Lost the remote from the Xiaomi TV? 7 proven ways to control without it

Loss or breakage of the remote from the Xiaomi Mi TV TV — The situation is unpleasant, but not critical, and the brand's smart TVs now support several alternative controls that many users don't even know they have. Unlike older models, where without a physical remote, the TV turned into a “brick”, smart TVs Xiaomi (including the Mi series) TV 4A/4S/4X/5/5X/Q1/Q2) You can control it via a smartphone, voice commands, universal remotes, or even hidden hardware buttons.

The key is not to panic and try to disassemble the TV for a “secret power button” (it’s not there!). 90% of the time, the problem is solved in software in 5-10 minutes. In this article, we will discuss all working methods, including those that are not described in the official documentation of Xiaomi.

1. Control of the Xiaomi TV via smartphone (official app)

The most reliable and versatile way is to use the Mi Remote Controller app (formerly Mi TV Remote), which works with all Xiaomi TV models released after 2018 and does not require root rights or complex settings.

How to set up:

• 📱 Download Mi Remote Controller from Google Play or App Store.
• 🔍 Launch the application and select Add Device → Television → Xiaomi.
• 📶 Make sure the TV is on (if switched off, use the physical power button on the case).
• 🔗 Click Connect and wait for sync (can take up to 30 seconds).

If the TV is not online, try the direct connection mode:

1. On the TV, go to Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Direct (or Miracast on older models).
2. Enable the function and remember the network name (e.g. MiTV-123456).
3. On your smartphone, connect to this network (password is usually not required).
4. Start the Mi Remote Controller and reconnect.

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If the app doesn't find the TV, check if the router's firewall or power saving mode on your smartphone is blocking access. On Android, add the app to the battery optimization exceptions.

2.Alternative applications for managing Xiaomi TV

If the official Mi Remote app is not running smoothly (e.g., on older Mi TV 3S or Mi TV 4A 32 models), third-party solutions can be used, and they often support advanced features such as volume control through gestures or voice commands.

Top.-3 tested applications:

To connect through third-party applications:

1. Find out. IP-TV address in network settings (Settings) → On TV. → Network status).
2. Enter this IP in the application settings (Section Add Device → Manual Connection).
3. If you need a port, use the standard 5555 or 3702 (for ADB).

3.Voice control: Alice, Google Assistant and built-in assistant

All Xiaomi Android TVs (Mi TV 5/5X/Q1/Q2) support voice control via built-in assistant or external services, which is convenient if the remote is lost but the TV is on, and the main condition is the presence of a microphone (built-in or connected via USB/Bluetooth).

Methods of activation:

• 🎤 Xiaomi's built-in assistant: Say "Hi, Xiao" AI" (on Chinese firmware) or press the microphone button on the screen (if displayed).
• 🤖 Google Assistant: Hold the Home button on the virtual remote in the Mi Remote app or say “OK, Google” (if you have a microphone connected).
• 🗣️ Alice from Yandex: connect the TV to the smart speaker (Yandex Station) through the skill “Smart home".

Commands for control (examples):

- "Turn on Netflix on TV"


- "Grow volume by 20%."




- "Switch to HDMI 1"




- "Switch off the TV in 30 minutes."

Limitations: Voice control works only for basic functions (channel switching, volume control, application launch) and for fine-tuning (e.g. color calibration) you will need a virtual remote.

4. Universal remotes: how to pick up and configure

If your smartphone is not available or you prefer a physical remote, you can use universal IR remotes. They work with most Xiaomi TV models, as they use standard NEC or RC5 protocols. The main thing is to choose a remote with infrared port support (not all modern models have one!).

The best options for Xiaomi TV:

• 🔘 Xiaomi Mi Universal Remote – official remote from Xiaomi, supports up to 10 devices, including air conditioners and audio systems.
• 🔘 BroadLink RM4 Pro – universal remote with Wi-Fi support and IR/RF, smartphone-controlled.
• 🔘 One For All URC 7940 – budget version with a code base for Xiaomi.

How to set up a universal remote:

1. Turn on the TV (use the power button on the body).
2. On the remote, hold the Setup (or Set) button until the indicator flashes.
3. Enter the code for Xiaomi TV (usually 0178, 0180 or 0515).
4. Check the power and volume buttons.

Check the availability of code for Xiaomi in the instructions

Turn on the TV before setting up

Test all buttons (some may not work)-->

Importantly, on the Mi TV Q1/Q2 models with Bluetooth remotes (without an infrared port), the universal remotes will not work, in which case only a smartphone or voice control will remain.

5. Hidden hardware buttons on Xiaomi TV

All Xiaomi TVs have hardware control buttons that duplicate the core functions of the remote, located on the bottom or side panel of the case (usually under the Mi logo), which will help turn on the TV or open the menu, even if the remote is lost.

Location and function of buttons:

How to use:

1. Find the Power button (usually marked with a dot or power icon).
2. Hold it for 3-5 seconds to turn on the TV.
3. Switch to the desired input (HDMI, TV) with Volume or Source buttons.
4. With the Menu (or Home) button, open your settings and connect to Wi-Fi for further control from your smartphone.

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On the Mi TV Q2 2023, the hardware buttons are touch-sensitive – press them with a light effort, but without sudden movements, so as not to damage the panel.

Note: on some models (e.g. Mi TV 4S 55), the buttons are hidden under a removable lid. To access them, gently tuck the panel with a plastic card.

6. Control over HDMI-CEC (if other devices are connected)

If the TV is connected to the device via HDMI (Android TV, game console, sound bar), you can use the HDMI-CEC protocol to control, this feature allows you to control the TV through the remote of the connected device (for example, Xiaomi Mi Box or PlayStation).

How to turn on HDMI-CEC:

1. On the TV, go to Settings → Devices and Accessories → HDMI-CEC.
2. Enable the option to Manage via HDMI (or Anynet+/Bravia Sync, depending on the model).
3. On a connected device (such as the Mi Box), activate a similar feature in the HDMI Control settings.
4. Use the remote of the connected device to control the TV (Power, Volume, Source buttons).

Limitations:

• ⚠️ Not all remote features will be available (e.g., color or sound mode settings).
• ⚠️ Some Xiaomi models TV HDMI-CEC It only works with Xiaomi devices (e.g. Mi Box S).
• ⚠️ After updating the firmware function may reset – check the settings after updates.

7. Resetting and flashing (extreme case)

If none of the methods worked (e.g., the TV is not turning on, or the network settings are reset), you can perform a hardware reset, which will return the TV to the factory settings, but will delete all installed apps and accounts. Use this method only as a last resort!

How to reset your settings:

1. Turn off the TV with a button on the body.
2. Press the Menu (or Home) button on the control panel and, holding it, turn on the TV with the Power button.
3. Hold Menu for 10-15 seconds until the Recovery Mode appears.
4. Select Wipe Data/Factory Reset using the Volume buttons for navigation and Power buttons for confirmation.
5. Wait for the reset to be completed (it will take 2-5 minutes).

Attention! After the reset, the TV will request a reset of the Wi-Fi. If you don't have a remote, pre-prepared your smartphone with the Mi Remote app or universal remote.

If the reset didn't work (for example, the TV was getting stuck on the Mi logo), you'll need to flash it over USB.

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi support site.
2. Unpack the archive and copy the update.zip file to the flash drive (FAT32 format).
3. Put the flash drive in. USB-port of the TV and press the Menu button + Power for 10 seconds.
4. From the recovery menu, select Apply update from USB.

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Flashing over USB deletes all data, including app licenses (Netflix, Disney+).

FAQ: Frequent questions about lost Xiaomi TV remote