Modern Xiaomi TVs, which are powered by Android TV or Google TV, offer a wide range of wireless connectivity capabilities, and one of the key technologies that enables fast data transfer without having to connect to a home Wi-Fi network is Wi-Fi Direct, which allows you to stream photos, videos and music directly from your smartphone or tablet to the big screen, creating a direct connection between gadgets.
Many users have difficulty trying to activate this mode, as it is often hidden or renamed in the TV interface according to marketing names. Understanding the principles of this technology will help you avoid unnecessary settings of the router and ensure stable transmission of high-quality content. In this article, we will discuss in detail the process of activating, setting up and diagnosing possible problems.
It’s worth noting that implementations may vary depending on the firmware version and model of your device. However, the basic principles remain the same for the entire Mi TV line. We’ll look at universal methods that will suit most current models, including the Mi TV P1 series, Mi TV 4A and newer versions.
What is Wi-Fi Direct and Why You Need It on TV
Wi-Fi Direct is a wireless standard that allows devices to connect directly to each other, bypassing a hotspot or router. In the context of Xiaomi TVs, this technology is the foundation for the Translation or Wireless Display function. When you want to show friends photos from your vacation or run video from your phone to the full screen, this protocol takes over the organization of the communication channel.
The main advantage of using Direct mode is speed and independence from external infrastructure. You don't need your smartphone and TV to be on the same local network created by the router. The TV itself acts as the access point to which the mobile device connects, which is especially useful if the home Internet is temporarily out of order or the router is overloaded.
But you have to understand the difference between a regular Wi-Fi and a Direct connection, and in the first case, the data goes through a router, which can add delays to the streaming of heavy content, in the second case, the point-to-point channel provides minimal ping, which is critical for games or presentations in real time, and the technology uses the same frequencies, but organizes the network differently.
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Wi-Fi Direct creates a direct connection between devices, providing high data transfer speeds without the involvement of a router.
In this case, traffic will be redirected through the operator’s mobile network if it is enabled.
Compatibility check and equipment preparation
Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your hardware supports the necessary protocols. Virtually all modern Xiaomi TVs are equipped with a Wi-Fi module that supports 802.11n and higher, which guarantees Direct mode. However, on older models or in regions with stripped-down software, some features may be hidden.
You should also check the operating system version. For proper operation, it is recommended that you have updates to the latest available version of Android TV. Manufacturers regularly release patches that improve the stability of wireless connections and eliminate security vulnerabilities.
- 📺 Make sure that the Xiaomi TV is on and working properly.
- 📱 Check that your smartphone or tablet supports Wi-Fi Direct technology (available on most Android devices).
- 🔄 Update the TV firmware through the Settings menu → On TV. → System update.
- 🔋 Charge your mobile device as active data transfer consumes battery quickly.
Sometimes users confuse Miracast and Wi-Fi Direct. Miracast is actually a protocol that uses Wi-Fi Direct to stream video, so if your Mi TV features support wireless screen broadcasting, then the underlying Direct technology is also present.
Step-by-step instructions for activating Wi-Fi Direct
Unlike smartphones, where the feature can be found in the drop-down menu, on Xiaomi TVs, Wi-Fi Direct management is often built into the network settings menu or hidden under the name Translation. The interface can vary depending on the regional version of the firmware (Global, EU, China).
To start, go to the main menu of the system. Find the connection section. In the classic PatchWall interface or pure Android TV, the path can look different. Most often, the settings you need are in the Applications or My Applications section, where the system utility for the wireless display is preinstalled.
☑️ Translation Including Algorithm
If you don't find an explicit "Wi-Fi Direct" item, use the built-in app search. Enter "Wireless" or "Translation." The system app responsible for this feature is usually called Wireless Display or Cast. Once the app is launched, the TV will go into standby mode, and the device name will appear on the screen, which will be visible to other gadgets.
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi TVs with Chinese firmware may call the feature (Touping).If the interface is in Chinese, look for the icon with the screen and arrows.
In some cases, activation requires USB debugging or special developer flags, but this applies only to rare cases of customization of the system.
Matching a TV with a smartphone or tablet
Once the TV has gone into standby mode, you need to pair with a mobile device. On Xiaomi (MIUI) and Redmi (HyperOS), this feature is often built into the control center. On other Android devices, it can be called Translation, Smart View (Samsung), or Projection.
