Connecting your phone to a Xiaomi TV via Bluetooth without a remote: the complete guide

Introduction: Why Bluetooth Connection Without a Remote Is Real

Have you lost your remote control of a Xiaomi TV and only a smartphone? Or want to transmit audio from your phone to TV but don't know how to activate Bluetooth without physical control? This is a situation that many smart TV owners know. Fortunately, Xiaomi has provided alternative controls — and one of them works even without additional devices.

In this article, we will discuss 3 Working method of connecting the phone to Xiaomi TV Bluetooth without remote: via the Mi Remote app, using buttons on the TV body and through ADB-You'll also learn why TV may not appear in the list of available devices and how to fix it. All instructions are relevant for Mi models. TV 4/4S/4A/4X/5/5X, Redmi Smart TV and others based on Android TV or PatchWall.

Before you start, check whether your phone has Bluetooth enabled (in settings or through the notification panel) and whether your TV supports this feature. Most Xiaomi models have Bluetooth 4.2/5.0 after 2018, but may not be available in budget series (such as the Mi TV 4A 32).

Method 1: Use of buttons on the TV body

If you don't have a remote, but you have access to the TV itself, you can activate Bluetooth via physical buttons, which are located on the bottom or side panel of the case (usually under the Mi logo).

🔘 Power button (on/off)
📺 Control buttons (volume, channels, confirmation)
⚙️ Settings button (rarely in new models)

Algorithm of action:

Turn on the TV with the power button.
Press and hold the "OK" (or "Menu") button for 5 seconds to open the menu.
With volume buttons (+/–), navigate through menu items until you find Settings → Devices → Bluetooth.
Activate Device Search Mode and connect the phone through its Bluetooth settings.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Mi) TV 4S 55") the control buttons are locked after 3 failed attempts. If the menu does not open, disconnect the TV from the network for 1 minute and try again.

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If the buttons on the body do not respond, check if they are locked in the security settings. Unlocking may require resetting the TV to factory settings (see section 5).

Method 2: Controlling the Mi Remote application

Xiaomi’s official Mi Remote app lets you turn your smartphone into a full-fledged remote control, including managing Bluetooth connections. Download it from Google Play or the App Store (for iOS).

Instructions for setting:

Open the app and click "Add device" → "TV" → "Xiaomi".
Select your TV model from the list (if not, select “Other Xiaomi TV”).
Point your phone to the infrared port of the TV (usually located to the right or left of the screen) and follow the instructions on the screen.
After connecting, go to Devices → Bluetooth in the app and activate the search.

If the TV doesn't respond to commands from Mi Remote:

🔋 Check the phone's charge (the IP port requires additional power).
📶 Make sure there are no obstacles between the phone and TV (maximum distance 5 meters).
🔄 Restart the application and repeat pairing.

📊 What type of remote you use more often?

Physical remote control

App on the phone

Voice assistant

Buttons on the TV

Model TV set	Bluetooth support	Compatibility with Mi Remote
Mi TV 4A (2018–2020)	❌ No, only Wi-Fi Direct)	✅ Yes.
Mi TV 4S/4X (2019–2022)	✅ Bluetooth 4.2	✅ Yes.
Redmi Smart TV X (2021–2023)	✅ Bluetooth 5.0	✅ Yes (software update required)
Mi TV Q1/Q2 (2022–2026)	✅ Bluetooth 5.2	✅ Yes.

Method 3: ADB-Teams for Advanced Users

If the first two methods didn’t work, you can turn on Bluetooth via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) which requires connecting the TV to the network and accessing a computer or other Android device with ADB.

Step-by-step:

Put the debugging on. USB on TV: Go to Settings → On TV. → Software version: Click on Software version 7 times until the notification "You became a developer" appears. → For developers and activate the "Debugging by" USB".

USB

USB 3.0

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, do:

adb shell am start -a android.settings.BLUETOOTH_SETTINGS

This will open up the Bluetooth settings on the TV.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB It can cause system failures if you type the wrong commands. ADB, If you're not sure what they're going to do, for PatchWall models (like Mi). TV 5X) Some teams may not work, in which case use an alternative method.

What if ADB can’t see TV?

Make sure the drivers ADB installed on the computer, the cable USB It is good, and the TV is enabled mode "File transfer" (MTP). If the problem persists, try connecting via Wi-Fi via the adb connect command. [IP-TV address].

The solution to the problem: why the TV is not visible on Bluetooth

If you’re infollowing all the instructions but Xiaomi TV doesn’t show up in the list of available devices on your phone, check out the following points:

🔍 Visibility mode: Some Xiaomi Bluetooth models are hidden by default. To activate it, go to Settings → Devices → Bluetooth → Settings → Visibility for all devices.
🔄 Reboot: Turn off the TV from the socket for 30 seconds, then turn it on again.This will reset the temporary errors of the Bluetooth module.
📱 Phone compatibility: Outdated versions of Android (below 8.0) or iOS (below 12) may not support Xiaomi protocols.
🛠️ Network reset: On the TV, go to Settings → Network → Reset network settings. This will delete all saved connections, including Bluetooth.

