What apps can be installed on a Xiaomi TV: full guide

Xiaomi TV owners often face the challenge of expanding the functionality of the device immediately after buying it. The standard set of pre-installed software covers only basic needs, such as watching on-air TV or running popular streaming services. However, the Android TV operating system, on which most modern models are based, opens up almost limitless possibilities for installing additional software.

Installing apps can turn your TV into a full-fledged multimedia center that can play content from any source, work with files and even be used for simple games. It is important to understand that the installation process can vary depending on the regional version of the firmware and the specific device model, whether it is a budget Xiaomi Mi TV Stick or flagship Master Series.

In this article, we will discuss in detail what programs are available for installation, how to circumvent the limitations of the built-in store and what alternative methods exist for advanced users.

Built-in features and Google Play Store

The first and most obvious source of software is the pre-installed Google Play Store. On Xiaomi’s Google-certified TVs, the service is stable and offers thousands of apps adapted to control from the remote. The store’s interface is optimized for large screens, which provides comfortable navigation.

You can find all the major streaming platforms, such as Netflix, YouTube, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video, music listening services, weather widgets and simple games, and the main advantage of the official site is the guarantee of compatibility and automatic updates of installed programs.

⚠️ Note: If your TV does not have Google Play service or it does not work properly, this may mean that the device is intended for the Chinese market and has global firmware installed by the seller.

To find the right software, you just need to use the built-in search bar or the voice assistant Google Assistant, and the system itself will offer relevant options, filtering out applications that do not support remote control, which protects the user from installing programs that will not be possible to use.

List of popular categories of applications available in the official store:

• 📺 Cinemas: IVI, Okko, More.tv, Movie Search.
• 🎵 Music: Yandex.Music, Spotify, SoundCloud.
• 🎮 Games: Asphalt, Crossy Road, simple arcades.
• 📂 Utilities: File Managers, Browsers, VPN-service.

It’s important to note that some apps may not be available in your region due to geographic limitations, in which case the store simply won’t show them in the SERPs, and the solution to this problem lies in changing your Google account settings or using additional tools.

Install applications from unknown sources (APK)

If the built-in directory is not enough, users often resort to installing applications manually through the APK-This method allows you to install programs that are not in the official store, or versions that are not available in your region, and this requires a file manager and the source of the files themselves, such as a flash drive or cloud storage.

Before starting the process, you need to allow installation from unknown sources. In modern versions of Android TV, this is done for each application separately. You need to go to Settings → Security and Restrictions → Unknown sources and activate the switch for your file manager or browser.

Settings → Device → Security → Unknown sources → Allow for “File Manager”

After obtaining access rights, download the necessary APK-You can send a file to your computer or directly to your TV through your browser, and then open the file through your File Manager and follow the installer's instructions, and the system will alert you to potential risks, but it's safe for trusted sources.

⚠️ Attention: Install APK-files from trusted resources, such as 4PDA Files from questionable sources may contain malicious code that can disrupt the system.

Special attention should be paid to the version of Android installed on your TV. Apps developed for Android 11 or Android 12 may not work properly on older versions of the system. It is also important to check the processor architecture (usually ARM), although this is rarely a problem for Xiaomi TVs.

Table of compatibility of popular applications with installation methods:

Use of alternative stores: Aptoide TV

When standard Google Play doesn’t meet a user’s needs, an alternative app store, Aptoide TV, comes to the rescue, a dedicated platform specifically designed for Android TVs, and offers a huge catalog of programs, many of which are absent from Google’s official ecosystem.

Installation of the Aptoide TV produced APK-A file that you have to pre-load onto your TV, and once installed, the interface of the store will be very simple and adaptable to large screens, and you can easily find modified versions of popular services or specific utilities.

One of the key features of Aptoide is that it can roll back versions of apps, and if it starts to run unstable after an update, you can easily return the previous version, a unique feature that the standard Play Store doesn't have.

While Aptoide does app checks, the risk of encountering poor software is higher than in the official store. Always read reviews and pay attention to the permissions requested.

Advantages of using Aptoide TV:

• 🚀 Access to thousands of apps not available on Google Play.
• ⏪ Ability to install old versions of programs.
• 🌍 No regional restrictions on content.
• 🔄 Independently Update Applications bypassing System Restrictions.

