How to turn on Bluetooth on your Xiaomi TV

Modern Xiaomi Mi TV and Xiaomi TV Stick are powered by Android TV, which opens up a wide range of peripheral connectivity for users. Wireless technology allows audio to be transmitted to external speakers, game controllers connected, or a smartphone to be used as a remote control. However, unlike smartphones, there is no single “on” button in the notification curtain, and the activation process requires an understanding of the menu structure.

Many users are faced with a situation where the standard remote stops responding or need to connect wireless headphones for night watching movies. The built-in module in Xiaomi TVs is usually active by default, but to pair new devices you need to enter the appropriate settings section. It is important to distinguish between modes of operation: some gadgets require pairing mode, while others are simply looking for a network.

In this guide, we will take a look at how Xiaomi’s wireless interface works, how to find hidden settings, why your TV can’t see your headphones, and what alternative ways to connect if the standard method doesn’t work. The key is to put the external device into a “pairing mode” before you start searching on your TV.

Search and activation of the module in the system settings

The first step for any user is to navigate the operating system interface. Since the Android TV shell can vary slightly depending on the year of the model (Global or Chinese), the path to settings can vary. The standard algorithm involves using a regular remote to navigate to the main menu.

You need to click the button with the gear that opens the Quick Settings panel, or find the Settings icon in the upper right corner of the screen. After going to the full menu, select Devices & Accessories, which is where all the external peripheral connectivity options are concentrated.

• 📺 Click the "Add Accessory" button to start the search.
• 🔍 Make sure your device (earphones, gamepad) is in pairing mode.
• ✅ Select the device found from the list to complete the connection.

If your gadget is not displayed in the list of available devices, it is possible that the Bluetooth module is temporarily suspended or is not working correctly, in which case it is worth checking whether this device is already connected to another smartphone or tablet nearby, since many gadgets can only connect to one active host at a time.

Connecting wireless headphones and speakers

Wireless acoustics is one of the most popular features of Smart TVs, which allows you to watch movies late at night without disturbing your household, or improve the sound quality by connecting a powerful Bluetooth speaker. The process of connecting audio output devices has its own features related to codecs and signal delay.

To start, make sure your headphones are fully charged and put into mode (usually by holding a power button or a special button with a Bluetooth symbol for a long time). On the TV screen in the Add Accessory section, scanning will begin. Once your model name appears, select it.

⚠️ Note: When you connect cheap Bluetooth headphones to your TV, you may experience lip-sync error, a technical limitation of the protocol that can be solved through the developer’s settings or the use of a wired headset.

Once successfully paired, the sound will automatically switch to the external device. If that doesn't happen, check the audio output settings. Sometimes the system requires manually specifying the priority playback device. It's also worth remembering that the audio delay can be critical for games, but not noticeable when watching a movie.

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If the sound in the headphones is interrupted, move away from the TV no further than 3-5 meters and remove metal objects between the devices.

Use of game controllers and keyboards

Xiaomi TVs easily turn into a game console or a multimedia center with keyboard control. HID-Profile (Human Interface Device) allows you to connect gamepads from Xbox, PlayStation, as well as ordinary computer mice and keyboards without installing additional drivers.

The activation process is similar to connecting audio devices. Turn on the gamepad by holding down a combination of buttons to go into search mode (for example, X + Guide on Xbox controllers). The TV will define the device as "Wireless Controller" or by the specific name of the model. Once connected, you can use it in emulators, streaming services or for navigation through menus.

Using a keyboard makes it much faster to type when searching for movies on YouTube or Netflix. Android TV supports multimedia keys such as Play/Pause and volume control if you have them on your input device. This makes navigation more comfortable, especially if the staff remote has a stripped down set of buttons.

• 🎮 Xbox gamepads One/Series X is connected natively without any problems.
• ⌨️ Keyboards with Russian layout work immediately after pairing.
• 🖱️ The mouse allows you to control the cursor on the screen, as on a computer.

Setup of the Mi Remote remote and voice control

Xiaomi Bluetooth Remote (with Netflix buttons, Google Assistant) requires initial pairing with the TV. This usually happens automatically when you first turn on, but if you lose communication, you need to restore it manually.

To re-pair the remote, you need to hold it close to the Mi logo on the bottom of the TV (where the IR receiver and Bluetooth module are located) and simultaneously press two buttons: Home (house icon) and Back (arrow), and a message about a successful connection should appear on the screen.

Voice control via Google Assistant or Alexa (depending on the region) also relies on a stable Bluetooth connection. If the microphone on the remote no longer responds to commands, try replacing the batteries or reconnecting the remote in the way described above. Infrared port is responsible only for basic commands, while all advanced functionality is transmitted over the radio channel.

Alternative methods: Mi Remote and Mi Home

If the physical remote is lost or damaged, the control of the TV can be transferred to the smartphone. the official Mi Remote app (for phones with an infrared port) or Google Home (via Wi-Fi) allows you to manage the basic functions.

Xiaomi Home (Mi Home) allows you to add a TV to the smart home ecosystem, which allows you to play video from your phone to TV, use your smartphone as a touchpad, and even display notifications, and to work this method, both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network.

There is also the option of using third-party remote apps from the Google Play Store, such as Android TV Remote Control. These connect over a local network and often have a more user-friendly interface for text input than standard solutions, which is especially true if the native remote is running with delays.

Diagnostics and Solving Connection Problems

Despite the reliability of the technology, users may encounter errors: the TV may not see the devices, the connection may be constantly broken, or the sound may be transmitted with distortions, most often the problem lies in a software failure or interference in the air.

The first thing you need to do when you have a problem is to restart the TV, not just turn it off, but complete the cycle of switching off and on through the menu or turning off the power from the outlet for 1-2 minutes, which will clear the Bluetooth stack cache and start the services again.

⚠️ Note: If the TV stopped seeing any Bluetooth devices after updating the firmware, there may be a bug in the new version of the OS. In this case, it is recommended to roll back to the previous version or wait for a patch from the manufacturer.

Also worth checking is the list of paired devices. If the module memory is full (usually the limit is 5-7 active devices), the new gadget may not connect. Remove old, unused devices from the Settings list → Devices and accessories to make room.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Connection stability depends on the firmware version and the absence of radio interference in the 2.4 GHz band, so the Wi-Fi router is better to move away from the TV or switch it to 5 GHz.