How to transfer photos from your phone to your Xiaomi 4S TV: everything from Miracast to cable

Transfer photos from the phone to the big screen Xiaomi Mi TV 4S — The challenge faced by both Android and iPhone users is that, while it seems simple, it can be complicated by network settings, TV firmware or the limitations of mobile OS. In this article, we will look at all the current ways to transmit images: from the Miracast wireless protocols and DLNA to wired connection through USB-cable and branded applications Xiaomi.

The Mi TV 4S model (unlike the flagship Mi TV series Q or Mi TV A) is a simplified PatchWall firmware, where some features are hidden in the depth of the menu. For example, Miracast mode is activated not through the main menu, but through Settings → Connection and Sharing → Wireless display. We took these nuances into account and compiled instructions with the specifics of this model.

Importantly, if you're using an iPhone, some methods (like Miracast) will be unavailable due to the limitations of iOS. Android owners have a wider choice, but there are pitfalls here too -- not all smartphones support Wi-Fi Direct in hotspot mode, for example. Let's check each way for compatibility and speed.

Transmission via Miracast: wireless screen without router

Miracast allows you to duplicate the screen of your smartphone on your TV without intermediaries — enough that both devices support the technology. In Xiaomi Mi TV 4S, the feature is built-in by default, but on a smartphone, its availability depends on the model and version of Android.

How to check Miracast support on your phone:

• 📱 Android 10+: The feature is usually called “Wireless Display” or “Transmit” (in the Quick Settings menu).
• 🍎 iPhone: Miracast is not supported - use AirPlay (but Mi) TV 4S It doesn't work, Apple will need it. TV).
• ⚙️ Older Android (up to version 9): Look for the “Wi-Fi Display” option in the screen settings.

Step-by-step instructions for Android:

1. On TV: go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Wireless display and activate the feature.
2. On your smartphone: Open the notification bar, find the Transmit button (or Wireless Display) and select the Mi TV 4S from the list.
3. Confirm the connection on both devices. The screen of the phone will be displayed on TV with a delay of ~ 1-2 seconds.
4. Open the gallery and select a photo – it will automatically be broadcast to the big screen.

The TV and phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not necessarily, but recommended for stability).

The TV is turned on the “Wireless display” mode

Power saving mode is turned off on the smartphone (can interrupt the connection)

Distance between devices not more than 5 meters (for minimum lags)-->

Challenges and solutions:

• 🔄 Does not find the TV: restart both devices or reset the network settings to the TV (Settings) → System system → Resetting the network).
• 📶 Lags when scrolling: reduce the resolution of the broadcast in the Miracast settings on your smartphone (if there is an option).
• 🔒 Requested. PIN-code: on Mi TV 4S default PIN It is displayed on the TV screen (see at the bottom of the screen).

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If Miracast is permanently shut down, try connecting your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network via a router, even if the technology works without it.

2.Using DLNA: Transmission over a local area network

DLNA allows you to stream media from your phone to your TV over a shared local area network, and unlike Miracast, it doesn't transfer screens, it transfers specific files, which is convenient for viewing photos without duplicating the smartphone interface.

How to set up DLNA on Xiaomi Mi TV 4S:

1. On TV: go to Settings → Applications → System Applications → Media server and turn it on.
2. In the same menu, activate the option Shared Media Access (DLNA).
3. On your smartphone, install a media server application (for example, BubbleUPnP for Android or iMediaShare for iPhone).
4. In the app, select Mi TV 4S as the output device and send a photo.

Miracast and DLNA for Mi TV 4S:

For iPhone owners, DLNA is the only wireless way without additional devices. Apps like iMediaShare or AllConnect let you send photos directly from the gallery, but may require you to buy a premium version to work with Xiaomi TV.

