What to Connect to Xiaomi Mi TV 4S

Modern smart TVs have long since ceased to be just devices for receiving an over-the-air signal, becoming powerful multimedia centers, and the Xiaomi Mi TV 4S model is no exception to this rule. Owners often wonder about expanding the functionality, wanting to display an image from a laptop, connect a wired keyboard for easy text input or play high-quality video files from an external drive. Understanding the capabilities of the interface panel is the first step to fully unlocking the potential of your screen.

Xiaomi engineers have equipped this model with a set of connectors that allows you to integrate the TV into any home ecosystem. You can use it as a gaming monitor, a smart home control center or even a music center if you choose the right peripherals. Next, we will discuss in detail what devices are compatible with ports, what cables are necessary and how to avoid common errors in switching equipment.

Analysis of ports and interfaces of the back panel

First, you need to look carefully at the back and side of the device, where the main entry points are located. The Mi TV 4S model usually features two HDMI ports, which are the de facto standard for high-resolution digital video and sound, and through these, game consoles, satellite receivers, and computers and laptops for large screen operation are connected.

Special attention should be paid to the port labeled ARC (Audio Return Channel), which is often confused with conventional HDMI, but its functionality is much wider in the context of audio systems. Through this connector you can connect a soundbar or home theater and control the volume of external speakers directly from the TV remote, eliminating the need to use two different remote controls.

There are also USB ports on the case, which serve as a gateway for connecting drives and peripheral input devices, and it is important to distinguish between their versions: usually one port is blue inside (USB 3.0) and the other is black (USB 2.0), and this depends on the speed of data transfer and the ability to power energy-intensive external hard drives without an additional adapter.

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Use the USB 3.0 (blue) port to connect external hard drives with movies in 4K, as it provides the necessary bandwidth to stream heavy files without delay.

Do not forget about the presence of optical output S/PDIF, which is designed to transmit digital sound to old, but high-quality audio systems that do not support HDMI ARC. This makes the TV universal node in the home theater system, compatible with both modern and legacy equipment.

Connecting peripherals: keyboards, mice and gamepads

One of the most popular features of smart TVs is the ability to control cursor and text input, which is especially important when surfing in a browser or searching for content on YouTube. TV 4S You can easily connect a standard computer mouse and keyboard using free USB-Port that turns the Android interface TV c like a desktop operating system.

There are wide horizons for gamers, as the system supports the connection of gamepads from Xbox and PlayStation consoles, as well as universal Bluetooth controllers, which allows you to run emulators or stream games from a PC using the TV as a monitor, while the latency of input (input lag) in game mode remains at an acceptable level for comfortable play.

When choosing a keyboard, it is worth considering that wireless sets with one USB-The wired variants are also determined by the system instantly, the driver installations are more stable and occupy fewer ports than the individual devices. TV It has built-in support for standard HID-protocol.

There are also specialized airmaus remotes that combine the functions of a remote control, a gyroscopic pointer and a mini keyboard, such devices are connected either through an IR port (emulating the original remote) or through an IR port (emulating the original remote). Bluetooth/USB, Providing maximum navigation comfort on the menu.

Use of external storage and multimedia

The TV’s built-in memory is often not enough to store a large amount of video files, so connecting external hard drives (HDDs) or solid state drives (SSDs) is standard practice. Xiaomi Mi TV 4S supports FAT32 and NTFS file systems, allowing you to read disks up to 2TB or more if they are formatted in a compatible format.

To play high-quality video, including 4K HDR, it is recommended to use the USB 3.0 port, since its bandwidth is higher. The built-in media player is capable of most popular codecs, but for specific formats, you may need to install a third-party application, such as VLC for Android or MX Player.

It is important to note that some energy-intensive hard drives may not get enough power from one. USB-In such cases, the port must be used. HDD with its own power source or active USB-a hub that will ensure stable operation of the drive without the risk of damage to the TV port.

Broadcasting images from PC and laptop

Turning your TV into a second monitor is one of the most useful functions for work and entertainment, and the easiest and most reliable way is to use an HDMI cable that transmits video and sound simultaneously, so you just need to connect your laptop output to your TV input and select the appropriate signal source in the Logins menu.

For wireless connection, you use Miracast technology or the built-in Chromecast function. In Windows 10/11, this is done through the “Project” menu, where in the list of available devices you should select your Xiaomi Mi TV 4S. The quality of the picture when wirelessly connected depends on the speed of the Wi-Fi router and the distance to it.

If you plan to use your TV as a PC monitor, be sure to turn on the Game or PC mode in your TV settings to reduce latency and adjust the color gamut for clarity, which is especially important when working with documents or dynamic games, where every millisecond matters.

Note that when connecting to HDMI, the default sound may remain on your computer. To fix this, you need to select the output device "Xiaomi Mi TV 4S" or "NVIDIA High Definition Audio" in the Windows audio settings, depending on your graphics card.

Audio systems and output

While the Xiaomi Mi TV 4S’s built-in speakers provide decent audio quality for everyday viewing, audiophiles may want to connect external acoustics. As mentioned earlier, the HDMI port (ARC) is the preferred option, as it allows you to transmit multi-channel audio without loss of quality and control the system with a single remote.

To connect older stereo systems or active speakers, you can use a 3.5 mm Mini Jack (AV output) connector, which is often combined with a component video output via an adapter. The TV menu will need to switch the audio output mode from HDMI to AUX or optical output if a digital receiver is used.

⚠️ Warning: When you connect a powerful speaker system, make sure the output level in the TV settings is not set to maximum immediately to avoid overload and wheezing speakers.

It can also wirelessly transmit audio via Bluetooth to headphones or portable speakers, which is convenient for night movies when you need to keep quiet in the house, and the delay in the sound when you connect to Bluetooth can be noticeable, so you sometimes need a software correction in the player to synchronize your lips in movies.

Smart Home and Internet of Things (IoT)

Xiaomi’s ecosystem allows you to use the TV not only as a screen, but also as a smart home control panel. Through the built-in Mi Home app or voice assistant, you can control light bulbs, robot vacuum cleaners and surveillance cameras, displaying images from them directly to the large screen.

To expand the functionality can be connected USB-The camera is still in the standard UVC (Universal Video Class, although this feature is not implemented in all firmware versions and requires checking the compatibility of a particular model of the webcam, this opens up the possibility of video calls through installed applications like Zoom or Skype.

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Xiaomi TV can act as a central hub for displaying notifications from smart devices, such as calls to the video intercom or messages from the refrigerator, if they are combined into a single ecosystem Mi Home.

Voice control via remote control or a connected headset allows you to give commands to the system without looking for the remote. You can ask the weather, start a timer in the kitchen or switch the track using only voice, which makes interaction with the technique more natural.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

⚠️ Note: When connecting unknown USB-Be careful, though, the risk of getting viruses on Android. TV It's still there, but it's still there. Don't plug in drives from unverified sources without first checking on your computer.