Xiaomi’s Android TV-based smart TVs offer users many ways to wirelessly connect multimedia content. One of the most popular features is the ability to stream images and sound from a smartphone or tablet directly to the big screen without using additional routers or HDMI cables. This is the task that Wi-Fi Direct technology, which in the Xiaomi ecosystem is most often implemented through Miracast protocols and the built-in Cast function, solves.
Many users have difficulty finding a separate switch in the menu, as manufacturers often hide this option inside the display system settings or hide it under the name "Wireless Monitor." In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate the signal reception mode, what nuances exist in different versions of MIUI for TV firmware, and how to ensure a stable connection between your mobile device and your TV.
It's important to understand that Wi-Fi Direct creates a direct connection between devices, bypassing the home network, which ensures minimal latency when transmitting video streams. However, in order for detection and authorization algorithms to work properly, visibility and security settings must be adjusted correctly. We'll look not only at standard on-boarding methods, but also at ways to solve typical connection errors that can occur during operation.
What is Wi-Fi Direct and how does it work on Xiaomi TV?
Wi-Fi Direct allows devices to connect directly to each other without the need for an access point or router. In the context of Xiaomi Mi TV and Redmi TV, this feature is most often used to implement the Miracast standard, which allows you to duplicate a smartphone screen or output video files. When you activate this mode, the TV creates its own virtual network that your mobile device can connect to.
The main advantage of this approach is that it has a speed of data transfer and no dependence on the signal quality of the main home router. If your Wi-Fi router is overloaded or far from the TV, using a direct connection via Wi-Fi Direct can provide smoother video playback in high resolution.
⚠️ Note: When you activate the direct connection mode, the TV may temporarily lose access to the Internet if it does not support dual-band or if the mobile device forcibly switches all traffic to a direct connection.
It’s worth noting that Google’s Android TV interface, which is installed on most modern Xiaomi models, is often integrated into the Chromecast built-in system, or called “Translation.” This doesn’t cancel the Wi-Fi Direct protocol at the hardware level, but changes the way you interact with the user. Instead of manually searching for networks, you’re asked to simply select the device from the list of available smartphones on the menu.
Preparation of equipment and preliminary settings
Before you start setting up your wireless connection, make sure your hardware is ready to go. First, check the software version of your Xiaomi TV. Outdated firmware may contain bugs in the wireless module that prevent the device discovery service from running correctly. Go to the settings menu and find the About TV section to check for updates.
It is also important to consider the distance between devices. Although Wi-Fi Direct technology theoretically works at a distance of up to 100 meters in open areas, in an apartment, walls and appliances can significantly weaken the signal. For initial setting and pairing, it is recommended to be at a distance of no more than 3-5 meters from the TV. Make sure that the smartphone is enabled Wi-Fi module and geolocation, since in Android this requirement is necessary to find neighboring devices.
- 📱 Make sure that the current version of the operating system is installed on the smartphone or tablet.
- 📺 Check that the Xiaomi TV is connected to the power grid and is on standby or on.
- 📡 Turn it off for setup time VPN-Services on a mobile device can block local detection.
- 🔋 Charge your mobile device to at least 20% as the video transfer process consumes battery power quickly.
If you plan to use the feature frequently, it makes sense to fasten the broadcast app to the fast access. Some Redmi TV models require manual permission to access the local network when the app is first launched. Android TV security system may request confirmation that you need to accept to continue working.
☑️ Checking before connection
Step-by-step: how to turn on Wi-Fi Direct on your TV
The wireless display feature on Xiaomi TVs may vary depending on the shell version. On most models with pure Android TV, there is no separate "Wi-Fi Direct" button, since the service is running in the background. You need to activate the connection standby mode. To do this, go to the main menu and select the Wireless or Cast app.
If there is no built-in app, it can be found through a search on the Google Play store or in system settings. On some MIUI TV firmware, the path may look different. Try Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi Direct. If there is no such item, look for the Screen and Sound or Connected Devices section.
Path to settings (option 1):
Settings → Device and settings → Network → Wi-Fi Direct
Path to settings (option 2):
Main screen → Applications → Wireless broadcastWhen the app is launched, the TV will display a message, Ready to Connect, or similar status with the device name, at which point the TV will start broadcasting the detection signal. Now, on your smartphone, open the Quick Settings menu and select Translation, Smart View (for Samsung), or Projection. Your Xiaomi TV should appear on the list of available devices.
