How to connect Xiaomi remote to the phone: all the ways + mistake-making

Contents

• Preparation for connection
• Pairing through Mi Home
• Connection via Bluetooth
• Use of an IR port
• Typical problem solving
• Model compatibility
• Alternative means
• Frequent questions

Xiaomi remotes have become an integral part of the brand’s smart home ecosystem, but their capabilities go beyond just managing TVs or air conditioners. Many users are unaware that most Mi Remote remotes can be connected directly to a smartphone – this opens up access to advanced features, remote control and even script automation. However, the pairing process often raises questions about which models are supported, whether additional apps are needed, and why the phone “cannot see” the remote.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of connecting – from standard pairing via Mi Home to hidden functions via Bluetooth. LE We will pay special attention to typical errors (for example, the remote is defined as an “unknown device” in Android 13).+ Because of Google's limitations on scanning Bluetooth devices in the background, and we'll give you a checklist to diagnose problems. If you've tried to plug in the remote but you've failed, here's the solution.

Preparation for connection: what to check before starting

Before you start pairing, make sure your smartphone and remote meet the minimum requirements, which will save 80% of the problems during the connection stage.

Phone requirements:

• 📱 Android 8.0+ or iOS 12+ (On older versions, there may be authorization errors.
• 🔄 Bluetooth 4.0 enabled+ (model BLE) or IR port (for remotes with infrared control).
• 🌐 Stable Internet connection (required to download device profiles in Mi Home).
• 🔒 Mi Home permissions: access to location, Bluetooth, notifications (without them, the application will not be able to scan devices).

Remote requirements:

• 🔋 Charge at least 20%. Discharged remotes may not appear in the list of available devices.
• 🔄 Pairing mode: Most models need to hold the Home button + Back (or Menu) + OK) 5-10 seconds until the indicator flashes.
• 📦 Original firmware. If the remote was previously flashed by third-party firmware, you may need to reset to factory settings.

Update Mi Home to the latest version|Check the charge of the remote (minimum 20%)|Turn on Bluetooth and geolocation on your phone|Put the remote in pairing mode|Make sure the phone and remote are in the distance. < 1m-->

If you are using Xiaomi Mi Smart Remote Pro or newer models, look for the Nordic chip. nRF52832, who's in charge of Bluetooth LE. In rare cases, it may conflict with other devices on the network (such as smartwatches or headphones). BLE-gadgets.

⚠️ Attention: On iPhone phones with iOS 16+ You may need to manually add the remote in Bluetooth settings (not through Mi Home). → Bluetooth on iPhone and select the device manually.

Mi Home Interface: Step-by-step instructions

The main way to connect is through the official Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Home in newer versions), which works for most console models, including Mi Remote, Mi Remote, and Mi. TV Remote and Mi Air Conditioner Remote.

Step 1 Installation and Configure Mi Home

1. Download Mi Home for Android or iOS.
2. Sign up or sign in to a Xiaomi account (required! without an account, the remote will not be attached to the ecosystem).
3. Select the “Russia” region (or “Mainland China” if you have a Chinese version of the remote).

Step 2: Adding the remote to the application

1. Press «+» → «Add the device».
2. Select the Remote Controller category or enter the model name manually (e.g. Mi Remote Controller).
3. Follow the instructions on the screen: the app will prompt you to activate the pairing mode on the remote (usually Home retention). + Back).
4. Once detected, confirm the connection to Mi Home.

Step 3: Set up the control

After pairing:

• 📺 Attach the remote to the TV or other device via “Add Managed Device” in the remote card.
• 🔄 Update the remote firmware (if an update is available, a notification will appear in Mi Home).
• 🔧 Set the buttons to suit your needs in the "Settings" section → Personalization».

💡

If the Mi Home doesn’t find the remote, try changing the region to “Mainland China” in your account settings. Some models (such as the Mi Smart Remote Pro) only appear in the Chinese region at first.

⚠️ Note: If the remote is displayed as “Unknown Device” after connecting to Mi Home, try removing it and adding it again, resetting the remote settings beforehand (hold Menu). + OK 15 seconds before double flashing of the indicator).

Bluetooth Connection: An Alternative Method

If the Mi Home refuses to see the remote or you prefer not to use the official app, you can connect directly through the phone's Bluetooth settings. BLE (Like Mi. TV Remote or Mi Smart Remote Pro).

Instructions for Android:

1. Activate the pairing mode on the remote (hold Home) + Back to the flashing light bulb).
2. Open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth on your phone.
3. Click on Device Search and wait for the remote to appear on the list (the name will start with Mi Remote or Xiaomi).
4. Confirm the pairing, if requested. PIN-Try the code 0000 or 1234.

Instructions for iOS:

On the iPhone, the process is similar, but with nuances:

• 🔍 After activating the pairing mode on the remote, open Settings → Bluetooth.
• 🔄 If the remote does not appear, reboot Bluetooth (turn off/on the switch).
• 📱 On iOS 16.+ You may need to allow Mi Home to access the local network in your privacy settings.

