Modern Xiaomi Mi TVs and Redmi TVs are full-fledged multimedia centers that allow you to bring content directly from the Internet to the big screen. Users often face the need to stream YouTube videos, movies from online cinemas or photos from the gallery of a smartphone. There are several proven ways to do this, each of which has its own characteristics.
The choice of method depends on your phone’s operating system and the type of content you plan to watch. Wireless data technologies avoid wire confusion by ensuring high image quality. In this article, we will detail the algorithms for actions for different use cases.
Before you start setting up, make sure that both your smartphone and your TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This is a basic requirement for most broadcast protocols, such as Miracast or DLNA. Without this condition, it will be impossible to detect devices on the local network.
Using the built-in Cast feature in Android
The fastest way to send an image or video is to use the system’s “Cast” feature, which is built into the MIUI for TV shell and is available on most Android smartphones. You do not need to install additional software if your phone is running Android 6.0 or later.
To start, unlock your smartphone screen and lower the notification curtain. Find an icon called Translation, Smart View, or Projection. Once activated, the phone will start searching for available displays within network range.
- 📱 Open the notification curtain and click on the broadcast icon.
- 📡 Wait for the name of your Xiaomi to appear TV device-list.
- 📺 Click on the TV name to start mirroring the screen.
Once connected, the screen of the smartphone is completely copied to the TV, which is convenient for displaying presentations, photo albums or games, but it should be noted that with this method, the screen resolution of the phone can be adapted to the TV format, which sometimes leads to black stripes on the sides.
⚠️ Note: When using the Translation function, the screen of the smartphone must remain on. If the device locks or goes into sleep mode, the signal transmission will be interrupted.
Broadcasting through the YouTube app
The most popular TV scenario is watching videos. YouTube's Android and iOS app has a built-in Chromecast feature that is more stable and better than just mirroring the screen, in which case the phone acts as a remote control, and the video is downloaded by the TV directly from the Internet.
To start the broadcast, open the YouTube app on your smartphone and select the video you're interested in. In the upper or lower corner of the interface, you'll see the wave rectangle icon, which is the standard broadcast symbol. Click on it and the system will suggest you choose the device.
It's important that you install and run the YouTube app on your TV, and if the app is closed, the signal may not pass, and once you select the device, the video will play on the big screen, and you can freely switch between other apps on your phone or even turn off its screen.
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If the TV is not visible in the YouTube app, try restarting the router. DHCP-server incorrectly distributes addresses to devices on the local network.
Multimedia transmission via Mi Remote and Mi TV
Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers its own content management tools. The official Mi Remote app (or “Mi Remote”) not only allows you to control volume and channels, but also transfer files, especially for owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones.
The app’s functionality allows you to open local video files, music and photos directly from the phone’s memory on the TV, and synchronization takes place over a local network, which ensures high data transfer speeds without loss of quality.
| Function | Description | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Remote | File management and transfer | Android / iOS, IR port (optional) |
| Google Home | Chromecast Management | Android/IOS, Google account |
| Web Video Caster | Broadcasting links from the browser | Installation of the application on TV and phone |
Using native apps often offers the benefit of less signal latency, and Mi Home allows you to create scenarios where running certain content on TV can be part of the smart home automation.
Sending links via browser and DLNA
If you find an interesting link to the video in your smartphone browser, but there is no built-in “Translate” button on the site, DLNA technologies come to the rescue. The Digital Living Network Alliance protocol allows you to transfer media files between devices on the same network without the need to download them first.
To implement this method, you need to install a DLNA-enabled player app on your TV, such as VLC for Android or a built-in Media Player. The smartphone will also require a controller app or a caste-enabled browser.
The algorithm is as follows: copy the link to the video file (direct link to.mp4 or.mkv), open the player on the TV, select the source “Network” or “DLNA”, and find in the list your smartphone or server running on it.
Why don’t all links work through DLNA?
Third-party broadcast applications
Staff funds are sometimes not enough, especially if you need to send a specific format link or stream content from applications that block screen recording, in which case universal solutions from third-party developers are used.
One of the most popular tools is the Web Video Caster app, which is available for both Android and iOS, and the way it works is that you open a website with a video inside of that app, it pulls out a video stream and sends it to your TV.
- 📥 Install the Web Video Caster app on your smartphone and TV.
- 🔗 Enter the site address or open a link within the application.
- 📺 Choose your Xiaomi TV list of available devices.
The advantage of these programs is that they are omnivorous: they can bypass some of the limitations of sites and support subtitles formats. However, free versions often contain advertising, and to work may require a stable Internet connection with high bandwidth.
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party APK-Make sure to check the source of the download. only use trusted app stores such as the Google Play Store to avoid malware infection.
☑️ Pre-broadcast checks
Connection problems and their solution
Despite the simplicity of the technology, users can face difficulties, most often the problem lies in the network settings, if the TV and phone are on different subnets (for example, one is a guest and the other is a main one), they will not “see” each other.
It’s also worth checking the power saving settings. Some Xiaomi models can aggressively save energy and turn off the Wi-Fi module or background processes needed to receive the signal.
Another common cause is outdated firmware. Manufacturers regularly release updates that fix Miracast and AirPlay protocol bugs. Check the software version's relevance in Settings → About TV → System Update.
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Connection stability is directly dependent on router quality: dual-band routers (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) provide better transmission of heavy video content without buffering.