How to Find a Lost Xiaomi TV Remote: Search, Alternatives and Replacement

Losing the remote from a Xiaomi TV is a frustrating but fixable situation. Unlike other brands, Mi TV devices are often lost due to compact size and minimalist design without bright accents. However, don’t rush to buy a new one: 80% of the time the remote is within a radius of 5 meters from the TV, and if the search is unsuccessful, Xiaomi has built-in solutions for controlling without a physical remote.

Xiaomi’s modern smart TVs (Mi TV 4S, Mi TV Q1, Redmi Smart TV, etc.) support alternative ways of controlling: via smartphone, voice commands, or even gestures. In this article, we’ll discuss system search methods (including hidden TV features), software alternatives to the remote and hardware solutions – from connecting a keyboard to buying a universal remote, and if you’re sure that the remote is lost irrevocably, we’ll tell you how to save on replacement.

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1.System search: where to look for a remote from Xiaomi TV

Start with logical search zones: Xiaomi remotes often fall into the crevices of the sofa, roll under furniture or remain in the pockets of clothes.

• 🛋️ Between pillows and in the crevices of the sofa/armchair – especially if the remote is small (like the Mi). TV Stick).
• 📦 In food or shopping packages, remotes are often accidentally wrapped in bags.
• 🧺 Under carpets or behind curtains - if the remote fell from a height, it could bounce far.
• 🚗 Car or bag – if you have recently transported a TV.

Use your smartphone flashlight to search in dark corners: Xiaomi remotes often have a glossy surface that reflects light. If you have a robot vacuum cleaner in your home (like the Xiaomi Mi Robot), check its garbage container – remotes often get there because of its light weight.

🔍 Professional lifehack: Take a second remote control (like an air conditioner) and press any button on it, listening to a click. TV — This will help you detect it by sound if it is buried under furniture.

⚠️ Note: Do not use metal objects (such as wire) to search in narrow slits - you can damage the IR transmitter of the remote or buttons.

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2.How to turn on a Xiaomi TV without a remote

If you're not successful and your TV is off, don't panic. Most Xiaomi models (except the Mi TV Stick) have a hardware on button.

• 📺 Below or side of the body (in models Mi) TV 4A/4S/4X) — usually under the logo.
• 🔄 Behind, next to the connectors (at Mi). TV Q1/Q2 Redmi Smart TV).
• 🔌 On the power supply (old models, for example, Mi). TV 3S).

The button may be:

• 🔘 Mechanical (pressed with a click).
• 🔲 Touch (reacts to touch, like on a smartphone).

Once turned on, the TV will automatically connect to the last used Wi-Fi network (if it was not reset).If the screen catches fire but no response to the buttons, check if the child mode is activated (we will discuss it below).

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3. Virtual remote: control from a smartphone

The most reliable way to control Xiaomi TV without a physical remote is to use the official Mi Remote app (available for Android and iOS), which supports all models of the brand’s TVs, including Redmi and Mi TV Stick.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi Remote from Google Play or App Store.
2. Connect your smartphone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network (required!).
3. Launch the app, select Television → Xiaomi.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to pair (may need to enter) PIN-TV-code).

📱 Alternative annexes:

• 🤖 Google TV (Android-based TV 9+) — allows you to control your voice.
• 🍎 Apple TV Remote (if the TV supports AirPlay).
• 🌐 Unified Remote – universal remote with support for Xiaomi.

If the TV is not connected to Wi-Fi, use the smartphone's IR port (if any).

1. Turn on the IR transmitter in the settings of the smartphone (section Additional → Infrared port).
2. In Mi Remote, select the IR connection (Icon) 📶 substitute 🔦).
3. Point your smartphone at the TV and check the reaction.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi) TV 4S 55") after resetting, the IR port is turned off. To activate it, you need to go to Settings. → Devices → Remote and select Enable IR receiver.

Install Mi Remote|Connect to the same Wi-Fi network|Turn on Bluetooth (for some models)|Check the battery charge of the smartphone-->

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4.Voice control and gestures

Xiaomi TVs with Android TV 9.0 and higher support voice control via Google Assistant or built-in Xiao AI.

• 🎤 On the remote (if it still works), press the microphone button (or say, "OK, Google").
• 📱 Using a smartphone: say, OK, Google, turn on Xiaomi TV" (Television and phone should be on the same network).
• 🖥️ On some models, the Mi TV Q2) voice assistant activated by gesture - swipe your hand from top to bottom in front of the motion sensor.

Commands for control:

🤚 Gesture control is available on models with a camera (Mi). TV Q1 75" and newer). To include:

1. Go to Settings → Devices → Motion sensors.
2. Activate the hand gesture option.
3. Follow the calibration instructions (you will need to wave your hand in front of the TV).

After setting up, you will be able to:

• 👋 Switching channels – moving your hand left/right.
• 👆 Adjust volume - up/down movement.
• ✋ Going back - a sharp movement of the palm to yourself.

💡

If the voice assistant is not responding, check the microphone in the settings of the TV (Settings → Voice Search → Microphone Sensitivity). Sometimes it helps to restart the TV (hold the power button for 10 seconds).

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5. Connecting a keyboard, mouse or gamepad

If you have USB-Keyboard, wireless mouse or gamepad (such as from Xbox or PlayStation), can be used to control the TV. This works on all Xiaomi models with Android TV.

Connection methods:

• 🔌 Wired devices - connect to USB-TV port (usually located on the side).
• 📶 Bluetooth devices:

Keyboard combinations for control:

⚠️ Not all keyboards support multimedia keys (F1-F12). If the volume is not adjusted, use the mouse - the cursor can be got stuck over the menu elements and click.

🎮 Gamepads (such as Xiaomi Game Controller) are suitable for gaming, but are inconvenient to navigate the menu.

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6. Buying a new remote: original vs universal

If all the attempts to find or replace the remote have failed, you have to buy a new one.

1.The original Xiaomi remote

• ✅ Pros: full compatibility, support for all features (voice search, Xiao) AI, gesture).
• ❌ Cons: high price (from 1,500 to 3,000) ₽), Long wait for delivery (if ordered from AliExpress).

Where to buy it?

• 🛒 Xiaomi official store (mi.com) - the guarantee of the original.
• 📦 AliExpress is cheaper, but the risk of running into a fake (check reviews).
• 🏬 M-Video, Eldorado - sometimes available.

2. Universal remote

• ✅ Pros: cheaper (from 300) ₽), suitable for multiple devices.
• ❌ Cons: may not support voice control or Xiao AI.