How to transfer photos from iPhone to Xiaomi TV: all working ways

Transferring photos from your iPhone to your Xiaomi TV seems like a simple task — until you encounter technical nuances. Users are often lost in the variety of protocols (AirPlay, Miracast, DLNA), incompatibility of software versions or the banal lack of the right cable. This article will help you figure out which method is right for you: from wireless solutions to wired connections, taking into account TV models (from Mi TV 4A to Xiaomi Q2) and iOS versions.

It’s important to understand that not all Xiaomi TVs support AirPlay out of the box — some require firmware updates or third-party apps. Miracast (aka Wi-Fi Direct) works on most models, but may require additional manipulation of the iPhone settings. We tested all of these on current devices (2023-2026) and highlighted key time-saving features.

If you need to show a picture on a big screen, start with the AirPlay section (the fastest way for compatible TVs). For older models or without Wi-Fi, wired connection or cloud services will do. And if the TV can't see the iPhone, check out our problem solving section.

Compatibility of iPhone and Xiaomi TVs: what you need to know

Before choosing a transmission method, check whether your Xiaomi TV supports the required protocols.

• 📱 AirPlay (Apple’s wireless transmission) only works on Xiaomi TVs MIUI TV 3.0+ (released after 2021 Full list of models: Mi TV Q1/Q2, Xiaomi TV A2, Redmi Smart TV On older TVs (e.g. Mi) TV 4S 2019 d.) firmware updates or workarounds will be required.
• 🔄 Miracast (Wi-Fi Direct) is supported by all Xiaomi TVs on Android TV, But on the iPhone, it only works through third-party apps (like Screen Mirroring or ApowerMirror!
• 🔌 USB-Connection is possible, but iPhone doesn't recognize as a flash drive on most TVs. → USB-A + OTG-cable, as well as a special application (for example, Photo Transfer App).
• ☁️ Cloud services (Google Photos, iCloud, Mi Home) are universal, but depend on the speed of the Internet. Xiaomi TVs must first install the appropriate applications from Google Play.

Critical detail: Xiaomi PatchWall TVs (such as models for India) can block third-party protocols due to regional restrictions, in which case changing the TV region in settings or using a VPN will help.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi TV doesn’t see your iPhone through AirPlay, check the version MIUI TV Settings menu → It's about television. It takes work. MIUI TV 3.0.147 or later. Update the firmware through Settings → Updating the system.

Method 1: AirPlay is the easiest method for new TVs

If you have a Xiaomi TV in 2021 or later, AirPlay is the best choice, and this protocol from Apple allows you to stream your iPhone screen to TV without any additional apps.

1. Make sure your TV and iPhone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz or 5GHz – it doesn’t matter, but the speed should be stable).
2. On Xiaomi TV, turn on AirPlay: Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → AirPlay. Activate the switch and set the device name (e.g., “Xiaomi TV Living Room”).

iPhone

Point of control

Screen duplication

Screen Mirroring

Xiaomi

iPhone

Photo Photo

Share. → AirPlay

If the TV is not displayed in the list of devices:

• 🔄 Restart the router and both devices.
• 📶 Check that the TV enabled Device Detection mode in AirPlay settings.
• 🔒 Turn it off. VPN Proxies on iPhone – they can block the local network.

AirPlay: no loss of quality, supported Live Photos, you can stream several photos in a row as a slide show. Cons: it does not work on all Xiaomi models, possible lags with weak Wi-Fi.

💡

AirPlay is the only way to transfer photos from iPhone to Xiaomi TV without loss of quality and without third-party applications.

Method 2: Miracast (Wi-Fi Direct) - for older TV models

If your Xiaomi TV doesn't support AirPlay, Miracast is an alternative. This protocol works on all Android TVs, but on iPhone it requires installing a third-party app. We tested 3 options:

1. Screen Mirroring (free but with ads): Download the app from the App Store. On your TV, turn on Wi-Fi Direct in Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Direct. On your iPhone app, select your TV from the list and confirm your connection.
2. ApowerMirror (Pay-Free): Install the app on both devices (on TV from Google Play), connect to the same Wi-Fi network or use it. QR-Direct connection code. Turn on Mirror mode to duplicate the screen.

Miracast by Belkin

• Supports sound transmission along with the image.
• It requires registration but offers minimal delay.

⚠️ Note: When using Miracast through third-party applications, it is possible to reduce the image quality to 1080p even 4K-For transmission in original resolution, use AirPlay or USB.

