How to transfer a photo from your phone to your Xiaomi TV: all working ways

Have you taken great photos on your smartphone, but want to show them on a big screen on a Xiaomi TV? Or maybe you are planning a family viewing of photos from your vacation, but do not know how to quickly and without loss of quality to get an image from your phone? In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of transferring photos — from wireless technologies to wired connections, taking into account the features of Xiaomi Mi TV, Redmi Smart TV and models on Google TV.

Whether you're using an Android smartphone or an iPhone, each method is tailored to both platforms, and we'll also compare the speed, image quality and usability of each option so you can choose the best one, and if you run into problems (like a TV can't see a phone or photos are displayed with artifacts), there's a section in the article on solving errors.

1. Wireless transmission via Miracast (Screen Mirroring)

Miracast technology allows you to duplicate the screen of your smartphone on a Xiaomi TV without wires or additional devices. This is a versatile method that works on most modern Android devices (starting with version 4.2) and some iPhone models (with limitations).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Low latency – suitable for viewing high-resolution photos without lags.
• 📶 No Internet connection – the connection is established directly between the phone and TV.
• 🎯 Support 4K — on Xiaomi TVs with resolution 3840×2160 (Like Mi. TV Q2 or Redmi Smart Fire TV).

How to connect:

1. On Xiaomi TV, open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Wireless Display (Miracast).
2. On your Android smartphone, go to Settings → Connected Devices → Screen Transfer (on Xiaomi/Redmi – Settings → Connection and Sharing → Screen Transfer).
3. Choose the name of your TV from the list of available devices.
4. Confirm the connection on both devices.

⚠️ Note: On the iPhone, Miracast only works through third-party apps (like Screen Mirroring or ApowerMirror), as Apple doesn't support the technology natively.

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If the TV is not displayed on the list of devices, restart both devices and try again, and check that the TV is on Miracast standby (in some models it turns off after 5 minutes of inactivity).

2. Transfer via Google Cast (Chromecast built-in)

Xiaomi TVs on the Google TV platform (such as Mi TV P1 or Xiaomi TV A2) have built-in support for Google Cast. This method is convenient for transferring individual photos or albums without dubbing the entire screen. The main difference from Miracast is that you can only broadcast selected files, not the entire display.

How it works:

• 📱 On your Android phone, open the Google Photos app or any gallery with Cast support (like QuickPic).
• 🖼️ Select a photo, press the transfer button (usually indicated by the icon of the screen with waves).
• 📺 In the list of devices, select your Xiaomi TV.

The iPhone algorithm is similar, but you’ll need to install the Google Home app:

1. Open Google Photos on your iPhone and select an image.
2. Press "Share» → «Transmit (or "Cast»).
3. If the TV is not displayed, add it via Google Home (Devices section).

3. Wired connection via USB or HDMI

If wireless methods are unstable or you want to transmit photos in the maximum quality without compression, wired connection is the best choice.

A. Through USB-cable (MTP/PTP)

Suitable for viewing photos with both Android and iPhone (but with nuances):

• 📱 Android: Connect your phone to your TV with a USB-Type C cable (or Micro-USB for older models). USB, a on the phone - file transfer mode (MTP).
• 🍎 iPhone: Lightning Adapter Required → USB + cable USB-A → USB-A (or USB-C, iPhones must allow access to photos in the trust settings.

B. Through HDMI (for Android)

Some Xiaomi/Redmi smartphones (such as Black Shark or flagship models) support HDMI image output via USB-C → HDMI adapter.

• 🎮 Maximum quality - up to 4K@60Hz (if TV supports).
• 🔌 Stable connection without delay.

⚠️ Note: When connecting your iPhone through USB Xiaomi TV may not recognize the device as a drive. In this case, use Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter (official adapter for the HDMI), But it doesn't support taking photos out of apps -- just screen duplication.

