Why Mi TV Stick can't see the phone and how to fix it
You try to show vacation photos on the big screen, run a mobile game on your TV or stream a movie from your phone, but Xiaomi Mi TV Stick stubbornly does not see your device? The problem is familiar to many - despite the promised "seamless integration", in practice, the connection is often interrupted, lags or does not set up at all, the reasons are incompatible protocols, outdated drivers or banal network settings.
In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to broadcast from Android and iPhone to Mi TV Stick (including the Mi TV Stick 4K and Mi TV Stick 2 models), compare them in speed, picture quality and stability, and provide unique solutions for common errors that are not in the official documentation of Xiaomi.
1. Wireless streaming on Miracast: setting up on Android
Miracast is the native way of duplicating the screen for the Mi TV Stick, because it's built into Android TV by default, but many users find that the feature is either missing from the phone's menu or the connection is constantly broken. Here's how to set it up correctly:
- 📱 On the phone: Open the settings → Connections → Screen broadcast (on Samsung) or Settings → Display. → Wireless display (on Xiaomi/Redmi). If there is no item, then your phone does not support Miracast (relevant for budget models before the phone is not available). 2020 year-end).
- 📺 On Mi. TV Stick: Go to Settings → Devices → Wireless display and activate the option. It's noteworthy that on some firmware this item is hidden - you need to turn it on through Settings. → Annexes → Special facilities → Mirakast.
- 🔄 Pair: After activation on both devices, the name of your Mi will appear in the list of available displays. TV Stick (e.g. MiTV-Stick-XXXX). Select it and confirm the connection.
If the screen is broadcasting, but the picture is lagging or the sound is lagging, the problem is that the Wi-Fi channel is congested.
- Switch the router to the 5 GHz band (in the router settings).
- Disconnect all other devices from the network during the broadcast.
- Reduce the phone’s screen resolution to 720p in Miracast settings (if optional).
⚠️ Note: On iPhone (iOS), Miracast does not work by default - Apple uses the proprietary AirPlay protocol. 3). 📊 What is the most popular mode of broadcasting?MiracastChromecastHDMI adapterDLNA/UPnPI don't know. 2. Chromecast vs Miracast: Which is Best for Mi? TV Stick Many confuse Miracast and Google Chromecast, but these are fundamentally different technologies: the first duplicates the screen of the phone “as is”, and the second allows you to stream content from applications (YouTube, Netflix, browser) without mirroring the entire display. Mi TV Stick supports both, but with nuance: Miracast Chromecast Criterion Support iPhone ❌ No. ✅ Yes (via apps) Delay (lag) 100–300 ms 50–150 ms Video quality Up to 1080p (Depends on the phone. 4K (It depends on the application: work without Wi-Fi ✅ Yes (direct connection) ❌ No (needs a router) to use Chromecast on Mi TV Stick: Make sure the phone and console are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Open a supported app (like YouTube or Google Photos). Click the broadcast icon (usually in the upper right corner) and select Mi. TV Stick from the list if the app can't see the device: 🔧 Reboot the Mi. TV Stick (remove the power cable for 10 seconds). 📶 Check that the router has enabled the Multicast protocol (in the settings) DHCP). 🔄 Update the console firmware through Settings → About the prefix → Updating the system. 💡If Chromecast works but the video is slowing down, try setting the router to set a fixed channel (for example, 36 or 48 for 5 GHz) instead of “Auto.” 3. TV As mentioned, the iPhone does not support Miracast, and AirPlay on Mi TV Stick doesn't work out of the box. But there are 3 working methods: Method 1: ApowerMirror, Screen Mirroring. TV: Install the ApowerMirror app on your iPhone (free watermarked version). TV Stick install the same app via Google Play. Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network and follow the instructions in the app. minus: latency up to 500 ms and quality down to 480p free-of-charge. Method 2: Lightning Wireless Adapter → HDMI The most stable but expensive option: 🔌 Buy a certified Lightning Digital adapter AV Adapter (original from Apple is worth it) ~4 000 ₽). 📱 Connect your iPhone to the adapter and the adapter to the Mi TV Stick through HDMI-port. 🔄 On the TV screen, select the source of the signal. HDMI (usually HDMI 1 or ARC). Pros: Zero latency and support 1080p. Cons: wires and high price of adapter. 3: DLNA/UPnP Apps Suitable for streaming photos, videos and music (but not the entire screen): Install the AllCast or LocalCast app on your iPhone. TV Stick on. DLNA-server through settings → Network → DLNA. In the iPhone app, select a file and send it to Mi. TV Stick: Why AirPlay doesn't work on Mi TV Stick?Xiaomi did not license AirPlay technology from Apple, so live streaming from iPhone is impossible. Bypasses (as in this section) are the only option if you don’t use third-party devices like Apple. TV. 4. Wired broadcast: HDMI-Adapters for Android If wireless methods do not get tired in quality or stability, wired connection through the Internet HDMI — Android phones will need an adapter with USB-C/Micro-USB → HDMI. Important nuances: 🔍 Support check: Not all phones can display images by HDMI. For example, Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 It supports Redmi. 