The transformation of a standard TV into a full-fledged multimedia center with the Xiaomi Mi Box S does not begin at the time of purchase, but in the first hours of use, when the user realizes the limitations of the embedded software. The regular set of features, although based on Android TV, often seems to be cut off due to regional restrictions and the lack of support for popular local video formats, which is why the question of what programs to install becomes a priority for each new owner of this console.
A well-chosen set of software can fully unlock the potential of hardware, providing 4K HDR content playback, work with external drives and access to extensive streaming services libraries. Without third-party solutions, the device will remain only a basic player, unable to meet the needs of a modern user accustomed to the flexibility of settings and lack of advertising.
In this guide, we will analyze in detail the categories of applications without which it is impossible to imagine comfortable operation of the Mi Box S. You will learn about the best video players, ways to install IPTV, file managers and even game emulators that turn the console into a retro console.
Fundamental players for playing video files
The first thing to start upgrading the software is to install an advanced video player, which Google's regular player often can't handle heavy files, doesn't properly display subtitles, or simply doesn't see audio tracks in formats other than standard. For 4K TV owners, this is a critical step.
The undisputed leader in this niche is VLC for Android. This open source program is omnivorous and plays almost any video and audio formats without the need to install additional codecs. The interface is adapted to control from the remote, which makes navigation through folders convenient even on the large screen.
The alternative is the MX Player, which is famous for its powerful hardware acceleration and flexible subtitles. If you often watch movies from an external hard drive connected to USB, the MX Player will provide the smoothest picture without jerks and delays of sound.
⚠️ Note: When playing files with a bitrate above 100 Mbit / s through USB-It's a port bandwidth limitation, not a processor weakness. FAT32 ExFAT for maximum compatibility.
- 🎬 VLC Media Player is the best choice for playing any formats without settings.
- ▶️ MX Player – ideal for working with subtitles and fine-tuning the image.
- 🎞️ Nova Video Player - perfectly organizes a media library with posters and descriptions of films.
Organization of access to IPTV and online broadcasts
IPTV has long been the standard, and the Xiaomi Mi Box S provides a great platform for receiving it, but you will need a dedicated player app to work with the providers’ playlists, as the built-in features of the TV are powerless here.
One of the most popular solutions is Televizor or OTT Player, which allows you to download playlists in m3u format and structure channels into categories, and an important advantage is the support for the archive of transmissions and the TimeShift function, if your provider provides it.
For users who prefer to watch content through torrent trackers directly on the TV, a bundle of torrent client and player plug-in will be indispensable. For example, installing TorrServe paired with a VLC or a specialized player allows you to open heavy 4K movies weighing 50-80 GB without first downloading.
Installing TorrServe often requires manual downloading of a APK- file, as the app is not in the official Google Play Store on TV versions.The Mi Box S also has versions of YouTube, Netflix (often requiring certification checks), IVi, Okko and other regional services available on the menu, providing quick access to high-quality legal content.
File Managers and External Memory Management
The 8GB internal memory of the Xiaomi Mi Box S is catastrophically small if you plan to install a lot of heavy applications. USB-The storage of a storage device or the use of cloud storage becomes a necessity, and to manage them, you need a high-quality file manager.
The standard Android TV Explorer is functionally limited. It is recommended to install X-plore File Manager or File Commander. These applications provide access not only to local files, but also allow you to connect to network folders (SMB, FTP), which is convenient for streaming video from a computer without copying files.
Special attention should be paid to the ability to install applications from unknown sources. APK-Without it, installing software that is not available on Google Play will be a difficult task.
| Annex | Network support | Interface for TV | Weight (MB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| X-plore | Complete (SMB, FTP, WebDav) | Adapted. | ~15 |
| File Commander | Basic | Adapted. | ~40 |
| Total Commander | Through plugins. | Obsolete. | ~5 |
| FX File Explorer | Complete. | Partially. | ~25 |
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Use a file manager with cache clearing function to free up precious megabytes of internal memory when the system starts to slow down due to overflow.
Browsers and access to web content
While the concept of Android TV involves the use of specialized applications, sometimes there is an urgent need to go to a site that does not have a native application, in such cases, browsers adapted to control from the remote control come to the rescue.
The most stable Mi Box S is TV Bro or Puffin TV Browser, which emulates a mouse cursor, allowing you to interact with elements of web pages that are not designed for navigation buttons, and this is especially useful for watching videos from sites that do not have an application on Google Play.
It is important to understand that full surfing from the remote is tedious. For comfortable work, it is recommended to connect a wireless mouse or use your smartphone as a touchpad through the Google Home app or Android TV Remote Control.
Browsers can also serve as a download tool. APK-You can download files directly to the console, unless you want to use your computer to move installers. You just download the file, open it through the file manager, and install it.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid entering passwords from important accounts through a browser on your TV. Data entry from the remote or via emulation on a smartphone is less secure than on a personal computer.
Gaming opportunities and emulators
The Xiaomi Mi Box S is based on the Amlogic processor, which, while not a gaming monster, is quite capable of pulling retro games and simple casual projects.
To run games, you will need to install emulators, the most popular are RetroArch (a combine for all systems) or separate emulators for Dendy (NES), Sega and PlayStation 1. Control is either via a Bluetooth gamepad connected directly to the console or via a smartphone.
The Google Play Store has a section of TV-optimized games, where you can find chess, strategy and arcades that are convenient to play on the couch, but for serious projects, the processor power may not be enough.
Which gamepads are compatible?
System utilities and optimization
Last but not least, the system utilities are the ones that are important. TV can accumulate debris, and RAM is filled with processes, which leads to a slowdown in the interface.
Sideload Launcher is a lifeline for those who install programs outside of the Google Store, creating a separate folder in the menu for all applications that do not have icons in the main TV interface, allowing them to quickly find and run.
To clean the memory, you can use built-in tools or lighter versions of cleaners, such as Clean Master for Android TV. The main thing is not to overdo the background processes of “protection”, which consume resources themselves.
- 🚀 Sideload Launcher – Mandatory to run hidden applications.
- 🧹 Send Files to TV — fast transfer of files from phone to console over Wi-Fi.
- ⚙️ Android TV Remote – turns a smartphone into a remote with a keyboard.
☑️ Basic set to start
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The main purpose of installing third-party software is to bypass the limitations of the Android TV interface and access content of any formats, turning the console into a universal media center.