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

Transferring photos from your phone to your big screen is a challenge faced by every second smart appliance owner. Według statistics 68% of users use TV as a media center to view personal pictures, but not everyone knows about all available methods of transmission. In this article, we will analyze 5 proven methods – from wireless technologies to wired connections – taking into account the features of MIUI TV firmware and compatibility with different models of smartphones.

Feature of Xiaomi TVs (series Mi) TV A2, Xiaomi TV Q2, Redmi Smart TV The strategy is to support proprietary protocols such as Mi Share and Miracast, which are often more stable than universal solutions such as Google Cast (Android/iOS), Firmware versions and even image format (e.g, HEIC iPhone can not open without converting).

Before you start, check:

• 📱 Phone model: Android 8.0+ or iOS 12+ (Mi Share will be required MIUI 12 or newer on Xiaomi smartphones).
• 📺 Model TV: The Mi series TV 4S/5X Newer and more support all methods, and older models (for example, Mi). TV 3) may require software updates.
• 🔌 Network environment: For wireless methods, phone and TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz depending on the model).

1. Mi Share - Xiaomi's proprietary protocol for fast transfer

Mi Share is an analogue of Apple’s AirDrop, designed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem, which allows you to transfer files at up to 10 MB/s (under ideal conditions) without loss of quality. The main advantage is that you do not need to connect to a single Wi-Fi network: devices create a direct access point.

To transfer the photo to Mi Share:

1. On TV: open Settings → Connect and Sharing → Mi Share and activate the feature.
2. On Xiaomi: Open the Gallery, select a photo, click Share → Mi Share. If you have an iPhone or other Android, install the Mi Share app from the App Store/Google Play.
3. In the list of devices, select your TV (model name will be displayed automatically).
4. Confirm the file reception on TV – the images will be saved to the Downloads or Mi Share folder.

⚠️ Note: If the transmission is interrupted, check:

• 🔄 Power saving mode is turned off on the phone (it can block background data transmission).
• 📶 The distance between the devices does not exceed 5 meters (otherwise the speed drops 2-3 times).
• 🔒 On TV, the Mi Share settings turn on the “Visibility for All” option (if the phone does not find the TV).

Mi Share on TV|Telephone and TV are charged at least 30 times%|Unplugged. VPN phone-on|Notifications for Mi Share Allowed-->

2. Wireless transmission via Miracast (Wi-Fi Direct)

Miracast is a universal standard for screen duplication over Wi-Fi, supported by all Xiaomi TVs since the Mi TV 4A. Unlike Mi Share, it does not transfer a file, but a streaming screen image, which is convenient for showing slideshows or editing photos in real time.

Instructions for Android:

1. On TV: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Wireless Display → Enable the option.
2. On your phone: open Settings → Connections → Transfer to the screen (on Samsung it can be called Smart View, on Google Pixel – Cast).
3. Select your TV from the list. Confirm the connection on both devices.
4. Open the Gallery on your phone – the image will be broadcast on TV in real time.

For iPhone, you will need a third-party app, such as Screen Mirroring for Xiaomi TV, since iOS does not support Miracast natively.

⚠️ Note: When using Miracast, the sound from the phone is not transmitted to the TV automatically. To turn on the audio, you need to manually select the source of the sound in the settings of the TV (Settings) → Sound. → Sound source → HDMI/ARC).

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If the image on TV is displayed with artifacts, reduce the resolution of the phone screen in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → Assembly Number – tap 7 times, then Settings → System → Developer → Minimum width).

3. a wired connection through USB-cable

If wireless methods are unstable, wired connectivity remains the most reliable option, and Xiaomi TVs support two types of connectivity:

• 🔌 USB-OTG: For phones with a Type-C or Micro-USB connector (adapter required) OTG).
• 🖥️ HDMI: Through the adapter USB-C → HDMI (for modern smartphones, or MHL (old-model).

