The modern rhythm of life dictates its rules, and increasingly we want to watch content on the big screen, even if it is on our smartphone. The situation when you find an interesting movie on the Internet on a Xiaomi phone, but want to enjoy a picture on a TV, is common everywhere. Fortunately, technology has stepped forward, and it no longer requires complex cables or adapters.
Xiaomi and Redmi are particularly lucky, because the MIUI and HyperOS shells were designed to interact with smart technology, and the process of transferring images, or casting, has become as simple as possible for the user. You don't have to be an engineer to set up a broadcast, you just need to know a few basic principles of wireless networks.
There are many ways to do it, from built-in features to third-party applications. The choice of the specific method depends on the model of your TV and the version of the smartphone operating system. In this article, we will discuss all the current options in detail so that you can choose the most suitable for your situation.
Basic requirements and equipment preparation
Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your equipment meets the minimum technical requirements. The fundamental requirement for any wireless data transmission is that you have a shared network space. Both devices — a smartphone and a TV — must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
A common mistake is to connect your phone to a 4G/5G mobile Internet and your TV to your home router, so devices simply can’t see each other on the LAN, and it’s worth checking that your TV has Screen Mirroring or similar device detection.
- 📶 Make sure that both devices are in the zone of confident reception of the router signal.
- 🔄 Check that the latest available system updates are installed on your smartphone and TV.
- 📺 Make sure that the TV supports Smart Technology TV or externally.
If you use a dual-band router, note that some older TV models can only work in the 2.4GHz band, while modern Xiaomi smartphones are often connected to 5GHz. In rare cases, this can prevent device detection, although modern routers usually solve this problem automatically.
Use of the built-in Translation function in MIUI
The easiest and fastest way to do this without having to install any additional software is to use the native feature of the system, which is called Translation or Cast on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, and is based on the Miracast protocol, which is supported by most modern TVs.
To activate the function, unlock the smartphone screen and swipe down to open the control center. Among the quick access icons, find an icon called Translation. If it is not on the first screen, click the edit button (usually as a pencil or three dots) and add a widget to the panel.
Once turned on, it will automatically search for available devices on the network, a request for permission to connect may appear on the TV screen, which must be confirmed by the remote control, and the quality of the image in this mode depends on the Wi-Fi module power and the channel load.
☑️ Checking before connection
It's important to understand that when you use this method, the phone screen is completely duplicated on the TV, which means that any notifications, incoming calls or messages will be visible to everyone who is looking at the big screen. If you plan on watching long, it's better to turn on the "Do Not Disturb" mode.
⚠️ Note: When using embedded broadcast, the smartphone can heat up significantly, as the video stream is encoded in real time by the device's processor.
Broadcasting through video services (YouTube, Netflix)
If your goal is to watch movies from online cinemas, using the built-in screen duplication feature is not always optimal. Apps like YouTube, Netflix or Movie Search use Google Cast (Chromecast built-in) technology, which works differently than Miracast.
In this case, the phone is just a remote control, and you pick a movie on your smartphone, you click the broadcast icon (a rectangle with waves), and the video stream starts to go directly from the movie service servers to the TV, which frees up the phone's processor and saves battery life.
To work successfully, it is necessary that the app on the phone and the app on the TV be logged in under the same account or just on the same network, and the picture quality in this mode is often higher, since the TV itself decodes the stream, supporting formats like HDR and 4K, if available.
Why does the sound disappear when switching apps?
It is worth noting that some services may block the output of protected content through simple broadcast methods due to HDCP policy. In such cases, using official applications on Smart TVs is the only legal way to view.
Connection through third-party applications and protocols
In situations where the built-in hardware is not working or the TV is “normal” (not Smart), third-party solutions come to the rescue. For Android TVs, you can install receiver applications that emulate the operation of standard protocols.
One popular solution is to use media server applications such as Web Video Caster or BubbleUPnP. They allow you to stream video files stored in your phone’s memory or stream video from your browser directly to your TV, bypassing system limitations.
| Annex | Type of connection | Support for formats | Paid version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Video Caster | DLNA / Chromecast | MP4, MKV, AVI, HLS | Got it (advertising) |
| BubbleUPnP | DLNA / UPnP | All popular. | There (extended) |
| Xiaomi TV Assistant | Proprietary | Photo, Video, Music | No (free) |
| TvCast Pro | Miracast / AirPlay | Streaming video | There is. |
The use of such programs is especially important if you want to play a video file downloaded in advance, and do not have the ability to connect. USB-TV drive. DLNA Allows you to access the phone’s media files over the network.
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If the TV doesn’t see the phone in the broadcast apps, try temporarily disabling the VPN on your smartphone – it often blocks local device detection.
Solving Connection and Delay Problems
Despite the wireless nature of the connection, users sometimes experience audio and image dissynchronization or periodic twitching of the image, often due to overloading of the Wi-Fi channel or weak signal.
To minimize latency, it is recommended to approach the router while browsing, and it is also worth checking whether the channel is loaded with other devices, for example, active downloads or online games on other gadgets.
- 📉 Try to reduce the quality of the video in the source app if the Internet is unstable.
- 🔌 Reboot your router if the network is slow, it clears the cache and redistributes channels.
- 📱 Close the background apps on your phone to free up processor resources for encoding video.
In some cases, manual Wi-Fi frequency selection helps. If you're far from the router, the 2.4 GHz band will be more stable, albeit slower. If you're close, 5 GHz is preferable for heavy video streaming without compression.
⚠️ Warning: Persistent broadcast interruptions may indicate overheating of the Wi-Fi module in the TV, especially in thin models with poor ventilation.
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The stability of a wireless connection depends on the distance to the router and the number of free channels in the air.
Comparison of methods: what to choose for the film?
The choice of connection method depends on your priorities: picture quality, ease of control or versatility. For a one-time display of photos or presentation, the built-in Translation, which quickly mirrors the screen, is better suited.
For a full-fledged high-quality movie, especially in 4K, it is preferable to use built-in apps on Smart TV or Google Cast technology, which will ensure the best decoding of the image by the TV, rather than the smartphone.
If you have an old TV without Smart features, the only option is to use external consoles (for example, Chromecast or Mi). TV Stick) or connection through HDMI-cable, which, however, already violates the condition “no wires” for the signal itself, although the phone remains wireless.
Xiaomi ecosystem owners should pay attention to the integration with the smart home. Mi Home app allows you not only to broadcast content, but also to control the TV, adjust the lighting scenarios when watching movies, creating a real home theater.