How to Connect Your Phone to a Xiaomi TV via USB: A Complete Guide to 2026

Why? USB-connection TV It may not work the first time.

Connecting your smartphone to Xiaomi TV via USB-And the problem is that cable seems like a simple task, but in practice, users are faced with a lot of nuances. TV (series A2, P1, Q2 etc.) not all protocols for data transmission through USB. For example, the regime MTP (The Media Transfer Protocol, which is the default Android protocol, may not be recognized by the TV, but instead, you often need to switch to the TV. PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol or even USB-The storage device, when it comes to viewing media files.

Another common problem is incompatibility. USB-Many users try to use cheap or damaged cables that physically connect but don’t transmit data. Xiaomi recommends using original cables that support the use of the cables. USB 2.0/3.0 no longer 1.5 It's also used on some TV models (e.g. Mi). TV 4S 55") USB-The port can only be designed to power or update the firmware, not to transmit media.

In this article, we will discuss:

• 🔌 What Xiaomi TVs are supported USB-Connection to the phone (list of compatible devices)
• 📱 How to set up a smartphone on Android or iOS for correct data transfer
• 🎬 Step-by-step instructions for viewing photos, videos and movies from your phone on a large screen
• ⚠️ Typical errors and ways to fix them (from "device not recognized" to no sound)

What Xiaomi TVs support USB phone connection

Not all Mi models. TV They can work with phones through USB-Here is the current list of compatible series (2026):

If your model didn’t make it to the table, check the specifications on Xiaomi’s official website or on the TV menu: go to Settings → About TV → Model. Outdated models (until 2018) don’t usually support direct smartphone connectivity – in which case you’ll have to use alternative methods (for example, Miracast or Google Cast).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi TVs with Android operating system TV 9.0 and below may not recognize smartphones on Android 12+ due to changes in protocol MTP. In this case, only updating the TV firmware or using the mode will help. PTP.

Cable and adapters: what you need to connect

From choice USB-And the cable depends on 80 percent of the connection:

• 🔗 Type of cable: For modern smartphones (Android or iPhone) you need a cable USB-C → USB-A (if the TV is standard USB-port USB-C → USB-C (For new Xiaomi models TV A2 portable USB-C).
• ⚡ Transmission speed: Minimum USB 2.0 (up to 480 Mbps), but for 4K-better USB 3.0 (blue connector).
• 📏 Cable length: No more than 1.5 m long cables can cause delays in playback.
• 🛡️ Certification: Original Xiaomi cables or certified USB-IF (The logo should be on the packaging).

If you have an iPhone, you’ll need an additional Lightning → USB adapter (official from Apple or certified by MFi). For older Mi TV models with a USB 2.0 Micro-B port, you may need a USB-A (female) → Micro-B (male) adapter.

The cable supports data transfer (not just charging)

USB port on the TV is not damaged (try plugging in the flash drive)

The phone has unlocked the screen (some models block MTP/PTP in the locked state)

The TV has been updated to the latest version of the firmware-->

Critical: cables from chargers (e.g. power bank) often don't transmit data, even if they are physically fit to connectors. Use only cables labeled "Data Sync" or "USB OTG."

Step-by-step: how to connect your phone to Xiaomi TV via USB

Consider the universal algorithm for Android smartphones: If you have an iPhone, skip the protocol-related steps (only camera mode is available on iOS).

1. Connect the cable to your phone and TV. Use the USB 3.0 port on your TV (usually marked in blue). If there are multiple ports, try each one — some are power-only.
2. Unlock the phone screen. On Android, the "Charge via USB" notification will appear. Tap it and select File Transfer (MTP) or Photo Transfer (PTP).
3. On your TV, select the source of the signal. On the Xiaomi remote, press the Source (or Input) button and select USB. If the device doesn't show up, try reconnecting the cable.
4. Start playback. The TV menu will show a file manager. Go to DCIM (for photos) or Movies (for videos) and select the file.

If the TV can't see the phone:

• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 🔧 Check the developer settings on your phone: turn on Debugging by USB (In Settings → The phone. → Assembly number - tap 7 times).
• 📱 Android 11.+ You may need to allow access to files manually (a request will appear when you connect).

💡

If the TV sees the phone but doesn't play the video, try renaming the file by removing Cyrillic characters or spaces from the title. Some Mi TV models don't support UTF-8 encoding in filenames.

Connection modes: MTP, PTP or USB-storage - what to choose

The protocol you choose will determine which files you can view on your TV. Here's a comparison:

MTP is better for watching movies in MKV or MP4 with multichannel sound, but if the TV doesn't support it, only PTP (with format restrictions) remains. On the iPhone, only PTP is available, so convert the video to MP4 (H.264) or MOV beforehand.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO shelled MIUI 14+ There may be no option MTP menu USB. In this case, turn on the developer mode and manually activate USB-debugging, and then select File Transfer in the notification.

Problems and Mistakes: TV Can't See Phones - What to Do

Even with the right connection, you can have failures, and here are the most common errors and their solutions:

• 🚫 "Device not identified" Reason: incompatible protocol or damaged cable. Solution: switch from MTP on PTP On your phone or try another cable.
• 🔊 No audio when playing video: The TV does not support audio codec (e.g., no audio codec, DTS or AC3). Solution: Convert video to AAC or MP3 using applications like VLC HandBrake.
• 📂 Folders with files are not displayed Reason: TV scans only standard directories (DCIM, Solution: Move files to these folders or rename them (without Cyrillic).
• 🔄 Connection interrupts after 5-10 minutes Reason: Power saving on the phone. Solution: Turn off Battery Optimization for system processes in settings MIUI.

If none of these methods helped, check:

1. Update the TV firmware (in Settings → About TV → System Update).
2. Settings USB-port on TV: some models require you to enable Host Mode in the service menu (available via remote: press Menu) → Settings → All Settings → General → USB Mode).
3. Alternative ways to connect: Wi-Fi Direct, Miracast or HDMI-adapter (for iPhone).

💡

If the TV sees the phone, but does not play video 4K, Check if the selected one supports USB-port USB 3.0 on Mi models. TV P1 and A2 Only the blue connector provides sufficient speed for Ultra. HD.

Alternative ways to connect if USB is not working

If USB connectivity is not possible (e.g. on older Mi TV 4S models), use one of these methods:

• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct / Miracast Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi support for 5GHz on both devices.On TV: Settings: Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Direct. On your phone: turn on Secure Transfer (on Xiaomi) or Screen Mirroring (on iPhone).
• 🔗 HDMI-Adapter for Android: Cable USB-C → HDMI (DisplayPort Alt Mode for iPhone: Apple Lightning Digital AV. Allows you to duplicate the screen with resolution up to 4K.
• 🖥️ Google Cast/Chromecast if your TV supports Google TV Android TV, Use the built-in Chromecast. On your phone, open a video in YouTube or Google Photos and click the broadcast icon.
• 💾 flash drive or external SSD Copy files to the drive (formatted into the FAT32 or exFAT) and connect it to the TV. MP4, MKV (restrictively), JPG, MP3.

Comparison of methods for speed and quality:

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting your phone to Xiaomi TV