How to show photos from iPhone on Xiaomi TV: all ways with instructions

You’ve taken amazing photos on your iPhone but want to enjoy them on a big Xiaomi TV?Sharing images from your smartphone to TV may seem like a challenge because of the ecosystem difference (Apple vs Android TV), but there are actually at least 5 working ways, from wireless protocols to wired connections. In this article, we’ll go through each method in detail, taking into account the features of MIUI TV firmware and the limitations of iOS.

It’s important to understand that not all Xiaomi TVs support the same technology. For example, older Mi TV 3/4 models may not have AirPlay built in, and new Xiaomi TV A Pro or Xiaomi TV Q2 often lack a USB-A port for direct connectivity. We’ll take these nuances into account and offer alternatives for each situation, and you’ll learn how to get around common bugs like not having a device on the list of available screens or having problems with image resolution.

1. Wireless transmission via AirPlay (for compatible models)

The most convenient way to display photos from an iPhone to Xiaomi TV is to use the AirPlay protocol, which Apple developed specifically for streaming multimedia. However, there is an important limitation here: only Xiaomi TVs on the Google TV platform (models of 2022 and newer) support AirPlay out of the box. Owners of older devices will need a workaround (see the section on Miracast).

To check your TV compatibility, go to Settings → Devices → Apple AirPlay and HomeKit. If not, your model doesn’t support the feature directly.

• 📱 On iPhone, open a photo in the Photo app.
• 🔍 Press the Share button (square with an arrow up).
• 📺 In the list of devices, select your Xiaomi TV (name should show automatically).
• 🖼️ Confirm the transfer – the image will appear on the TV screen.

If the TV doesn’t appear on the list, try:

1. Reboot both devices.
2. Make sure your iPhone and TV are connected to the same 5GHz Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz networks may not support AirPlay).
3. Update the TV firmware to the latest version (path: Settings → About TV → System Update).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi TVs with firmware MIUI TV (Google TV) AirPlay may not work properly due to manufacturer restrictions, in which case use alternative methods in the following sections.

2.AirPlay alternative: Miracast (Screen Mirroring)

If your Xiaomi TV doesn’t support AirPlay, you can use the universal Miracast protocol, which is built into most modern TVs.This method allows you to duplicate the iPhone screen on the TV, but with reservations: Apple does not officially support Miracast on iOS, so you will need a third-party app.

The best apps for Miracast with iPhone:

• 🔹 ApowerMirror is a paid trial, but it's free. It supports sound and high resolution.
• 🔹 Screen Mirroring (from AirBeamTV) – optimized for Xiaomi TV.
• 🔹 TV Assist – free, but with advertising and session time limit.

Instructions for connecting via ApowerMirror:

1. Install the app on your iPhone from the App Store.
2. On Xiaomi TV, turn on the Wireless Display feature (Settings → Connections → Wireless Display).
3. Run ApowerMirror on your smartphone and select your TV from the list.
4. Confirm the connection on the TV (entry may be required) PIN-code).

⚠️ Note: Miracast may be used through third-party applications to reduce image quality due to video stream compression. This is not critical for viewing photos, but we recommend alternative ways to view videos.

3. Wired connection via HDMI (best quality)

If you want to transfer photos in maximum resolution without delay, the best option is a wired connection via HDMI. This will require a Lightning → HDMI adapter (official from Apple or certified counterpart), which works on all Xiaomi TV models, regardless of the year of release.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the Lightning → HDMI adapter to your iPhone.
2. Connect the adapter to the TV with an HDMI cable (use the HDMI 2.0 port to support 4K).
3. On the Xiaomi TV remote, select the appropriate signal source (SOURCE or INPUT button).
4. On your iPhone, open a photo – it will automatically appear on TV.

Advantages of the method:

• 🎯 Maximum quality - transmission without compression (up to) 4K HDR supported-model).
• 🕒 No delays – perfect for watching a slideshow.
• 🔋 Does not drain the battery (unlike wireless methods).

