How to turn on a Xiaomi TV without a remote: the full manual for controlling through the phone

Why Xiaomi TVs don’t turn on without a remote and what to do about it

The situation is familiar to many: you get a seat in front of a Xiaomi Mi TV 4A, Mi TV 5 or Redmi Smart TV in the evening, but the Suddenly remote disappears in an unknown direction. The first thought is panic: how now to turn on the device if all the control buttons are hidden behind the touch panel or not at all? In fact, the manufacturer has provided several alternative ways of activating, and most of them do not require the purchase of a new remote.

Xiaomi’s modern smart TVs support remote control via mobile devices, LAN connectivity, and even voice commands. The key is to know which method will work for your model and firmware version. In this article, we’ll look at 5 working ways to turn on a TV without a physical remote, from standard solutions to little-known life hacks, and find out why sometimes these methods don’t work and how to fix typical bugs.

Before proceeding to the instructions, check two key points: 1 Make sure the TV is plugged in and the power indicator (usually a red or white LED) is on or flashing. 2) If the indicator is not active, the problem may be in the power supply - in this case, repairs are necessary.

If the light is lighting up, but the TV does not respond to the buttons, read on.

Method 1: Mi Remote app – official solution from Xiaomi

The most reliable and versatile method is to use the Mi Remote app (formerly Mi TV Remote), which works with all Xiaomi Mi TVs, Redmi TVs, and even some other brands, and emulates an infrared remote, but to do so, the TV and phone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

How to set up Mi Remote:

• 📱 Download the app from Google Play or App Store (for iOS).
• 🔗 Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network. If the TV is off, use a mobile hotspot (more on this below).
• 🔍 In the app, click "Add device» → Choose "TV» → Xiaomi → Your model (e.g., Mi) TV 4S 55").
• 🔄 If the TV is not detected, enter IP-address manually (you can find it through the router).
• 🔘 After connecting, a virtual remote with a power button will appear on the screen.

⚠️ Warning: If the TV was turned off via the menu (rather than the button on the remote), it may not respond to commands from the app. In this case, try physically turning off the power for 10 seconds, then turn on again and immediately send a command from Mi Remote.

Method 2: HDMI-CEC – Control over Connected Devices

HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) technology allows you to control your TV through other HDMI-connected devices, such as the Xiaomi Mi Box, Apple TV, or a game console. If your TV supports CEC (on the menu it can be called AnyNet+, Bravia Sync or Simplink), you can turn it on via the remote of the connected gadget.

How it works:

1. Connect your device (such as the Mi Box S) to your TV via HDMI.
2. Turn on the console with her home console.
3. On the console, find the TV Power or Source button – it should turn on the TV.

If the button is not available, check the CEC settings:

1. On the console, go to Settings → Display and Sound → HDMI-CEC.
2. Enable the option of TV control or CEC Control.
3. Save the settings and try again.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi) TV 4A 32) function CEC It's disabled by default. To activate it, you need to log into the service menu through physical buttons on the TV (more on this in the next way).

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If you don’t have a Mi Box but have a laptop with HDMI, connect it to your TV and try to turn on the TV through TeamViewer (if you’ve previously set up remote communication).

Method 3: Physical buttons on the TV - where they are hidden

Even the most buttonless Xiaomi models have hidden physical buttons, usually located on:

• 🔲 On the lower frame of the TV (under the logo or side).
• 🔲 Behind a small removable panel (on Mi models) TV 5 Pro and newer).
• 🔲 On the back panel near the connectors (on the old Mi) TV 3).

How to turn on the TV with buttons:

1. Find the Power button (usually indicated by a circle with a vertical line).
2. Hold it for 5-10 seconds until the indicator lights up.
3. If the button is one (as on Redmi TV A65), it can be touch-sensitive – touch it 2-3 times at intervals of 1 second.

If the button does not respond:

• 🔌 Check that the power cable is tightly inserted into the socket and TV.
• 🔄 Turn off the power for 1 minute, then try again.
• 🛠️ If the button is recessed or broken, try to gently tamper it with a plastic card (do not use metal objects!).

