You took great pictures on your smartphone but want to enjoy them on a big Xiaomi TV? Transferring photos from your phone to TV can seem like a daunting task, especially if you've never used wireless broadcasting before. In fact, the process takes no more than a minute - if you know the right settings and avoid typical errors.
In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to display images on Xiaomi TVs (including Mi TV 4/5, Redmi Smart TV, Xiaomi TV A/Q and others). From classic USB connection to modern Miracast and Google Cast protocols, choose the method that is right for you. And if you encounter problems (for example, TV does not see the phone or photos are displayed with artifacts), at the end of the article there is a section with solutions.
Important: All instructions are relevant for Xiaomi TVs based on Android TV or Google TV (software versions 2022-2026). For older models on PatchWall (for example, Mi TV 3S), some methods may not work, we will warn about this separately.
1. Wireless broadcast on Miracast (without the Internet)
Miracast is a wireless screen standard that works without an internet connection, and is built into almost all modern Xiaomi TVs and Android 4.2+ smartphones (or iOS with limitations), with the main advantage of minimal latency (up to 50 ms) and Full HD support, which is critical for viewing high-resolution photos.
To begin the broadcast:
- 📱 On the phone: open Settings → Connections → Screen Transfer (on Xiaomi this may be called Wireless Display or Screen Mirroring).
- 📺 On TV: Go to Settings → Connection and sharing → Wireless projection (or Miracast).
- 🔍 In the list of available devices, select the name of your TV (e.g. Xiaomi Mi). TV 5-55).
- ✅ Confirm the connection on both devices.
Once connected, the phone screen will be duplicated on TV. Open the gallery and select a photo, which will automatically appear on the big screen. Note that this way all actions on the phone will be visible on TV (including notifications and incoming calls).
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Smart) TV X43) Miracast may not work if the TV settings have power saving enabled. Turn it off in Settings → Power supply.
2. Broadcast via Google Cast (Chromecast)
If your Xiaomi TV supports Google Cast (built into Android TV/Google TV models), you can stream photos through apps like Google Photos or Gallery, a method that is more convenient than Miracast, as it allows you to stream individual files rather than the entire screen.
Instructions:
- Make sure your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the Google Photos app (or the standard Xiaomi Gallery).
- Select a photo and click the Broadcast button (the icon with the screen and waves).
- In the list of devices, select your Xiaomi TV.
Advantages of the method:
- 🎯 You can stream a single photo or an entire album.
- 🔄 Automatic slideshow is supported (in Google Photos).
- 📶 It works on iPhone (via Google Photos).
Disadvantage: Image quality can be reduced by a weak Wi-Fi signal. If the photos are displayed in low resolution, try reconnecting to a 5 GHz network (if the router supports it).
Connect TV and phone to the same Wi-Fi network
Update Google Photos to the latest version
Enable the "Translation" function in the TV settings (Settings → Devices → Broadcast)
Shut down. VPN on the phone (can block the connection)-->
3. USB connection: reliable, but with nuances
The most stable way is to connect your phone to TV. USB-It works even without the Internet and doesn't depend on the broadcast protocols:
- 📱 Android phones: Support is required MTP (Most of Xiaomi have it).
- 🍎 iPhone: You need to use a Lightning-to-USB adapter + cable USB-A/USB-C (depending on the TV model).
- 📺 The television should be supported. USB-Hosting (all Xiaomi models 2019)+ year and newer).
Step-by-step instructions for Android:
- Connect your phone to a TV cable (USB-A port on TV, USB-C on your phone).
- On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the connection notification.
- On TV, open the File Manager (or Media Player) app and select the connected device.
- Go to DCIM → Camera (or another one where the photos are stored).
| Model TV | Support USB-hosting | Max, permission photo | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi TV 4A/4C | Yes (with 2020+ update) | 4K (delayed) | JPG, PNG, WEBP |
| Redmi Smart TV X50 | Yes. | 4K (60 Hz) | JPG, PNG, HEIF (with conversion) |
| Xiaomi TV Q2 75" | Yes. | 8K (scaling) | JPG, PNG, RAW (viewed without editing) |
⚠️ Note: When connecting iPhone to Xiaomi TV USB Photos will only be displayed in the TV Photos app, but will not be available for editing or copying to external media.
4. Cloud services: Mi Cloud and Google Photos
If you want to show photos not only on your TV, but also on other devices, the most convenient way to use cloud storage. Xiaomi TVs have built-in applications Mi Cloud (for the Xiaomi ecosystem) and Google Photos (a universal solution).
Method 1: Mi Cloud (only for Xiaomi account holders)
- 📱 Upload photos to Mi Cloud from your phone (Gallery app) → Cloud).
- 📺 On TV, open the Mi Cloud app and log in under the same account.
- 🖼️ Choose an album or individual pictures to watch.
Method 2: Google Photos (Universal)
- 📱 Install Google Photos on your phone and enable autoload.
- 📺 On TV, open Google Photos (if not, install from Google Play).
- 🔍 Find the right album or photo by date/tags.
The advantages of cloud services:
- 🌍 Access photos from any device (even without a phone at hand).
- 🔒 Automatic backup.
- 🎭 The opportunity to create a shared album for the family.
Cons: high-resolution viewing requires a stable Internet (from 10 Mbps). With a slow connection, TV will load compressed versions of photos.
How to speed up the upload of photos from the cloud?
5. Mi Home app: for smart home
If your Xiaomi TV is integrated into the Mi Home ecosystem (e.g., models with Xiaomi AIoT support), you can transfer photos through the app of the same name, which is convenient if you already have a smart system set up (for example, with Xiaomi Mi Home Security Camera).
How to set up:
- Install the Mi Home app on your phone and log in.
- Add the TV to your device list (if not already added).
- Open the section Smart home → Scenarios.
- Create a new script: If [the gallery photo is open] → Then [there is a TV screenplay].
Limitations:
- ❌ It only works with Xiaomi phones (on iPhone, the function is not available).
- ❌ Only photos in format are supported JPG/PNG (not HEIF/RAW).
- ❌ Delay in transmission can reach 2-3 seconds.
This method is more suitable for automation (for example, showing a photo from a baby monitor camera on TV when motion is detected) than for manual viewing of a gallery.
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If the TV is not displayed in Mi Home, upgrade your TV firmware to the latest version. Go to Settings → About TV → System Update.
6. Problem Solving: TV Can't See Phone
If none of these methods work, check the following points:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| TV is not listed on Miracast | Wi-Fi Direct is disabled on TV | Enable Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Direct |
| Photos transmitted with artifacts | Weak Wi-Fi signal | Connect to 5GHz network or use USB |
| USB-Connection is not working | Incompatible cable | Use the original cable with data transmission support |
| Google Cast doesn't find TV | Different networks on the phone and TV | Connect both devices to the same network |
If the problem persists, reset your network settings to TV:
- Go to Settings → Network → Reset network settings.
- Confirm the action (TV will reboot).
- Repeat the connection attempt.
⚠️ Note: Xiaomi TVs with PatchWall firmware (until 2020) may not support Google Cast. USB.
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For stable Wi-Fi streaming, use a router that supports 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) or later, which will reduce latency and improve image quality.