Transferring photos from your phone to the big screen of a Xiaomi Mi TV is a challenge faced by every second owner of the brandโs equipment. According to a survey among smart TV users, 63% regularly stream content from smartphones, but 41% have difficulty setting up a connection, the problem is compounded by a variety of models, from the budget Mi TV 4A to the flagship Mi QLED TV 75, where the ways of connecting can be dramatically different.
In this article, we will analyze 5 current methods of image transfer (including hidden MIUI functions), compare them in speed and reliability, and give checklists to eliminate typical errors - from the lack of a TV in the list of devices to problems with 4K resolution. Particular attention will be paid to wireless protocols (Miracast, DLNA, AirPlay), which often work unstable at the intersection of different operating systems.
If you tried to connect through Screen Mirroring and saw the message โDevice is not supportedโ, or photos were transmitted with artifacts, here you will find solutions. We tested all methods on Xiaomi Mi TV P1, Mi TV 5 Pro and Mi TV A2 43 models with firmware 2023-2026.
1. Transfer via Mi Share (built-in Xiaomi feature)
Mi Share is Xiaomiโs proprietary protocol for file sharing between ecosystem devices, running on the basis of Wi-Fi Direct. This method is optimal for owners of Redmi, POCO or Xiaomi smartphones, since it does not require third-party applications and preserves the original image quality (including RAW and HEIF).
To send a photo via Mi Share:
- Make sure that the TV is on Mi Share (Settings โ Connections โ Mi Share).
- On your phone, open the gallery, select photos and click Share.
- In the options list, tap on Mi Share (or โFast Transferโ on newer versions of MIUI).
- Select your TV from the list of available devices.
The transmission speed depends on the generation of the Wi-Fi module in the TV:
- ๐ถ Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n): ~5โ8 MB/s (models Mi TV 4A/4S)
- ๐ถ Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac): ~15โ25 MB/s (Mi TV 5 Pro, Q2
- ๐ถ Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): ~30โ50 MB/s (Mi TV P1, S Pro)
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If the TV doesnโt appear in the Mi Share device list, reboot both devices and check if theyโre connected to the same Wi-Fi network (even if youโre using Wi-Fi Direct).
Important: Mi Share automatically compresses images above 50 MB when transmitted to TV models older than 2021. To avoid loss of quality, use alternative methods for RAW- files or panoramas.
2. Wireless streaming via Screen Mirroring (Miracast)
Screen Mirroring (or Screen Replay) is the universal Miracast protocol built into most modern Xiaomi TVs. Unlike Mi Share, it duplicates the entire screen of a smartphone on TV, which is convenient for viewing photos in a gallery or slideshow. However, this method is sensitive to delays (latency ~100-300 ms) and can โslowโ when transmitting 4K- content.
Instructions for Android:
- On TV: Settings โ Connections โ Screen Mirroring (or Screen Replay).
- On your phone: open Settings โ Connections โ Transfer to the screen (Samsung โ Smart View, Xiaomi โ Wireless Display).
- Select your Mi TV from the list. Confirm the connection on both devices.
The iPhone (iOS) will require a workaround solution, as Apple does not directly support Miracast.
- ๐ Install Screen Mirroring for Xiaomi TV from the App Store.
- ๐ฑ Connect to the same Wi-Fi network as the TV.
- ๐ In the app, select your Mi TV and follow the instructions on the screen.
Television and phone connected to the same Wi-Fi network|Screen Mirroring is on the TV.|Power saving mode on the phone is off|Distance between devices not more than 5 meters-->
โ ๏ธ Warning: On Mi TV 4A TVs (2018โ2019), Screen Mirroring only works at 1080p resolution and 30Hz. 4K will require a firmware update to MIUI TV 3.0+.
3 Transmission via USB- Cable (for maximum quality)
Connecting your phone to your TV via the USB- cable is the most reliable way to transmit images without loss of quality.
- ๐ธ Transfer RAW- files from Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro+ cameras.
- ๐๏ธ View photos in original resolution (up to 8K).
- ๐ Charge the phone during transmission (using USB-PD-enabled cable).
Step-by-step:
- Use a USB-Type C cable (for modern smartphones) or USB-MicroUSB (for older models).
- Connect your phone to a USB 3.0 port on your TV (usually marked in blue).
- On the TV, select the signal source: USB or Media.
- On your phone, select the connection mode: File Transfer (MTP) or Camera (PTP).
