Have you taken great photos on your smartphone, but want to watch them on a big Xiaomi TV? Or do you want to show them to your friends quickly without any manipulation? Transferring images from your phone to TV is a problem that can be solved in several ways, and each of them has its pros and cons.
In this article, we’ll look at all the current methods, from wireless technologies (Miracast, Wi-Fi Direct, Google Cast) to wired connections via USB or HDMI. You’ll learn which way is the fastest, which gives the best quality, and how to avoid common errors when syncing devices. And if you have a Xiaomi TV older than 2020, we’ll separately look at the nuances of compatibility with modern smartphones.
Whether you're using Android or iPhone, the instructions are for both types of devices, and the key is to set both devices up and choose the best way to transfer them, and let's start with the most universal method.
1. Wireless transmission via Miracast (Screen Mirroring)
Miracast is a wireless screen standard that is supported by almost all modern Xiaomi TVs (starting with 2018 Mi TV 4A models and later), and the advantage of the method is that there is no need to connect to a single Wi-Fi network – the connection is established directly between the phone and TV.
To use Miracast, follow the following steps:
- 📺 On the Xiaomi TV remote, press the Menu button, then go to Settings. → Connection and sharing → Wireless display (Miracast).
- 📱 On your Android smartphone, open Settings → Connected devices → Wireless display (on the iPhone path: Control Point) → Screen duplication).
- 🔍 In the list of available devices, select the name of your TV (usually starting with MiTV-...).
- ✅ Confirm the connection on both devices. In 5-10 seconds, the phone screen will be displayed on TV.
Now you can open a gallery on your smartphone and view photos in full size on a large screen. Note that this connection will duplicate the entire screen, not just the gallery. This is convenient for presentations, but can be redundant if you only need to show a few shots.
TV and phone support Miracast (on Android check in the settings "Wireless display")
Miracast standby mode is enabled on TV (some models need to be manually activated)
Distance between devices not more than 5 meters (for stable signal)
- Power saving mode is disabled on the phone (can interrupt the connection)-->
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs 2019-2020 release (for example, Mi) TV 4S 55) there is sometimes a problem with connecting your iPhone via Miracast. If the screen is not duplicated, try using an alternative method - AirPlay (see section 3).
2. Transmission via Wi-Fi Direct (direct connection)
Wi-Fi Direct is a technology that allows devices to communicate without a router, and unlike Miracast, it only transfers selected files (photos, videos) rather than the entire screen, and it works if you need to send specific images to TV without running duplication.
Instructions for Xiaomi TVs:
- On the TV remote, press Menu → Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi Direct.
- Activate the function and remember the network name (e.g. DIRECT-MiTV-XXXXX).
- On your Android smartphone, open Settings → Wi-Fi and connect to the TV network. Password is usually not required.
- Launch the Gallery or Files app, select photos and click Send → Wi-Fi Direct.
On the iPhone, Wi-Fi Direct is not directly supported, but you can use a workaround: install the Xiaomi File Manager app on TV (available in the App Store for TVs), and then send files through it.
| Parameter | Miracast | Wi-Fi Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission speed | Medium (depending on screen resolution) | High (up to 25 Mbps) |
| Image quality | Original (but delayed) | Original (without delay) |
| Compatibility with iPhone | Partial (AirPlay required) | No (needs workarounds) |
| Power consumption of the telephone | High (constant screen transfer) | Low (only when sending files) |
3.Using Google Cast or AirPlay (for iPhone)
If you have a Xiaomi TV with Google Cast support (built into Android TV models like the Mi TV Q1 or Mi TV P1), you can stream photos through apps that support this feature, such as Google Photos or YouTube.
How it works:
- 📱 Make sure your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- 🖼️ Open the Google Photos app, select an image and click the Broadcast button (the wave screen icon).
- 📺 In the list of devices, select your Xiaomi TV.
AirPlay is available for iPhone owners, but only on Xiaomi TVs that support this technology (for example, Mi TV Q2 2023). To check compatibility, go to Settings → Apple AirPlay and HomeKit. If you have an option, activate it and follow the instructions on the iPhone screen (Duplicate screen button at Control Point).