Instructions for USB-OTG:

1. Connect your phone to TV via OTG-cable (e.g. Xiaomi) USB-C to USB-A).
2. On TV, select the source of the USB signal (the Source button on the remote).
3. The phone will display a notification “Connected as a media device” – click “Allow access to files”.
4. In the TV menu, open the File Manager and select the DCIM or Pictures folder.

⚠️ Note: Not all phones support the mode MTP (Media Transfer Protocol (via) OTG. For example, the iPhone can’t transfer files this way – only charging or displaying images via Lightning. → HDMI Adapter to check compatibility:

• On Android: Open Settings → Memory → USB Connection and select File Transfer.
• If you don’t have an option, your phone doesn’t support USB Host.

4. Cloud Services: Google Photos, Mi Cloud and Alternatives

If you need to transfer photos wirelessly and without distance restrictions, cloud services will be the best solution. Xiaomi TVs have built-in Google Photos and Mi Cloud apps, and also support DLNA for streaming from other services (for example, Yandex Drive).

The method through Google Photos:

1. On your phone: upload a photo to Google Photos (automatically or manually).
2. On TV: Open the Google Photos app (if not, install it on Google Play on TV).
3. Sign in with the same Google account as you do on your phone.
4. Choose an album or individual pictures to watch.

Advantages and Limitations of Cloud Services:

⚠️ Note: When using Mi Cloud on non-Xiaomi phones (such as Samsung or iPhone), you may need to manually download files via the i.mi.com web interface. Download speed depends on your Internet channel: at 100 Mbps 1 GB, the photo will be downloaded for a period of time. ~2-3 minutes.

5.Using DLNA/UPnP for streaming without downloading

DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is a protocol that allows you to stream media from your phone to TV without first downloading to the cloud. All Xiaomi TVs support DLNA through built-in Media Player or applications like VLC.

How to set up DLNA on Android:

1. Install a server application on your phone, such as BubbleUPnP or LocalCast.
2. Turn on the DLNA function: Settings → Network → DLNA.
3. In the app on your phone, select files for broadcasting and specify the TV as the output device.
4. On TV, open Media Player → Local Network → select your phone.

An iPhone is a good app for nPlayer or Infuse, and the main advantage of DLNA is that you don't have to duplicate files, they're streamed directly from your phone.

• ⚠️ With weak Wi-Fi, it is possible to slow down when scrolling photos.
• ⚠️ Not all formats are supported (e.g, HEIC iPhone may not open).
• ⚠️ The phone should remain on while watching.

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DLNA is ideal for a single viewing of photos, but it is not suitable for permanent storage. If you need to save pictures on TV, use USB or the cloud.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on your tasks, and below is a comparative table of key criteria:

If you need to save your photos on TV for permanent access, choose USB-OTG or Mi Share. Miracast or DLNA is suitable for a one-time viewing. If synchronization between devices is important, use Google Photos or Mi Cloud.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with the right setup, you can get errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

Problem 1: The TV doesn't see the phone through Mi Share or Miracast.

• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 📶 Check that the phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (even Mi Share sometimes requires a shared network for initial synchronization).
• 🔧 On TV, update the firmware: Settings → On TV. → Updating the system.

Problem 2: When connected via USB, the TV doesn’t see files.

• 🔌 Try another cable (not all of it) USB-cables support data transmission).
• 📱 On the phone in the settings USB Select the File Transfer Mode (MTP).
• 🖥️ On TV, check the file system: some models don't read exFAT, only FAT32.

Problem 3: Photos on TV are shown in low quality.

• 🔍 Check your sync settings in Google Photos: Settings → Backup and synchronization → Quality of loading → Choose "Original».
• 💾 Make sure you have enough space on your account (free rate compresses photos over 16 MP).

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If the TV doesn’t support HEIC (iPhone photo), convert them to JPEG via the HEIC to JPG Converter (Android) or Shortcuts (iOS) app.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions