Modern Xiaomi TVs are powered by an Android TV or Google TV operating system, which gives them the functionality of a full-fledged multimedia center. One of the key technologies built into this platform is Google Chromecast. This feature allows you to instantly stream images and sound from a smartphone, tablet or laptop to a large screen without the need for additional cables or external consoles.
Many users often confuse the built-in feature with an external device, but in Xiaomi Mi TV and Redmi TV, it is a software module already integrated into the system. Understanding how it works opens up access to a huge amount of entertainment content that can be displayed on the screen with a single touch. In this article, we will discuss how to use this technology correctly, what are the nuances of configuration and how to avoid common connection errors.
Owners of Xiaomi equipment get the advantage of using the Google ecosystem, where the TV becomes the center of digital content management. Chromecast built-in technology is stable and supports high resolution, including 4K and HDR, if your TV model allows. Let's take a closer look at what lies behind this term and how to get the most out of the capabilities of your device.
What is Chromecast technology in Android TV system
At its core, Chromecast is a multimedia content protocol developed by Google. In Xiaomi TVs, this feature is built directly into the software, eliminating the need to buy a separate dongle device that is inserted into the software. HDMI-The TV in this case acts as a receiver, waiting for commands from the sender (sender), which can be a smartphone based on Android or iOS, as well as a computer.
The principle of operation is that your mobile device does not send a video stream directly through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct in full, but only sends a command to the TV where the file is located on the Internet. Xiaomi TV independently downloads content through its Wi-Fi connection, which ensures high picture quality and no delays typical of simple mirror screen transmission, this is especially important when watching movies in high resolution.
⚠️ Attention: For the technology to work properly, it is critical that both the TV and the mobile device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (SSID), Make sure that the devices are connected to the same network name.
It's important to note the difference between Cast and Screen Mirroring: In the first case, the TV itself plays content using the Internet channel, and the phone serves as a remote control; in the second case, the image from the phone screen is simply duplicated on TV, which requires more resources and can lead to a decrease in the quality or desynchronization of sound.
Differences between the built-in Chromecast and the external console
Users often wonder why they need a Chromecast external console when the Xiaomi Mi TV already has this feature. Indeed, for basic tasks, the built-in module is more than enough, but there are technical differences between the software implementation in the TV and the hardware device that affect the experience of use.
The external console has its own processor and RAM, so it does not load the TV system. The built-in Android TV module uses the resources of the TV. On entry-level models with a small amount of RAM (for example, 1 GB), the active use of heavy applications along with broadcasting can lead to slowing down the interface.
However, for owners of modern Xiaomi models with memory capacity from 2 GB and a powerful processor, the difference is almost invisible. The built-in feature supports the same quality standards, including 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Audio surround sound, as the external gadget. The main advantage of the built-in solution is the absence of unnecessary wires and remote controls, which preserves the aesthetic of the interior.
| Characteristics | Built-in Chromecast (Xiaomi TV) | Chromecast External Console | Third-party applications (Miracast) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dependence on TV resources | High (using CPU/RAM TV) | It's missing (its own processor). | Medium/High |
| Image quality | Up to 4K HDR (depending on model) | Up to 4K HDR | Often limited to 1080p |
| Management | Through the app on the phone. | Through the app on the phone. | Through system settings |
| Stability | High on good Wi-Fi | Very high. | Low (depending on drivers) |
Can I use an external Chromecast with Xiaomi TV?
How to set up a broadcast with Android and iOS
The process of setting up the built-in Chromecast on Xiaomi TVs is as simple as possible and does not require any complicated preparation. The first thing to do is to make sure that the Google Cast service is installed and updated on the TV. In most cases, it is included in the basic Android TV firmware and activates automatically when you first turn on.
To start the broadcast, you will need the appropriate application on your smartphone. For Android devices, these can be built-in system functions or applications like YouTube, Netflix, Google Photos. iPhone and iPad users will need to install applications from Google, since native AirPlay support is not available in all Xiaomi models, and Google Cast works through third-party applications.
