Xiaomi's remote control from a TV has stopped responding to pressing, and there's no spare one at hand? Don't rush to buy a new one - check the health of the old one with your smartphone first. Modern phones (even budget models) are equipped with infrared ports (IR) or support special applications for testing remotes. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to diagnose a malfunction without visiting a service center.
The methods will work for all Xiaomi TV lines, from Mi TV 4A to the flagship Mi QLED TV 75 and Mi TV P1. The main thing is to properly prepare the phone and take into account the nuances of the check. For example, the IR port of the smartphone should be aimed precisely at the TV receiver, and the room should not be bright sunlight that interferes with the infrared signal.
If the remote doesn't respond at all, it might not be the remote control that's the problem, but the contaminated IR receiver on the TV or the settings that are lost, and we'll tell you how to rule out those factors and determine if the remote is to blame, and if it turns out to be broken, we'll tell you how to temporarily control the TV through your smartphone until you buy a replacement.
1. IR port check on the phone: are the devices compatible?
Before you download apps, make sure your smartphone supports infrared data transmission, a feature that is not available in all models – it is often removed from flagships (for example, in the iPhone or Google Pixel), but saved in budget and mid-budget devices.
How to check for an IR port:
- 🔍 Look at the top of the phone, look for a small black window (usually next to the front camera or speaker.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Connected devices → Infrared port (the path may differ depending on the firmware).
- 🛠️ Use applications like this. IR Tester (Android) – they automatically detect the presence of an IR module.
Important: Even if you have an IR port, it can be turned off in the energy saving settings. Before the test, activate it manually.
If there is no IR port, don’t despair – there are alternative ways to check (see sections 3 and 4), and iPhone owners will have to do without an infrared test – Apple has not installed an IR port in their smartphones since 2017.
2. Applications for testing the remote: TOP-3 utilities
If you have an IR port on your phone, you have to download a specialized application, and we tested dozens of programs and selected the 3 most reliable ones:
| Annex | Platform | Features | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Remote Controller | Android | The official app from Xiaomi, supports all models of the TV brand. | Google Play |
| IR Tester | Android | It shows the strength of the IR signal in real time, suitable for any remote control. | Google Play |
| AnyMote Universal Remote | Android/iOS | A universal codebase solution for 900+ brands, the paid version unlocks advanced features. | App Store / Google Play |
How to check the remote with Mi Remote Controller:
- Install the application and allow access to the camera/microphone (needed for scanning the IR signals).
- Select the menu Add device → TV → Xiaomi.
- Point the remote to the IR port of the phone (distance – 2-5 cm) and press any button.
- If there's a signal, you'll see a graph of peaks on the screen (like a cardiogram), and if there's no, the remote is faulty.
⚠️ Attention: Some applications (e.g, IR Tester) require calibration before first use. Follow the hints on the screen - otherwise the test may show a false result.
Download the application from the official store|Enable the IR port in the settings|Charge your phone at least 30 times%|Remove the protective film from the IR port (if any)-->
3. Alternative method: check through the camera of the phone
If you don't have an IR port on your phone, you can use a front-facing camera or a main camera, and you can't see infrared light in the human eye, but it's captured by the sensors on most smartphones, and it works even on an iPhone!
Step-by-step:
- Open the standard Camera app on your phone.
- Direct the remote control to the camera lens (distance - 1-3 cm).
- Press and hold any button on the remote (e.g., Power or Volume+).
- If the remote is working, you will see a shimmering purple or white glow on the phone screen (like a flashlight).
This method doesn't give you a 100% guarantee, because some cameras have IR filters, and if there's no glow, try another phone or go back to the app method.
⚠️ Warning: Bright sunlight or daylights may interfere with the test.
Why does the camera see an IR signal but the eye doesn’t?
4. IR-free diagnostics: checking contacts and batteries
If previous methods didn't work, the problem could be a mechanical malfunction of the remote.
- 🔋 Remove the batteries and test them with a tester or replace them with new ones.
- 🧹 Clean the contacts of the battery compartment with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Oxidation is a common cause of inoperability.
- 🔍 Look at the IR emitter on the remote (the small window at the top) if it's contaminated or covered with a sticker, clean it carefully.
- 💧 Check if the remote has been hit by fluid, and corrosion on the board may interrupt the circuit.
If after cleaning the remote has worked, but the signal is weak, try to reflash it through the Mi Remote Controller application (Update the firmware of the remote in the device menu).
How to check the buttons with a multimeter:
If you have a multimeter, you can ring the button chain:
- Transfer the multimeter to resistance testing mode (200 ohms).
- Connect the probes to the contacts of any button (for example, Power).
- Press the button, if resistance drops to 0, the contact is good. If not, the button is faulty.
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If there is no multimeter at hand, use the "Test of diodes" mode - when you press the button, an audio signal should be heard.
5. Television control via telephone: temporary remote replacement
If the remote is broken and the new one hasn’t been purchased yet, you can control the Xiaomi TV directly from your smartphone, with official and third-party apps.
Method 1: Mi Remote (for Android)
Method 2: Google Assistant or Alice
If the TV is connected to your Xiaomi account, you can use voice commands:
Okay, Google, turn on Mi TV in the kitchen.
Alice, pause on the TV.⚠️ Attention: For voice control, the TV must be connected to the Internet and have the latest firmware version. Check this in the Settings menu. → On TV. → Update of the PO.
6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
When checking the remote, users often make the same mistakes, and this can distort the test results:
- 📱 Incorrect position of the phone: the IR port should be directed exactly to the remote (and vice versa).°.
- 🔦 Bright lighting: Sunlight or halogen lamps clog the IR signal. Test in a dark room.
- 🔋 Discharged batteries: Even if the remote flashes when you press the buttons, the discharged batteries can block the signal transmission.
- 🛠️ Failed TV settings: If the TV doesn't respond to a serviceable remote, reset it to factory settings (Settings) → System system → Reset).
If you did everything right, but the remote still doesn't work, it could be because the IR receiver on the TV malfunctioned, and to check that, point your phone's camera at the receiver and press the button on the remote -- if there's a signal (seems to flicker), but the TV isn't responding, there's a problem with the TV.
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If the remote is working, but the TV does not respond, check the settings of the IR receiver in the Settings menu → Devices → Remote DU. Perhaps the signal reception function is disabled.