Why Google Cast may not work?
4. Wired connection via USB or HDMI
If wireless methods are not suitable (for example, due to slow Wi-Fi or lack of Miracast support), you can use a wired connection, which is the most reliable way to ensure stable transmission without delay.
Option 1: USB-cable (for Android)
- 🔌 Connect your phone to the TV through USB-C → USB-A cable (with TV usually an adapter).
- 📺 On the TV screen, select mode USB signal-source.
- 📱 On the smartphone in the notification bar will be a request for access to files – allow it.
- 🖼️ Use the TV remote to open the folder DCIM → Camera and view photos.
Option 2: HDMI-adapter (for iPhone and Android)
The iPhone will need a Lightning → HDMI adapter (official from Apple or certified), and for Android, USB-C → HDMI. Connect the adapter to the phone, and then connect it to the HDMI port on the TV. The screen of the smartphone immediately appears on TV in maximum resolution.
⚠️ Note: When connecting your iPhone through HDMI Some apps (such as Netflix or Disney)+) They can block the image output due to limitations. HDCP. Photos from the gallery will be displayed normally.
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If Xiaomi TV doesn’t recognize your phone USB, try to use OTG-cable or reboot both devices, and in some cases, changing mode helps. USB on your phone (in the notification curtain, select "File Transfer" instead of "Charging").
5. Cloud services: Google Photos, Mi Cloud, Dropbox
If you want to show photos not only on your TV, but also on other devices, it is most convenient to upload them to the cloud. Xiaomi TVs on Android TV have Google Photos and Mi Cloud apps pre-installed, making it easier to access snapshots.
Step-by-step:
- On your phone, upload photos to Google Photos (automatic sync is enabled by default on most Android devices).
- On your TV, open the Google Photos app (if not, install it from Google Play).
- Sign in with the same Google account as you do on your phone.
- Choose an album or specific pictures to watch.
The advantage of this method is that photos are available on all devices connected to your account, but to view in high resolution you will need a stable Internet connection (the recommended speed is from 10 Mbps).
| Service | Max, permission. | Internet is required | Compatibility with iPhone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Photo | Original (up to 15 MP free) | Yes. | Yes. |
| Mi Cloud | Original (limit 5GB) | Yes. | No (Android only) |
| Dropbox | Original (limit 2GB) | Yes. | Yes. |
6.Shopping apps: LocalCast, AllCast, Mi Share
If standard methods don’t work or you need additional features (like a music slideshow), you can use specialized applications that support not only photos but also videos, and offer advanced quality settings.
Top.-3 Xiaomi TV apps:
- 📱 LocalCast supports Chromecast, DLNA Miracast, which allows you to stream local files and cloud storage.
- 🖼️ AllCast – optimized for transferring media files to Android TV. There is a function of creating playlists.
- 🔄 Mi Share (from Xiaomi) – built-in solution for fast file transfer between devices of the Xiaomi ecosystem (including TVs).
To use LocalCast:
- Install the app on your phone and TV (available on Google Play for Android TV).
- Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
- In the app on your phone, select photos and click Cast to, then specify your TV.
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Applications like LocalCast or AllCast are useful if you need to not only show a photo, but also control playback from your smartphone (pause, move to the next picture, change order).
Comparison of all methods: which one to choose?
The choice of method depends on your tasks and the technical capabilities of the devices.
- 🔄 Miracast is the best option for screen duplication (for example, for presentations or viewing gallery in real time).
- 📤 Wi-Fi Direct – Optimal for transferring individual files without screen duplication.
- 🌐 Google Cast/AirPlay — It is convenient if the phone and TV are on the same network, and photos are stored in the cloud.
- 🔌 USB/HDMI — The most reliable way to use large amounts of data (e.g., displaying data) 100+ photo).
- ☁️ Cloud services – suitable for accessing photos from multiple devices.
If your Xiaomi TV is released before 2018, check Miracast support in the settings menu – older models (such as Mi TV 3) may need to upgrade the firmware or use an external adapter (such as Google Chromecast).