☑️ Checklist before connection
So let's take a step-by-step approach to connecting successfully. First, run the app that you want to see on the screen. Find the broadcast icon, it looks like a rectangle with waves in the corner. Once you click, the system will suggest a list of available devices. Select your Xiaomi Mi TV from the list. If the device is not found, check the router settings.
⚠️ Attention: On iOS devices (iPhone/iPad) In order to stream to some apps (e.g. YouTube), you need to give permission to access devices on the local network. Without this item in the iOS privacy settings, the TV will not see the phone.
After successful pairing, the boot indicator will appear on the TV screen, and then playback will begin. Your smartphone can be used for other tasks, lock the screen or answer calls at this point - playback on the Xiaomi TV will not be interrupted, since the stream is directly from the network.
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If you use a dual-band router, try temporarily disabling one of the frequencies (e.g. 5GHz) in the router settings if the devices can't see each other. Sometimes client isolation or network separation interferes with the detection protocol.
Screen content (Screen Mirroring)
Sometimes you don't want to bring a specific video from an app to the big screen, but everything that happens on the display of your smartphone, which is called Screen Mirroring, or screen duplication. Unlike the standard Chromecast, which pulls content from the Internet, here the phone encodes the image in real time and sends it to the TV.
On Xiaomi Android TVs, this feature is often implemented via Miracast protocol or Google Home built-in tools. To activate the remote, there is often a separate button that says "Cast" or a broadcast icon. Pressing this button puts the TV in standby mode for mirroring.
On Android smartphones, the path to function may vary depending on the shell manufacturer, usually a notification curtain with a button called Translation, Smart View (Samsung), Wireless Projector (Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco) or Translate. Once you select a Xiaomi Mi TV, the image from the phone will appear on the full screen.
- 📱 For Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco: Open the "Control Center» → press "Translation» → Choose TV.
- 🍏 For iPhone: Use the Screen Replay button at Control Point (requires AirPlay support on TV or emulator app installation).
- 💻 For Windows. 10/11: Press Win. + K → Select your TV from the list of available devices.
Consider that when mirroring the screen of the smartphone does not go out, and the battery is consumed much faster.In addition, there may be delays of the cursor or sound, especially if the Wi-Fi network is overloaded. For viewing static photos or presentations, this is ideal, but for games with fast graphics, it may not be suitable due to input lag.
Solution: TV cannot see the device
The most common problem faced by owners of Xiaomi TV is the lack of a TV in the list of available devices for broadcasting, this can be caused by a software failure, router settings or outdated software. The first thing to check is whether the router is enabled the function “AP Isolation” (isolation of access points), which prevents devices within the same network from communicating with each other.
Also, make sure that the TV has all the latest updates. Google periodically updates Chromecast built-in components, and older versions may conflict with new versions of apps on smartphones.
Settings → About TV → System Update → CheckIf the software methods don't work, try resetting your network settings. This won't delete your applications, but will clear the cache of network connections, which often solves problems with device visibility on the LAN. Also, a complete router reboot is an effective method, since it freezes. DHCP-The server may prevent the correct distribution. IP-address.
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90% of connection problems are solved by restarting the router and checking that the phone and TV are on the same subnet (the same name for the Wi-Fi network).
Using Chrome to broadcast from a computer
Chromecast isn’t limited to mobile devices: Google Chrome on your computer (Windows, macOS, Linux) has the built-in ability to stream tabs or the entire desktop to a Xiaomi TV, which turns the TV into a second monitor or allows you to show content from the Internet that doesn’t have a separate application.
To get started, open the Chrome browser, click on the three dots in the upper right corner, and select “Cast.” From the menu that opens, you can select the source: browser tab, entire screen, or specific file. Once you select the source, the system will find available devices, including your Xiaomi Mi TV.
This method is especially useful for viewing videos from sites that do not have official TV apps, or for showing PDF documents directly from the desktop, and the quality of the transfer in this case depends on the power of your computer and the speed of the Wi-Fi connection, since the video stream is encoded by the PC processor in real time.
⚠️ Note: When broadcasting the entire browser tab, sound can be transmitted with a delay. For video, it is better to use built-in site players that support Cast, or broadcast the entire screen, rather than a separate tab, to synchronize the audio-video series.