How to connect your phone to Xiaomi TV to watch movies

Modern smartphones have powerful screens, but to watch a movie with friends or just to maximize the immersion in the story, it is better to use a large display. Owners of Xiaomi equipment often wonder how to quickly and wirelessly broadcast content from a mobile device to the Mi TV. Fortunately, the manufacturer’s ecosystem offers many built-in tools to accomplish this task.

You don't have to be an expert in networking to connect. Most methods work automatically and require only minimal user input. In this article, we'll look at all the current ways, from wireless protocols to cable connections, and discuss the nuances that can arise in the process.

Before you start setting up, make sure both devices are on and ready to go. Connectivity depends on the quality of the hardware and the correct steps taken. We will look at options for Android and iOS operating systems, so that each user can find the right solution.

Wireless connection via built-in translator

The easiest and most popular way is to use Miracast technology, which is built into the MIUI shell and the Android TV system. To start, you do not need to install third-party applications, since the functionality is already integrated into the software. The main condition is that both gadgets must be on the same Wi-Fi network.

Open the notification curtain on your phone and find the "Translation" or "Cast" icon. If the icon is not available in quick access, go to Settings β†’ Connections and Sharing β†’ Broadcast. The system will start searching for available devices within range of the router. Once your Xiaomi TV name appears, click on it to pair.

You can see a request on your TV to confirm your connection, use the remote to select "Allow" or "Confirm" and then the image from your phone is completely copied to the big screen, so you can browse through the gallery, run videos from your browser or show presentations.

⚠️ Note: In high-resolution wireless broadcasting (4K) It is possible to delay the image or desynchronize the sound, which is normal for Miracast technology.

The quality of data transfer is directly dependent on the power of your router. If you use a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi standard, the speed can be limited, especially if other devices are nearby.

Use of the Mi Home app and Google Home

If standard broadcasting doesn't work or you want to get more management functionality, you should use official utilities. Mi Home is the central hub for the entire smart home ecosystem, and it allows you to manage not only household appliances, but also media content.

Install Google Home from the Play Market if it hasn't already been installed. Open the program and click on Translate Media. Select a photo or video from the gallery, then select the target device from the list, a method that is particularly useful for streaming content from cloud services.

πŸ“Š What kind of connection do you use most often?
Wi-Fi Direct (Translation):HDMI-Cable: Mi Home:Chromecast built-in

For iPhone users, the AirPlay protocol is relevant. Xiaomi Android TVs often have AirPlay 2 built-in support. You just need to open Control Point on iOS, click Screen Replay and select your TV. No additional apps are required.

In some cases, you may need to manually activate the protocols in the settings of the TV itself. Go to the app section of the TV and find Wireless Display or similar service. Run it to the TV standby mode.

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To reduce latency when playing from your phone on your TV via Wi-Fi, close all background apps on your smartphone that consume traffic.

Connection through HDMI-cable

When wireless connectivity is not possible or maximum picture quality is required without compression, cable connectivity comes to the rescue. For modern Xiaomi smartphones with USB Type-C port, you will need a special adapter on HDMI.

Connect the adapter to the phone and then connect it. HDMI-switch the signal source to the TV to the appropriate port (e.g, HDMI 1 HDMI 2) The image should appear automatically. If this does not happen, check the permission settings in the phone menu.

It is important to note that not all smartphone models support video output via USB. The Mi and Redmi Note flagship lines usually have this feature, but in budget models, the port can only work for charging and data transfer. MHL DisplayPort Alt Mode.

Type of connectionImage qualityDelay (Latency)Required accessories
Wi-Fi (Miracast)High (up to 1080p/4K)Medium/Highrouter
HDMI (Adapter)Maximum (4K HDR)MinimumUSB-C to HDMI adapter, cable
ChromecastHigh.Low.Chromecast Receiver (or Built-in)

Using the cable also allows you to charge the phone while watching, if the adapter has an additional power port, which is critical for long-term viewing of movies, since the transmission of the video signal actively consumes battery power.

Broadcast from browsers and video players

Many people want to watch movies from online cinemas or browsers, in which case full screen broadcasting is not always necessary or even inefficient. Most modern video services support Google Cast technology.

Click on the icon and select your TV. The video will play directly to the TV, using its network module to load the stream. The phone in this case acts only as a remote control: you can pause, rewind or adjust the volume without using the battery to decode the video.

β˜‘οΈ Pre-broadcast checks

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If you use third-party browsers like Puffin or UC Browser, they can also have casts functionality built in. In your browser settings, look for β€œTranslate” or β€œCast video” to display content that does not formally have a broadcast button in the site interface.

For local files stored in the phone memory, the application is great VLC Open the video file in the player, click the menu button and select "Output". DLNA-The Xiaomi TV has built-in devices. DLNA-renderer, so there should be no compatibility problems.

Solving Connection Problems

Despite the ease of setting up, users may find it difficult. It often happens that the phone simply β€œdoes not see” the TV in the list of available devices. First of all, check whether the devices are isolated from each other by the router settings. AP Isolation prevents devices on the same Wi-Fi network from communicating with each other.

Another common problem is different Wi-Fi frequencies. If a router distributes 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks with different names (SSID), make sure that both the phone and TV are connected to the same network, even if they are in the same frequency range.

⚠️ Warning: Antivirus programs or firewalls on your phone may block local device search. Try temporarily disabling protection to check.

If the image twitches or is interrupted, try restarting the router. The router buffer overflow is a common cause of unstable multimedia services. Also make sure that the TV firmware is updated to the latest version through the Settings menu β†’ About TV β†’ System Update.

What if there is sound and no image?
This may indicate a problem with codecs or resolution: Try changing the screen resolution in your phone settings or updating the app you're streaming through, and in rare cases, resetting the network settings on your TV helps.

Features of connection for different models

Xiaomi and Redmi have their own set of TVs: Android TV models (Mi TV Stick, Mi TV P1, Q1) have native support for Google services, making it easier to connect via Google Home. Simpler versions with the PatchWall shell may require the use of the proprietary Mi Remote or TV Assistant app.

For older Xiaomi smartphones equipped with a Micro-USB port, wired connectivity is only possible through special active adapters that require external power. Wireless methods for them remain the only convenient option, but the speed of the Wi-Fi module in older devices can be limited.

Owners of gaming smartphones in the Black Shark or Redmi K series can use desktop mode if supported. By connecting the phone over HDMI, you can get a computer-like interface, which is convenient for running emulators or cloud gaming on the big screen.

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Protocol compatibility (Miracast, DLNA, AirPlay) is more important than the phone brand: the main thing is that the standards coincide, not the logos on the cases.

Why can't the TV see the phone over Wi-Fi?
Most often, the reason is that devices are connected to different networks (for example, one to the guest, one to the main) or have the access points isolation on the router turned on, and check if the TV is worth a system update that can temporarily block network functions.
Can I display the iPhone screen on Xiaomi TV without wires?
Yes, if the TV supports AirPlay 2 (many new Xiaomi models have this feature) or if you have a third-party receiver like Apple TV installed. Otherwise you will have to use AirPlay emulator applications installed on the TV itself from the app store.
Stopping video during broadcast, what to do?
Lower the video quality in the player settings, approach the router or switch to a cable connection, and close the unnecessary tabs in the browser and applications on the phone to free up the CPU and communication channel.