It is worth noting that some applications may require data entry to log in, and doing so from the remote can be inconvenient. In such cases, the Google Gboard feature or connecting a regular computer mouse through the help of a computer. USB-port.

Setup of the file manager and work with memory

For comfortable management of installed applications and files on the Xiaomi TV, a quality file manager is needed. Standard Android TV tools are often limited in functionality, so users prefer to install third-party solutions such as X-Plore or File Commander.

These utilities allow you not only to view the contents of internal memory and connected USB-You can also access files on your computer over a local network (SMB) Or set up a connection to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox.

⚠️ Note: When you delete system files through the file manager, you can disrupt the operating system. Only delete files that you are 100 sure of origin%.

Control of free space is an important aspect: TVs’ built-in memory is often limited (8GB or 16GB) and is quickly lacking, and regular cache cleaning and removal of unused applications help keep the system running.

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Use the "Storage Analyzer" feature in file managers to visually see which folders take up the most space. Often the main memory eaters are YouTube cache and temporary browser files.

To transfer files to the TV, it is convenient to use the Send Files to app. TV. It allows you to quickly move. APK-file or video from your phone to a large screen without using a flash card, working over a local Wi-Fi network.

The main features of advanced file managers:

• 📁 Support for archives ZIP, RAR, 7Z.
• 🌐 Access to FTP, SMB, WebDAV servers.
• 📦 Managing installed applications (deletion, backup).
• 🎬 Built-in player for playing video formats.

Remember, when you're working with a file system, the TV can get hot, and that's normal, but if you're doing long-term copying of a lot of data, you should give the device a break.

Specificity of Chinese versions and global firmware

Owners of Xiaomi TVs bought on AliExpress or imported from China often face the lack of Google Play Store and the presence of only a Chinese interface. Global firmware installed by the seller does not always solve the problem completely, as system certificates may not be available.

This requires manual installation of Google services, a process that is more difficult to install than an APK, and may require a keyboard and mouse, and you need to download the Google Services Framework that is compatible with your TV's Android version.

Once you install the system components, add a Google account through the settings menu, and if you log in successfully, the Play Store will be available for downloading and installing apps, but in some cases, you may need to reset your TV settings to the factory settings.

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Installing Google services on the Chinese version of TV is a risky procedure, and an incorrect version of the framework can lead to a cyclical device restart (bootloop).

The alternative is to use launchers such as ATV Launcher or FLauncher, which replace the standard interface with a more familiar European user and allow shortcuts to be displayed on the home screen of any installed applications, even if they are not adapted for TV.

Frequent problems with Chinese versions:

• ❌ Lack of support for Widevine L1 (no 4K Netflix).
• ❌ Impossibility of installing safety certificates.
• ❌ Problems with voice search and remote control.
• ❌ Chinese system applications that cannot be removed.

Before you buy a TV in China, weigh the pros and cons. Saving money can result in a loss of time to set up and the lack of guarantee of some services.

Optimization and management of installed programs

After installing many applications, the TV can start to work slower, due to a lack of RAM and filling the cache. To optimize the work of Xiaomi TV, it is recommended to regularly clean and remove unused software.

Use built-in system tools or third-party utilities to clean up memory. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications allow you to see a list of all installed software, location and version. Here you can force the process to stop or clear the data.

You can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to manage applications from your computer, which is an advanced method that requires connecting your TV and PC to the same network and activating developer mode, and allows you to remove even system applications that cannot be removed by standard methods.

adb connect 192.168.1.XX


adb uninstall com.package.name

Don't install antiviruses on your TV, as you would expect, because on Android TV, they're almost useless and they're just consuming your system, and you just need to be digitally hygienic and not download files from suspicious sources.

If the app stops responding or doesn't work properly, try clearing the cache first. If that doesn't work, delete it and reinstall it. In extreme cases, if the problem starts after you install a program, consider resetting it before you set it up.

Regular maintenance extends the life of the device and provides a comfortable user experience. Don’t ignore the system updates offered by the manufacturer, as they often contain security patches and application optimization.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)