Method 3: Wired USB connection (for those who don’t trust Wi-Fi)

If wireless methods are not suitable (for example, due to a weak Wi-Fi signal), you can transfer the photo through the Internet. USB-But there's some nuances:

• 🔌 iPhone doesn't recognize as flash drive on most Xiaomi TVs. Lightning adapter will be required → USB-A + OTG-cable (or universal lightning) → USB-C new TV).
• 📱 On the iPhone, you need to install an application for transferring files, for example: Photo Transfer App (free, but with a limit of 10 photos per session).
• 🖥️ You may need to turn on the TV mode. USB-drive-in → Devices → USB.
• On the iPhone, install it. DLNA-server, for example: Media Server (simple interface, free of charge); Plex (advanced features, but requires registration); in the application, select folders with photos for sharing; on the TV, open Media Player or Gallery, select the source DLNA And find your iPhone on the device list: DLNA may not show HEIC-The solution is to convert them into JPEG in advance (for example, through an application) HEIC to JPEG). There may also be delays when scrolling through a large number of photos. DLNA: It doesn't require a cloud, it works on all Xiaomi models. Cons: complicated setup, possible format problems. Problem solving: TV can't see iPhone: 🔌 Problem: AirPlay can't find the TV. Solution 1: Update the TV firmware to the latest version. Solution 2: In router settings, turn on Multicast (IGMP). Solution 3: On iPhone, turn off Private Wi-Fi address (Settings) → Wi-Fi → ⓘ → Private address). 📶 Problem: Miracast shuts down after 30 seconds.Solution: In the app settings (like ApowerMirror) turn off Battery Savings for it. ⚡ Problem: USB-Solution 1: Use the original Lightning cable (the expensive Chinese equivalents may not be transmitting data). Solution 2: Connect the cable to charge - sometimes power is not enough. 🌐 Problem: Cloud services are not synced. Solution: On TV in account settings (Settings) → Accounts) Update the Access Token. ⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with firmware for the Chinese market (for example, models with suffixes) CN) You can turn off international services (Google Photos, AirPlay) Solution - change TV region to India or Global in settings (Settings) → Region). If the problem is not solved, try resetting the network settings on the TV: Settings → Network → Resetting network settings → Confirm After that, connect to Wi-Fi again and try again to transfer photos. Frequent questions Can I transfer photos from iPhone to Xiaomi TV No Wi-Fi? Yes, there are three options: USB-lightning-adapter → USB-A And it's called Photo Transfer App. Wi-Fi Direct (Miracast) -- creates a direct network between devices without a router. You need an iPhone app (like ApowerMirror), Feem or Send Anywhere -- a local network transmission that you can create from your phone ("Access Point Mode"). The most reliable way without the Internet — USB, But it requires additional accessories. Why are the pictures on the TV displayed in low quality: 📶 Miracast/DLNA: Applications compress the image to speed up the transfer. Try ApowerMirror in the paid version or use AirPlay. ☁️ Cloud services: Google Photos in free tariff compresses photos to 16 Switch to “Original Quality” (paid) or use iCloud. 🔌 USB: Some applications (e.g. Photo Transfer App) reduce resolution to save time. 📺 TV settings: on Xiaomi TV You can turn on the Power Saving mode, which reduces the quality of the picture. → Screen. → Image Mode: How to transfer Live Photos to Xiaomi TV? Live Photos (animated photos from iPhone) are not transmitted in all ways: ✅ AirPlay: Supports Live Photos in full (sound) + movement). ✅ iCloud: saves animations, but you need to open it on TV via browser (may not play back). ❌ Miracast/DLNA/USB: Only a static image (first frame). To save animation when transmitting through USB or cloud: On iPhone, open Live Photo in the Photos app. → Save it as a video. Pass it back (MOV-File in any convenient way. Do I have to pay to transfer photos to TV? All the main ways are free, but there are nuances: 🆓 Free: AirPlay, Miracast (via free apps), USB (Free versions of Photo Transfer App), DLNA. 💰 Paid or limited: ApowerMirror, the free version, shows ads and limits session time. Google Photos, free only with compression (original quality paid); Plex, for full-time work, you need a subscription; Free tools are enough for one-time transfer of photos. Pay only makes sense if you need advanced features (for example, broadcasting the screen to the Internet). 4K Can I transfer photos from iPhone to Xiaomi? TV Bluetooth? No, Bluetooth is not suitable for transferring photos between iPhone and Xiaomi TV for several reasons: 📱 iPhone does not support Bluetooth profiles for file transfers (e.g, OPP or FTP). 📺 Xiaomi TVs don’t have a built-in Bluetooth media receiver