9A — Please specify the model in the specifications on the manufacturer's website. 🔌 Type of adapter: Passive adapter (cheap, ~500 ₽) — It only works on phones that support DisplayPort Alt Mode (e.g. Samsung Galaxy). S20+). Active adapter (from 1 500 ₽) — It requires external power but is compatible with most devices. ⚡ Power: When connected, the phone will discharge faster. Use a hub with a port. USB-C for charging (e.g. Baseus) 6-in-1). Step-by-step: Connect the adapter to the phone|Connect the adapter to the Mi TV Stick through HDMI-cable|Turn on the TV source. HDMI (usually HDMI 1)|If there is no image, restart your phone with a connected adapter.|Set the resolution in the phone (Settings) → Screen. → Permission HDMI)--> If the image does not appear: Try another HDMI-cable (not more than 2 meters long). HDCP Update the firmware of the phone — newer versions of Android often fix bugs with the help of the adapter. HDMI-exit. 💡Wired connection to HDMI It provides a minimum delay (10-20 ms) and supports resolution up to 4K, It requires a high quality adapter and cable. 5. DLNA UPnP: broadcast media files without mirroring If you do not need to duplicate the entire screen, but only transfer photos, videos or music, protocol DLNA (Or UPnP, which is the optimal solution. It works on most devices and doesn't require any additional adapters. TV Stick on. DLNA-server: Settings → Network → DLNA → On the phone, install the app-player with support DLNA, for example: 📱 Android: BubbleUPnP, VLC, LocalCast. 🍎 iPhone: AllConnect, 8player. In the application, select a file and send it to Mi. TV Stick (the device will appear on the list as MiTV-Stick-XXXX). DLNA: 🎵 Support for almost all formats (including: MKV, FLAC). 📶 It works even on slow networks (enough 5 Mbps for Full). HD). 🔄 You can control playback from your phone (pause, rewind: ❌ Does not broadcast the entire screen (only individual files). ❌ No support. DRM-Protected Content (Netflix, Disney)+). ⚠️ Attention: If Mi TV Stick is not listed in the list DLNA-Check that the router is on Multicast and UPnP. Also try to disable VPN On the phone, it can block local device detection. 6 Problem solving: why Mi TV Stick can’t see a phone If none of the methods work, the problem lies in hardware or software incompatibility. Here's a checklist for diagnosis: Symptoms Possible cause Solution Phone doesn't see Mi TV Stick in the list of devices Wi-Fi Direct is disabled on the console Enable in Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Direct Connection is installed, but screen black Incompatible screen resolutions Set on the phone resolution 720p Miracast Sound is going, and video slows down Network Overload 2.4 GHz Switch router to router 5 GHz or use a wired connection Chromecast apps don't see the console Outdated Mi firmware TV Stick Update the Software through Settings → About the prefix → Update the system if the problem is not solved: 🔄 Reset your network settings to Mi TV Stick: Settings → Network → Resetting network settings 📱 Check the phone for compatibility with Miracast/Chromecast via WiFi Display Checker (Android). 🛠️ Roll back the Mi firmware TV Stick if the error occurred after the update (instructions in the FAQ). FAQ: Frequent questions about the broadcast on Mi TV Can I broadcast the screen from iPhone to Mi? TV No, live streaming without an adapter is impossible due to lack of AirPlay support on the Mi TV Stick. Bypasses are apps like ApowerMirror or LocalCast, but they delay and they reduce quality. → HDMI Why is there no sound when you're broadcasting on Miracast? That's a typical problem on phones. Xiaomi/Redmi Solution: Enable the option of Sound Transmission over HDMI Update your phone's firmware to the latest version (especially relevant for the phone's Miracast settings). MIUI 12 Use external speakers connected to Mi. TV Stick via Bluetooth or 3.5 How to stream Netflix from your phone to Mi TV Stick? Netflix blocks streaming via Miracast because of DRM-defense. Options: 📱 Use Chromecast (Broadcast icon in Netflix app). 🔌 Put the phone on. HDMI (if the adapter supports HDCP). 🖥️ Install Netflix directly on Mi TV Stick via Google Play. Mi. TV Stick doesn't update -- what do you do? If the console doesn't find an update: Check your Internet connection (the console must be on 2.4 GHz network). → Annexes → Google Play Store → Clear the cache. Download the firmware manually from the official Xiaomi website and install through Settings → About the prefix → Local update. Can I use Mi? TV Stick as a webcam for Zoom? technically yes, but with caveats: 📱 Connect the phone to the Mi TV Stick on HDMI and run Zoom on your phone. 🖥️ Use the DroidCam app to stream your phone’s camera to your PC, then duplicate your PC screen on Mi. TV Stick via Chromecast. The delay will be noticeable (~500 ms), so it is better to use specialized webcams for conferences.