How to connect a Mac to a Xiaomi TV: all ways with settings

Why Mac and Xiaomi TV are not always friends out of the box

Connecting a MacBook or iMac to a Xiaomi TV seems like a simple task — take the cable, connect, and ready. But in practice, users face a lack of sound through HDMI, the wrong screen resolution or complete disregard of devices each other, the reason lies in the differences in ecosystems: Apple uses proprietary protocols (for example, AirPlay), and Xiaomi is focused on Miracast and DLNA.

Another trap is that Xiaomi’s Android TV models (such as the Mi TV Q2 or Redmi Smart TV X) require separate settings to work properly with macOS. And if you have a Mac with an Apple Silicon chip (M1/M2/M3), some connectivity options may not work at all without additional utilities. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods — from wired HDMI to wireless protocols — and also solve typical problems.

Before you start, check:

• 🔌 MacOS Version: Upgrade to the latest version (especially if you have a Mac on your PC) M1/M2).
• 📺 Model TV: the new Xiaomi TV (2022 and Newer) Support AirPlay Out of the Box, Older ones Don’t.
• 🔄 Ports: MacBook Air may not have HDMI — You'll need an adapter. USB-C → HDMI.

Method 1: Wireless connection via HDMI (most stable)

This is the basic method that works on all Mac and Xiaomi TV models.

• 🔗 Cable HDMI 2.0/2.1 (for 4K@60Hz is a mandatory high-speed cable).
• 🔌 Adapter (if there is no port on the MacBook) HDMI): USB-C → HDMI or Thunderbolt → HDMI.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the cable to the HDMI port on your TV (it is advisable to use an ARC or HDMI 2.1 port).
2. On the Xiaomi remote, press the SOURCE (or INPUT) button and select the appropriate HDMI port.
3. On Mac, go to System Settings → Screens and click Discover (unless the TV is automatically determined).
4. In the Resolution section, select the best one for your Xiaomi TV (usually 3840×2160 (4K) at 60Hz).

Check the version. HDMI-Port on the TV (should be 2.0)+ for 4K)

Use a certified cable (no cheap no-name)

Update the firmware of the Xiaomi TV to the latest version

Turn off Mirror mode on Mac if you need an extended screen-->

If there is an image but no sound:

⚠️ Note: Mac by default does not transmit sound through HDMI To fix this, go to System Settings. → Sound. → Exit and select your Xiaomi TV as your output device.

Method 2: Wireless connection via AirPlay (for new Xiaomi models)

Since 2022, Xiaomi has added AirPlay support to Android TV 11+ (e.g. Mi TV Q2 2023, Redmi Smart TV X Pro) which allows you to broadcast the Mac screen wirelessly, but with some limitations:

• 🍎 It only works on Mac with macOS Monterey 12.0.+.
• 📶 Requires connecting both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (5GHz recommended).

How to connect:

1. On Xiaomi TV, open Settings → Connection & Sharing → AirPlay and turn on the option.
2. On a Mac, open Control Center (the icon in the upper right corner) → Screen mirror.
3. In the list of devices, select your Xiaomi TV.
4. When you first connect, enter the code that will appear on the TV screen.

If AirPlay is not working:

• 🔄 Restart the router and both devices.
• 🔒 Make sure your TV is power-saving mode turned off (it can block background connections).
• 📱 Check that Bluetooth is enabled on the Mac (required for initial authorization).

Method 3: Miracast for older Xiaomi models (AirPlay alternative)

If you have a Xiaomi TV released before 2022 (for example, Mi TV 4S or Mi TV 4A), then AirPlay is not in it. Instead, you can use Miracast, a wireless screen transfer standard supported by macOS through third-party utilities.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ AirParrot 3 or Reflector (paid, ~$15–30).
• 📶 Wi-Fi 5 GHz (required! 2.4 GHz will have strong laganye).

Instructions:

1. Install AirParrot 3 on your Mac and start the program.
2. On Xiaomi TV, turn on Miracast: Settings → Display and Sound → Wireless display.
3. In AirParrot, select your TV from the list of devices.
4. Set up the resolution (recommended 1920×1080 for stable operation).

⚠️ Note: On a Mac with chips M1/M2 Miracast may not work due to lack of drivers. HDMI Apple TV mediator.

Method 4: Connect via Apple TV (for minimum delay)

If you want stable wireless broadcasts with minimal lag (for example, for gaming or watching movies in high quality), the best option is to use Apple TV as an intermediary, which works even with older Xiaomi TVs, since the Apple TV connects to them via HDMI, and already serves as a receiver for AirPlay.

What do you need?

• 📦 Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or newer).
• 🔌 Cable HDMI plug-in TV television-to-TV.

How to set up:

1. Connect your Apple TV to your Xiaomi TV via HDMI.
2. Turn on Apple TV and go to Settings → AirPlay and HomeKit, turn on AirPlay.
3. On a Mac, open Control Center → Screen Mirror and select Apple TV.
4. For games, activate Low Latency mode in Apple TV settings.

💡

If you don't have an Apple TV, but iPhone/iPad, You can use them as an intermediary: connect the device to the Xiaomi TV through the HDMI-adapter (Lightning/USB-C → HDMI), Then stream the Mac screen on your iPhone via AirPlay.

Method 5: Connecting via DLNA (for media files)

If you don't need to duplicate the screen, but just stream movies or music from a Mac to a Xiaomi TV, you can use the DLNA protocol. This method is not suitable for screen mirroring, but it does a great job of media playback.

Instructions:

1. On Xiaomi TV, open the Media Player or Gallery app.
2. In the side menu, select DLNA or Local Network.
3. On a Mac, install Plex, Kodi or VLC (the latter must enable DLNA Sharing in the settings).
4. In the program, select a file to play and send it to the TV.

Advantages of the method:

• 🎬 All video formats are supported (including: MKV, FLAC).
• 📂 You can stream entire folders with files.
• 🔄 No binding to screen resolution (reproduced in original quality).

⚠️ Attention: DLNA If your Wi-Fi network is not password protected, any connected user will be able to see the broadcast files.

Problem Solving: No image, sound or connection

Even if you set it up properly, you can get into a crash, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

1. Xiaomi TV doesn't see Mac on AirPlay/Miracast

• 🔄 Restart the router and both devices.
• 📡 Check that your Mac and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not the guest network!).
• 🔒 On the TV, turn off the Firewall in the network settings.

2.No sound through HDMI

• 🔊 On Mac, go to System Settings → Sound. → Get out and choose the TV.
• 🔧 If it sounds but is jammed, try another cable. HDMI (Maybe the screen or the squirrel is damaged).
• 📻 On Xiaomi TV, check what is in Settings → Sound. → Output sound selected HDMI.

3. Image blurred or cropped

• 🖥️ On Mac in System Settings → Screens try a different resolution (e.g., screens, 1920×1080 instead 4K).
• 🔍 Make sure that the TV is on the Game mode or PC (shutdown).
• 🔄 If you use an adapter USB-C → HDMI, Check its compatibility with 4K@60Hz.

💡

If, after connecting to HDMI, a message appears on Xiaomi TV "Unsupported format", then the Mac transmits a signal with a non-standard frame rate (for example, 59.94 Hz instead of 60 Hz). Solution: manually set 60 Hz in the Mac screen settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Mac to Xiaomi TV