Modern Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV series, Redmi Smart TV, Xiaomi TV A and others) support many ways to interact with Android smartphones. But how to choose the best method if you want to broadcast a screen, control TV from your phone or synchronize files? In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of connecting — from wireless protocols to wired solutions — and also reveal hidden Mi TV settings, which the manufacturer does not advertise in the official instructions.
It's important to understand that not all methods are equally effective. For example, Miracast can brake at high resolution, and Google Cast requires stable Wi-Fi. We tested each method on Xiaomi Mi TV 4S 55, Redmi Smart TV X50 and Xiaomi TV Q2 65 with different versions of MIUI TV (3.0 to 5.0) and identified key differences. If your TV is released before 2020, some features may not be available, we'll talk about that too.
1. Connection via Mi Home (for smart home)
This is a way for owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem, where the TV is integrated into the Mi Home app, which allows not only to control TV from the phone, but also to automate scripts (for example, turn on the TV when you launch a movie on your smartphone).
To connect:
- 📱 Install the Mi Home app (at least 6.5.4) from Google Play.
- 🔗 Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (required to be the same as on your TV!).
- 📺 Turn on the TV and go to Settings → Account and security → Mi Account.
- 🔄 In the app, click Add Device → Televisions and follow instructions.
After synchronization, the Mi Home will feature a TV control panel with on, volume control and quick commands, the advantage of the method is that it works even without direct Wi-Fi (via the Xiaomi cloud), but the disadvantage is a delay of up to 2 seconds when sending commands.
2. Wireless screen broadcast (Miracast/Wi-Fi Direct)
If you want to duplicate your smartphone screen on your TV without wires, use Miracast (built into Android 4.2+) or Wi-Fi Direct. This method does not require a router, but has limitations:
- 🎮 Permits are maintained until 1920×1080 upon 30 Hz (on Xiaomi Mi) TV 5 Possible artifacts are possible in 60 Hz).
- 🔋 Smartphone battery consumption increases by 20-30% per hour.
- 🎵 The sound is delayed. ~150ms (critical for gaming).
Instructions for Miracast:
- On TV: Settings → Connections → Wireless display.
- On the phone: Settings → Connected devices → Screen broadcast.
- Choose your Xiaomi TV from the list.
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If the TV doesn’t appear on the device list, try turning off Bluetooth on your smartphone – it sometimes conflicts with Wi-Fi Direct.
Redmi Smart TV X65 and later available mode "Game Miracast" with reduced latency (activated in Settings → Display and sound → Miracast Mode).
3. Use of Google Cast (Chromecast built-in)
All Xiaomi Android TVs (starting with 2018 Mi TV 4) support Google Cast, a technology for streaming content from apps (YouTube, Netflix, Google Photos), unlike Miracast, it does not transfer a screen, but a specific media file, which reduces the load on the smartphone.
How to connect:
- Make sure your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (5GHz is preferred).
- Open a supported app (like YouTube) and tap on the Cast icon (📺).
- Choose your Xiaomi TV from the list.
| Annex | Supports Cast? | Max, permission. | Sound delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | ✅ Yes. | 4K HDR | ~50 ms. |
| Netflix | ✅ Yes. | 1080p | ~100 ms. |
| Google Photo | ✅ Yes. | Original | ~30 ms. |
| VLC | ✅ Yes) | 4K | ~200 ms. |
⚠️ Xiaomi TVs with firmware older than 2021 may not have support DRM Widevine L1, Why Netflix and Disney are+ will be broadcast in a resolution not higher 480p. Check the version. DRM In Settings → On TV. → Status DRM.
4. Wired connection via USB/HDMI
For minimal latency (relevant to gamers or presentations), use a wired connection. Xiaomi TV supports two options:
- 🔌 USB-C → HDMI (for smartphones with DisplayPort Alt Mode support, for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro).
- 📱 MHL-Adapter (for older models with Micro-USB, but requires power from the socket).
Instructions for USB-C → HDMI:
- Buy a USB-C to HDMI cable with 4K@60Hz support (like Baseus or UGREEN).
- Connect one end to your phone and the other to the HDMI 2.0 port on your TV (usually signed as ARC).
- On the phone, select the mode of Transfer of the image (a notification will appear).
⚠️ Note: Redmi Note 11 and Xiaomi budget models do not have DisplayPort Alt Mode – check the specifications of your smartphone! MHL, But it's not running smoothly on firmware. MIUI 13+.
☑️ Checking before wired connection
5. Control the TV through the Mi Remote app
If the remote is lost or the batteries are dead, you can use the smartphone as a universal remote. Mi Remote app (available on Google Play) supports all Xiaomi TV models and even allows you to customize hotkeys.
How to set up:
- Download and install Mi Remote (version 5.3.2 or later).
- Choose Televisions → Xiaomi and follow the customization wizard.
- Allow access to the Infrared Port (IR Blaster) on your phone.
Functions of the annex:
- 🎛 Full Replacement of the remote (volume buttons, channels, Netflix, Prime Video).
- 🔍 Voice search (works through Google Assistant).
- 📱 Widget for quick access on the main screen.
⚠️ Attention: No phones on the phone IR-port (e.g., port, POCO X5 Pro: The app will only work over Wi-Fi, but with limited functionality (no power management).
How to add custom commands to Mi Remote?
6. Alternative methods: DLNA and local area network
If standard methods don’t work, try DLNA or SMB protocols for file transfers:
- 📂 DLNA: Use apps like BubbleUPnP to stream music/video.
- 🖥 SMB: Set up network access to TV folders through ES Conductor.
- 🌐 FTP: Turn it on. FTP-server settings → Network → FTP-server (available on firmware) MIUI TV 4.0+).
For DLNA:
- On TV: Settings → Network → DLNA → turn on the option.
- On your phone, open BubbleUPnP, select a file and send it to Xiaomi TV.
⚠️ Attention: When in use SMB Xiaomi TV A2 and newer you need to enter the username / password from the Xiaomi account. By default: login - xiaomi, password - 12345678 (change it to Settings) → Security → Local area network).
Solving Connection Problems
If the TV can’t see the phone or the broadcast is interrupted, check:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The TV is not displayed in the list of devices | Wi-Fi Direct is disabled on TV | Enable Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Direct |
| The sound is only through the phone. | No audio device selected | In the phone notification panel, tap on "Sound" → select Xiaomi TV |
| Lags for video broadcasting | Weak Wi-Fi signal | Connect to 5 GHz network or use a cable |
| Apps do not support Cast | Outdated TV firmware | Update in Settings → About TV → Update |
To reset network settings on the TV:
Settings → Network → Additional → Resetting network settingsIf the problem persists, check it out. MAC-Filtering on the router – sometimes it blocks the connection between Xiaomi devices.
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On Xiaomi TVs with MIUI TV 5.0+ firmware, hidden developer mode is available. To enable it, go to Settings → About TV and 7 times click on the MIUI TV version. This will open additional settings for debugging connections.