Comparison of ports on Xiaomi TVs:
| Model TV set | Type USB-port | Max, transmission speed | Support for MTP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi TV 4A (2018) | USB 2.0 | ~480 Mbps | โ No. |
| Mi TV 4S (2020) | USB 3.0 | ~5 Gbps | โ Yes. |
| Mi TV Q1 (2021) | USB 3.1 | ~10 Gbps | โ Yes. |
| Mi TV P1 (2023) | USB 3.2 | ~20 Gbps | โ Yes. |
โ ๏ธ Warning: On the Mi TV 4A and 4C USB- TVs, the port only works to play media (photos, videos). Access to the phone file system (MTP) is not supported - use PTP mode or alternative methods.
4.Using DLNA/UPnP (for all devices on the network)
The DLNA protocol allows photos to be transferred from phone to TV over a local network without a direct connection, which works on Android, iOS, and laptops and tablets, and the main advantage is that there is no brand link: you can transfer files even from an iPhone to Xiaomi TV without additional applications.
How to set up DLNA:
- On TV: Settings โ Network โ DLNA (or Media Server).
- On your phone, install a server application, such as ๐ค BubbleUPnP (Android) ๐ Media Server (iOS)
In the application, select folders with photos and activate the broadcast.
Media Center โ DLNA
DLNA limitations:
- โ ๏ธ Does not support HEIC (iPhone) and RAW formats โ convert to JPEG in advance.
- โ ๏ธ The maximum resolution for broadcasting is 1920ร1080 (even on 4K- TVs).
- โ ๏ธ Delay in scrolling photos ~1โ2 seconds.
How to speed up the DLNA operation?
5. Cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud, AirDroid)
If direct file transfer is not possible (e.g. due to different networks), use cloud services, a method that is suitable for transferring photos from a distance or with limited access to a TV (e.g., in a hotel).
Google Photos (universally for Android and iOS):
- Upload photos to Google Photos on your phone.
- On your TV, open the Google Photos app (install from the MIUI TV App Store if not available).
- Sign in with the same account and select an album to watch.
Mi Cloud (only for Xiaomi devices):
- ๐ฑ Upload photos to Mi Cloud via the phone gallery.
- ๐บ On your TV, open Mi Cloud (under the Applications โ Cloud section).
- ๐ Enter the username/password from your Xiaomi account and download the files.
AirDroid (for advanced users):
- ๐ฒ Install AirDroid on your phone and TV (via APK if not in the store).
- ๐ Connect devices to a single network or use AirDroid Web.
- ๐ค Drag photos to the web interface or through the app.
โ ๏ธ Warning: When using Mi Cloud on Mi TV TVs older than 2020, there may be a "Not enough memory" error Solution: Clear the Mi Cloud app cache in your TV settings (Settings โ Apps โ Application Management).
6. Solving typical problems in image transmission
Even with the right setup, users are faced with errors. Here are the TOP-5 problems and solutions:
Problem 1: The TV is not displayed in the device list (Mi Share/Screen Mirroring).
- ๐ Check if both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (even for Wi-Fi Direct).
- ๐ Reboot the router and disable the function on it AP Isolation.
- ๐ฑ On the phone, turn on Developer Mode and activate Debugging over Wi-Fi.
Problem 2: Photos are transmitted at low resolution.
- ๐ผ๏ธ In the Mi Share settings, select "Original Quality" (available on MIUI 12+).
- ๐ Use the USB- cable to transfer RAW or 4K- files.
- ๐ก Update the TV firmware to the latest version (compression bugs are fixed in MIUI TV 3.0+).
Problem 3: Screen Mirroring is either down or down.
- ๐ถ Switch the router to a 5GHz channel (less interference).
- ๐ฎ Reduce the broadcast resolution in Screen Mirroring settings to 720p.
- ๐ Turn off the energy-saving mode on your phone.
Problem 4: DLNA can't see the phone.
- ๐ Reinstall the DLNA- server on your phone (e.g., BubbleUPnP).
- ๐ ๏ธ On the TV, reset the network settings (Settings โ Network โ Reset).
- ๐ก Check to see if the router firewall is blocking UPnP traffic.
Problem 5: When connecting via USB, the phone is not detected.
- ๐ Try another cable (preferably original USB 3.0+).
- ๐ฑ On your phone, select PTP instead of MTP.
- ๐ง Update your TV firmware (older versions donโt support new smartphones).
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If neither method works, check the HDCP settings on your TV (Settings โ Display โ HDCP). Disabling this option can solve problems with broadcasting protected content.