Connecting TV to Xiaomi smart speaker: all ways and settings

Why Link TV to Smart Column

Xiaomi’s smart speakers are not only listening to music on voice commands, but also a powerful control center for all appliances in the house. Connecting your TV to a smart speaker (such as Xiaomi Smart Speaker, Redmi Smart Speaker Pro or Mi AI Speaker), you will be able to control it, synchronize sound to create a home theater or even automate on/off schedule. This is especially convenient if your TV supports Mi Home or Google Assistant, in which case the speaker will become a universal remote.

However, not all users know that connectivity is possible not only over Wi-Fi, but also through Bluetooth, HDMI ARC (for sound), or even an infrared port (if the speaker is equipped with an IR transmitter). In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of synchronization, including setting up through the Mi Home app, as well as solving problems from lack of sound to connection errors. If your TV from Xiaomi (for example, Mi TV 4S, Redmi Smart TV), the process will be as simple as possible thanks to the native ecosystem. For TV from other brands (Samsung, LG, Sony), additional steps will be required.

Before proceeding, make sure that:

• 📶 Smart speaker and TV connected to the same Wi-Fi network (for most ways).
• 🔄 The column has the latest firmware version installed (check in Mi Home).
• 🔊 The TV supports at least one protocol: DLNA, Bluetooth, HDMI CEC or Google Cast.

Method 1: Connect via the Mi Home app (for Xiaomi TVs)

The most reliable and functional method is to link devices through the official Mi Home app, which only works with Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV, Redmi TV, Mi TV Stick series) and speakers of the same ecosystem, the advantage of which is access to voice control, automation and synchronization with other Xiaomi devices (for example, lamps or a robot vacuum cleaner).

Instructions:

1. Open the Mi Home app on your smartphone and make sure that both the speaker and the TV are added to the same account.
2. Go to the Devices section → Choose your smart column.
3. Put it on the icon. ⚙️ Settings → Add a control device.
4. In the list, find your Xiaomi TV and confirm the bundle.
5. After synchronization, check the voice commands, such as “OK, Yandex, turn on the TV” or “Show Netflix on TV”.

If the TV doesn’t appear on the device list, update your speaker and TV firmware via Settings → About TV → Software Update. For models older than 2020, you may need to manually link through Mi Account.

Update Mi Home to the latest version|Make sure that TV and speaker are on the same Wi-Fi network|Check that both devices are linked to the same Mi Account|Enable the "Smart Home" function on TV (in network settings)-->

Method 2: Bluetooth connection (universal method)

If your TV is not from Xiaomi or you want to stream audio from TV to speaker, Bluetooth is the most versatile option, and works with any TV that supports this protocol (virtually all models since 2016), but note that latency can be as high as 100 to 200 milliseconds, which is noticeable when watching movies.

How to connect:

• 📺 On TV: Go to Settings → Sound. → Sound output → Bluetooth devices (the path may differ depending on the model).
• 🔊 On the column: activate the pairing mode (usually hold the power button for 3-5 seconds until the indicator flashes).
• 🔍 In the TV menu, select a column from the list of found devices and confirm the connection.

To reduce the sound delay:

• 🎵 Use aptX codecs or AAC (if supported).
• 📶 Make sure there are no obstacles between the TV and the column (walls, furniture).
• 🔄 Restart both devices before connecting.

Method 3: Connect via HDMI ARC (for high quality sound)

If you want to make your sound quality sound smooth, the best option is to use HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel), which is suitable for HDMI ARC/eARC TVs and speakers that support this standard (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Soundbar or Redmi Soundbar Pro).

• 🎶 No loss of quality (multi-channel audio, including Dolby Atmos).
• ⚡ Zero Latency (ideal for movies and games).
• 🔄 Simplified control: one remote control can adjust the volume on TV and on the speaker.

Instructions:

1. Connect the column to the TV with the help of HDMI-cable (use a port marked with a note) ARC eARC).
2. On your TV, go to Settings → Sound → Sound Out → HDMI ARC and turn on this option.
3. In the column settings (if any), select HDMI IN mode.
4. Check the sound by running the video. If it's not there, reboot both devices.

Important: To transmit Dolby Digital+ or DTS:X audio, the TV and speaker must support eARC (enhanced ARC).

💡

If the HDMI ARC is only connected to the TV speakers, check the audio output settings. On some Samsung TVs, you need to manually select External Speakers (HDMI) from the Sound → Output menu.

Method 4: Control of the TV through an infrared port (IR)

Some Xiaomi smart speakers (such as the Mi Smart Speaker IR Control) have an infrared transmitter, which allows you to control the TV like a regular remote — turn on/off, switch channels, adjust volume.

How to set up:

1. Open Mi Home → Select Column → Settings → Infrared Control.
2. Tap Add the device → Choose the Television category.
3. In the list of brands, find your TV manufacturer (e.g. Samsung, LG). If you don't have one, choose Universal.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen: point the column to the TV and check the buttons.

If the column does not recognize commands:

• 🔄 Try a different brand profile (for example, Samsung might be a good fit for a profile). TCL).
• 📱 Update the database of IR codes in Mi Home (Update section).
• 📡 Make sure there are no obstacles between the speaker and the TV (maximum distance is 5-7 meters).

Method 5: Using Google Assistant or Alice (voice control)

If your Xiaomi smart speaker supports Google Assistant (like Mi Smart Speaker with Google Assistant) or Alice (in models for Russia), you can control your TV voice through these assistants. This works even with other brands’ TVs as long as they support Google Cast or are connected to Yandex.Station.

Setting up for Google Assistant:

1. Make sure that the TV and speaker are connected to the same Google account.
2. Say to the column, "OK, Google, find my devices."
3. In the list of found devices, select a TV and confirm the bundle.
4. Now you can use commands like, "OK, Google, turn on YouTube on your TV."

For Alice (if the column supports Yandex.Station):

• 📱 In the Yandex app go to Devices → Add the device.
• 🔍 Select your TV from the list (if supported) or add it as a Smart Device via Wi-Fi.
• 🎤 After the bundle, use the commands: "Alice, turn on the TV" or "Alice, set the volume to 50%".

Troubleshooting: What to do if the connection is not working

Even when you set it up properly, you can have problems, and below are the most common mistakes and ways to fix them.

⚠️ Note: If, after connecting through HDMI ARC TV stopped turning on from the remote, check the settings HDMI CEC (It could be called Anynet.+ on Samsung or Simplink on LG). Disable this feature if the column conflicts with the remote control.

⚠️ Warning: Some Sony TVs may lose audio after 10 to 15 minutes when connected to Bluetooth, due to energy-saving settings. Solution: Turn off Bluetooth Auto-Switching in the TV menu.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting a TV to Xiaomi's smart speaker