Modern smart TVs Xiaomi Mi TV and set-top boxes Mi Box provide users with a wide range of multimedia, but the built-in memory of the device does not always cope with the huge library of movies in high resolution. It is much more convenient to store a movie collection on a smartphone or external drive, instantly running content on a large screen without unnecessary wires. The technology of wireless data transmission over a local Wi-Fi network allows you to turn any compatible gadget into a control remote and a signal source.
There are several proven methods for doing this, each with different features depending on your phone’s operating system and your TV model. Owners of Android and iOS devices can use both built-in features and specialized streaming applications. It’s important to understand that the quality of playback is directly dependent on the stability of the connection and the bandwidth of your router.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the current ways to stream video, set up the necessary network settings and consider possible problems with file format compatibility. You will learn how to avoid audio and image delays, as well as which applications are best optimized for the MIUI TV ecosystem. Follow the instructions to enjoy content in the highest quality.
Preparation of equipment and setting up a local network
The first and most critical step is to ensure the right network environment. To successfully transfer video files without buffering and tearing, both devices — the smartphone and the TV — must be on the same subnet, which means they must be connected to the same router, preferably over the 5 GHz frequency band, which provides a faster data rate than the 2.4 GHz standard.
Go to your Xiaomi TV settings via remote, select Settings, then go to Network and Internet. Make sure the connection status is active and your home network name is displayed. Do the same on your smartphone: turn off mobile Internet (LTE/5G) to avoid confusion and activate Wi-Fi by selecting the same network as your TV.
⚠️ Note: Some routers have a function of isolating customers (AP Isolation, which prevents devices on the network from seeing each other. If the TV doesn't detect the phone, check the router's security settings and turn off this option.
After connecting, check. IP-While this is not always required for basic broadcasting, knowing addresses can be useful when you manually adjust your players. On TV, you can find this information in the About TV section -> The network, and the phone in the properties of Wi-Fi connection. A stable signal is the guarantee that the film will not stop in the middle.
Use of the built-in Chromecast feature
Xiaomi Android TVs have built-in support for Google Chromecast technology, which is perhaps the easiest and most reliable way to transmit video, since it is integrated directly into the TV’s software shell and does not require installing additional software on the receiving device.
To start streaming, open a smartphone app that supports Cast. These can be popular video services like YouTube, Netflix, VK Video, or streaming-enabled file managers. Find a stream icon that usually looks like a rectangle with Wi-Fi waves in the corner. Once clicked, the system scans the network and offers a list of available devices.
Select your Xiaomi Mi TV from the list. The TV screen may have a request for confirmation of connection, which must be confirmed by the remote control. From now on, the phone acts as a remote control: you can fold the application, respond to messages or even lock the screen, and playback on the TV will continue.
☑️ Checking the Chromecast
Importantly, when using Chromecast, the phone does not transmit the video stream itself, but only sends a command to the TV, which independently downloads content from the Internet, which saves battery power and unloads the Wi-Fi channel. However, to play local files stored in the phone’s memory, this method may require the use of special intermediary applications.
Screenplay via Miracast and Wireless Display
If you want to stream content that doesn’t support native Chromecast, or show the screen of an app that doesn’t have a video output feature, Miracast technology comes to the rescue. On Xiaomi devices, this feature is often called Wireless Display or Transcription, which allows you to mirror the image from your smartphone to your TV in real time.
Activation of the feature on a Xiaomi TV usually occurs automatically when searching for available devices, but some versions of MIUI TV firmware may require you to launch the Wireless Display app from a list of installed programs. On a smartphone with a MIUI shell or HyperOS, open the notification curtain and find the Broadcast or Cast button.
Once you turn on the search, the phone will start scanning the available displays. Select your TV from the list suggested. The image from the mobile device will appear on the big screen. Unlike the Chromecast, it streams live video, so the quality can be slightly lower and the latency higher, especially in games.
What to do if the search does not find the device?
Miracast is ideal for displaying photos, presentations or watching videos from browsers that block output to external displays, but you should consider the increased power consumption of the smartphone, since the process of encoding and transmitting a video signal requires significant processor resources.
Application DLNA-servers and file managers
To play back heavy files stored directly in the phone’s memory, without compression and loss of quality, it is best to use the DLNA protocol. The essence of the method is that the smartphone turns into a media server, and the TV acts as a renderer that reads data over the network.
To do this, you need to install a server application on your phone. VLC for Android, BubbleUPnP or built-in features of some file managers, such as File Manager+ Xiaomi. In the application settings, you need to enable the option “Network Access” or «DLNA Server».
On a Xiaomi TV, open the Media Player app or any third-party player, such as the MX Player or the same VLC. In the source section, select Local Network or SMB/DLNA. You will see your smartphone name in the list of devices.
| Annex | Type | Support for formats | Difficulty setting up |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLC for Android | Player + Server | All popular (MKV, MP4, AVI) | Low. |
| BubbleUPnP | Media server | High (with transcoding) | Medium |
| Xiaomi File Manager | File manager | Standard video formats | Low. |
| AllConnect | streaming | Supports subtitles. | Medium |
The advantage of DLNA is that video decoding is done by the TV, which reduces the load on the phone, and it also makes it easy to switch between tracks and files using the TV or remote interface, which is especially convenient in the dark.
Third-party applications for extended functionality
Staffing isn't always perfect, especially if you want to transfer specific subtitle formats or playback management with advanced features. APK-files on the TV can be installed specialized software that will significantly improve the experience of interaction.
One of the best solutions is a bunch of Web Video Caster or LocalCast apps, which allow you to feed your TV almost any video file or link to an online movie theater, and they can stream not only the video, but also the audio track separately, and automatically download subtitles from the database.
Installation is standard: download the application on your phone, and then through the built-in TV app store GetApps or Google Play find and install the receiver (Receiver) on TV. Some applications use the technology HTTP-servers by creating a local link that the TV opens with its built-in browser or player.
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Use apps with transcoding if the TV doesn’t play the file format (e.g. HEVC 10-bit) to avoid Format Not Supported errors.
Also worth mentioning is the application Xiaomi Remote (Mi Remote), which, although designed for management, but in some versions has the functions of a multimedia center, allowing you to quickly transfer photos and videos from the phone gallery to the TV screen using the DLNA protocol.
Solving Connection and Buffering Problems
Even when set up correctly, users can experience problems: video slows down, the sound is lost or the phone stops seeing the TV, most often due to overloaded communication channel or outdated software, make sure that both devices have the latest system updates.
If you see a lip-sync issue, try to find the audio delay or audio Delay settings in your TV and adjust it in milliseconds, and switching the audio codec in your Android TV settings from Auto to Passthrough or PCM also helps.
⚠️ Note: When transmitting video in resolution 4K Make sure your router supports Wi-Fi 5 (AC) or Wi-Fi 6 (AX). Older routers may not pull the stream bitrate above 20 Mbit / s.
In case of permanent breaks of the connection, try to assign statically IP-Addresses to devices in the router settings so that they don't change when you reconnect. Also effective is rebooting the network equipment: turn the router off the socket on the network. 10-15 Then turn it on again and wait for the network to load.
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The stability of the connection by 90% depends on the quality of the router and the absence of interference in the air, so 4K-Content required range of 5 GHz.