Once successfully connected, the remote will appear in the list of conjugated devices, but the functionality will be limited without the Mi Home. For example, you can use it as a gamepad for Android games (via apps like Octopus), but control of the TV or air conditioner will not be available.

Use of IR port: control without Bluetooth

If your remote is equipped with only an infrared transmitter (for example, Mi Air Conditioner Remote), and the phone supports an infrared port (as in Xiaomi Mi 10 or Redmi Note 8 Pro), you can control devices without Bluetooth.

Steps to set up:

1. Install Mi Remote for Android (no analogue for iOS).
2. Open the app and allow access to the IR port and camera (need to test signals).
3. Select the type of device (TV, air conditioning, etc.) and brand from the list.
4. Point the remote to the phone’s IR port (usually located at the top of the case) and follow the setup instructions.

Limitations of the method:

• 📵 It only works on phones with physical IR port (list of supported models here).
• 🔋 Increased battery consumption of the phone with active use of the IR port.
• 📶 Limited range (up to 5 meters) and the need for direct vision between the phone and the device being controlled.

To check the efficiency of the IR port on the phone, you can use the test mode in Mi Remote:

1. Go to the “Test IR” in the application settings.
2. Point your phone to another smartphone’s camera (the IC signal will be visible as a purple flicker).
3. If there is no signal, clean the IR port of dust or reinstall the application.

💡

IR control via phone is convenient for temporary use (for example, if the original TV remote is lost), but does not replace full Bluetooth pairing due to range limitations and the need for line of sight.

Solving Typical Connection Problems

Even with proper preparation, users are likely to encounter errors, and below is a list of the most common problems and ways to fix them.

1.The remote is not in the Mi Home

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off/on in settings).
• 📱 Change the region in Mi Home to Mainland China (some remotes are only visible there).
• 🔋 Charge the remote to 50%+ — When the charge is low, it may not respond to requests.
• 📦 Update Mi Home to the latest version (older versions do not support new console models).

2.The remote is connected but does not control the devices

• 📺 Check your device profile in Mi Home: you may have chosen the wrong brand or TV/air conditioner model.
• 🔄 Update the remote firmware via Mi Home (Section "Device Settings»).
• 📡 Make sure there is no interference from other IR devices (such as incandescent or sunlight).

3.The remote shuts down in a few minutes.

This is a typical problem for Android 12.+, where the system aggressively optimizes the background processes:

• 🛠️ Add Mi Home to Battery Optimization Exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).
• 🔄 Turn off the adaptive battery for Mi Home in the app settings.
• 📱 Use Developer Mode: Activate “Do not limit background processes».

⚠️ Warning: If after all the manipulations, the remote does not connect, check it on another phone. If the problem persists, the Bluetooth module of the remote may be defective (a common problem after falls or moisture.

Compatibility of remote and phone models

Not all Xiaomi remotes work equally well with different smartphones. Below is the compatibility table for popular models.

Features of compatibility with iPhone:

• 📱 On iOS, remotes are only connected via Mi Home, direct work through Bluetooth settings is limited.
• 🔊 Voice control (via Siri) only works with Mi TV Remote and requires settings in "Settings" → Siri and search».
• 🔄 Auto-update firmware may not work – you have to update manually.

Compatible with other brands of phones:

Xiaomi remotes are officially supported only on smartphones with MIUI, But they actually work with other Android devices:

• 📵 Huawei EMUI 10+: Can block background scanning of Bluetooth.
• 📵 Samsung with One UI 4+: Manual permission is required for Mi Home in the "Permissions" → Other permits».

💡

For maximum compatibility, use your phones. MIUI (For example, Xiaomi 13 or Redmi Note 12, they connect the remotes faster and more stable thanks to optimizations at the firmware level.

Alternative ways of connecting

If standard methods do not work, you can try to circumvent the restrictions using third-party tools.

1. Connection through ADB (Android)

This method is suitable for experienced users and allows you to forcibly hide the remote if Mi Home does not see it.

adb shell am start -a android.bluetooth.devicepicker.action.LAUNCH


adb shell input text "Mi\ Remote"




adb shell input keyevent 66

After completing the commands manually select the remote in the list of Bluetooth devices.

2. Use of analogue applications

If Mi Home doesn’t work, try alternative apps:

• 📱 Remote Master – Supports IR management for 500+ brand.
• 📱 Peel Smart Remote – works with Xiaomi Bluetooth remotes (but requires registration).
• 📱 Sure Universal Remote – Supports voice control and automation.

3. Connection via Home Assistant

For smart home enthusiasts, the remote can be integrated into Home Assistant via the Xiaomi Miio plugin, which allows you to manage it via a web interface or voice assistants (Alice, Google Assistant).

Instructions:

1. Install Home Assistant on the Raspberry Pi or NAS.
2. Add Xiaomi Miio integration via configuration.yaml:

miio:


devices:




- host: 192.168.1.100 # IP- remote address




token: YOUR_TOKEN #Token from Mi Home

1. Get a remote token with the Mi Home Token Extractor.

Frequent questions