Why to connect a smartphone to a TV and what you need
Do you want to stream a video with Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 on the big screen, play mobile games on TV or show photos to relatives? Connecting your smartphone to TV opens up a lot of possibilities - from watching Full Full HD-But not everyone knows that the Redmi Note 7, despite its age (the model was released in 2019), supports several modern ways of connecting.
In this article, we'll look at 5 proven connectivity methods, their pros and cons, and common errors that interfere with synchronization. You don't need expensive adapters, most solutions work with what's already at hand. The main thing is to choose the right way depending on your TV and tasks.
Before you start, make sure that:
- 🔋 The charge level of Redmi Note 7 is not lower than 30% (when wired, the phone will discharge faster).
- 📺 The TV supports at least one protocol: HDMI, Miracast, DLNA or USB OTG.
- 📶 Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (relevant for wireless methods).
Method 1: Connect via HDMI (most stable connection)
If you need to stream video or play without delay, wired connection through HDMI — Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 does not have a standard choice HDMI-port, but supports the output of the image through USB-C This is what you're going to need:
- 🔌 adapter USB-C → HDMI (for example, Xiaomi USB-C to HDMI Adapter or universal from Baseus).
- 📺 HDMI-cable (usually complete with a TV).
- ⚡ Power supply for the phone (optional but recommended).
Step-by-step:
- Connect the adapter to the USB-C port of the smartphone.
- Connect the adapter to the TV through HDMI-cable.
- On the TV, select the source of the signal – usually the Source or Input button on the remote.
- The smartphone will be notified of the connection to the external display.
Does the adapter support 4K@30Hz (Redmi Note 7 maximum - 1080p@60Hz) |
Is HDMI-CEC on your TV (simplifies control) |
Is the phone charged or connected to a charger (adapter consumes a lot of power)|
Is the software updated on the smartphone (in older versions) MIUI There were bugs with the image output)-->
Important nuance: Redmi Note 7 does not support HDMI 2.1. therefore for 4K-You're going to need to compress or lower the resolution. If the image doesn't appear, try it:
- 🔄 Reboot both devices.
- 🔧 In the phone settings (Settings) → Display. → Screen resolution) set 720p.
- 🔌 Use the other HDMI-cable (sometimes cheap cables don't transmit the signal).
⚠️ Note: When connecting through HDMI Redmi Note 7 can get very hot if the temperature is above 45°C, turn off the adapter and let the phone cool down.
Method 2: Wireless streaming over Miracast (without router)
Miracast is a wireless image transfer standard that works without the internet. Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 supports it at the firmware level, but there are nuances:
- 📱 The phone should be on MIUI 10 and above (check in Settings) → The phone).
- 📺 The TV must support Miracast (usually 2016 models and newer from Samsung, LG, Sony or Xiaomi).
- 🔄 Maximum authorization — 1080p, delay of up to 100 ms (not suitable for gaming).
How to connect:
- On the TV, activate Screen Mirroring (on the Network menu) → Miracast or Screen → Wireless display).
- On your smartphone, open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Wireless display.
- Select your TV from the list of available devices.
- Confirm the connection on both devices.
What if Miracast can't find the TV?
Challenges and solutions:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Image lays | Weak Wi-Fi Direct Signal | Reduce the distance between devices to 3 meters |
| No sound. | The wrong sound source is selected on the TV. | In the TV menu, select HDMI ARC or PCM |
| Connection is broken | Energy saving on the phone | Turn off the Battery mode → Energy saving |
⚠️ Note: On the Redmi Note 7 with custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS), Miracast may not work due to lack of drivers. In this case, use alternative methods, such as Google Cast.
Method 3: Broadcast over Wi-Fi (Google Cast, DLNA)
If your TV supports Smart TV (such as Xiaomi Mi TV, Samsung Tizen or LG webOS), you can stream content over a local network.
- 🎬 Watch videos from YouTube, KinoPoisk or IVI.
- 📸 Showing photos from Google Photos.
- 🎵 Play music through Spotify or Yandex Music.
Instructions for Google Cast (if the TV supports Chromecast):
- Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
- On your TV, open the Google Home app or the built-in Cast receiver.
- On a smartphone in the app (such as YouTube) click the Cast icon (📡) and choose your TV.
For DLNA (File Streaming):
- Install a server application on your phone, such as BubbleUPnP or LocalCast.
- On the TV, open the built-in media player (for example, Photo / Video on Xiaomi TV).