Miracast (screen duplication)

DLNA (file transfer)

Xiaomi Apps (Mi Home/Share)

Wired connection (USB/HDMI)

Not using. -->

3. Xiaomi's proprietary apps: Mi Home and Mi Share

Xiaomi offers its own solutions for file sharing between the ecosystem devices. For the Mi TV 4S, two applications are relevant: Mi Home (for managing a smart home) and Mi Share (for transferring files), the second option is preferable, since it is specialized for media.

Instructions for Mi Share:

1. Install Mi Share on your smartphone from Google Play or App Store.
2. On the TV, open the File Manager app and select the Shared Access tab.
3. In Mi Share, select a photo on your phone, click “Send” and wait for the Mi TV 4S to appear in the list of devices.
4. Confirm the transfer on the TV – the files are saved to the internal memory of the TV in the Download folder.

Limitations and nuances:

• 📱 Transmission speed: ~5-10 MB/s (depends on the version of the Wi-Fi router).
• 🔄 File formats: only supported JPEG, PNG, HEIC (iPhone).
• 🔒 Authorization: Both devices must be linked to the same Xiaomi account (otherwise the TV will not appear in the list).

For iPhone, the process is similar, but requires an additional step: in the Mi Share settings on the phone, you need to enable the option “Allow access for iOS”. HEIC-iPhone photos may not open on Mi TV 4S — It is better to convert them in advance. JPEG via the Photo app».

4. Wired connection: USB-cable OTG-adapter

If wireless methods are unstable or you need to transfer a large amount of photos (for example, from a vacation), the best option is a direct connection through the Internet. USB. Xiaomi Mi TV 4S Supports reading external drives, but smartphones will need OTG-adapter (or cable) USB-C → USB-A, If the phone has a modern connector).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect. OTG-Adapter to the smartphone, and the other end of the cable to USB-TV port (connector) USB 2.0 on the back of the Mi TV 4S).

Important observations:

• 📁 Android: If your phone asks for permission to access files, confirm it or the folders won’t show up.

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Wireless connectivity is the only way to transmit photos in their original quality without compression. Wireless methods (Miracast, DLNA) can reduce the resolution to speed up the broadcast.

If the TV doesn't recognize the phone, check:

• The iPhone may require additional software, such as the iExplorer, but this makes the process more complicated.

5. Alternative methods: cloud services and third-party applications

If the standard methods don't work or are not available, you can use cloud storage or universal applications to transfer files, which is suitable for any smartphone and does not depend on the TV model.

Popular services and their features:

• 📱 Send Anywhere: Generate 6-digit code on your phone and enter it on TV via your browser (send-anywhere.com). minus: files are stored on the server for only 10 minutes.

The Xiaomi Mi TV 4S is the most convenient to use Google Photos, as the TV has a pre-installed Google Play Movies and TV app through which you can quickly access the cloud.The alternative is Mi Cloud, but it is less versatile (requires a Xiaomi account and is limited to 5GB of free space).

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If you are transferring photos via your browser to TV, use the "Play for Computer" mode in the site settings (usually in the browser menu), which will make it easier to download files.

Warnings:

⚠️ Note: When using cloud services, photos are temporarily stored on third-party servers. If you transmit sensitive images, delete them from the cloud after uploading them to your TV.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Xender) create a local Wi-Fi network that may conflict with the main one.

6 Problem Solving: What to Do When Nothing Works

If none of the methods worked, check the following points:

General malfunctions and ways of their elimination:

Extreme measures:

• 🔄 Network reset: on the TV perform Settings → System system → Network reset. It'll clear all the stored connections.
• 📦 Flash mediator: copy the photo from the phone to the USB-The drive and then connect it to the TV.
• 🛠️ Update: If your version MIUI TV older than 3.0.15, some features (e.g. Mi Share) may not work.

If your Xiaomi Mi TV 4S is released before 2020, check the processor model: on Amlogic S905X chips older than revision B, Miracast connectivity may require manually enabling developer mode (enter #284## in the search for settings TV code).

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos to Xiaomi TV 4S