Introduction: Why transfer photos to the big screen
Viewing photos on a small screen is not a convenient solution, especially when you want to share memories with family or friends. Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV series, Redmi Smart TV, Xiaomi TV A and others) support several ways of wireless and wired image transfer, from standard Miracast to proprietary technologies like Mi Share. But not all methods are equally convenient: somewhere you need stable Wi-Fi, and somewhere special adapters.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to display images from your phone to your Xiaomi TV in 2026, including bypassing typical errors (for example, when the TV does not see the device or the image is slowing down).
1. Wireless transmission via Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop)
Xiaomi’s proprietary file sharing solution for ecosystem devices works on all Xiaomi TVs with MIUI TV (including Mi TV 4S, Mi TV Q1 and later) and smartphones with MIUI 12+ (including Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13, etc.), the main advantage is that it does not require connection to one Wi-Fi network, like DLNA.
How it works:
- 📱 On your phone: Open the Mi Share app (or Quick Transfer in newer versions) MIUI) → Choose the photos → press Send.
- 📺 On TV: Go to Settings → Connection and sharing → Mi Share → Enable visibility for other devices.
- 🔗 The phone will automatically find the TV – confirm the connection on both devices.
The transmission speed depends on the protocol version:
Mi Share 1.0 (older models): up to 5 MB/s.
Mi Share 2.0 (from 2022): Up to 20 MB/s when using Wi-Fi Direct
⚠️ Note: If the TV is not displayed in the list of devices, check if Visibility is enabled in the Mi Share settings on TV.
Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your phone
Update Mi Share to the latest version
Restart the TV if the device cannot see
Check that both devices are on the same network (for older versions)
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2.Use of Miracast (Wireless Display)
Miracast is a universal wireless screen standard supported by all Xiaomi TVs on Android TV 9.0+. Unlike Mi Share, it broadcasts the entire screen of a smartphone, not individual files.
Instructions for Android:
- On TV: Settings → Display and Sound → Wireless Display → Turn on Miracast.
- On your phone: open Settings → Connected devices → Screen transfer (on Samsung – Smart View, on Xiaomi – Wireless Display).
- Select the TV from the list. Confirm the connection on the TV.
The iPhone will require additional software, as Apple does not directly support Miracast. Use apps like Screen Mirroring for Xiaomi TV (available on the App Store).
| Parameter | Miracast | Mi Share |
|---|---|---|
| One Wi-Fi network is required | ❌ No. | ⚠️ Depends on the version. |
| Max, permission. | 1080p (on most TVs) | 4K (when transferring files) |
| Delay (lag) | 100-300 ms. | Absent. |
| Support for iPhone | ❌ Apps only. | ✅ Yes (via Mi Share) |
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with Amlogic chipset S905 (Like Mi. TV 4A) Miracast can work with artifacts at resolution above 720p. In this case, force the lower resolution in the screen transfer settings on the phone.
Miracast (screen transfer)
Mi Share (file transfer)
HDMI/USB cable
DLNA or Google Cast
Another option
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3. Connection via USB cable (MTP/PTP)
If wireless methods fail, the most reliable way is to physically connect via cable. Xiaomi TVs support two protocols:
- 🔌 MTP (Media Transfer Protocol – to access your phone files as a flash drive.
- 📸 PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol – Optimized for photos (used by default on iPhone).
Step-by-step:
- Connect the phone to the port USB-A or USB-C on the TV (use it) OTG-Adapter if the connectors do not match).
- On your phone, select File Transfer (Android) or Trust this computer (iPhone).
- On the TV, open the Files or Gallery app → select the connected device.
Limitations of the method:
The iPhone will require the original Lightning-USB cable (cheap analogues may not work).
Transfer speed is limited to the USB version: on Xiaomi Mi TV Q2 (USB 3.0) - up to 50 MB / s, on Redmi Smart TV X (USB 2.0) - up to 5 MB / s.
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If the TV doesn’t see the phone through USB, Try another cable or port. Some Xiaomi models only have a rear-facing USB-port (front can be turned off in the firmware).
4. Transfer via Google Cast (Chromecast)
Xiaomi TVs on Google TV (such as Xiaomi TV A Pro or Mi TV Q2 2023) have built-in support for Google Cast, which allows you to stream photos from apps like Google Photos or Gallery without cables.
How to set up:
- Make sure your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the Google Photos app on your phone, select an image → click Translate (Wi-Fi screen icon).
- Choose your Xiaomi TV from the list.
Advantages of the method:
No permission restrictions (original quality broadcast).
- It works with iPhone and Android.
You can create slideshows directly from your phone.
Disadvantages:
Depends on the stability of Wi-Fi (with a weak signal, braking is possible).
Not all gallery apps support Cast (e.g., the standard Xiaomi Gallery may not have this feature).
What apps support Google Cast?
5. Alternative methods: DLNA and cloud services
If none of the above methods are suitable, consider:
🌐 DLNA (via)
Protocol DLNA It allows you to stream media over a local network. On a Xiaomi TV, turn it on. DLNA-server settings → Network and access → DLNA. On your phone, use apps like BubbleUPnP (Android) or nPlayer (iPhone) to transfer photos.
☁️ Cloud services
Upload photos to Google Drive, Mi Cloud or Yandex Drive, then open the corresponding app on your TV, minus the dependence on Internet speed and storage limits.
🔗 Direct connection to HDMI (presentation)
If you want to show high quality photos without compression, use HDMI-adapter (e.g, USB-C to HDMI Xiaomi TVs automatically detect the source of the signal, suitable for professional tasks (for example, displaying a portfolio).
| Method | Speed. | Quality. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Share | ⚡⚡⚡⚡ | 📸📸📸📸 (lossless) | ⭐⭐ |
| Miracast | ⚡⚡ | 📸📸 (compression) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| USB (MTP) | ⚡⚡⚡ | 📸📸📸📸 | ⭐ |
| Google Cast | ⚡⚡⚡ | 📸📸📸 (depends on Wi-Fi) | ⭐⭐ |
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For maximum quality without lags, choose USB or Mi Share. For convenience (for example, showing a slideshow to guests) - Google Cast or Miracast.
6. Solving typical problems
Even with the right settings, you can get errors.
🔴 The TV can't see the phone.
- 📶 Check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network (for the same purpose) Miracast/Google Cast).
- 🔄 Restart your router – sometimes DHCP-The server is giving out incorrect IP-address.
- 🛠️ On the TV, reset network settings: Settings → Network and Internet → Resetting the network.
🐢 Slow transmission or lag
- 📡 If you use 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, switch to 5GHz (less interference).
- 🔌 For Miracast, reduce the screen resolution on your phone to 720p.
- 🚫 Close the background apps on your phone (especially instant messengers and streaming services).
❌ Error "No format is supported"
Xiaomi TVs don’t play files in HEIC format (standard for iPhone) and convert them to JPEG through apps like HEIC to JPG Converter.
⚠️ Note: On PatchWall firmware TVs (e.g. Mi) TV 4X For India, there may be no support for Google Cast, in which case use Mi Share or USB.