IrDA in Xiaomi phone: what it is, how it works and why you need an infrared port

If you’ve ever noticed a small glass window with a reddish glow on the case of your Xiaomi smartphone or stumbled across the mysterious Infrared Port item in the settings, this is IrDA (Infrared Data Association). The technology, which seemed to have long gone a thing of the past along with push-button phones, is still alive in some Xiaomi, Redmi and other models. POCO. Why do you need it in 2026 when you’re around Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and the Internet? NFC?

In fact, the infrared port in smartphones is not an anachronism, but a useful tool for managing appliances, sharing data without the Internet, and even some non-obvious scenarios.

What is IrDA and how does it work in Xiaomi phones?

What models support the infrared port (including current ones in 2026)

How to configure and use the IR port for equipment management, file transfer and other tasks.

Why Xiaomi is still equipping its smartphones with this technology when other brands have abandoned it

If you think an infrared port is a thing of the past, be prepared to wonder if it could be more useful than you think.

What is IrDA and how does it work in smartphones

IrDA (Infrared Data Association) is a wireless infrared data transmission standard that dates back to the 1990s and has been widely used in mobile phones to share contacts, photos and even melodies. In Xiaomi smartphones, the IR port has two main functions:

1. Management of household appliances (air conditioners, televisions, music centers).
2. File transfer between devices with IR ports (although this scenario is almost not used today).

The principle is simple: the infrared transmitter in a smartphone sends encoded signals that are recognized by the receiver in another technique, for example, when you click on the button to turn on the air conditioner in the Mi Remote application, the phone sends an IR command that your split system “understands”.

It is important to note that IrDA ≠ Bluetooth or Wi-Fi:

• 📶 The range of action is up to 5-10 meters (but really works for 1-3 meters).
• 🔄 Direction - Direct visibility between transmitter and receiver is required (does not work through walls).
• 📥 Transfer speeds of up to 4 Mbps (in theory), but in practice used for short commands.

Unlike radio frequency technology (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi), infrared signals don't pass through obstacles or interfere with other devices, making them reliable for controlling equipment, but useless for, say, transferring files between rooms.

What Xiaomi smartphones support IrDA

Not all Xiaomi models are equipped with an infrared port. Recently, Xiaomi has been reducing the number of devices with infrared, but some lines still retain it – especially those that are positioned as “flagships for the home” or budget models for markets where smartphone control is in demand.

Here is the current list of models (as of 2026) that have an IR port:

To check if there is an IR port on your phone:

1. Look at the top of the body – there should be a small glass window (usually next to the front camera or speaker).
2. Go to Settings. → Connections and sharing → Infrared port.
3. Install the Mi Remote app – if the phone supports IR, it will suggest setting up the remote.

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If your phone does not have an IR port, but you need a remote for equipment, you can buy an external IR blaster (for example, BroadLink). RM4 Pro), which is connected over Wi-Fi and managed via an application.

Why is Xiaomi keeping IrDA when other brands have abandoned it? It's about the markets: in China, India and Southeast Asia, managing air conditioners and TVs via a smartphone is very popular. In addition, the IR port is cheap to manufacture and does not take up much space, so Xiaomi is in no hurry to get rid of it.

How to set up an infrared port on Xiaomi

If your smartphone supports IrDA, you can set it up in a few minutes, the main tool for this is the Mi Remote app (or Xiaomi Remote in Russian firmware).

Install Mi Remote from Google Play or AppGallery|

Open the application and allow access to the infrared port|

Choose the type of equipment (TV, air conditioning, etc.)|

Follow the instructions on the screen to link the device|-->

More on each step:

1. Installation Mi Remote App pre-installed on most Xiaomi smartphones. If it is not, download from Google Play or AppGallery. Important: use the official version, as third-party counterparts may not support all the features.
2. When you first start up, Mi Remote will request permission to use an infrared port, camera (for scanning). QR-Some device codes) and locations (to determine the regional settings of the equipment.
3. Adding a device Press + In the upper right corner, select a category (e.g. Air Conditioning) and a brand of your equipment. If your model is not listed, select Universal Remote and follow the instructions for selecting commands.
4. Testing Point the phone's IR port to the receiver (usually a black window on the front) and press the Enable button in the app. If the equipment responded, the setup was successful.

If something went wrong:

• ❌ The device is unresponsive. → Check if there are any obstacles between the phone and the appliances. Try to bring the phone closer (by 10-20 cm).
• ❌ I can't find a model. → Choose the nearest brand analogue or use a training mode (if supported).
• ❌ App doesn't see IR port → Restart your phone or update your firmware.

What else can you use the IR port in Xiaomi

Air conditioning is just the tip of the iceberg. Infrared port in Xiaomi smartphones can be used for other tasks that many people do not even know about.

