Today’s users often face the need to stream content from their smartphones to the big screen, and the owners of the Apple ecosystem and Xiaomi technology are no exception; screen broadcasting allows them to view photos, videos and presentations in high quality using the diagonal of the TV, especially for family viewings or demonstrations of work materials.
Connecting devices from different manufacturers can seem complicated because of the differences in operating systems. iOS uses AirPlay protocol, while Xiaomi TVs run Android TV or PatchWall. However, engineers have provided several effective bridges for integration. You do not need complex technical knowledge to establish communication.
In this article, we'll take a look at all the synchronization techniques available, look at both built-in features and third-party solutions, learn about the nuances of wired connectivity and wireless technology, follow the instructions to enjoy content without delays and artifacts.
Preparation of equipment and network
Before you start setting up, make sure both devices are ready to go.The basic requirement for wireless data is to have a single Wi-Fi network. If your router is sending out a signal at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, make sure that both the smartphone and the TV are connected to one of them, although modern routers often combine them into one network.
Check the software's relevance. On a Xiaomi TV, go to the settings menu and find the About Device section. Here's the system version information. A firmware update often fixes errors in media protocols.
- 📱 Make sure that the iPhone is enabled Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module.
- 📺 Check that Xiaomi TV is connected to the same network as your smartphone.
- 🔄 Update the Home or Mi Remote app to the latest version.
- 🔋 Charge devices to at least 20% so they don’t turn off in the process.
⚠️ Note: If your router is set up to isolate customers (AP Isolation, devices won't see each other even on the same network.
Connection stability is directly dependent on signal quality. If the router is far away, the transmission speed may not be sufficient for 4K video. In this case, the image will slow down, it is recommended to have the router in line of sight or use repeaters.
Use of the built-in AirPlay feature on Xiaomi TV
Many modern Xiaomi TVs running Android TV 9.0 and higher have built-in support for AirPlay 2. This is the most native way for iPhone owners to install additional software on the TV. The feature is often built into Google system services or activated through display settings.
To activate, open your TV settings and find Apple AirPlay and HomeKit. Turn on this switch. Then the TV will be searchable in the iPhone Control Center. The picture quality in this mode is usually high, and the latency is minimal.
If the standard feature doesn't work or isn't available in your firmware version, you can use the system app. Xiaomi TVs often pre-installed Cast or Wireless, run it to go to standby mode.
☑️ AirPlay verification
It is important to understand that AirPlay support depends on the regional version of the firmware. Global ROMs are more likely to have this feature out of the box. Chinese versions (CN ROM) may require additional configuration or installation of Google services.
Application Mi Remote and Mi Home Ecosystem
Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Remote app, which serves as a universal remote and control tool, and while its primary function is to manage the IR port and Wi-Fi devices, it also allows you to stream media files, which is handy if you want to show a photo gallery or run a video from local memory.
Download the Mi Remote app from the App Store. Add your TV to the device list after launch. The app automatically scans the network and prompts you to add the Xiaomi TV you found. After pairing, a media stream button appears in the interface.
For deeper integration, use the Mi Home app, which allows you to manage the entire smart home ecosystem, and it can set scenarios like turning on your TV automatically when you start a video on your iPhone, but it's less suitable for full-screen mirroring than specialized solutions.
⚠️ Note: Mi Remote can request permissions to access the LAN without this right, it will be impossible to search devices in the Wi-Fi segment.
The advantage of using proprietary utilities is to optimize for specific hardware. Data protocols are configured to minimize the load on the TV processor, which is especially important for low-end models with a less powerful processor.
Broadcasting through third-party applications (AirScreen, CastReceiver)
If the built-in methods don't work, third-party apps come to the rescue from the Google Play store on your TV, and the leader in this niche is AirScreen, which emulates an AirPlay receiver, making your Android TV visible to your iPhone as a native Apple TV device.
The installation is simple: find AirScreen in Play Market on your TV, install and launch. In the program interface, press the "Start" button. Now on the iPhone in the control center (Screen Replay) there will be a new device, latency in this mode can be slightly higher than with a native connection.
Other popular analogues include CastReceiver and AirPin(PRO).These apps often have paid versions with advanced functionality, such as 4K HDR support or no advertising. The choice of a particular app depends on your TV model and Android version.
Why can AirScreen slow down?
Using third-party software is a great solution for older TV models that haven’t received an update to an Android TV with AirPlay support, which extends the life of the device and adds missing functionality.
Wired connection via Lightning/VGA/HDMI adapter
Wireless technology is convenient, but not always stable. If you want maximum reliability, for example, for a presentation or a game without lags, use a cable. HDMI (or USB-C to HDMI for new iPhone models and the regular HDMI-cable.
Connect the adapter to the smartphone, and HDMI-Connect the adapter and the TV port. Turn the signal source on the TV into mode. HDMI 1 (or the corresponding port) The image will appear automatically, without the need to configure the network.
This method ensures that the signal is transmitted without compression and delay. However, it ties the phone to the TV, limiting mobility, and it is worth considering that the original Apple adapters are expensive, and cheap counterparts may not support high resolution.
| Parameter | Wireless (AirPlay) | Wireless (HDMI) |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | Depends on Wi-Fi. | Maximum |
| Delay (Latency) | Got it (0.5-2 sec) | Absent. |
| Permission | Up to 4K (network dependent) | Up to 4K HDR |
| Mobility | Tall. | Limited by cable length |
When choosing a cable, pay attention to its length and screen quality. Long cables (more than 3 meters) of poor quality may not penetrate the 4K signal, and the image will blink or disappear.
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Wired connectivity is the only way to achieve zero latency, which is critical for games and professional presentations.
Solving Connection and Delay Problems
Even with the right setup, it can be difficult. A common problem is that the TV is not visible on the list of available devices. In this case, try rebooting the router. Sometimes the network stack freezes and stops processing the Discovery protocol requests correctly.
If the image twitches or crumbles into pixels, the problem is channel bandwidth. Try switching to 5GHz if the router supports dual-band mode. Also close heavy apps on the iPhone that consume traffic.
- 📶 Check if the router is not a speed limit for individual devices.
- 🔄 Restart the application from which the broadcast is coming (YouTube, Safari).
- 🛡️ Turn it off. VPN On iPhone, it can block local traffic.
- 📼 Make sure that the TV does not run background update downloads.
⚠️ Warning: Antiviruses and firewalls on the router can block ports required for the AirPlay protocol (usually ports 5353, 7000, 8000.
In some cases, resetting network settings on the iPhone helps. Go to Settings → Mainstream → Removing or resetting iPhone → Reset → Reset network settings.This will delete saved Wi-Fi passwords, but may solve compatibility issues.