How to transfer an image to a Xiaomi TV: all working ways of 2026

Transferring photos from your phone or computer to the big screen of Xiaomi TV is a challenge that users face when showing photos to guests, watching family albums or working with graphics. Unlike older models that required a physical medium, modern Smart TVs from Xiaomi support wireless protocols and cloud technologies. However, not all methods are equally convenient: somewhere you will need a stable Internet connection, and somewhere you will need special adapters.

The main problem users have is that Xiaomi Mi TV 4A and older do not support Apple AirPlay, which limits iPhone owners in the choice of methods. In this article, we will discuss 5 current ways of transmitting images, including hidden MIUI features for TVs, and give recommendations for eliminating common errors (for example, when the TV does not see the device over Wi-Fi Direct).

We will pay special attention to the Mi TV P1, Mi TV Q2 and Redmi Smart TV models, as their firmware has unique network settings. If you use a TV older than 2020, check the version of the software in the Settings menu → About TV - the minimum firmware of MIUI TV 2.0.18 and later is required for Miracast to work correctly.

1. Wi-Fi Direct transmission (direct connection)

Wi-Fi Direct allows you to transfer files without a router – a Xiaomi TV creates its own access point to which a smartphone or laptop connects, which is the most reliable way for places with unstable Internet (for example, in the country).

How to turn Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi TV:

1. Open Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. Activate the function and wait for the network name to appear (usually DIRECT-xx-MiTV).
3. On your smartphone, connect to this network (password is not required).

Use the following to transmit images:

• 📱 On Android: any file manager application (e.g. Mi File Manager) with the "Send over Wi-Fi Direct" function".
• 💻 On Windows: Standard "Conductor" → right-click → Send. → Wi-Fi Direct Device.
• 🍎 On iPhone: you will need third-party software like FileExplorer (free version limits file size to 50 MB).

Wi-Fi Direct on TV|The smartphone is connected to the network DIRECT-xx-MiTV|Files have a supported format (JPEG, PNG, WEBP)|Disabled. VPN Firewalls on both devices-->

⚠️ Note: If the TV does not appear in the Wi-Fi Direct Device List, reset the TV network settings via Settings → System system → Resetting the network. TV 4S and 4X Before you do this, be sure to turn off the Quick Wi-Fi Connection feature in the same menu.

2.Using Miracast (wireless display)

Miracast is a wireless screen transfer standard built into all Xiaomi TVs on Android TV. Unlike Wi-Fi Direct, it does not broadcast the file, but the screen of the device itself, which is convenient for displaying slideshows or editing photos in real time.

Instructions for Android smartphones:

1. On TV: Settings → Connections → Wireless display → turn on Miracast.
2. On the phone: Settings → Connected devices → Screen transfer (on Xiaomi – More → Wireless display).
3. Select your TV name from the list.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Delay: up to 200 ms - noticeable when scrolling through the gallery.
• 🔋 Battery consumption: +15-20% per hour on a smartphone.
• 📱 iPhone: does not support Miracast (needs Lightning-to-HDMI adapter).

💡

If the image on the TV screen is cropped, change the aspect ratio in the Miracast settings on your smartphone: select the "Fix under the screen" mode instead of "Save proportions".

3. Connection through USB-storage OTG

The most versatile method, which works even on older Xiaomi models without Wi-Fi, is suitable for transferring large numbers of photos (for example, after a photo shoot) or files in RAW format that are not supported by wireless protocols.

What you need:

• 📁 File system flash drive FAT32 exFAT (NTFS unsupported!).
• 🔌 adapter USB OTG Smartphones (if you copy from your phone).
• 📂 Folder with images in the root directory of the drive (for example, DCIM\Camera).

Step-by-step:

1. Copy the photo to a flash drive via a computer or smartphone (s) OTG-adapter).
2. Put the drive in USB-TV port (preferably) USB 3.0 for fast download).
3. Press Home → Media → USB on the remote.
4. Select the folder with images and start the viewing.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi TVs do not display files with names longer than 64 characters or containing special characters.

4. Cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud)

If your photos are already uploaded to the cloud, you can open them directly on your TV via Google Photos or Mi Cloud apps, which is a way to view your images regularly without having to manipulate the cables.

Setting up Google Photos:

1. Install Google Photos from Google Play on TV (if not, download APK from APKMirror).
2. Sign in under the same account as on your smartphone.
3. Open the album Photos or Favorites - synchronization will happen automatically.

The advantages of the cloud method:

• ☁️ No location-based link – photos are available even outside the home.
• 🔄 Automatically update the gallery when adding new images.
• 📊 Support for albums and tags (e.g. Beach 2026").

Limitations:

• 🌐 Requires a stable Internet (from 10 Mbps to view in the Internet) 4K).
• 📱 On iPhone when downloading to Google Photos, image compression is the default – disable it in the app settings.

💡

Cloud services are the only way to sync photos between multiple Xiaomi TVs (such as in the country and at home) without re-uploading.

5. Mi Home app (for Xiaomi ecosystem)

If you have a Mi Account and your TV is tied to the Mi Home app, you can stream images through the built-in Smart Album feature, which only works for devices in the same ecosystem (e.g., Xiaomi smartphone + Mi TV).

How to set up:

1. Open Mi Home on your smartphone and select your TV.
2. Go to the Device → Photo and video → Smart album.
3. Upload images to the album (maximum 500 files at a time).
4. On TV, open Mi Home. → My albums.

Nuances:

• 📶 The download speed depends on the servers Xiaomi – in peak hours (20:00-23:00) possible lag.
• 📁 Supported formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF (animationless), WEBP.
• 🔒 Photos are stored on Xiaomi servers for up to 30 days, then automatically deleted.

6. Alternative methods (HDMI, Chromecast, DLNA)

If standard methods don’t work, consider additional options:

1. via HDMI (for professionals):

• 🖥️ Connect your laptop to a TV cable HDMI Use the screen duplication mode (Win) + P → Duplicate).
• 📱 Smartphones will need an adapter USB-C/Lightning → HDMI (For example, Xiaomi Mi HDMI Adapter).

2. Chromecast (for owners of Google devices):

• 📡 Connect Google Chromecast to the HDMI-television-port.
• 📱 In the Google Photos app, click Broadcast and select Chromecast.

3. DLNA-server (for a local network):

• 🖥️ Install Plex Media Server or Kodi on PC.
• 📺 On TV, open up Media. → DLNA and select your server.

FAQ: Frequent Questions and Solutions