- Choose your phone as your content source.
Google Cast (Chromecast)|
Miracast|
DLNA|
USB|
HDMI-->
Limitations of the method:
- 🚫 Not all applications support Cast (e.g. TikTok or Cast). VK Videos can't broadcast content).
- 📶 Quality depends on the speed of Wi-Fi: 1080p You need a network of at least 10 Mbps.
- 🔒 Some TVs are blocking broadcasts DRM-Protected content (e.g. Netflix movies).
Method 4: Connect via USB (to view files)
If you just need to show photos or videos from your phone on your TV, you can use it. USB-This method does not broadcast the screen, but allows you to view files through the built-in media player TV.
What you need:
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original from Xiaomi).
- 📁 Files on the phone should be in supported formats (e.g., in a supported format, MP4, JPG, MP3).
How to connect:
- Connect your phone and TV with a cable (use USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port on TV).
- On your TV, select the USB source (usually the Source button on the remote).
- The phone will be asked to allow access to files – confirm.
- Use the TV remote to navigate through folders.
⚠️ Note: Redmi Note 7 with lock enabled USB-debugging (in Settings) → For developers, the TV may not see the files. Turn off this option before you plug in.
Pros and cons of the method:
| Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|
| ✅ No Wi-Fi or adapter required | ❌ Does not broadcast the screen (files only) |
| ✅ Minimum delay | ❌ Not all video formats are supported by TV. |
| ✅ The phone charges while watching. | ❌ You need to copy files to the root folders ( nested folders may not appear) |
Method 5: Use of third-party applications (for advanced users)
If the standard methods don't work, you can use specialized applications that are suitable for:
- 🎮 Gamers (broadcasting games with minimal delay).
- 💼 Presentations (slides from the phone).
- 🛠️ Renovators (Telephone Diagnostics).
Top.-3 Apps for Xiaomi Redmi Note 7:
- ApowerMirror – screen broadcast with the ability to control from TV (supports 1080p@60fps).
- TeamViewer QuickSupport – for remote access (useful if you need to show the screen support).
- LetsView is a free solution with Miracast and Wi-Fi Direct support.
Instructions for ApowerMirror:
1. Install the app on your phone and TV (if TV doesn’t have Play Market, download APK from the official website).
2 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
3. On your phone, launch ApowerMirror and select Mirror on TV.
4. On the TV, type PIN- the code that will appear on the smartphone screen.💡
If the app doesn’t find the TV, try connecting via QR-Code: Open ApowerMirror on TV, select Connect QR And scan the code from your phone.
Important: Some apps require root rights to run on the Redmi Note 7. If you're not willing to risk the warranty, use only proven programs from Google Play.
Comparison of all ways of connection: which one to choose?
To make it easier for you to determine, we have collected the key characteristics of each method in one table:
| Method | Quality. | Delay. | Difficulty | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (before 1080p@60Hz) | ~10 ms. | Medium (needs adapter) | Games, high quality videos |
| Miracast | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (before 1080p@30Hz) | ~100 ms. | Low. | Films, presentations |
| Google Cast | ⭐⭐⭐ (before 1080p, depends on Wi-Fi) | ~200 ms. | Low. | Streaming from apps |
| USB | ⭐⭐ (depends on TV) | 0 ms (files only) | Low. | Viewing photo/video |
| Third-party annexes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (before 1080p@60fps) | ~50 ms. | Tall. | Games, remote work. |
Critical: On the Redmi Note 7 with firmware below MIUI 11, wireless methods (Miracast, Google Cast) may not work stable. Update the software via Settings → About Phone → System Update before connecting.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even if you do everything according to the instructions, you can have difficulties, and here are the most common ways to eliminate them:
- 🔴 TV can't see phone: Check to see if Screen Mirroring is on TV. Reboot router (sometimes) DHCP-server does not issue IP-Turn off the phone. VPN Proxy (they block the local connection).
- 🔊 No sound when connected to HDMI: In the phone settings (Settings) → Select the sound HDMI Check if the sound on the TV is turned off (Mute button).
- 📶 Lags the image over Wi-Fi: Switch the router to 5 GHz (less interference). Close the background apps on the phone (they consume traffic).
If nothing helps, try resetting your phone’s network settings:
Settings → System → Additional → Resetting → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth⚠️ Note: Some Samsung TVs (J and K series) may experience a "Not Supported Format" error when connected via Miracast, in which case only a TV firmware update or use will help. HDMI.