How to watch photos from your phone on your Xiaomi TV via WiFi: the complete guide

Today’s users rarely limit themselves to viewing images on a small smartphone screen, wanting to show vivid images from family holidays or travel on a large display. Wi-Fi technology allows instant media from a mobile device to the Xiaomi Mi TV panel without the use of unnecessary cables and adapters. This process greatly simplifies the joint viewing of the gallery and turns the TV into a full-fledged digital photo frame for the whole family.

To succeed, both devices must be on the same local network and the software must be up-to-date. There are several proven synchronization methods, each with its own specific features and suited to different use cases. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the available methods, from the built-in functions of the Android TV operating system to the use of specialized applications.

Preparation of equipment and network

The first and most critical step is to ensure a stable connection between the devices. Make sure your router is running correctly and is broadcasting at a frequency supported by both devices. Most often, there are no problems with using the 2.4 GHz standard, but 5 GHz is preferable for high-resolution photo transfer without delay.

It is important to check that the wireless module is on on Xiaomi TV. To do this, go to the settings menu and select the Network and Internet section, where the active connection indicator should be on. If devices see the router but do not see each other, the router may have activated the client isolation function, which you need to turn off in the admin panel.

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone is connected to the mobile Internet 4G/5G, If you have a TV to your home Wi-Fi, you don't have to transfer files over the LAN, and you have to connect both devices to the same router.

After checking the physical connection, it is recommended to restart both gadgets. This action helps to reset the cache of network settings and eliminate possible errors. IP-Addressing that often interferes with device detection on the local network.

Use of the built-in Chromecast feature

The easiest and most native way for owners of Android devices is to use Google Cast technology. This feature is built into most modern smartphones and TVs Xiaomi Mi TV running Android TV. You do not need to install additional software if your gallery supports the broadcast function.

To get started, open the Gallery or Google Photos app on your phone. Select the image or album you want, then click on the broadcast icon, which looks like a rectangle with waves in the corner. In the list of available devices, select the name of your Xiaomi TV.

  • πŸ“± Open the photo in the Google Photos app on your smartphone.
  • πŸ“Ί Click on the Cast icon (rectangle with Wi-Fi signal) in the top corner.
  • πŸ”— Wait for the Xiaomi TV name to appear in the list and select it.
  • βœ… The image will instantly appear on the large screen in high quality.

The advantage of this method is that you can control your viewing from your phone, you can flip through pictures, pause on a slideshow, or zoom in while the TV is just a display, and the quality of the image you transmit depends on the speed of the Wi-Fi connection, but it usually stays high enough for comfortable viewing.

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If the broadcast is interrupted or delayed, try bringing the smartphone closer to the router or reduce the load on the network by turning off downloads on other devices.

Screen broadcast via Miracast

Miracast technology allows you to stream not a single photo, but the entire screen of your smartphone to your TV. It’s a universal solution that works even on devices that don’t support the Google ecosystem. In Xiaomi TVs, this feature is often called β€œWireless Display” or β€œScreen Mirroring”.

To activate the mode, open the Quick Settings menu on your phone (swipe top-down) and find Translation, Smart View, or Wireless Monitor. The TV should be ready to receive the signal: on the Xiaomi remote, click the signal source select button and select the appropriate input or launch the Wireless Display application.

Way to the TV menu: Main screen β†’ Applications β†’ Wireless display β†’ Waiting for connection

Once paired, you'll see an exact copy of what's happening on your phone's screen on your TV, which is handy if you want to show friends the interface of another app or show a photo stored in a secure messenger.

Why can't Miracast work?
The feature may not be available if Wi-Fi Direct drivers are outdated or if the router does not support both bands simultaneously, and some carriers block this feature at budget rates.

The DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) protocol is designed specifically for sharing multimedia content on a home network, and unlike mirroring, it transmits the image file itself, which reduces the load on the smartphone processor and saves battery life.

Many of the built-in galleries on Xiaomi smartphones (MIUI/HyperOS) have built-in DLNA support. Open a photo, click on the "More" button or three dots in the menu corner and select "Translate" or "DLNA." The TV should be turned on and it may need to run the Media or Gallery app.

