How to turn on a Xiaomi TV without a remote: a complete guide to managing through your phone

Have you lost or broken your Xiaomi TV remote and left the screen black? Don't rush to buy a new remote or call the wizard - Xiaomi's modern smart TVs (including the Mi TV 4/5 series, Redmi Smart TV and Xiaomi TV A Pro) can be turned on and controlled directly from your smartphone. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to make your TV work without a physical remote, using only your Android or iOS phone.

The main problem with the remote is that the TV will be turned on initially if it is turned off completely. There are nuances here: some Xiaomi models support Wake-on-LAN (wake-up over the network), others require alternative methods like an IR transmitter in the phone or direct connection over HDMI-CEC. We will consider all options, from simple to advanced, including a hidden activation function through the service menu, which is not written in the official instructions.

Important: The methods vary depending on the TV model and the MIUI TV firmware version. If your Xiaomi TV is released before 2019, some methods may not work – check compatibility in the table below.

1. Method: official Mi Remote app (for IR-port TVs)

The most reliable method for models with an infrared receiver (check for an infrared port on the front of the TV - it is usually hidden under a plastic stub). Xiaomi's Mi Remote app emulates the signals of the original remote, including the on button.

How it works:

• 📱 Install Mi Remote from Google Play or App Store.
• 🔍 In the list of devices, select the TV → Xiaomi (for Mi) TV 4A/4S/5 Choose the appropriate model).
• 📶 Point the phone’s IR transmitter (upper end) to the TV and press the Power button in the app.
• ⚡ If the TV doesn’t respond, try restarting the app or changing the model in the settings.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Does not work on TVs without an IR port (e.g. Xiaomi) TV Q2 2023 and newer).
• ❌ Requires direct-of-sight between phone and TV (obstacles block IR signal).
• ❌ On some firmware, the Power button may not work the first time – try pressing 2-3 intervally 1 second-second.

⚠️ Note: If your phone doesn't have an IR transmitter (like an iPhone or Google Pixel), this isn't the right way to go.

2. Method: Control over Wi-Fi and Mi Home application

If your TV is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone, you can use the Mi Home app for remote control, which works even without an IR port, but requires that the TV be turned on at least once (for example, with a button on the panel).

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi Home (Android/IOS) and log in to the same Xiaomi account that is tied to your TV.
2. In the main menu of the app, find your TV (it should appear in the list of devices).
3. Open the TV card and click on the Control icon (or Remote in English).
4. In the virtual remote, press the Power button. If the TV is turned off, it should turn on in 5-10 seconds.

What if the TV is not displayed in Mi Home?

• 🔄 Reconnect the TV to Wi-Fi via the buttons on the panel (click Menu). + Volume Down for 5 seconds to reset the network).
• 📡 Check that the phone and TV are on the same network (for example, both are connected to the Xiaomi Mi Router router).
• 🔧 Update the TV firmware through Settings → On TV. → Updating the system.

Check TV connection to Wi-Fi|Authorize to Mi Home under the same account |Update the Mi Home app to the latest version |Make sure that the phone and TV are on the same network-->

Hidden feature: Some MIUI TV firmware has an undocumented command to force on via Mi Home.

1. Open the TV card in Mi Home.


2. Press three dots (⋮) → "Additional" → "Send command."




3 Type: power_on (without quotes) and send it.

Method: Using HDMI-CEC (if the TV is connected to a console or game console)

HDMI-CEC technology allows you to control your TV through HDMI-connected devices (such as the Xiaomi Mi Box, Apple TV or PlayStation). If your TV supports CEC (usually a feature called Mi Link or Anyview Cast), it can be turned on via the console menu.

How it works:

• 🎮 Connect a set-top box (such as the Mi Box S) to the TV via HDMI.
• 🔌 Turn on the console - the TV should automatically turn on on the signal CEC.
• 📺 If this does not happen, activate it. HDMI-CEC in the settings of the TV (path: Settings) → System system → HDMI-CEC → Turn it on).

⚠️ Note: On the TVs Xiaomi function HDMI-CEC It's often disabled by default. If you haven't activated it before, it won't work without physically accessing the remote or the buttons on the panel.

4. Method: Wake-on-LAN (LAN Awakening)

Wake-on-LAN (WoL) allows you to turn on your TV when you want it to be on even if it’s off.This method works on most Xiaomi models with Ethernet or Wi-Fi, but requires pre-configuration.

Working conditions WoL:

• 🌐 The TV must be connected to the router via cable (LAN) Wi-Fi (on some models, WoL only works on cable).
• 🔧 Wake-on-LAN must be enabled in the settings of the TV (Settings) → Network → Additionally. → Wake-on-LAN).
• 📱 The phone must have an app installed to send Magic Packet (like Wake On Lan for Android or Mocha). WOL iOS).

Instructions for setting:

1. Find out. MAC-TV address (can be found on the back sticker or in network settings).
2. In the application for WoL on the phone enter MAC-address IP-TV address (if static).
3. Send Magic Packet – the TV should turn on within 10 seconds.

Challenges and solutions:

• ❌ WoL doesn't work on Wi-Fi? connect the TV to the router with a cable LAN.
• ❌ Does the TV not respond? check if the Wake-on-LAN feature is enabled in the settings BIOS TV (available only through the service menu).

💡

If you have a Xiaomi router, you can set up automatic waking of the TV on a schedule through the Mi WiFi app.

5. Method: Bluetooth connection (for new models)

Xiaomi’s 2022 and newer TVs (like the Xiaomi TV Q2 or Redmi Smart Fire TV) support Bluetooth control, which means you can connect the phone as a virtual remote without the need for an IR transmitter or Wi-Fi.

How to connect:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone.
2. Press the Menu button on the TV panel for 5 seconds to activate pairing mode.
3. In the list of available devices on the phone find MI-TV-XXXX (where XXXX — last-minute MAC-address).
4. Connect and use standard commands (like Google’s TV Remote app).

Limitations:

• ❌ It only works on Bluetooth 5.0 TVs.+ (Check the model specifications).
• ❌ Requires the TV to be on standby (not completely off).

6. Method: Service menu and hardware buttons (if nothing helps)

If all previous methods fail, you can reset or activate through the service menu, which is suitable for advanced users and requires caution.

How to turn on the TV through the buttons on the panel:

• 🔘 Press and hold the Power button on the back of the TV during the 10-15 In some models, it is hidden under the logo).
• 🔄 If the TV doesn’t respond, try the Menu combination. + Volume Up (hold 5 seconds).
• 🛠️ To reset to factory settings, use Menu + Volume Down + Power (hold 10 seconds).

Access to the service menu:

1. Turn off the TV with a button on the panel.


2. On the remote (or via the virtual remote) press sequentially:




Menu → 1 → 3 → 9 → Menu




3. In the service menu, select "Power On Default" and set "Enable".

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect actions in the service menu may result in the loss of warranty or inoperability of the TV.Do not change the settings unless you are sure of their purpose.

💡

Resetting the TV to factory settings will delete all installed apps, accounts and personal data, and use this method only as a last resort.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions