How to turn on AirPlay on your Xiaomi TV: full instructions with pictures and tips

Apple's AirPlay technology allows you to stream videos, music and photos from your iPhone, iPad or Mac directly to the big screen wirelessly. But what if you have a Xiaomi TV instead of an Apple TV? Fortunately, most current Mi TV and Redmi Smart TV models support this feature — you just need to set it up correctly.

In this article, we’ll break down all the ways you can turn AirPlay on your Xiaomi TVs (including the 2020-2026 models), explain why the feature might not work, and give you unique tips on streaming optimization to minimize latency. If you want to stream Netflix, YouTube, or an iPhone screen on Xiaomi TV, you’ve come to the right place.

Before you start, check two key points: your TV should be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as Apple’s device, and the MIUI TV firmware version is no older than 2021.

1.What Xiaomi TV models support AirPlay?

Not all Xiaomi TVs can work with AirPlay, but only on models with an Amlogic or MediaTek processor and Google TV/Android TV version 9.0 and higher.

• 📺 Mi TV Q1/Q2 (2021–2023) — AirPlay support out of the box
• 📺 Mi TV 4S/4X (models from 2020 year) – requires software updates
• 📺 Redmi Smart TV (all models from 2021) – AirPlay is manually enabled
• 📺 Mi TV A2 (2022–2026) – Full compatibility with the Apple ecosystem

If your model is older than 2020 (like Mi TV 3S or Mi TV 4A), AirPlay is probably not supported at the hardware level, and you can use alternatives like Google Cast or Miracast, but the broadcast quality will be worse.

Important! Even if your model is on the list, check the firmware version. Go to Settings → About TV → Software version. If the version is older than 2 years, update it before setting up AirPlay.

2. Step-by-step instructions: how to turn AirPlay on Xiaomi TV

The activation process depends on the version of the operating system, and below is a universal guide for Android TV and Google TV:

1. Open the settings of the TV – press the ⚙️ Settings button on the remote or home screen.
2. Go to Network and Access (or Connections → Wireless Networks on older models).
3. Select "Apple AirPlay and HomeKit" (see next section on some TVs).
4. Activate the AirPlay switch and confirm the action.
5. Set the TV name (will be displayed on Apple devices) and set a password if necessary.

Once turned on, the TV should appear in the list of available devices for broadcast on iPhone or Mac.

1. Open Control Point on iPhone (swipe down from the upper right corner).
2. Click on the Playback Control (or Screen Mirroring) block.
3. Your Xiaomi TV should appear on the list – choose it to connect.

Make sure that TV and iPhone are on the same Wi-Fi network

Update the TV to the latest version

Disable VPN on Apple devices

Check that the Screen Time function does not block the broadcast-->

If Apple AirPlay is not on the menu, then your model requires manual activation through the Developer Settings, and this is discussed in the next section.

3.What to do if AirPlay is not in the settings?

On some Xiaomi TVs (especially the 2020 Mi TV 4S and Redmi Smart TVs), the AirPlay option is hidden.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About TV. Find the Build Number line and click on it 7 times in a row (you will be notified "You became a developer").

Enable debugging over USB

• Go back to the main settings menu and select Developer Settings.
• Activate Debugging over USB and Debugging over the network.
• Manually enable AirPlay via ADB (for advanced users): adb shell settings put global airplay_enabled 1 adb shell settings put global homekit_enabled 1 These commands are executed via Android Debug Bridge (ADB) on your computer. If you don't know how to do this, skip the step and use the alternative method below.

If after all the manipulations AirPlay did not appear, check:

• 🔌 Internet connection – the TV must be on the same network as the iPhone.
• 🔄 Software Updates – Go to Settings → System Update and install the latest patches.
• 🛡️ Firewall/antivirus – disable them on your router or Apple devices.

4. Set up AirPlay for optimal performance

Turn on AirPlay, half the way, and to make it work without interruptions and delays, you need to set the settings right.

🔧 The main settings on the TV are:

• 📶 Network priority: Go to Settings → Network → Additional and select 5 GHz Wi-Fi (if the router supports).
• 🎵 Sound quality: In AirPlay settings, turn off Audio Compression if you want to stream Dolby Digital audio.
• 🔒 Security: Set a password to connect to avoid unauthorized access.

