV, go to Settings. → Connection and sharing → Screen Mirroring and turn on standby mode.
3. On your smartphone, open the Translation app (or lower the notification curtain and find the Wireless Display tile).
4. From the list of available devices, select your TV. If you don't have one, click "Update" or check your network settings.
5. Confirm the connection on both devices. PIN-code - enter it on your smartphone.

After successful connection, the smartphone screen will be duplicated on the TV, at the top of the screen will appear control panel with buttons:

• 🔊 Turn off the sound on the phone (the sound will only go through TV).
• 📶 Change the permit (optimum — 1080p Balance quality and productivity).
• 🎮 Enable game mode (reduces latency, but can worsen color reproduction).

Smartphone and TV in the same Wi-Fi network

Screen Mirroring is on TV

Smartphone battery charge > 30%

Background applications (especially messengers) are closed)-->

If the broadcast is interrupted or slowed down, try:

• 🔄 Reconnect to 5 GHz network (if you use 2.4 GHz).
• 📵 Turn off Bluetooth – it can cause interference.
• 🔋 Connect the smartphone to charging (at low charge, the system limits performance).

💡

If the TV doesn’t appear in the list of devices, try manually entering it. IP-address in the Translation app. To do this, go to Settings on TV → On TV. → Network information and copy IP.

Hidden functions of the Translation application

Few people know, but there are some undocumented features in the app that greatly enhance its functionality.

1. Sound Only mode for speakers

If you need to stream music to Xiaomi Mi Soundbar or another speaker without video, follow these steps:

1. Connect the column to the smartphone via Bluetooth.
2. Open the Translation app and select Audio Only (may be called Audio Cast).
3. In the list of devices, select your column.

Now the sound will go through the speaker, and the screen of the smartphone will remain free for other tasks.

2. Reverse broadcast (control of telephone from TV)

On some Xiaomi TVs (e.g. Mi) TV Q1 or Redmi MAX 98" is available reverse control function:

1. Connect your smartphone to TV via Translation.
2. On the TV remote, press the Menu button and select Phone Management.
3. Now you can use the remote control to navigate the smartphone interface.

3. Recording of the broadcast screen

V MIUI 14 and later, it was possible to record what is broadcast on the external screen:

1. Start broadcasting on the TV.
2. In the broadcast control panel, press three points (⋮) and select Record the screen.
3. The video will be saved in the ScreenRecord folder on your smartphone.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even with Xiaomi’s optimized software, users sometimes have trouble streaming, and let’s look at some of the most common bugs and how to fix them.

1.The TV is not displayed in the list of devices

Causes and solutions:

• 🔌 Different Wi-Fi networks – connect both devices to the same network (preferably 5 GHz).
• 🔄 Outdated firmware - update the software on your TV and smartphone.
• 📵 Conflict with VPN — turn off VPN on a smartphone before connecting.
• 🛠️ Miracast service crashes – restart both devices.

2. Image delay (lag)

If video or games are slowing down, try:

• 📶 Switch to 5 GHz Wi-Fi (latency lower than 2.4 GHz).
• 🎮 Enable game mode in the broadcast settings.
• 📉 Reduce the permit to 720p (broadcast-control).
• 🚫 Close background applications that consume the Internet (for example, browser downloads).

3. No sound during broadcast

A common problem, especially when connecting to third-party TVs.

• 🔊 In the broadcast control panel, click "Switch off the sound on the phone».
• 🔄 Reconnect to the TV (sometimes the sound sticks when you first connect).
• 🎧 Check if the headphones are connected to the smartphone (they can intercept sound).

⚠️ Note: On some Samsung TVs or LG Xiaomi’s Translation app may not work properly due to proprietary protocols from manufacturers, in which case use the standard Miracast or Google Cast.

Comparison with alternative methods of translation

Xiaomi’s Translation app isn’t the only way to transfer the screen to an external device, but let’s look at how it compares to competing solutions.

Xiaomi’s Translation app offers minimal latency when working with its own TVs – up to 30ms in game mode, making it the best choice for gamers using a smartphone as a console (for example, with Xiaomi Game Controller).

However, for universal use (e.g., broadcasting on Samsung) TV or LG OLED) You can choose Google Cast or third-party solutions like ApowerMirror that offer greater compatibility.

Security and confidentiality during broadcasting

Transferring the screen of a smartphone to external devices always carries the risk of data leakage.

1. Connection protection

The Translation app uses encryption WPA2 for connection, but:

• 🔒 Avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks (such as at cafes or airports).
• 📡 If you are streaming to a third-party TV (not Xiaomi), make sure it does not have guest mode enabled.
• 🔑 Always confirm the connection through PIN-code if the TV asks for it.

2. What is visible on the external screen?

When broadcasting to the TV, everything that happens on the smartphone screen is displayed, including:

• 📩 Notifications from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).
• 🏦 Windows of banking applications or payment systems.
• 🔑 Entering passwords or PIN-code.

To avoid accidental data leakage:

• 🚫 Close confidential applications before broadcasting.
• 📱 Use the mode of Do not disturb (DND), hide notices.
• 🔄 Turn off the broadcast when it is not needed (even if the screen is locked, some notifications may slip through).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (The Translation app can transmit data without encryption. If you use informal software, check the security settings in the developer menu (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times to activate).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the “Translation” annex»