What is Miracast and why you need it in Xiaomi TV
Miracast technology allows you to broadcast a smartphone, tablet or laptop screen to a large screen of a Xiaomi TV without wires. It's not just duplicate images, you get full mirroring with sound support and minimal latency. Unlike DLNA or AirPlay, Miracast runs on the Wi-Fi Direct standard, which guarantees a stable connection even without a router.
On Xiaomi TVs (Mi series) TV 4/4S/4A/5/5X/Q1/Q2 Miracast is built into firmware, but often hidden in the depths of the menu, and many users do not even realize its existence until they are faced with the need to show photos from the phone on the big screen or play a mobile game with the convenience of a gamepad. Meanwhile, Miracast is on Xiaomi. TV maintains the approval 4K frequency-wise 60 Hz, making it the perfect solution for presentations, streams and even home theaters.
It's important to understand that Miracast is not the same as Google Cast (used in Chromecast), the former being point-to-point, and the latter requiring a shared Wi-Fi connection, which means Miracast will work even in places without internet, such as a country house or a trip.
Where to look for Miracast feature in Xiaomi TV menu
The path to Miracast is based on the MIUI TV firmware version and the TV model, and most of the time, it's hidden in the wireless connection section, but the name may vary. Here's a generic search algorithm:
- Turn on the TV and go to the main screen (click the Home button on the remote).
- Open the settings (cog icon in the upper right corner).
- Select the Network and Internet section (or Wireless Networks in older versions).
- Scroll down to Miracast, Wireless Display or Screen Mirror.
On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi TV Q1 75), the path may look like this: Settings → Device → Screen mirroring → Miracast.
If you don’t find Miracast on the menu, check out:
- 🔍 Update the TV firmware (in Settings) → On TV. → System updates in older versions MIUI TV The feature could be called Wi-Fi Display.
- 📱 Make sure your smartphone supports Miracast (most Android 4.2 devices)+ Windows 8.1+ compatible).
- 🔄 Restart the TV – sometimes the menu item only appears after a restart.
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with PatchWall firmware (e.g. India), the path to Miracast may be different. → Connected devices → Screen mirroring.
Step-by-step: how to turn Miracast on Xiaomi TV
Once you have found the partition you want, you just have to activate the function and connect the device.
- Turn on Miracast on your TV: Go to the partition you find (like Miracast or Wireless Display). Activate the slider Enable (or press Start). The TV will start looking for available devices. The screen will show the message Ready to Connect.
Connect your smartphone or laptop:
- On Android: open Settings → Connected Devices → Screen Transfer (or Samsung’s Smart View).
- On Windows: Press Win + K, select Connect to a wireless display and specify Xiaomi TV.
- Miracast is not supported on MacOS or iOS – use AirPlay (if your TV supports it).
☑️ Preparation for Miracast connection
Once successfully connected, your device’s screen will show up on your TV, which is usually less than 50 to 100 ms latency, which is enough for watching videos or presentations, but for fast-reaction games (such as shooters), it’s better to use a wired HDMI connection.
⚠️ Warning: If you have a “Disconnected” error when you connect, check if the firewall on your smartphone or antivirus is blocking the connection. Also make sure that the TV is in Allow All Connections mode (if there is one in Miracast settings).
Common Miracast Problems on Xiaomi TV and Their Solutions
Even after setting it up correctly, users sometimes encounter errors, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The TV doesn't find the device. | Devices on different Wi-Fi networks or Wi-Fi disabled | Connect both devices to the same network or enable Wi-Fi Direct on your TV |
| Image lagging or slowing down | Weak Wi-Fi signal or network congestion | Bring devices closer to the router or switch to 5GHz |
| No sound when broadcasting | On the phone selected another audio output | In the smartphone sound settings, select HDMI or Miracast |
| Connection is terminated in 1-2 minutes | Energy saving on a smartphone turns off Wi-Fi | Add Miracast to battery optimization exceptions |
If none of these methods worked, try resetting the network settings on your TV: Settings → Network and Internet → Additional → Network Reset.
What if Miracast is not on the menu?
Another common problem is codec incompatibility, for example, if you're streaming H.265 video (HEVC) and your TV doesn't support it, the image will twitch or no sound, so convert the video to H.264 or use third-party players (like VLC) that can transcode the stream on the fly.
Miracast compares with other wireless broadcast technologies
Miracast isn't the only way to get your screen to your TV, but to see which solution is right for you, let's compare it to the alternatives:
| Technology | Does it require the Internet? | Delay. | Max, permission. | Support for Xiaomi TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miracast | ❌ No. | 50-100 ms. | 4K@60Hz | ✅ Yes, all models) |
| Google Cast (Chromecast) | ✅ Yes. | 100-200 ms. | 4K@30Hz | ✅ Yes (via built-in Cast) |
| AirPlay (Apple) | ✅ Yes. | 100-150 ms. | 4K@60Hz | ❌ Only on models with support |
| DLNA | ✅ Yes. | 200-500 ms. | Full HD | ✅ Yes (for media files) |
As you can see from the table, Miracast wins in latency and resolution, but loses in versatility — for example, iPhone owners will have to use AirPlay or buy an adapter. Also, it is worth considering that Miracast does not know how to broadcast protected content (for example, Netflix or Disney+ due to DRM).
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If you need to stream your iPhone screen to Xiaomi TV, use a Lightning to HDMI adapter or apps like ApowerMirror (~200ms latency).
How to improve Miracast broadcast quality on Xiaomi TV
Even if Miracast works, the image and sound quality can be optimized. Here are some proven ways:
- 📶 Use 5GHz Wi-Fi: Switch the router to 5GHz mode (at 192.168.1.1 settings or via the provider's app.
- 🔌 Disconnect other devices from the network: Smart lamps, cameras, and even smart speakers can interfere.
- 🎮 Reduce resolution on your smartphone: In Miracast settings on your phone, select 720p instead 1080p, if there are lags.
- 🔋 Connect the TV to the power supply: When working from the battery (for example, on a portable monitor) can trigger energy saving, degrade the signal.
For gamers who want to play through Miracast, it is recommended that:
- Turn on the TV mode Game (Settings → Picture → Image mode → Game).
- Use a gamepad connected directly to your smartphone (not via Bluetooth to your TV) to reduce input latency.
- Close all background apps on your phone, especially instant messengers and social networks.
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For maximum Miracast performance on Xiaomi TV, use a router with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) support – this will reduce latency to 30-40 ms, which is almost indistinguishable from a wired connection.
Miracast for Xiaomi TV: when to use them
If Miracast is not suitable (for example, due to device incompatibility or latency issues), consider alternative streaming methods:
- 📱 Google Cast: Built into most Xiaomi TVs (Cast icon in notification bar) Supports Netflix, YouTube and other streaming services.
- 🖥️ HDMI-Cable: The most reliable way to play and video games 4K. Use the cable. HDMI 2.1 permit 1080p@60 Hz.
- 🌐 DLNA/UPnP: Suitable for streaming photos, music and video (but not screen mirroring). → Network → DLNA.
- 🔄 Third-party apps: ApowerMirror, TeamViewer or AnyDesk allow you to control the TV screen from your phone (but with a noticeable delay).
For MacBook or iPad owners, the only reliable way to buy an Apple TV or HDMI adapter is to buy the Miracast on these devices is not supported at the hardware level.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party mirroring apps (such as Miracast apps from the Play Market), be careful - many of them contain ads or require root rights.