IrDA in Xiaomi Phone: A Forgotten Technology or a Hidden Chip?

Have you ever noticed a mysterious IrDA item in the characteristics of Xiaomi smartphones and wondered what it is? NFC, Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6 infrared port seems an anachronism — a relic of the 2000s, when mobile phones exchanged tunes through the IR port?

In practice, IrDA (Infrared Data Association) is still used in some Xiaomi models, although not advertised by the manufacturer, which allows you to transfer data over short distances (up to 1 meter) without Internet or pairing devices. Unlike Bluetooth, it doesn’t need passwords, and unlike Bluetooth, it doesn’t need passwords. NFC — it works up to 30 cm (versus 4-10 cm y) NFC). Why do you need it in modern smartphones when you have faster and more versatile protocols?

In this article, we will discuss:

• 🔍 What is IrDA and how does it work in Xiaomi phones?
• 📱 What are Redmi's models, POCO and Mi support the infrared port
• 📶 How is IrDA different from NFC Bluetooth and when it is best to use it)
• ⚙️ How to check for a module and enable it in the settings
• 💡 Unexpected ways to use IR port in 2026 (yes, they are!)

What is IrDA and how does it work in smartphones

IrDA (Infrared Data Association) is a standard for wireless data transmission via infrared radiation, the technology appeared in 1993 and was actively used in mobile phones until the mid-2000s. The principle of operation is simple: two devices “see” each other via an infrared port (like a remote control from a TV) and exchange data at speeds up to 4 Mbit / s (in theory) or 115-11552 Kbit / s (in practice in smartphones).

Unlike radio frequency protocols (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi), IrDA has key features:

• 🔴 Directed transmission: data is sent only to the IR port's visibility zone (like a flashlight beam), which is a plus for security - it is harder to intercept the signal.
• 📏 Limited distance: maximum 1 meter, but the really stable connection works for 10–30 cm.
• 🚫 No interference: does not conflict with other wireless devices (unlike Bluetooth, which can jam Wi-Fi).
• 🔋 Minimum power consumption: data transfer via the IR port consumes a battery several times less than Bluetooth.

In Xiaomi smartphones, the IrDA module is usually integrated into the top of the body (near the front camera or speaker) and looks like a small dark glass, easy to confuse with the proximity sensor. Importantly, both devices need to look at each other with infrared ports, without barriers (glass, plastic or even dust can block the signal).

What Xiaomi phones support IrDA (full list)

Unfortunately, Xiaomi does not always indicate the presence of an infrared port in the official specifications. Moreover, since 2020, most flagships (Mi 11, Mi 12, 13, 14) have lost this feature - the manufacturer has bet on the presence of an infrared port in the official characteristics. NFC Ultra-Wideband (UWB). However, in budget and some mid-budget models, IrDA persists, especially in the Redmi Note lineup and in the Redmi Note lineup. POCO.

Here is the current list of Xiaomi devices with IrDA support (as of 2026):

⚠️ Note: The presence of an IR port does not guarantee support for all features.+ 5G IrDA works only for control of equipment (remote), but not for transfer of files.

To find out if you have an IrDA on your phone, check:

• 🔎 External inspection: Look for a small dark window at the top of the case.
• 📱 Settings menu: go to Settings → Connections and sharing → Infrared port (if no point, no module).
• 🛠️ Testing applications: for example, IR Universal Remote or Check IR Blaster (available on Google Play).

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If your phone does not have a built-in IR port, but you need a remote for equipment, you can buy an external IR blaster (for example, BroadLink). RM4 Pro), which connects over Bluetooth and controls devices via infrared signal.

IrDA vs NFC Bluetooth vs. Bluetooth: What is best and when to use it

IrDA seems obsolete in the face of modern technology, but it has niche advantages. NFC Bluetooth in key parameters:

When is it better to use IrDA:

• 🎮 For control of equipment (air conditioners, TVs, projectors) - IR port works as a universal remote control.
• 🔒 Transfer of small files (business cards, notes) in high interference conditions (for example, in production).
• 🔋 Saving battery power – if you need to transfer data without connecting to the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi.

