How to switch Xiaomi TV from your phone: all ways to control

Introduction: Why to control a Xiaomi TV from a smartphone

Xiaomi TVs today are not just screens for viewing content, but full-fledged smart devices integrated into the Mi Home ecosystem. Being able to control them from your phone saves time, makes it easier to set up and gives you access to advanced features, such as changing channels, adjusting volume, or even running apps without getting out of the couch.

This is especially true for Mi TV 4S/5 Pro, Redmi Smart TV and other Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth-enabled models, but not everyone knows that the way you control it depends on the TV model, the firmware version, and even the region you sell. In this article, we will discuss all working methods, from the standard Mi Remote app to hidden functions through ADB.

Important: If your TV is released before 2019, some features may not be available. Check compatibility in the TV settings along the Settings path โ†’ About TV โ†’ Model.

Method 1: Mi Remote application - universal remote

Xiaomiโ€™s official Mi Remote app is the easiest way to turn a smartphone into a remote control, which supports not only Mi TVs, but also other brands, but also devices, but requires a connection to a single Wi-Fi network to work properly.

To set up management:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Install Mi Remote from Google Play or App Store.
  • ๐Ÿ” In the main menu of the application, select โ€œTVยป โ†’ ยซXiaomiยป.
  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network (or use Wi-Fi Direct if the TV supports it).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Click โ€œConnectโ€ and follow the instructions on the screen.

If the TV is not detected, check:

  • ๐Ÿ”Œ Is Mi Remote Mode enabled in TV settings (Settings) โ†’ Connection and sharing โ†’ Mi Remote).
  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Does Wi-Fi work on your TV (sometimes rebooting your router helps).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Is the TV firmware updated (relevant for Mi models) TV 4A older).
๐Ÿ“Š What kind of Xiaomi TV is you?
Mi TV 4S/5 Pro
Redmi Smart TV
Mi TV Q1/Q2
Another Xiaomi
Not Xiaomi.

โš ๏ธ Note: Xiaomi TVs sold in China (suffix models) CN), Mi Remote can be blocked without unlocking without changing the region.

Method 2: Mi Home Management for Smart Home

Mi Home not only allows you to switch channels, but also integrate your TV into smart home scenarios, such as setting up automatic TV on when you return home or syncing with Yeelight smart lights.

Instructions for setting:

  1. Open Mi Home and add a new device (โ€œ+โ€ โ†’ โ€œTelevisionโ€).
  2. Choose your Xiaomi TV model from the list.
  3. Confirm the connection on the TV (the pairing code will appear).
  4. After successful addition, the TV will appear in the main menu of the application.

Management capabilities through Mi Home:

FunctionMi RemoteMi Home
Channel switchingโœ…โœ…
Volume controlโœ…โœ…
Launching applications (Netflix, YouTube)โŒโœ…
Voice control (via Alice/Google)โŒโœ…*
Integration in a smart home scenarioโŒโœ…

* Requires additional settings in Settings โ†’ Voice assistants.

Update the TV firmware to the latest version

Make sure your phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network

Turn on Bluetooth on your TV (for some models)

Turn it off. VPN on the phone (can block the connection)-->

Method 3: Wi-Fi Direct โ€“ Direct Connection without a router

If your TV supports Wi-Fi Direct (available on Mi TV 4S 55" and later), you can control it without connecting to a router.

How to turn on Wi-Fi Direct:

  1. On TV: Settings โ†’ Network and Internet โ†’ Wi-Fi Direct โ†’ Enable.
  2. On your phone: Open your Wi-Fi settings and find a network called DIRECT-xx-MiTV (where xx is the last digits). MAC-TV addresses).
  3. Connect to this network. Passwords are usually not required or shown on a TV screen.
  4. Start Mi Remote โ€“ the TV must be automatically determined.

Limitations of Wi-Fi Direct:

  • ๐Ÿ“ต You canโ€™t use Wi-Fi Direct and basic Wi-Fi at the same time (for example, streaming from YouTube).
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Increased battery consumption of the phone due to constant direct connection.
  • ๐Ÿ“ก The range is up to 10 meters (less than conventional Wi-Fi).
What to do if Wi-Fi Direct is not working?
1.Reboot the TV and phone. 2. Make sure that the TV is enabled Visibility for all devices in the Wi-Fi Direct settings. 3. Check if the antivirus on the phone is blocking the connection (for example, Avast or Kaspersky). 4. On some models (Redmi TV A55), Wi-Fi Direct only works after resetting the network settings (Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Reset โ†’ Network Reset).

Method 4: Voice control via Alice or Google Assistant

Xiaomi TVs with support for Google Assistant or Alice from Yandex allow you to control your voice via a smartphone. You do not need additional remotes - just say the command in the assistant app.

Voice setting for Mi TV:

  • ๐ŸŽค For Google Assistant: Open the Google app on your phone. Go to Devicesยป โ†’ ยซAdd the deviceยป โ†’ Choose your TV. Confirm the pairing on the TV screen.

Alice.

  1. Install the Yandex app with Alice.
  2. Say, โ€œAlice, find my devicesโ€ โ†’ select the TV from the list.
  3. Enable permission to control in the TV settings (Settings โ†’ Voice Assistants โ†’ Alice).

Examples of voice commands:

  • ๐Ÿ”Š ยซTurn on the TV on Mi. TVยป
  • ๐Ÿ“บ ยซOpen Netflix on the big screenยป
  • ๐Ÿ”‡ ยซSet the volume to 50%ยป
  • ๐Ÿ” ยซFind the Lord of the Rings movie on YouTubeยป

Examples ADB-command:

Team team.Action.
adb shell input keyevent 22Turn up the volume.
adb shell input keyevent 25Turn down the volume
adb shell input keyevent 19Up (navigation)
adb shell am start -n com.android.tv.settings/.MainSettingsOpen TV settings

1. Connect your TV and PC to the same Wi-Fi network.

2. Find out. IP-TV address in Settings โ†’ Network and Internet โ†’ Network status.

3. Execute the command: adb connect [IP-address]:5555-->

Problem Solving: The TV is not connected to the phone

If none of these methods worked, check the following points:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Reboot devices: Turn off the TV from the socket for 30 seconds, then turn it on again.Reboot the phone.
  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Network problems: Make sure the router is running in mode 802.11n/ac (Old standards may not be supported. Turn off the router function AP Isolation (customer isolation).
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Firewall/antivirus: On your phone, temporarily disable the antivirus (such as 360 Security or Avast) as it can block the connection.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Software Updates: Check the relevance of firmware on TV and apps on your phone. Outdated versions often cause conflict.