Critical feature: Xiaomi PatchWall-based TVs (such as Mi TV 5 Pro) require authorization through a Mi Account for some Bluetooth features.If you are not signed in, the device may not appear in the pairing list.

☑️ Checking before connection

Bluetooth is on on the phoneThe TV is connected to the network.Visibility mode activated on TVThe devices are within a radius of 3 metersThere are no active VPNs on your phone

Done: 0 / 5

Alternative ways to transmit sound without Bluetooth

If Bluetooth never worked, consider alternative ways to connect your phone to Xiaomi TV:

📶 Wi-Fi Direct/Miracast: It allows you to broadcast your phone screen to TV without wires. → Wi-Fi Direct.
🔌 HDMI-cable: Modern smartphones will require an adapter USB-C → HDMI (for example, Xiaomi USB-C to HDMI Adapter. supports permission up to 4K@60Hz.
🎧 Audio cable 3.5 mm: If there is a connector on the TV AUX Or Optical, you can connect the phone through an adapter.
🌐 Google Cast/Chromecast: Apps like YouTube or Netflix support streaming on Xiaomi TV Google Cast (if the TV is connected to the same Wi-Fi network).

To only transmit sound without video, it is convenient to use Wi-Fi Direct with applications like SoundWire or AudioRelay, which create a local network between the phone and the TV with minimal latency (up to 100 ms).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When connecting a phone to a Xiaomi TV over Bluetooth, users often face typical problems.

Mistake.	Reason.	Decision
TV not visible on the list of devices	Disabled mode of visibility or module failure	Activate visibility in Bluetooth settings or reboot TV
Connection is interrupted in 10 seconds	Low signal or interference level	Reduce the distance between devices, disable other Bluetooth devices nearby
The sound is delayed.	Uses an outdated codec (e.g. SBC)	In Bluetooth settings on your phone, select the AAC or aptX codec
The phone is plugging in, but there's no sound.	Not selected source of sound on TV	On the remote or in the TV settings, select Bluetooth as the audio source.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi TVs with PatchWall firmware versions below 1.7.60 may not support aptX codecs and LDAC. Update the software through Settings → Updating the system to improve sound quality.

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If the TV does not support Bluetooth, use Wi-Fi Direct or HDMI-cable – they provide a more stable connection for broadcasting sound and video.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can I connect an iPhone to Xiaomi TV over Bluetooth without a remote?

Yes, but with limitations. iPhone does not support Mi Remote, so use: Buttons on the TV body to activate Bluetooth. Third-party apps (such as TV Remote Control for Xiaomi from the App Store). ADB via computer (required iTunes for drivers). Note: Xiaomi TV may not support AAC codec for iPhone, which will lead to audio delay.

How to reset Bluetooth settings on Xiaomi TV without remote control?

There are two ways: through the buttons on the case: Turn on the TV. Hold the button "Menu" 10 Select "Network Reset" (this will remove Bluetooth connections). ADB: adb shell settings put global bluetooth_on 0 adb shell settings put global bluetooth_on 1 This will restart the Bluetooth module.

What is the maximum distance between a phone and a TV for a stable Bluetooth connection?

For most Xiaomi TV models with Bluetooth 4.2/5.0, the maximum distance is: 10 meters in line of sight (no obstacles), 5 meters in a room with furniture and walls. If you exceed this distance, interference and connection breaks are possible. Use a Bluetooth repeater (for example, Xiaomi Bluetooth Audio Receiver) to improve the signal.

Can I connect multiple phones to a single Xiaomi TV over Bluetooth?

Yes, but with limitations: Most models only support 1 audio device at a time (e.g., a phone or headphones). To connect a second phone, you first need to turn off the first device. Except for Android TV 10+ (e.g., Mi TV Q1 2023), where you can create a Bluetooth network for 2 devices (e.g., phone + gamepad).

Why is it that when you connect your phone to your Bluetooth TV, the sound is delayed?

Sound delay (latency) occurs due to: Bluetooth Codec: SBC is used by default with a delay of 100-300 ms. Switch to AAC (latency of 50-150 ms) or aptX Low Latency (30-80 ms). CPU loads: Close background applications on your phone and TV. Interference: Disable other Bluetooth devices (headphones, fitness bracelets) within a radius of 5 meters. For games or watching videos, it is better to use HDMI or Wi-Fi Direct - they provide a delay of less than 20 ms.