When is the best choice NFC Bluetooth:

• 📲 NFC: Payment, tag reading, fast contact transfer (Android Beam).
• 🎧 Bluetooth: streaming music, connecting headsets, game controllers.

⚠️ Note: In Xiaomi, the IR port is most often used as a remote control, not for file sharing. For example, in the Redmi Note 10 Pro you can control the air conditioner through the Mi Remote application, but you can not transfer a photo over IrDA.

How to enable and use IrDA on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

If your phone supports IrDA, it's easy to turn it on.

1. Open Settings and go to Connections and Sharing (or additionally in older versions) MIUI).
2. Find the Infrared Port (IR Blaster) and activate the switch.
3. Install an app for managing equipment, for example: 📺 Mi Remote (officially from Xiaomi) 🎛️ Universal TV Remote (for TVs) ❄️ AC Remote (for air conditioning)

Follow the instructions in the app to add the device (usually you need to select the brand and model of the equipment from the list).

If the IR port is not working:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📲 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (in some firmware, bugs with IrDA are patched).
• 🛠️ Check the integrity of the module – if the phone fell, the IR port could move away from the fee.

Unexpected ways to use IrDA in 2026

In the age of smart homes and IoT, infrared port seems to be out of place, but in practice, IrDA still finds applications.

1. Controlling "stupid" appliances without Wi-Fi

Many air conditioners, fans and projectors don't have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth modules, but they do support IR control. With Xiaomi with IrDA, you can:

• ❄️ Turn on the air conditioner on schedule (through automation in the MIUI).
• 📽️ Control the projector in the cinema (without additional remotes).
• 🔦 Adjust lighting with IR lamps (for example, Xiaomi Yeelight older models).

2. Data transmission under conditions of radio-electronic interference

In factories, laboratories, or even in airplanes (where they are located) Bluetooth/Wi-Fi IrDA is the only way to exchange data between devices, for example, you can transfer data:

• 📄 Logs from equipment (if the phone is used as a terminal).
• 📊 Small databases (up to 1-2 MB).
• 🔑 Passwords or access keys (without the risk of interception over the radio frequency channel).

3.Integration with a smart home

Through apps like Home Assistant or Yandex, Alice can make an IrDA phone part of an automation system, for example:

• 🏠 When you approach the house (by the way) GPS) The phone sends an IR signal to turn on the heater.
• 🚗 When connected to a Bluetooth radio in the car, the air conditioner in the house automatically turns off (via IR).

⚠️ Note: Advanced scenarios may be necessary ROOT-access or custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS) because MIUI Limits the use of IrDA at the program level.

Xiaomi’s IrDA Problems: Why It Doesn’t Work and How to Fix It

If the infrared port has stopped functioning, the causes may be both software and hardware.

1. Programmatic failures

• 🔄 Resetting settings: Go to Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting the network settings, which will bring the IrDA settings back to the factory.
• 📱 Update MIUI: Some firmware versions have bugs with IR port drivers. Check for updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🛠️ Cache Clearing: For the Mi Remote app, perform: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Mi Remote → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

Hardware malfunctions

• 💥 Phone drop: The IR port may move away from the board or crack. Check if you see any physical damage (for example, chips on the glass module).
• 🔋 Port pollution: Dust or dirt blocks the signal. Gently wipe the module with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.
• 🔌 Train problems: If the phone was broken, the IR port plume could be damaged, and then you need repairs at the service center.

Compatibility issues

• 📺 Device not recognized: Update the remote database in Mi Remote (in the application settings).
• 🔄 Not all buttons work: Try adding the device manually by selecting a similar model from the list.

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If the IrDA doesn’t work after all the manipulations, check it on another device (for example, try to control the TV instead of the air conditioner).

FAQ: Frequent questions about IrDA in Xiaomi