Modern multimedia systems make it easy to stream content from a mobile device to a big screen, turning a regular movie viewing into a full-fledged theater. If you're wondering how to send video from your phone to a Xiaomi TV, you're in luck: the MIUI ecosystem and the Android TV platform offer many built-in tools for this. You don't need to be a technician to establish wireless communication between gadgets in seconds.
The biggest challenge is often not the lack of features, but the variety of connectivity methods that can confuse the inexperienced user. Some are ideal for streaming from online cinemas, others are better for viewing personal archives from a gallery. Understanding the differences between Miracast, DLNA and Chromecast technologies will help you choose the best option for your situation.
In this article, we will take a look at every method available, from simple wireless solutions to reliable wired connections, how to avoid sound and image dissynchronization, and how to ensure maximum picture quality. Get ready to turn your Xiaomi TV into an entertainment center.
Preparation of devices for wireless broadcasting
Before you start transferring data, you need to make sure that both devices are in the same network environment. This is a fundamental requirement for most wireless protocols to work. Check whether your smartphone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you have a dual-band router, make sure that both devices are running on the same frequency, although modern routers often combine ranges automatically.
Also make sure that both devices are up to date. Manufacturers regularly release updates that improve connection stability and add support for new codecs. On your TV, go to Settings menu → About TV → System Update to check for new firmware versions.
⚠️ Note: Using a guest Wi-Fi network or customer isolation on a router can block devices from being discovered by each other. Make sure the router settings allow local data transfer between connected gadgets.
Remember to charge your smartphone battery. Broadcasting video, especially in high resolution, consumes a lot of battery power. If you plan to watch long, it is better to connect the phone to the charger or power bank, so that the session does not stop at the most inopportune moment.
Use the built-in Mi Cast (Miracast) function
The fastest way to duplicate a screen or stream a video is to use native Mi Cast technology, which is based on the Miracast standard, which allows you to stream an image from a smartphone to a Xiaomi TV without having to install additional applications. It works at the operating system level, which ensures minimal delays when displaying a picture.
To get started, open the control panel on your Xiaomi smartphone (top-down swipe) and look for the Translation or Mi Cast icon. If the icon isn't available quickly, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Broadcast. Turn on the feature and wait for the phone to find your TV on the list of available devices.
☑️ Checking before launching the Mi Cast
Once you select the TV, you'll see a request for confirmation of connection on your smartphone screen, you'll see a notification on your TV screen that you'll need to confirm the remote connection, and from that point on, the image from your phone will be fully displayed on the big screen, which is convenient for displaying presentations, photo albums or videos from apps that don't support direct streaming.
However, it is worth considering that when using Miracast, the phone can be locked, and the image on the TV will go out or show the lock screen. Some models allow you to turn off the smartphone screen, leaving the broadcast active, but this depends on the specific version of MIUI.
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To reduce latency when playing or watching dynamic video through Mi Cast, try switching your router to 5GHz mode if your devices support this standard.
Streaming through Google Chromecast built-in
Most modern Xiaomi TVs run on Android TV, which includes built-in support for Google Cast technology. This is a more advanced protocol than simple screen duplication, as it allows you to transmit a link to the TV content, rather than a video stream in real time. The TV itself downloads video from the Internet, which saves the phone charge and reduces the load on the Wi-Fi channel.
To use this method, open the app you want to send a video from (like YouTube, Netflix, or VLC). Find a stream icon that looks like a rectangle with waves in the corner. Click on it and select your Xiaomi TV from the list. The video will run on the TV, and the phone can be used as a remote control or for other tasks.
Importantly, Chromecast requires a stable Internet connection on the TV itself, and if the router distributes the Internet but the TV does not have access to the WAN (for example, due to DNS settings), the broadcast may not start, in which case it helps to prescribe public DNS addresses, such as 8.8.8.8, in the network settings of the TV.
The advantage of this method is that you can control playback from your phone, you can pause, rewind or adjust the volume from another room, and the quality of the picture is often higher, because the TV decodes the stream itself using its powerful processor.
Transfer of video files over DLNA and local area network
If you have a movie or TV series saved on your phone that you downloaded in advance, the best solution is to use the DLNA protocol, which allows you to transfer media over a local network without compression and loss of quality. Unlike Miracast, it does not duplicate the entire screen, but only transfers a specific video file.
To implement this method, you'll need a smartphone player app that supports "Cast" or "DLNA." A great example is VLC for Android or MX Player. Open the video file in the player, click on the image output button, and select your Xiaomi TV. The device automatically recognizes the video format and starts playing.
| Parameter | Miracast (Mi Cast) | Google Cast | DLNA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of transmission | Screen duplication | Reference to flow | File transfer |
| Dependence on the phone | High (screen active) | Low (control panel) | Medium (player control) |
| Quality. | Depends on the Wi-Fi signal. | Up to 4K HDR | Original file |
| Battery consumption | High-pitched | Low. | Medium. |
One of the key features of DLNA is that it supports subtitles. If you're watching a movie from an external hard drive or from your phone's memory, make sure the subtitle file is in the same folder and has the same name. Some players allow you to download subtitles separately through the app interface on your TV.
⚠️ Note: When transferring heavy files (4K, high bitrate DLNA Short-term slowdowns are possible if the Wi-Fi signal is unstable, in such cases it is recommended to bring the router closer to the TV or use a wired connection.
Application of third-party broadcasting applications
Sometimes embedded tools are not enough, especially if you need to stream content from specific applications or browsers. In such cases, third-party solutions such as Web Video Caster or Cast to TV come to the rescue. These programs are able to pull out video stream from the pages of sites and send it directly to the TV, bypassing the limitations of the mobile browser.
The way these apps work is simple: you embed a browser inside the program, go to a site with a video and play it, analyze the page, find a direct link to the video stream, and send a command to the TV, and this is especially useful for watching videos from online cinemas that do not have official Chromecast support.
The Secrets of Web Video Caster
Many of these apps require you to install a companion app (an additional client) on the TV itself through the Google Play Store on Android TV, which provides a more stable connection and advanced functionality, including managing the TV file system directly from the phone.
It's worth remembering that free versions of these programs often contain ads, and for regular use without restrictions, it makes sense to consider buying a premium version, which not only removes ads, but often opens up access to better codecs and buffering settings.
Wired connection via USB-C to HDMI
When wireless is not working or you need the most stability and quality, you get a wired connection. Using a USB-C to HDMI adapter allows you to display images from your phone to your Xiaomi TV in native resolution without compression. This is ideal for gamers or for watching movies in maximum bitrate.
It is important to consider that the USB-C connector on your smartphone should support the MHL or DisplayPort Alt Mode standard. Budget phone models may have a USB 2.0 port that only transmits data and charging, but not a video signal. Check the specifications of your device on the official website before buying an adapter.
To connect, simply insert the adapter into the phone’s charging port, connect the HDMI cable from the adapter to the TV, and switch the TV signal source to the appropriate port (HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc.).The phone will automatically identify the external device and suggest screen use cases: duplicate or extended mode.
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Wired connectivity ensures no delays (input lag) and compression artifacts, which are critical for cloud gaming and browsing. 3D-film.
The advantage of this method is that it can charge your phone at the same time (if the adapter has a PD port to charge) and not load the Wi-Fi network. You can watch heavy 4K video while other family members are actively using the Internet and the picture quality does not suffer one iota.