Open the Quick Settings menu on your smartphone and select the broadcast function. The phone will start searching for available devices within range. Your Mi TV should appear in the list. Click on it to start the connection. The TV screen may have a request for confirmation of connection, which you need to receive by the remote.
- 📲 Open “Settings” on your smartphone and go to the “Connected Devices” section».
- 🔍 Select “Translation” or “Connecting to a Wireless Display».
- ✅ Click on the name of your Xiaomi TV in the list of found devices.
- 📺 Confirm the connection on the TV screen if the corresponding notification appears.
If automated search doesn’t work, try using third-party apps like Google Home or Mi Remote.They often have their own device discovery mechanisms on the LAN and can initiate a connection even if the standard Direct protocol isn’t visible.
What to do if your phone can’t see TV?
Importantly, when you first connect, the system can request permission to access media files, which is necessary so that the TV can play the content stored in the memory of the smartphone, without this permission, you can only broadcast the image of the desktop.
Setting up image and sound parameters
After successfully establishing a Wi-Fi Direct connection, you may find that the image on the TV does not match the proportions of the smartphone screen. This is due to the difference in resolution of the arrays. Xiaomi TVs usually have a resolution of 1920×1080 or 3840×2160, while smartphones often use elongated formats.
To adjust the display, use the TV remote. In the image settings menu (the menu button or a special three-dot button), find the option "Screen Mode" or "End ratio" and select "Screen size" or "16:9" to remove the black fields or, conversely, stretch the picture.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Permission | 1920x1080 / 4K | Native resolution of the TV matrix |
| Frequency of update | 60 Hz | Standard for video and games, provides smoothness |
| Image mode | Standard/Cinema | Optimizes Colors for Broadcast Content |
| Sound. | Auto/HDMI ARC | Priority of output of sound on TV dynamics |
If you're streaming audio video, make sure that the audio settings select output through the TV's speakers. Sometimes the smartphone continues to try to play sound through its speaker, creating an echo. In Bluetooth settings and the audio output device on the phone, select Mi TV as the primary device.
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To reduce latency when playing via Wi-Fi Direct, turn on the TV's Game Mode in the image settings, if such an option is available in your version of the software.
Solving Connection Problems and Errors
Despite the simplicity of the technology, users often encounter unstable connections, images can slow down, sound can break, or the connection can break after a few minutes, most often due to radio overload or software conflicts.
One common problem is that you can't find a device, which is often the case when you have a lot of background applications on your TV that consume CPU resources. Wi-Fi Direct requires processing power to encode the video stream in real time.
⚠️ Warning: If the TV starts to get hot or the image twitches when connecting via Wi-Fi Direct, close unused applications in the background through the menu of running tasks.
Microwave ovens, baby monitors and neighbourhood routers running at 2.4 GHz can cause severe interference, and in such cases it is recommended to switch the TV to 5 GHz if the model supports dual-band Wi-Fi, although the Direct protocol itself often runs at 2.4 GHz for maximum compatibility.
- 🔄 Restart your router and TV to reset your network settings cache.
- 📶 Closer to the TV to prevent signal loss.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache of the Wireless Display app in the Android app settings.
- 🔌 Turn off the TV. USB-devices that can create electrical tips.
In rare cases, the problem lies in antivirus software or a firewall on a smartphone that blocks incoming connections from unknown devices. Try temporarily disabling protection to test the hypothesis.
Alternative methods of wireless data transmission
If classic Wi-Fi Direct doesn’t suit you for work quality or functionality, Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers other options, most notably Chromecast built-in, which is built into most modern models, and allows you to stream content from apps (YouTube, Netflix, Kinopoisk) directly using the Internet channel of your TV, not your phone.
Another option is to use DLNA technology, which doesn't require a mirroring screen, so you just pick a file in the media player on the phone and specify the playback device, and the TV will upload the file over the network, and it's convenient for watching movies, because the phone doesn't discharge or warm up.
The difference between Chromecast and Wi-Fi Direct
Apple device owners are also looking to support AirPlay 2, which has been introduced to many Mi TVs since the updates, and is similar to Wi-Fi Direct, but optimized for iOS, providing better stability and image quality for iPhones and iPads.