How to transfer photos from iPhone to Xiaomi Mi TV: all working ways in 2026

Transferring photos from an iPhone to a Xiaomi Mi TV seems like a simple task, but in practice users face a lot of nuances, from incompatibility of protocols to manufacturer restrictions. Unlike the Apple ecosystem, where everything works out of the box, Xiaomi TVs require additional settings or third-party solutions. This article will help you choose the best method depending on your tasks, whether it is a one-time transfer of family photos or regular display of photos on the big screen.

We tested 7 current methods (including little-known ones), compared them on speed, transmission quality and convenience, and focused on the problems with AirPlay on Xiaomi Mi TV, which arise after tvOS or MIUI TV updates, as well as alternative solutions for owners of older TV models (until 2020 release), at the end of the article - a table of comparison methods and answers to frequent questions that are not covered even in the official documentation.

1. AirPlay: The Official Way With Scuba Stones

AirPlay is the most logical solution for transferring images from iPhone to TV, but it doesn’t always work with Xiaomi Mi TV, because Xiaomi hasn’t certified its TVs in Apple’s “Made for iPhone” program, so AirPlay support is implemented through backward compatibility with DLNA or Miracast, which leads to two key problems:

• 🔄 Connection Delays: TV may not appear in AirPlay Devices list for up to 30 seconds.
• 🖼️ Image compression: photos are transmitted in resolution 1920×1080 even if 4K.
• 🔌 Model Restriction: AirPlay is only available on Mi TV 4S/5X (2021 year and newer) with firmware MIUI TV 3.0+.

To activate AirPlay on Xiaomi Mi TV:

1. Open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Apple AirPlay
2. Turn on the switch and set the device name (e.g., “Xiaomi Living Room”).
3. On your iPhone, swipe down to call Control Point, click Screen Mirror and select your TV.

⚠️ Warning: If AirPlay stopped working after updating the TV firmware, reset your network settings in the Settings menu → System system → Reset → Network resets. In 30 percent of cases, it restores compatibility.

2. USB-cable: reliable but with limitations

Connecting iPhone to Xiaomi Mi TV through USB-cable is a method that works even on older TV models (e.g. Mi). TV 3 2017). However, there are critical nuances:

• 📱 Adapter required: iPhone uses Lightning connector or USB-C, Xiaomi TVs are standard USB-A. We need an adapter. Lightning/USB-C → USB-A (cost 300 ₽).
• 🔒 Apple's Limit: When connected to a TV, iPhone will ask permission to "Trust This Computer," but Xiaomi Mi TV The solution is to use a file explorer (see below).
• 📁 File format: TV will only see photos in formats JPEG, PNG or HEIF (The latter is supported only on models of 2022 and newer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your iPhone to your TV via an adapter.
2. On the TV, open the Explorer app (or Files in new firmware).
3. Select a section USB-device → Internal Storage → DCIM.
4. Copy the desired photos into the internal memory of the TV or on the connected flash drive.

⚠️ If the TV can’t see the iPhone through USB, Try to connect it to the back. USB-port (on some Xiaomi models, the front ports have limited power and do not recognize smartphones).

3.Mi Home app: hidden opportunities

Xiaomi’s official Mi Home app not only manages smart light bulbs, but also transfers media files to Mi TV series. This method works even on models without AirPlay, but requires:

• 📱 Install the application on iPhone (available in the App Store).
• 🌐 Shared Wi-Fi: both phone and TV must be connected to one access point.
• 🔄 Updated firmware: the TV should be installed MIUI TV 2.5+ (Check in the settings → On TV).

Instructions for transmission:

1. Open Mi Home on your iPhone and log in (you can use Apple ID).
2. Add the TV to the device list: press + → TV → select your Mi TV model.
3. After connecting, go to Media → Photos and select images to transmit.

The advantage of this method is the ability to create albums on the TV that will be available even after the iPhone is turned off.

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If Mi Home can’t find the TV, try manually entering it. IP-Find out the address. IP You can use the TV menu: Settings → On TV. → Network status.

4. Cloud Services: Google Photos, iCloud and Alternatives

Using cloud storage is a universal way that does not depend on the model of the TV or smartphone, but it is important to consider the limitations of Xiaomi Mi TV:

• 🖥️ Google Photos: Pre-install the app on your TV via Google Play Store (available on Android models) TV 9.0+). In your account settings, enable “General Media Access».
• 📁 Yandex Disc./Mail.ru Cloud: Apps are available in Google Play for Mi TV, but only support streaming (you can not download photos on TV).

Step-by-step instructions for Google Photos:

1. Upload photos from your iPhone to Google Photos (automatic sync enabled by default).
2. On the TV, open the Google Photos app and log in to the same account.
3. Choose an album or individual shots to view. To show a slideshow, press F2 on the remote.

⚠️ Note: When viewing photos via iCloud.com on TV HEIC (iPhone standard will be automatically converted to JPEG To avoid this, pre-export your images to Google Photos with the setting “Original quality».

5. DLNA/UPnP: Universal protocol for older models

If your Xiaomi Mi TV is released before 2020, DLNA is the only built-in protocol for wireless photo transfer, it runs slower than AirPlay, but is supported by all iPhones through third-party apps.

• 📱 Server application: for example, PhotoSync (paid) or LocalCast (free with advertising).
• 🌐 Shared Wi-Fi: TV and phone must be in the same network segment (no guest mode).
• 🔧 On. DLNA on TV: the way of settings → Connection and sharing → DLNA.

Instructions for PhotoSync:

1. Install PhotoSync from the App Store and open it.
2. In the Receiver section, select DLNA/UPnP.
3. On the TV in the Media Player (or Gallery) app, select the DLNA source – your iPhone should appear.
4. Select photos for transfer and confirm the sending.

DLNA on Xiaomi Mi TV supports the transfer of photos in the original resolution, but the speed is limited to 3-4 MB / s due to the hardware limitations of the Amlogic chipset (installed in models until 2021).

6 Special Applications: TV Cast, ApowerMirror and others

For users who need advanced features (such as streaming with effects or presentation management), third-party apps will be suitable. 5 Popular solutions and selected top-3:

Selection recommendations:

• 🎨 If you want to show a photo with effects (for example, on your birthday), choose the right one. TV Cast.
• 🔄 To mirror the screen (show not only photos, but also videos or presentations) – ApowerMirror.
• 💰 If you want a free solution without advertising – LocalCast (but with a restriction on permission).

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The app side is the only way to transfer RAW photos to Xiaomi TVs older than 2020, as they bypass the limitations of embedded protocols.

Alternative methods: from SD-maps to Smart Things

If none of the above methods are suitable, consider non-standard solutions:

• 📷 SD-card or flash drive: transfer the photo from the iPhone to the media through the adapter Lightning/USB-C → USB-A, Then put it in the TV. It supports formats. FAT32 and exFAT, but not NTFS!).
• 🌍 Samsung Smart Things: If you have a Samsung device (like a smartphone or tablet), you can use them as an intermediary to transfer photos to Xiaomi Mi TV Smart View.
• 🖥️ Computer as a bridge: upload photos from iPhone to PC/Mac, Then transmit them to the TV via the Local Network or FTP-server (built into Mi) TV 4A newer).

For the method c FTP-server:

1. On your TV, activate FTP: Settings → Preferences → Shared FTP.
2. Write it down. IP-address, username (mi) and password (123456 by default).
3. On the computer, connect to FTP FileZilla or Windows Explorer (ftp://IP_address).
4. Drag the photos to /storage/emulated/0/Pictures.

Comparative table of all methods

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions