How to transfer images from phone to TV Xiaomi: all working ways

Transferring photos from your phone to the big screen of Xiaomi TV is a challenge that every second owner of the brand’s equipment faces: someone wants to show family photos to guests, someone needs to demonstrate a design project to a client, and someone just prefers to view photo albums on a screen diagonal of 55+ inches. The problem is that there is no universal solution: the methods differ in speed, stability and supported models.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to transmit images, from wireless (Miracast, Wi-Fi Direct) to wired connections (USB-OTG, HDMI), and focus on the nuances of compatibility: why iPhones don’t always make friends with Xiaomi TVs via AirPlay, how to bypass the limitations of older TV models (such as Mi TV 3S), and why it’s sometimes easier to use cloud services instead of direct transmission.

If you're looking for a way to transfer not just photos, but videos, most of the methods I've described are good for that, and if you need to sync your library regularly, we'll show you how to automate the process with Mi Home or Google Photos.

1. Wireless transmission via Miracast (Screen Mirroring)

Miracast is a wireless screen standard built into most modern Xiaomi TVs (starting with Mi TV 4 and later) that allows you to duplicate your smartphone screen on TV without connecting to the same Wi-Fi network, but with some limitations.

To send images through Miracast:

• 📱 On the phone: open Settings → Connections → Screen transfer (on Android) or Control Point → Screen duplication (on iPhone).
• 📺 On TV: Go to Settings → Connection and sharing → Wireless display.
• 🔄 Choose the name of your TV from the list of available devices.
• 🖼️ After connecting, open the gallery on your phone and select a photo - it will appear on TV.

⚠️ Note: On iPhone, Miracast only works through third-party apps (e.g. Screen Mirroring for Xiaomi) TV), Apple only supports AirPlay by default, and also on some TV models (Mi). TV Stick, Mi Box S can be delayed up to 2 seconds when scrolling photos.

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If Miracast doesn’t find the TV, try turning off Bluetooth on the phone — sometimes it conflicts with wireless screen transmission.

2. Use of Wi-Fi Direct for Direct Transmission

Wi-Fi Direct is a technology that allows devices to connect directly without a router. Unlike Miracast, it does not duplicate the screen, but allows you to transfer individual files (including photos) from your phone to your TV.

Instructions for Android:

1. On TV: Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi Direct → turn on the function.
2. On the phone: Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi Direct (or Wi-Fi → Additional → Wi-Fi Direct).
3. Select the TV from the list and confirm the connection.
4. Open the gallery, select a photo → Share → Wi-Fi Direct.

⚠️ Note: Wi-Fi Direct is not natively supported on iPhones, and you’ll need to use workarounds to transfer files, such as creating a temporary hotspot on your TV and connecting your iPhone to it, and then using the TV’s web interface (available at the address). http://[IP-TV address]:8080).

3. Transfer through USB-cable (OTG)

If wireless methods cause delays or don't work, wired USB is the most reliable way to do this.

• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original from Xiaomi).
• 🔄 OTG-Adapter (if the phone does not support) USB Host).
• 📁 Photos must be stored in the phone’s memory (not on a microSD card unless the TV supports reading it).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to the TV through USB-port (usually marked as port) USB 3.0 for better speed).
2. On the TV, select the signal source: USB.
3. In the menu that appears, select Open folder or View files.
4. Go to DCIM → Camera (or another folder where your photos are stored).

⚠️ Note: On some TV models (Mi) TV Q1E, Mi TV A2) When connecting the phone through USB You may have a request for permission to access your data, and if you miss it, the TV won't see the files, and the iPhone requires you to unlock the screen when you connect to it. USB, Otherwise, access to files will be restricted.

4. Transfer via cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Photos)

If you need to sync your photos regularly between your phone and your TV, cloud services are the best solution.

• ☁️ Automatically upload photos from your phone to the cloud.
• 📺 View them on your TV via Google Photos or Mi Gallery apps.
• 🔄 Sync changes (for example, if you edited a photo on your phone).

Configure via Google Photos:

1. On your phone: Install the Google Photos app and enable Autoboot and Sync.
2. On TV: Open Google Play Store, download Google Photos and log in to the same account.
3. All uploaded photos will be available on the TV app.

For Mi Cloud (only for Xiaomi phones):

1. On the phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery → turn on synchronization.
2. On TV: Open the Mi Gallery app and log in to the same Mi Account.

Important: When using Mi Cloud, photos are stored on Xiaomi servers in China, which can affect download speeds in some regions. For Russia and Europe, it is better to use Google Photos or Yandex.Disk.

5. Transfer via the Mi Share app (formerly Mi Drop)

Mi Share is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for fast file transfer between the brand’s devices, which works on the principle of Wi-Fi Direct, but with a user-friendly interface and support for large files (up to 10 GB).

How to send photos via Mi Share:

1. Make sure that the Mi Share app is installed on your phone and TV (it is pre-installed in the Applications → Utilities section on TV).
2. On the phone: open the gallery, select a photo → Share → Mi Share.
3. On TV: Open Mi Share and select Receive Files.
4. Scan it. QR-TV screen code or confirm manual connection.

⚠️ Note: Mi Share only works between Xiaomi devices (including Redmi and Xiaomi devices) POCO). If you have a phone from another brand (such as a Samsung or iPhone), this method will not work. TV 4A, Mi TV 4C) You may need to update your firmware to the latest version.

6.Alternative methods: HDMI, Chromecast and DLNA

If none of the above methods work, consider alternatives:

Connect via HDMI (for USB-C-enabled phones → HDMI):

• 🔌 Use the adapter. USB-C to HDMI (for example, Xiaomi USB-C to HDMI Adapter).
• 📺 Connect the phone to the port HDMI ARC TV-wise.
• 🖼️ The phone screen will be duplicated on TV in the original resolution.

2.Use of Chromecast or Google TV:

• 📡 Connect Chromecast to your TV via HDMI.
• 📱 On your phone, open Google Photos → Choose a photo → Click Broadcast and select your Chromecast.

3. DLNA protocol (for advanced users):

• 🌐 Put it on the phone. DLNA-server (e.g. BubbleUPnP).
• 📺 On the TV, open the Media Player app and select your phone as the source.

⚠️ Attention: When in use HDMI-Adapter on Xiaomi phones may need to turn on the developer mode and activate the debugging option HDMI In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Click on version 7 times, then return to Additional Settings → Developer parameters).

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For maximum quality of photo transfer, use USB-OTG or HDMI. Wireless methods (Miracast, Wi-Fi Direct) can compress an image to 1080p even 4K-TV-set.

7 Problem Solving: What to Do When Nothing Works

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

Compatibility issues:

• 📱 Make sure your phone supports Miracast or Wi-Fi Direct (on iPhones before iOS 15, these features are limited).
• 📺 Update the TV firmware: Settings → On TV. → Updating the system.

Network errors:

• 🔄 Restart router and phone.
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (for Miracast and Wi-Fi). DLNA).

Hardware restrictions:

• 🔌 Check the cable and ports: try another one USB-cable HDMI-TV-port.
• 🔋 Make sure your phone is at least 20% charged – some models block data transmission when it is low.

If the problem persists, try resetting the network settings on your TV:

Settings → Network and Internet → Additional → Resetting network settings

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos to Xiaomi TV