How to connect your phone to a Xiaomi TV: from Miracast to HDMI cable

Synchronizing your smartphone with your Xiaomi TV opens up new possibilities, from watching photos on the big screen to streaming games with minimal latency. However, many users face problems — the TV does not find the device, the image slows down or the sound disappears. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of connecting (including hidden features of Mi TV), pay attention to the nuances of compatibility and give checklists to eliminate typical errors.

It’s important to understand that the methods differ depending on the TV model (Mi TV 4S, Redmi Smart TV X, Mi TV Q1, etc.) and the firmware version. For example, older TVs on Android TV 8 do not support Wi-Fi Direct for live broadcasts, and new models with Google TV require additional authorization in a Google account, and we tested each method on real devices and identified the only method that works even when there is no router – live streaming through the TV hotspot.

1. Wireless connection via Miracast (Screen Mirroring)

Miracast technology (or Screen Mirroring on Xiaomi menu) allows you to duplicate the screen of a smartphone on a TV without wires, this method is supported by all modern models of Mi TV and Redmi TV, but there are nuances with compatibility with smartphones of other brands.

On TV:

1. Open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Wireless display.
2. Activate the option to Enable the wireless display.
3. Select Miracast mode (on some models it is hidden under the option option).

On a smartphone (by example) Xiaomi/Redmi):

1. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Screen Transfer.
2. Slip the name of your TV in the list of available devices.
3. Confirm the connection on both devices (entry may be required) PIN-code).

• ✅ Pros: No sound delay, Full supported HD and HDR.
• ⚠️ Cons: Does not work with iPhone (required Apple) TV), Possible artifacts with a weak Wi-Fi signal.
• 🔧 Tip: If the TV isn’t on, restart both devices and check they’re connected to the same network.

2. live stream via Wi-Fi Direct (without router)

If you don't have home Wi-Fi or your router is unstable, Wi-Fi Direct is a lifeline, and it creates a direct network between your phone and your TV, but it requires support on both devices, like the Mi TV A2 43 and the newer ones, it's good, and the older ones (Mi TV 3) can't detect your smartphone.

Instructions:

1. On TV: Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi Direct → turn on the function.
2. On the smartphone: Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → Wi-Fi Direct.
3. Select the TV from the list and confirm the connection.
4. Run the broadcast via Screen Transfer (as in the Miracast method).

⚠️ Note: When using Wi-Fi Direct, some apps (such as Netflix or YouTube) may block the broadcast due to the fact that the Internet is not available. DRM-It's only going to help. HDMI-cable.

3. HDMI connection: reliable, but with nuances

The HDMI cable guarantees a stable connection without delay, but not all smartphones support direct image output via the USB-C/HDMI port.

• 📱 Smartphone with DisplayPort Alt Mode support (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi) K50 Ultra).
• 🔌 adapter USB-C → HDMI (original or certified).
• 🖥️ Free port TV HDMI (preferably HDMI 2.0 4K).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the adapter to the smartphone, and HDMI-cable.
2. Select the signal source (HDMI 1/2/3) on the TV.
3. On the smartphone, you may need to turn on the screen transfer mode manually (in the notification curtain).

If the image does not appear:

• Check that the adapter supports 4K@60Hz (cheap models are limited to 1080p).
• Reboot your smartphone with the cable connected.
• In the settings of the TV, disable HDMI-CEC (may conflict with the adapter).

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If the sound is only coming through your phone, check the HDMI settings on your TV: Settings → Sound → HDMI Output → Enable.

4. USB-Connection: for files and charging

Connection through USB It's suitable for watching photos/video from your phone or charging a gadget from your TV. TV supportive MTP-mode (like on PC), so access to files is limited.

How to connect:

1. Use a USB-A → USB-C cable (included in the TV set).
2. Connect your phone to a USB port on your TV (usually located on the side).
3. On the TV screen, select Source → USB.
4. In the TV file manager menu, find DCIM or Downloads folders.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi TVs do not support.mkv or.mov video playback USB. Convert files into.mp4 (H.264) pre-existingly.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔋 You can charge your phone from the TV (power up to the phone) 5V/1And).
• 📁 Quick access to photos and videos without cloud services.
• 🎮 Suitable for connecting gamepads (if TV supports) OTG).

5. Streaming through apps (YouTube, Netflix, Mi Home)

If you don’t need to duplicate the entire screen, but only broadcast the video, use the built-in features of the apps:

• 📺 YouTube: Click on the Broadcast icon in the player and select the TV.
• 🎬 Netflix/Disney+: Requires authorization on the TV (enter the code from the site) netflix.com/activate).
• 🏠 Mi Home: Allows you to control TV from your phone (turn on, adjust volume, run applications).

Steam Link or Moonlight (requires a PC with an NVIDIA graphics card) will be suitable for streaming games, with a delay of ~30-50 ms, which is acceptable for most games.

If the app does not find the TV:

1. Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Update the TV app and firmware.
3. In the settings of the TV, enable Settings → Applications → Unknown Sources (for Moonlight).

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Streaming through apps consumes less of the phone’s battery than Miracast, as video is processed on the TV side.

6.The solution to the problems: why the phone does not connect to Xiaomi TV

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

If nothing helps, reset your network settings on your TV:

Settings → System → Reset → Resetting network settings

After that, reset your Wi-Fi connection and try to sync your devices again.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting your phone to Xiaomi TV