If you can't get an image out of the standard medium, you can use third-party media applications that scan your phone's memory and make it available to your TV as a network storage.

  • πŸ“‚ Install a media server application (e.g. BubbleUPnP or LocalCast).
  • πŸ“‘ Run network scanning in the app on your phone.
  • πŸ“Ί Select your Xiaomi TV from the list of detected renderers.
  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Find the right folder with the photo and start playing the slideshow.

The DLNA feature is that playback can be controlled from both the phone and the TV remote, as long as the remote supports navigation through the media server menu, making the viewing process as convenient as possible for everyone in the room.

πŸ“Š What kind of photo broadcasting you find more convenient?
Chromecast (Google Cast)
Miracast (screen translation)
DLNA (Mediaserver)
Through USB-flash-drive
I don't use this function.

Third-party applications for enhanced capabilities

In some cases, standard tools are not enough, especially if you want to transfer files of specific formats or organize a complex display with music. The Google Play Store and Mi App Store offer many solutions for these tasks.

One popular solution is LocalCast, which allows you to not only stream photos, but also create playlists, add background music and adjust the time of each slide, and automatically converts the stream to a format that Xiaomi TV understands.

Another powerful tool is BubbleUPnP. It is a professional tool for working with the Internet. DLNA/UPnP, which allows you to broadcast content not only from your phone, but also from cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) directly to your TV, bypassing the memory of your smartphone.

⚠️ Note: When installing third-party applications from unknown sources (APK-Be careful: use only proven programs from official stores to avoid introducing malware into your home network.

For Apple users (iPhone/iPad) the use of AirPlay emulator apps is relevant if the TV does not support this technology natively. Apps like AirScreen installed on the TV allow the iPhone to β€œthink” that it is connected to the Apple TV, and broadcast photos without delay.

Solving Connection and Quality Problems

Even if you set it up properly, you can have technical difficulties, and the most common problem is that the TV can't see the phone or vice versa, and you need to check the firewall settings on the router and make sure that the network type on your computer or phone is defined as "Home" or "Private" rather than "Public."

If the image is transmitted but with artifacts, jerks or poor quality, then the channel bandwidth is not enough, try to reduce the resolution of the transmitted photos in the application settings or switch to a frequency of 5 GHz, which is less loaded with neighboring networks.

Below is a table for quick diagnosis of typical errors:

Problem.Possible causeDecision-making
TV can't see the phoneDifferent Wi-Fi networksCheck the SSID network on both devices
Photo loads longWeak router signalBring devices closer to the router
No sound on the slideshow.Audio format is not supportedUse compatible format (AAC, MP3)
Black screen during broadcastProtecting DRM ContentSome applications block the output of protected photos

β˜‘οΈ Diagnostics of the compound

Done: 0 / 4

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I transfer photos to a Xiaomi TV without the internet?
Yes, it's possible. It's possible for Miracast technology to work. DLNA It's enough for the router to create a local Wi-Fi network that both devices are connected to, even without the provider's cable connecting to the Internet. WAN-router port, local file transfer will work.
Why does the quality of the photo decrease when broadcasting via Wi-Fi?
The quality reduction (compression) occurs automatically to speed up data transmission over a wireless channel. If the Wi-Fi speed is unstable, the system sacrifices quality for smoothness. USB-storage HDMI.
Does Xiaomi TV support HEIC (photo from iPhone)?
Not all Xiaomi TVs natively support the HEIC format. When trying to stream such files via DLNA, they may not appear, but it is recommended to pre-convert them to JPEG on your phone or use the Google Photos app, which does so automatically when downloaded.
Is it safe to keep the broadcast function on all the time?
Device detection is secure, but to protect privacy, it is recommended that in public places (office, hotel) you turn off TV visibility in network settings.

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Using a wired connection (HDMI) guarantees the best quality and stability, but wireless methods over Wi-Fi provide the maximum comfort and ease of content management.