The first time you connect to your TV, you may see a request for confirmation of access, use the remote to select "Allow" or "Accept" to protect yourself from unauthorized access to your screen by unauthorized persons.
⚠️ Note: Do not try to connect more at the same time 3-4 Wi-Fi Direct devices, as channel bandwidth may be limited, resulting in sound and image dissynchronization.
Broadcasting the smartphone screen on the Xiaomi TV
Once the devices are paired successfully, the mirroring process begins, and the image from your smartphone screen is completely copied to a Xiaomi TV, allowing you to show photos, presentations or mobile game interfaces on a large screen, and the quality of the picture depends on the resolution of the phone screen and the power of the TV processor.
You can use both a smartphone touch screen and a TV remote to control playback, but it should be noted that when you use your phone actively (such as incoming calls or notifications), these actions will also be displayed on the TV. For comfortable video watching, it is better to turn on Do Not Disturb mode on your mobile device.
Why do you keep video on the air?
There is also the ability to stream content from specific apps like YouTube or Netflix without mirroring the entire screen, in which case the phone acts as a remote control, and the video is downloaded by the TV directly from the Internet, saving battery power and reducing the load on the smartphone processor.
- 🎮 Games: Perfect for showcasing gameplay, but you may feel input delays (input lag).
- 📷 Photo album: convenient to view the photos taken on a large screen in high resolution.
- 🎵 Music: You can use the TV as a wireless speaker by turning off the screen of your smartphone.
This restriction is due to the license policy of the copyright holders and is not a malfunction of the Xiaomi TV.
Configure resolution and display parameters
To achieve the best image quality, it is important to properly configure the image output settings. By default, the Xiaomi TV can automatically determine the source resolution, but sometimes manual adjustments are required. Go to the display settings and make sure that the native resolution of your TV matrix is selected, for example, 1920x1080 or 3840x2160.
Update frequency is also important. For dynamic content such as games or sports, it is recommended to set a 60Hz frequency. If you notice frame breaks or jiggles, try lowering the broadcast quality in the application settings on your smartphone or switching the frequency in the TV settings to 50Hz.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on quality |
|---|---|---|
| Permission | Native (1080p/4K) | Clearness of picture |
| Frequency | 60 Hz | Smoothness of movement |
| Screen format | By screen size. | Absence of black fields |
| Color rendering | RGB Complete. | Flower saturation |
Some Xiaomi TV models have a "Game Mode" that minimizes post-processing to reduce latency, and activating this mode is especially useful when using Wi-Fi Direct for games from your phone, and can be found in image settings or in the quick settings menu.
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To reduce the latency of audio when watching video via Wi-Fi Direct, turn on the "Game Mode" mode in the image settings of the Xiaomi TV.
Solution: TV cannot see the device
One of the most common problems is when a smartphone doesn't find a TV on the list of available devices, most often because the devices are on different subnets or one of the Wi-Fi modules is in an incompatible range, and make sure that both devices support 802.11ac or later.
If the problem persists, try restarting both devices. Turn off the TV for 10-15 seconds to completely reset the Wi-Fi module. On your smartphone, perform the "Forget Network" action for your home Wi-Fi network, and then reconnect. Sometimes it helps to temporarily shut down the mobile Internet (4G/5G) on your smartphone.
⚠️ Warning: Antivirus programs and firewalls on smartphones can block ports used to detect devices on the local network.
In rare cases, you need to reset your Xiaomi TV network settings, which can be done through the recovery menu or by deleting your network profile in the settings, and after reset, you will need to re-enter your Wi-Fi router password, but this often solves problems with network services hanging.
- 🔄 Restart your router even if other devices are working normally.
- 📱 Update the Google Home app or built-in streaming app on your smartphone.
- 📡 Check if the router is enabled mode "Customer isolation" AP", which prevents devices from seeing each other.
If neither method helped, there may be a problem with hardware compatibility of Wi-Fi Direct versions, which can be used by third-party adapter apps that are installed on both TV and phone, creating your own channel of communication.
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Resetting network settings and rebooting the router solve 80% of the problems with the visibility of devices on the network.