1️⃣ Managing a smart home without hubs

If you have a Wi-Fi-free appliance (old TVs, fans, music centers), an infrared port allows you to integrate it into a smart home system, for example, you can:

• 📺 Turn on the TV on schedule (via Automation in Mi Home).
• ❄️ Automatically turn off air conditioning when you leave your home (using geofences in Google Assistant).
• 🎵 Control the sound system with voice (via Alice or Google Assistant).

Example of automation settings:

1. Open Mi Home → Automation → Create.
2. Select a trigger (such as Time or Geozone).
3. Add the IR device control action and select a command (e.g., Turn off the air conditioner).

2️⃣ Transfer files between phones (if both support IrDA)

If you and a friend have an IR ported smartphone (such as Xiaomi and Samsung of the old model), you can share:

• 📄 Contact (vCard).
• 📷 Small photos (up to 1-2 MB).
• 🎵 Melodies or short audio files.

For this:

1. Open the file you want to send.
2. Press Share. → Infrared port (or IrDA).
3. Bring the phones with infrared ports to each other (at a distance of 5-10 cm).

Important: Transfer speeds are extremely low (about 10–50 KB/s), so it is better to use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct for large files.

3️⃣ Remote control of cameras and other equipment

Some cameras (such as Sony or Canon), projectors, and even toys (such as radio-controlled machines) support IR control, IR Universal Remote is possible:

• 📸 Take a photo on the camera from a smartphone (like Bluetooth, but without connection).
• 🎮 Manage toys or drones with an IR receiver.
• 📽️ Switch slides on the projector during the presentation.

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Xiaomi’s infrared port is not just an air conditioning remote, but also a tool for automating your smart home, sharing data, and managing off-grid equipment.

IrDA Issues in Xiaomi and How to Solve Them

While the infrared port on Xiaomi smartphones is usually stable, users sometimes face problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

❌ The IR port doesn't work at all.

If the phone does not respond to commands in Mi Remote or does not detect an IR port:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Check if the port is closed with a cover or film.
• 🔧 Update the firmware (sometimes IR bugs are fixed in new versions) MIUI).
• 🛠️ Reset the Mi Remote app settings (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Remote → Warehouse → Clear the data).

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If the IR port stopped working after the phone fell, the transmitter itself might have been damaged, and then only repairs to the service center would help.

❌ The device does not respond to commands

If the equipment does not turn on or does not execute commands:

• 🔦 Check if the phone’s IR port is directly directed to the receiver (usually the black glass on the front panel).
• 📏 Reduce the distance to 10-20 cm.
• 🔋 Check the batteries in the remote control (if you have one) – it may not be the phone that is the problem.
• 🔄 Recreate your device profile in Mi Remote (sometimes settings get lost).

❌ Mi Remote doesn't have my model of technology.

If your TV or air conditioner is not in the database:

• 🔍 Try to choose a model of the same brand with similar characteristics.
• 📡 Use a training mode (if supported by your phone).
• 🌐 Check if you have an update for Mi Remote that supports your model.

If nothing helps, you can use third-party applications, for example:

• IR Universal Remote (supports more devices but requires manual configuration).
• Sure Universal Remote (has a team base for rare brands)

IrDA Alternatives: What to Do If Your Phone Does Not Have an IR Port

If your Xiaomi smartphone doesn't have an infrared port, it doesn't mean you can't control it from your phone. There are several alternatives:

1️⃣ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth control

Modern air conditioners, TVs and other appliances often support connectivity by:

• 📶 Wi-Fi (via manufacturer's applications, for example, LG ThinQ or Samsung SmartThings).
• 🔵 Bluetooth (for example, some speakers or lamps).

Not all devices support these protocols, especially older models.

2️⃣ External IR blasters

If the phone does not have an IR port, but you need to control the equipment, you can buy an external transmitter:

• 📱 BroadLink RM4 Pro – connects via Wi-Fi, is managed through the application, supports voice assistants.
• 🔌 Xiaomi Mi IR Blaster 2 is a compact blaster that is inserted into the connector USB-C (It only works with Xiaomi phones).

The price of such devices is from 1,000 to 3,000 rubles.

3️⃣ Universal remotes with support for smartphones

Some remotes (for example, Logitech Harmony) can control equipment through IR, and themselves are configured from a smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. This is an expensive solution (from 5 000 rubles), but it is suitable for complex systems of a smart home.

4️⃣ Voice assistants with IR support

Smart speakers like Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker or Amazon Echo (with an IR blaster connected) allow you to control voice technology.

• 🗣️ «Alice, turn on the TV on Channel One».
• 🗣️ «Okay, Google, set the air conditioner temperature at 22 degrees».

So, if you have a lot of old technology without Wi-Fi, an external IR blaster is the most versatile solution, and if it's modern, it's better to use native applications.

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The lack of an infrared port on a phone is not a sentence, and external blasters, Wi-Fi controls and voice assistants completely replace the infrared port, and sometimes even work better.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about IrDA in Xiaomi