MirrorLink on Xiaomi: how to enable and configure screen duplication in the car

MirrorLink technology allows you to duplicate the screen of your smartphone on the multimedia system of the car, turning it into a full-fledged display for navigation, music and calls. For owners of Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, this is especially true: many models support the function, but require the right setup.

Unlike Android Auto, which runs through a separate app, MirrorLink delivers the full interface of the phone (with security restrictions) that is convenient for using custom navigation apps or messengers that Android Auto doesn’t have. However, not all car headphones and Xiaomi smartphones are compatible out of the box — manual activation is often required.

It's important to understand that MirrorLink is not replacing Android Auto, but is complementing it. For example, in the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12, you can use both technologies simultaneously, switching between them depending on the task. But there is a nuance: some Chinese firmware (MIUI China) blocks MirrorLink by default.

Xiaomi Compatible Models: The Complete List of 2026

Not all Xiaomi smartphones support MirrorLink.The feature is available on Android 9.0+ and Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (600/700/800 series).

  • 📱 Xiaomi 14/13/12 series (all modifications)
  • 📱 Redmi Note 12/11/10 Pro (except for versions from MediaTek Helio)
  • 📱 POCO F5/F4/X5 Pro
  • 📱 Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra/10T Pro
  • 📱 Black Shark 5/4 Pro (game models)

To check the compatibility of your model:

  1. Open the settings → About the phone → version of MIUI
  2. Check the Kernel section and build number – Android 9.0 or newer should be listed
  3. Make sure the processor is Snapdragon (checked in the CPU-Z app)
📊 Your Xiaomi smartphone supports MirrorLink?
Yeah, it works no problem.
Yeah, but it requires manual adjustment.
No, the model is incompatible.
I haven't tried it, I just found out now.

If your model is not listed but meets the technical requirements, try activating MirrorLink via Developer Mode (instruction below). 9A) function is usually unavailable.

Preparation of the smartphone: the inclusion of the developer mode

Before setting up MirrorLink, you need to activate hidden developer options, a step that is mandatory for all Xiaomi models, regardless of the MIUI version.

Instructions for inclusion:

  1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
  2. Click 7 times in a row on the MIUI version (you will be notified "You became a developer!")
  3. Go back to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.

Activate the Developer Mode|Check out the Android version (9.0)+)|Ensure the compatibility of the model|Connect the phone to charge (recommended)-->

In the developer menu, find and turn on:

  • 🔧 Debugging by USB (necessarily!)
  • 🔧 Unlocking OEM (If you are planning to use unofficial firmware)
  • 🔧 Do not turn off the screen while charging (useful for long trips)

Once the developer mode is activated, restart the phone, which will reset the system’s time constraints and allow MirrorLink to work correctly.

Now, we're going to get to the basic setup. The process is different depending on the version of MIUI, but the overall scheme is the same:

  1. Connect your phone to your car via a USB cable (use Xiaomi’s original cable or a certified USB-C)
  2. On the car screen, select MirrorLink Mode (can be called Screen Mirroring or Car Mode)
  3. On the smartphone will appear a request for connection – confirm it by ticking Always allow from this device
  4. If the connection does not occur, go to Settings → Connected devices → MirrorLink and enable the function manually.

Some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T) require additional customization:

