Connecting a laptop to a Xiaomi TV over Bluetooth: full instructions with a breakdown of nuances

Introduction: Why connect your laptop to Xiaomi TV over Bluetooth

Wirelessly transferring audio from your laptop to your Xiaomi TV via Bluetooth is a convenient solution for watching movies, streaming music or conducting presentations without unnecessary wires. Unlike HDMI or Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth connectivity does not require additional adapters (if they are already built into devices) and works steadily at a distance of up to 10 meters. However, many users face problems from lack of sound to constant communication interruptions.

In this article, we will discuss all the stages of connection, from compatibility checks to customizing codecs for better sound quality, and focus on common errors (for example, when the Xiaomi Mi TV 4S does not see the laptop) and how to fix them. If you are using a MacBook, Windows 10/11 or a laptop with Linux, the instruction will be suitable for all systems, taking into account their features.

Before you start, make sure your Xiaomi TV supports Bluetooth.This is true for models starting with Mi TV 4 (2018) and later. In older versions (such as Mi TV 3), an external Bluetooth adapter may be required.

Step 1: Checking the compatibility of devices

Not all Xiaomi TVs and laptops support Bluetooth equally well, but here are the key points to check before connecting:

• 📺 Model TV: Bluetooth built into Mi TV 4/4S/4A (2018+), Mi TV 5, Redmi Smart TV And the newer series. TV 3 There are no early models.
• 💻 Laptop: Make sure your laptop is equipped with a Bluetooth module (usually version 4.0 or later). On Windows, check in Device Manager, on Mac, on Mac. → System report → Bluetooth.
• 🔊 Codecs: For high-quality sound, the TV and laptop must support common audio codecs, such as, SBC (basic), AAC (Apple or aptX (for high quality).

If your TV does not support Bluetooth, you can use an external adapter (for example, Xiaomi Bluetooth Audio Receiver), which connects to a port of 3.5 mm or USB.

Important: Xiaomi TVs with PatchWall (an Android TV-based shell) may have connection restrictions to Windows devices due to protocol conflicts, in which case resetting Bluetooth settings on the TV will help.

Step 2: Prepare your Xiaomi TV for connectivity

Before you connect devices, you need to activate Bluetooth on the TV and make it "visible" to other gadgets. TV redmi TV:

1. Turn on the TV and go to the main menu (Home button on the remote).
2. Open Settings → Devices and accessories → Bluetooth.
3. Activate the Bluetooth slider (if it is gray, the module is disabled).
4. Click Add Device or Device Search.

The TV will start scanning available devices. At this point, some Xiaomi models may not display a laptop in the list if it is powered by Bluetooth. To fix this, temporarily turn off Bluetooth Energy Savings mode on your laptop (in Windows, this is done in Settings → Devices → Additional settings).

Bluetooth enabled in the settings

The TV is in "Visible to All" mode.

The laptop is within a radius of 1-2 meters from TV

On the laptop switched off power saving Bluetooth

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⚠️ Note: If after turning on Bluetooth, the Xiaomi TV gives an error “Can not turn on Bluetooth”, try restarting the device or resetting the network settings (Settings) → The Internet and the Internet → Network reset. This often helps with module failures.

Step 3: Connect from a laptop (Windows, macOS, Linux)

The connection process varies depending on the operating system, and the following are step-by-step instructions for each of them.

🪟 Windows 10/11

1. Open Settings → Devices → Bluetooth and other devices.
2. Turn on Bluetooth (if disabled) and press Add Device → Bluetooth.
3. In the list, find the name of your TV (e.g., MiTV-4S-XXXX) and select it.
4. Confirm the pairing on the TV (entry may be required) PIN-code, usually 0000 or 1234).

🍎 macOS

1. Open System settings → Bluetooth.
2. Make sure Bluetooth is on and wait for the TV to appear on the list.
3. Click Connect and confirm pairing on the TV screen.

🐧 Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

Linux may require additional packages to be installed.

sudo apt install blueman pulseaudio-module-bluetooth

Then:

1. Open Bluetooth Manager (or Blueman).
2. Click Search and select the TV from the list.
3. Confirm pairing and select the A2DP Sink profile to transmit the sound.

Once you have successfully connected, check that the TV is defined as an audio device. In Windows, this can be done in Control Panel → Sound, where a new audio output should appear (for example, MiTV-4S Stereo).

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If the sound is interrupted, try turning off the Absolute Volume option in your Bluetooth laptop settings, which will solve the problem with unstable volume.

Step 4: Customize the sound and eliminate delays

Even after a successful connection, users often experience a lag or poor quality, which is due to the peculiarities of audio transmission over Bluetooth.

On Xiaomi TVs with Android TV, you can manually select the audio codec:

1. Go to Settings → Sound → Bluetooth sound quality.
2. Select the priority codec (AAC for Apple or aptX for Windows is recommended).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi) TV 4A) When connected via Bluetooth, the sound automatically turns off via HDMI ARC. To return ARC, You will have to turn off Bluetooth or restart the TV.

Step 5: Common mistakes and their solutions

Consider the most common problems when connecting a laptop to Xiaomi TV over Bluetooth and how to fix them.

• 🔴 The TV can't see the laptop Reasons: Bluetooth is off on one of the devices, laptop is in power saving mode, outdated firmware of the TV Solution: Reboot both devices, update the TV software (Settings) → On TV. → Update the system, turn off the power saving mode on the laptop.
• 🔴 The pairing passes, but no sound Cause: Not selected the correct Bluetooth profile (should be) A2DP), Solution: In the OS sound settings, select the TV as the default output device. On Windows, check the Control Panel. → Sound.
• 🔴 Permanent communication cliffs Causes: Interference from other devices, weak signal, outdated Bluetooth drivers on a laptop.Solution: Update Bluetooth drivers on a laptop, reduce the distance between devices, disable other wireless gadgets (earphones, keyboards).

If none of these methods worked, try resetting your Bluetooth settings on your TV:

1. Go to Settings → Devices and accessories → Bluetooth.
2. Select a connected laptop and press Forget the device.
3. Restart the TV and repeat the pairing.

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If the Xiaomi TV stopped seeing the devices via Bluetooth after the upgrade, try rolling back the firmware or resetting to factory settings. This often solves compatibility issues.

Step 6: Alternative ways to connect

If Bluetooth is not suitable due to delays or unstable communication, consider alternative options:

• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct / Miracast: Wireless video and audio transmission without lag. Supported on Xiaomi TV Android TV 9.0+. To connect, select Wi-Fi Direct TV settings and connect from your laptop as a regular network.
• 🔌 HDMI: Wired connection guarantees maximum quality without delay.Use cable HDMI 2.0 for transmitting sound and video in resolution 4K@60Hz.
• 🎧 Audio through 3.5mm or optics: If you only need sound, connect your laptop to your TV via an auxiliary (3.5mm) cable → 3.5 mm) or optical cable (TOSLINK).

Wi-Fi Direct on Windows may require an Intel Wireless Display or Miracast driver to be installed. On macOS, use the built-in AirPlay feature (if the TV supports it through apps like Apple TV).

If you choose HDMI, check out the port version:

HDMI 1.4: supports 4K@30Hz (may be lag in dynamic scenes).

HDMI 2.0/2.1: supports 4K@60Hz and 8K without delay.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi TV over Bluetooth