On Xiaomi Mi TV 4S 55" and 65" models, the power button is hidden under the removable lid on the right. To open it, pull the panel over yourself - it is held on the latches.

Method 4: Wi-Fi Direct and Mi Home – Mi Remote alternative

If Mi Remote doesn't connect, try Mi Home. It runs on Wi-Fi Direct, which doesn't require a shared network connection, a method that's suitable for Mi Home-enabled models (usually Mi TV 4S and later).

Step-by-step:

1. Install Mi Home on your phone.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (required!).
3. Click "+" → "Add device" → select "TV".
4. Follow the instructions on the screen. The app will suggest connecting to the DIRECT-xx-MiTV network.
5. After connecting, a virtual remote will appear in the interface.

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ It works without the Internet (only Wi-Fi Direct is required).
• ✅ You can control the TV even if it is turned off (provided that Wi-Fi Direct was previously enabled).
• ✅ Supports voice commands through Alice or Google Assistant.

⚠️ Note: Some firmwares will turn off Wi-Fi Direct after the update. To return the feature, go to Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Direct and turn it on manually.

Install Mi Home|Registering a Xiaomi account|Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your phone|Make sure the TV is connected to the network earlier|Try to connect in Wi-Fi Direct mode-->

Method 5: USB-Mouse or keyboard – an unexpected solution

Few people know, but Xiaomi TVs based on Android TV (All models except the most budget-friendly ones support connectivity USB-If you have a wired or wireless mouse/keyboard with USB-receiver, you can:

• 🖱️ Turn on the TV via the Android menu (if it was in sleep mode).
• 🔧 Go to settings and enable other management methods (Wi-Fi, CEC).
• 🔄 Reset your settings if the TV is blocked.

How to do this:

1. Connect the mouse or keyboard to USB-TV port (usually located on the side or back).
2. If the TV is turned off, press the left mouse button for 5 seconds - this simulates the pressing of the power button.
3. On the keyboard, press Ctrl + Alt + Del (on some models, this triggers the reboot menu).

If the TV doesn't respond:

• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port (on some models, only one port supports input devices).
• 🔄 Turn off the TV for 30 seconds, then plug in the mouse and turn it on again.
• 🖱️ Use a wireless mouse with USB-dongle – they work more stable than wired ones.

This method is especially useful if you accidentally turn off Wi-Fi or CEC in your settings and can’t connect over the network.

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USB-The mouse is the only way to control the Xiaomi TV if all wireless interfaces (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) are disabled, IR).

Compatibility table with Xiaomi models

Not all methods work on all TVs, and the table below shows the proven combinations for popular models:

If your model is not in the table, check the support for features in the official documentation or through a search by model + "specs".

Frequent mistakes and how to fix them

Even if you do everything according to the instructions, the TV may not turn on.

1 Mi Remote doesn't find the TV

• 🔌 Make sure your phone and TV are on the same network. If the TV is off, turn on the mobile hotspot on your phone and connect the TV to it via Wi-Fi. → Other networks (if previously enabled).
• 🔄 Restart your router – sometimes DHCP fails IP-TV address.
• 📱 In the phone settings, turn off charge saving and Wi-Fi optimization.

2. HDMI-CEC is not working.

• 🔧 Go to the TV settings via physical buttons or mouse and turn on HDMI-CEC manually.
• 🔌 Try another one. HDMI-port (usually) CEC It only works in port. HDMI 1 (ARC)).
• 📺 Update the TV firmware – in older versions CEC buggy.

3.The TV turns on but immediately turns off

• 🔋 The problem could be the power supply. Try another cable and socket.
• 🔄 Reset settings through the service menu (clamb Menu) + Volume Down on physical buttons when enabled).
• 🛠️ If the TV is making clicks, it is a sign of malfunction of the capacitors - you need a diagnosis.

⚠️ Note: If the Xiaomi TV shows the logo after turning on and turns off, it may be the result of a damaged firmware. USB (instructions are available on the forums 4PDA).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions