Why Xiaomi remote may require detachment and when it is necessary
Xiaomi’s remote controls — whether for Mi TVs, Mi Box consoles, or projectors — typically connect via Bluetooth or infrared, but users will eventually have to untie the remote from the device, which may be necessary in several cases:
First, if you sell or transfer a TV/set-top box to another person, it makes sense to remove all the interface devices, including the remotes. Second, if you lose the remote or break the remote, the new remote may not connect until the old one is untied. Finally, there are situations where the remote starts to glitches — it sends commands arbitrarily, doesn't respond to presses, or conflicts with other devices.
It is important to understand that the detachment procedure differs depending on the type of connection (Bluetooth or IR) and device model. For example, for the Mi TV 4S and Mi Box S, the algorithms will be different. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from standard settings to hidden engineering menus.
Method 1: Untie the remote via Bluetooth menu (for Mi TV and Mi Box)
The most obvious method is to remove the remote from the list of Bluetooth devices, which works for most modern Xiaomi TVs (starting with the Mi TV 4) and Mi Box consoles (including the S and 4K models).
- Turn on the TV or console. If you don't have a working remote, use physical buttons on the device body (usually Power + Volume).
- Go to Settings → Devices → Bluetooth (on some models, the path may look like Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
- In the list of conjugate devices, find your remote. It can be called Mi Remote, Xiaomi RC or have a model (for example, RC122).
- Select the remote and press Remove or Forget the device. Confirm the action.
After that, the remote will be untied and can be re-embedded (if necessary).Please note that some Mi TV firmware may require a reboot of the device after removing the remote.
⚠️ Note: If the Bluetooth menu does not have a remote, it means that it is connected via an infrared channel.
Make sure the TV is connected to the network.
Check the battery charge of the remote (if it is still working)
Prepare a spare remote or mouse with Bluetooth (in case of lockdown)
Remember or take pictures of the current sound and image settings-->
Method 2: Reset TV settings (full uncoupling of all remotes)
If standard Bluetooth deletion doesn't work or the remote is stuck, a full reset will help, which will remove all associated devices, including remotes, but also erase personal data (accounts, installed apps, image settings), use it only as a last resort.
Instructions for Mi TV and Mi Box:
- Open Settings → About TV → Reset settings (or Settings → System → Reset for consoles).
- Select Reset all settings (not to be confused with Reset sound/image!).
- Enter. PIN-code (by default 0000 or 1234 if you have not changed it).
- Confirm the reset and wait for the reboot (it will take 2-5 minutes).
To connect the new remote, press and hold the Home + Back (or Menu + OK for IR remotes) buttons for 5-10 seconds until the indicator lights up.
What if the TV doesn’t respond to the buttons after resetting?
| Model of the device | Combination for remote reset | Retention time |
|---|---|---|
| Mi TV 4/4S/4A | Home + Back | 5-7 seconds |
| Mi Box S / 4K | Menu + OK | 10 seconds. |
| Mi Projector | Power + Volume Up | 8 seconds |
| Mi TV Stick | Home + Volume Down | 12 seconds |
Method 3: Uncoupling the IR panel (infrared)
Remotes with an IR connection (for example, Xiaomi Mi Remote RC111) do not appear in the Bluetooth menu, because they work on a different principle: to untie such a remote, you need to reset its settings or reprogram the TV.
Option 1: Resetting the remote
- Remove the batteries from the remote for 10 minutes.
- Hold the Power + Volume Up buttons on the remote for 15 seconds (no batteries!).
- Put the batteries back in and check if the TV is responding.
Option 2: Reprogramming the television
On some Mi TV models, you can reset the IR receiver through the engineering menu:
Settings → About TV → Software Version → Click 5 times on “Software Version” → Engineering menu → IR Reset⚠️ Note: Do not confuse an IR remote with Bluetooth! If the remote has a Bluetooth sign or it connects without directing to the TV, use Method 1.
Method 4: Uncoupling through the Mi Home app (for smart devices)
If your TV or Xiaomi is connected to the Mi Home ecosystem, you can control the remotes via a mobile app, which is convenient if physical access to the device is limited.
Instructions:
- Open the Mi Home app on your smartphone and select your TV/set-top box.
- Go to the device settings → Accessories.
- Find your remote in the list and click Delete.
- Confirm the action via SMS or password from your Xiaomi account.
After deleting the remote will be untied from the account, but may remain in the memory of the TV. To completely reset, perform Method 2.
💡
If the remote is not displayed in Mi Home, try updating the TV firmware. Go to Settings → About TV → System Update and install the latest version of the software.
Method 5: Update the firmware to reset pairings (advanced)
In rare cases, the remote can be "hard" tied to the TV at the firmware level - for example, after a failed update or failure, in which case a forced software update via USB will help.
You'll need:
- 📁 A flash drive. FAT32 (32GB).
- 🔗 Official firmware for your model (download from Xiaomi Support website).
- 🖥️ Computer to unpack archives.
Steps:
- Download the firmware (file with.zip extension) and unpack it.
- Copy the firmware file (usually update.zip) into the root of the flash drive.
- Put the flash drive in. USB-television-port.
- Go to Settings → About TV → Update via USB and select a file.
- Wait until the update is complete (don’t turn off the TV!).
Once rebooted, all the connected devices, including the remotes, will be reset, and this technique also helps if the TV is stuck on the logo or not responding to commands.
💡
Updating the firmware via USB is the only way to return the TV to work if it does not turn on due to a failure of the interface of the remote.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When you untie the remote, you often have typical problems, and here are the most common ones and the ways you can solve them:
- 🔄 Remote not removed from Bluetooth: Try first to turn off and turn on Bluetooth in the TV settings, then try again. If it doesn't work, reset the network (Settings) → Network → Resetting network settings).
- 🔋 TV doesn't respond to buttons after undocking: Connect USB-keyboard or use the Mi Remote app on your smartphone as a temporary remote.
- 🔌 IR remote not reset: Check if the IR port is closed (usually located in front or bottom of the TV.
- 📱 Mi Home app doesn't see TV: Make sure the TV and smartphone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.Reboot both devices.
If none of these methods worked, it may be a hardware malfunction on the remote or Bluetooth module of the TV, in which case, contact the Xiaomi service center.