The cable supports data transfer (not just charging)

The right source is selected on the TV (USB/HDMI)

The phone unlocked the screen and allowed access to files

Port port USB It is good for TV (try another port if it doesn’t work)-->

4.Use of the Mi Share proprietary application

Xiaomi has developed its own fast file transfer solution, the Mi Share app (formerly Mi Drop), which works on Wi-Fi Direct protocol and allows you to send photos directly to your TV without connecting to a router, up to 20 MB/s (under ideal conditions), which is faster than Bluetooth.

How to use:

1. Install Mi Share on your phone (Android/IOS).
2. On Xiaomi TV, open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Mi Share.
3. On your phone, select photos, click “Send” and select the TV from the list.
4. Confirm the receipt of files on TV.

Features of Mi Share:

• ⚡ Faster AirDrop (in tests on Xiaomi 13 Pro and Mi) TV Q2 photo-transfer RAW occupied ~15 seconds).
• 🔒 Encryption – Files are transmitted over a secure channel.
• 📂 Support for folders – you can send an entire album at once.

5. Cloud Services: Google Photos, Mi Cloud and Alternatives

If you want to show photos not only on Xiaomi TV, but also on other devices, cloud services are a convenient option. The main advantage is that you do not need to physically connect your phone to TV.

Comparison of services:

How to take photos from the cloud to the TV:

1. Upload photos to the cloud from your phone.
2. On Xiaomi TV, open the service app (e.g. Google Photos).
3. Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
4. Choose an album or individual pictures to watch.

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Google Photos automatically backs up in the background. To save traffic, turn on the option “Only via Wi-Fi” in the app settings.

6 Problem Solving: TV cannot see phone or photos not displayed

Even with the right setup, you can have failures, and here are the common mistakes and ways to fix them:

Problem. 1: The TV is not displayed in the list of devices for Miracast/Google Cast

• 🔌 Check that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (even if you use Wi-Fi Direct).
• 🔄 Restart your router – sometimes DHCP-The server is giving out incorrect IP-address.
• 📱 Turn off power saving mode for Google Play Services and Miracast apps.
• 📺 On the TV, reset network settings: Settings → The Internet and the Internet → Additionally. → Resetting the network.

Problem 2: Photos are transmitted but with poor quality

• 📸 Check the compression settings in the gallery app. For example, Google Photos defaults on High Quality (down to 16 MP). → Backup.
• 🔌 When connecting wired, use a support cable USB 3.0 or HDMI 2.0.
• 📺 On the TV, turn on Game or Movie mode – this disables post-processing of the image, which can worsen the detailing.

Problem 3: When transmitting via USB, the TV asks for a disk format

⚠️ Warning: Don't agree to formatting in any way - it will delete all data from your phone! Instead: Try another cable (perhaps the current one only supports charging). On your Android phone, change the connection mode from Charging to File Transfer (MTP). Use the original Apple cable on your iPhone – uncertified accessories often don’t support data transfer.

7.Alternative methods: DLNA, Plex and local server

If standard methods are not suitable, you can use advanced solutions for transferring photos:

And. DLNA-phone-side

Apps like BubbleUPnP or Plex can turn your phone into a phone. DLNA-server to which the Xiaomi TV is connected:

• 📂 Access to all photos and videos in original quality.
• 🔄 No need for cloud services – files are transferred over the local network.

Minus.

B. Local. FTP-server

Using the application FX File Explorer (Android) or File Explorer (iOS) can be run FTP-server on the phone and connect to it from the TV through the Explorer or ES File Explorer. Instructions:

1. On the phone, run the FTP- server in the application.




2. On the TV, open Explorer → Network → Add FTP.




3 Enter IP- address and port from the phone screen.




4. Connect and select the desired photos.

B. Streaming applications (Kodi, VLC)

If you have a Kodi or VLC on your TV, you can stream a photo via UPnP or SMB, for example, in Kodi:

1. Go to Files → Add Source → Review → UPnP Devices.
2. Choose the phone from the list.
3. Open the photo folder.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos to Xiaomi TV