⚙️ Settings on iPhone/iPad:

• 📱 In Settings → Wi-Fi, disable Private Address MAC (may block connection).
• 🔄 In Settings → Basic → Air Data Transfer Enable Device-to-Device Transfer.
• 🎬 To stream video to 4K Settings → TV- programs, select High Quality.

Tip for gamers: if you stream games from your iPhone to your TV, reduce the screen resolution in AirPlay settings to 1080p – this will reduce the input delay to 30-50 ms.

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If the video slows down, try connecting your iPhone to the router via cable (via the Lightning/Ethernet adapter), and leaving the TV on Wi-Fi will reduce network load and improve stability.

5. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even after you set up AirPlay correctly, it can crash. Here are the TOP-5 bugs and how to fix them:

❌ Error: "Can't connect to [TV name]"

Possible causes:

• 🔌 The TV and iPhone are connected to different routers (e.g., main and guest).
• 🔒 The TV is on Child Control Mode or Screen Lock.
• 📱 The iPhone is activated Airplane Mode or Low Power Mode.

Solution: Reboot both devices and check network settings. If the problem persists, reset the network settings to the TV (Settings → Network → Reset).

❌ Error: "No sound when broadcasting"

This problem most often occurs when transferring content with DRM- protection (for example, Netflix or Apple TV+).

• 🔊 Check if the sound on the TV is turned off (Mute button on the remote control).
• 🎧 Try to transmit the sound through Bluetooth headphones connected to the TV.
• 📺 Update the app from which the streaming is being conducted (e.g. YouTube or Disney+).

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If the audio is only lost in certain applications (such as Amazon Prime Video), the problem is content licensing restrictions: Try streaming a different file or using Google Cast instead of AirPlay.

❌ Error: "Video is lagging or slowing"

Delays in broadcasting are usually associated with:

• 📶 Weak Wi-Fi signal – check internet speed (should be at least 20 Mbps).
• 📱 Overload your iPhone – close the background apps.
• 🖥️ Outdated router firmware - update it via the web interface (192.168.1.1).

For the test, connect your iPhone to the router with a cable (via an adapter) – if the lags go missing, the problem is in the wireless network.

⚠️ Attention! On Xiaomi TVs with an Amlogic S905 processor (e.g. Mi TV 4A), AirPlay may not work smoothly due to hardware constraints, in which case we recommend using a Miracast or a HDMI- wired adapter.

6. AirPlay Alternatives for Xiaomi TV

If your TV doesn’t support AirPlay or the feature doesn’t work well, there are a few alternative ways to stream the screen:

• 📲 Google Cast (Chromecast) — built into all Xiaomi TV on Android TV. Works with YouTube, Netflix and the Chrome browser.
• 🖥️ Miracast is a wireless technology for screen duplication (supported on Windows and Android).
• 🔌 HDMI- Adapter: A wired connection via Lightning-to-HDMI or USB-C-to-HDMI (0 ms latency).
• 🌐 DLNA – Transfer of media files over a local network (e.g., via VLC or Plex).

Technology comparison:

If you need a minimum backlog (for example, for games), the best option is the HDMI- adapter. Google Cast or DLNA is suitable for watching movies.

7. How to Update Firmware to Support AirPlay

If your Xiaomi TV doesn’t see AirPlay, you may need to upgrade your system.

1. Automatic Update: Go to Settings → Update & Security → System Update. Click Check Updates and wait until the search is complete. If you find an update, install it and restart the TV.

Manual update (if automatic does not work):

• Download the latest firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi Support website.
• Copy the.zip file onto a flash drive (formatted in FAT32).
• Connect the flash drive to the TV, then go to Settings → Update → Local Update.

⚠️ Attention! Don't interrupt the upgrade process or turn the TV off the socket, which can lead to a blink. If the TV doesn't turn on after the update, try resetting the settings via the Reset button on the back (press it for 15 seconds).

How do I know if the update has been successful?

• Check the version in Settings → About TV.
• Try to turn on AirPlay again – the item should appear in the menu.
• Run the stream from your iPhone – if there were errors before, they should disappear.

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If AirPlay still doesn’t work after the update, try resetting the network settings on your TV: Settings → Network → Network Reset. This often helps with IP- addresses conflicts.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions