Transferring photos from your phone to Xiaomi’s big screen seems like a simple task — until you face the limitations of Bluetooth. Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to turn on Bluetooth on both devices, and files are instantly synchronized, as happens when you exchange between smartphones. However, Xiaomi TVs (including models Mi TV 4S, Mi TV Q1, Redmi Smart TV and others) support Bluetooth mainly for connecting audio devices, not for transferring media files.
In this article, we’ll explore why standard Bluetooth image sharing between a Xiaomi phone and TV is often impossible, and we’ll offer 3 working workarounds using a Bluetooth connection and 5 alternative methods for wirelessly transferring photos. You’ll learn which TV models support advanced Bluetooth profiles (such as OPP or FTP), how to configure pairing to share files, and what to do if the TV “can’t see” your smartphone.
Why does Xiaomi TV not accept images via Bluetooth?
The main problem lies in the Bluetooth profiles that your TV supports. Most Xiaomi models (except the flagship Mi TV Q2 and Mi TV Master series) are equipped with a Bluetooth module with a limited set of profiles:
- 🎧 A2DP — for audio transmission (headphones, speakers).
- 🎮 HID — for connecting gamepads and keyboards.
- 📱 AVRCP — reproduction.
File sharing profiles, like OPP (Object Push Profile) or FTP (File Transfer Profile), are extremely rare, which means that even if you successfully pair your phone with your TV, the Send File option in the Bluetooth menu on your smartphone will be inactive.
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi TVs with Android TV (Like Mi. TV Stick or Mi Box is even more complicated – they do not support Bluetooth file reception at all, even if the specification specifies Bluetooth 5.0 module.
You can check the supported profiles in the specifications of your model on the official Xiaomi website or in the TV settings menu: go to Settings → Devices → Bluetooth and see if there are options for data exchange.
Method 1: Using Bluetooth FTP (only for selected models)
If your Xiaomi TV supports your profile FTP (For example, some versions of the Mi TV Q2 2023), you can transfer files through the built-in FTP-This is how the server works:
- Activate Bluetooth on your TV: Settings → Devices → Bluetooth → turn on the slider.
- On your phone, turn on Bluetooth and find your TV (usually the name begins with MiTV-..).
- Install a Bluetooth FTP application on your smartphone, such as Bluetooth File Transfer (available for Android) or FTP Manager.
- In the application, select the option “Connect to” FTP-server" and enter the data: 📌 Server address: usually ftp://[MAC-address TV] (to know) MAC You can use Bluetooth TV settings). 🔑 Login/password: by default, often empty or admin/admin.
Once connected, you can upload images to your TV folder (usually /storage/emulated/0/Download).
⚠️ Attention: FTP-Bluetooth connection is extremely slow – the transfer speed rarely exceeds 100-200 KB / s. To transfer 10 photos in high resolution it may take 5-10 minutes.
☑️ Preparation for Bluetooth transmission FTP
Method 2: Transfer via Bluetooth mouse with file support
This method is suitable for Xiaomi TVs on Android TVs (such as Mi TV Stick 4K or Mi Box S).The point is to use a Bluetooth mouse with built-in file transfer function (such as Logitech MX Anywhere 3 or Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse).
Instructions:
- Connect Bluetooth mouse to TV via Settings → Devices → Add accessory.
- On your phone, turn on Bluetooth and find a mouse in the list of devices. Some mouse models (like Logitech) allow you to temporarily “pretend” to play with your phone» FTP-server.
- Use special software from the mouse manufacturer (such as Logitech Options) to transfer files to the TV via the mouse as an intermediary.
This method does not work with all mouse models and requires additional software, but in some cases it is the only option for transferring files without Wi-Fi.
Which mice support file transfer?
Method 3: A workaround – Bluetooth + cloud storage
If direct transmission is not possible, you can use Bluetooth to control your TV and upload the files via the cloud, a method that works on all Xiaomi models.
Algorithm:
- Upload photos from your phone to cloud storage (Google Photos, Mi Cloud, Yandex Drive).
- On your TV, open a cloud service app (like Google Photos or Mi Gallery).
- Use a Bluetooth keyboard or voice-controlled remote to log in to your account and download files.
If the file transfer option remains inactive after pairing devices, try resetting Bluetooth settings on both devices:
On TV: Settings → Devices → Bluetooth → ⋮ → Reset settings
On the phone: Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → ⚙️ → Delete all associated devices💡
Before resetting Bluetooth-remember all previously connected devices (earphones, speakers, remotes) – they will have to pair again.