Settings → Additional → Special features → MirrorLink
What to do if MirrorLink is not enabled?
To avoid problems: Install the latest version of Android Auto from Google Play in Android Auto Settings (Settings) → Annexes → Android Auto → Additionally, disable the option to Start automatically when you connect to Bluetooth In MirrorLink settings (Settings) → Connected devices → MirrorLink → Additionally, select MirrorLink priority over Android Auto Tip: If you need to switch between modes quickly, create a shortcut on the home screen: 🔹 Long-term pressing on the desktop → Widgets → Settings 🔹 Drag the MirrorLink or Android Auto shortcut to the screen Solving problems: MirrorLink does not work If the connection fails, check these points: Problem Possible cause Phone does not detect the car No support MirrorLink in firmware Update MIUI or install custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS) The screen blinks or slows If the screen is black after you connect, try: 1. Reboot the phone and the car system 2. Use another one. USB-cable (preferably original) 3. Update the firmware of the car head unit 4. Enable the option to turn off the check in the developer settings MIUI (For the experienced users only!) MIUI 14+ You may need to install an additional MirrorLink Enabler app from Google Play.It bypasses firmware restrictions and forcibly activates the feature. Android Auto settings to work with MirrorLink MirrorLink and Android Auto can conflict if not configured correctly. Cover background applications, enable performance mode in Settings → Battery No sound through machine speakers Wrong audio output settings In MirrorLink settings, select Audio through USB Apps not displayed MirrorLink Security Limits Add apps to whitelist in Settings → Annexes → Special access → MirrorLink for models with MIUI China (e.g. Xiaomi 13 for the Chinese market) may need to unlock the bootloader and install global firmware.This is a complicated procedure that voids the warranty! 💡Some car head-ups (such as Pioneer or Sony) require MirrorLink pre-activation via the radio settings menu! MirrorLink Alternatives for Xiaomi: What to Use If Your Smartphone Doesn't Support MirrorLink or the feature is unstable, Consider Alternatives: 🚗 Android Auto – Google’s official solution, works on all Xiaomi with Android 10+ 📺 Wireless Mirroring via Miracast (available in Settings) → Connection and sharing → Wireless display) 🔌 USB-debugging + Scrcpy – for advanced users (requires a PC in the machine) 📱 Dubber applications such as ApowerMirror or TeamViewer QuickSupport for wireless screen duplication: Turn on Miracast in your phone settings Activate a similar feature on your car system (could be called Screen Mirroring or Wi-Fi Display) Connect to your car's Wi-Fi network (if required) Android Auto's advantage over MirrorLink is stability and optimization for the car utilization. However, MirrorLink gives more freedom, for example, to use Yandex.Navigator with a full-screen interface. FAQ: Can you turn MirrorLink on Xiaomi with MediaTek? on most MediaTek models (e.g. Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) MirrorLink is not supported at the firmware level, with the exception of some Helio models. G95/G96, manual activation is required through ADB-You need to: Connect the phone to the PC and enable debugging. USB Adb shell settings put global settings hidden_api_policy 1 Reboot the device Success is not guaranteed, depending on the firmware version. Why does MirrorLink only work with charging? It's a firmware restriction. MIUI: Screen duplication requires constant power to avoid battery discharge. If you want to use MirrorLink without charging: Enable in the developer settings Do not turn off the screen while charging (even if the cable is not connected to charging) Use Power Bank with the output USB-C PD (At least 18W of power) Some automotive systems (e.g. Android Auto Wireless) don't have this limitation. How do you make MirrorLink the primary mode when you connect to a car? Xiaomi's default is to choose the mode whenever you connect. To set MirrorLink a priority: Connect your phone to your car via USB In the window that appears, select MirrorLink and tick Always Use this app If the window does not appear, reset the settings. USB In Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting settings USB To reset priority, remove the Android System app cache in your phone's settings. Is it safe to use MirrorLink while you're driving? MirrorLink duplicates the phone's entire screen, including notifications and instant messengers, which can distract the driver: 🚫 Turn off notifications from social networks in Settings → Notifications → Priority notifications 🚫 Use the driving mode in MIUI (Settings → Lock screen → Driving mode) 🚫 Configure automatic start of the navigator (for example, Google Maps or Yandex.Navigator) when connecting to a car In some countries (for example, in Russia) using a phone without hands-free while driving is prohibited by law. MirrorLink is legal only if it does not require manual control of the phone. Can you stream Netflix or YouTube in your car via MirrorLink? Technically, yes, but: 📺 Netflix and YouTube block playback on external screens via MirrorLink DRM-restraint 📺 To circumvent restrictions, root access and modification of the build.prop file are required. 📺 Alternative – download video in advance in applications such as Snaptube and play through a local player Remember: watching video while driving is dangerous and prohibited traffic rules!