The adapter supports your iPhone model (for example, the iPhone 15 requires USB-C → HDMI)

HDMI 2.0 or higher cable (for 4K)

HDMI port on your TV is good (check on another device)

On the iPhone enabled the mode “Trust this computer” (if the adapter is new)-->

If the image does not appear:

• Try another HDMI port on your TV.
• Reboot your iPhone with an adapter connected.
• Update the TV firmware (in rare cases, it is required to recognize new adapters).

4. USB connection (for older Xiaomi TV models)

Many Xiaomi TVs (such as Mi TV 4A or Mi TV 4S) have a USB-A port that allows you to connect your iPhone directly. However, there is a caveat: iOS does not support USB Mass Storage mode by default (like Android), so you will need a Lightning → USB + USB + USB drive adapter or an external drive.

Algorithm of action:

1. Copy photos from your iPhone to USB-storage device (through Mac/PC or Lightning adapter → USB).
2. Connect the USB flash drive to the USB port on your Xiaomi TV.
3. Open the built-in File Manager (Settings → Applications → File Manager).
4. Select the right photos to view.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ No formats supported HEIC (use JPEG or convert in advance).
• ❌ No way to control photos from the remote (only viewing).
• ❌ Some TV models read speeds USB-The scissors are desirous of better.

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If the TV can’t see the flash drive, format it into the FAT32 file system (via Windows or Mac). Xiaomi TV doesn’t support NTFS or exFAT without additional settings.

5. Cloud services: Google Photos, Mi Home and others

If you don't have cables or adapters on hand, you can use cloud services, which is universal and works on any Xiaomi TV model, but requires a stable Internet connection. Let's take two options: Google Photos and the Mi Home app.

Method 1: Google Photos (recommended)

1. Upload photos from your iPhone to Google Photos (the app automatically syncs the media library).
2. On Xiaomi TV, open the Google Photos app (install from Google Play if it isn’t).
3. Sign in with the same Google account as you do on your iPhone.
4. Find the right album or photo and open it.

Method 2: Mi Home (Xiaomi Ecosystem Only)

If you have a Mi Account and your TV is linked to it:

1. Install the Mi Home app on your iPhone.
2. In the Devices section, select your TV.
3. Click Send File and select photos.
4. Confirm the transfer – the files will appear in the TV File Manager.

⚠️ Note: When using Mi Home, photos can be saved in a compressed form. To transfer the originals, it is better to use Google Photos or a wired connection.

6 Problem Solving: What to Do When Nothing Works

Even with the right connection, errors can occur, and let's look at typical scenarios and how to fix them:

Problem. 1: Xiaomi TV is not displayed in the list of devices for AirPlay/Miracast.

• 🔌 Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not the guest network!).
• 🔄 Restart router – sometimes problems are related to blocking multicast traffic.
• 📱 On iPhone, turn on modem modem mode for 10 seconds, then turn off (resets network settings).

Problem 2: There is no image when connected via HDMI, but there is sound.

• 🔧 Check your iPhone permission settings: go to Settings → Screen and brightness → Screen resolution and select Standard.
• 🔄 Try another cable. HDMI (The current one may not support the required permission).
• 📺 On the TV set the mode manually. PC port-to-port HDMI.

Problem 3: Google Photos are shown in low quality.

• 📸 Check the sync settings in the Google Photos app on iPhone: Settings → Backup → Quality of loading → Choose the original quality.
• 🔍 Make sure the latest version of Google Photos is installed on your TV.
• 📥 Try uploading photos to TV via your browser (photos.google.com).

Comparison of all methods: which one to choose?

To determine the optimal method, we evaluate each according to the key criteria:

Selection recommendations:

• 🥇 For maximum quality: HDMI (If you don’t mind spending money on an adapter).
• 🏆 For convenience: AirPlay (if TV supports) or Google Photos.
• 💰 Budget option: Miracast via ApowerMirror (free version with restrictions).
• 🕰️ For old TVs: USB cloud-based.

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If you need to show photos once (for example, guests), use cloud services. If you plan to regularly display content from your iPhone to Xiaomi TV, buy an HDMI adapter or configure AirPlay (for new models).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions