Connecting Xiaomi TV to a smart home: all the ways and nuances

Xiaomi TVs are not just content viewers, but full-fledged elements of the smart home ecosystem. They support voice control, script automation and synchronization with other gadgets of the brand. However, many users face difficulties when connecting for the first time: the Mi Home app does not see the TV, voice commands are ignored, scripts work with delay. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of integration, from basic anchoring through official software to advanced settings for power users.

The main advantage of the Mi TV and Redmi Smart TV is the built-in support for the MiOT protocol, which provides interoperability with other Xiaomi devices. But even if you do not have other gadgets of the brand, the TV can be connected to Google Home, Apple HomeKit (with restrictions) or Yandex Alice. We tested all methods on models from 2022-2026 and identified key nuances that are not written in the official instructions.

1. Preparing Xiaomi TV to Connect

Before integrating into a smart home, you need to update the TV firmware and activate key functions. Outdated software often causes failures when syncing with other devices. Check the current version in the Settings menu → About TV → Software version. The current firmware for most models from 2023-2026 is MIUI TV 3.0+ (for Mi TV Q2, Redmi Smart TV X and later).

Also make sure that the TV and smartphone (from which the setup will be performed) are connected to the same 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. Many routers by default share networks on 2.4 and 5 GHz with the same name (SSID), but for stable operation of the Mi Home requires exactly the 2.4 GHz band.

Update the firmware to the latest version|Connect TV and smartphone to one Wi-Fi network 2.4 GHz|Enable the function "Smart home" in the settings of TV|Register a Xiaomi account (if not already)|Install the Mi Home app on your smartphone-->

Critical: If you use a Xiaomi TV with modified firmware (such as ATV or custom builds), the smart home feature may not work properly, in which case we recommend returning the stock firmware through Fastboot mode or contact the service center.

2. Connection via the Mi Home app

The official way to integrate is by linking the TV to the Mi Home app (formerly Mi Home, now renamed Xiaomi Home in some regions), a method that allows you to control TV through scripts, voice commands (if you have a Xiaomi AI Speaker connected) and remotely turn the device on/off.

Step instructions:

1. Open the Mi Home app on your smartphone and log in under the same account as you do on your TV.
2. Click Add Device (+) → Select Television Category.
3. Follow the on-screen hints. The TV should show up on the list of available devices. If that doesn't happen, check: 🔄 Reboot the TV and router. 📶 Turn off VPN on your smartphone — it can block the connection to Xiaomi servers. 🔒 Enable Smart Home in your TV settings: Settings → Account and Security → Smart Home.

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⚠️ Warning: Once the TV is connected to the Mi Home, some features (such as DLNA or Miracast) may not work smoothly, due to limitations of the MiOT protocol. If you are more interested in streaming from other devices, stop integrating into the smart home or use alternative methods (see section 4).

3. Control your TV through Google Home and Apple HomeKit

If you use the Google or Apple ecosystem, you can connect your Xiaomi TV through third-party services. However, there are nuances: only Android TV 11+ models (such as the Mi TV Q2 2023 or Redmi Smart TV X96) have official support for Google Home.

For Google Home:

1. Make sure that the Google Assistant app is installed on your TV (available on Google Play on TV).
2. Open the Google Home app on your smartphone → click Add (+) → Set up your device → New device.
3. Select a Google account that is linked to your TV.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen. The TV should appear on the list of devices.

For Apple HomeKit:

Xiaomi TVs don’t have official HomeKit support, but you can use Home Assistant with the Mi Home Integration plugin.This method requires a server (such as a Raspberry Pi) and basic knowledge of setting up a smart home.

1. Install Home Assistant on the server.
2. Add Mi Home integration through Settings menu → Devices and Services → Add integration.
3. Sign in to Xiaomi and select a TV from the device list.
4. Configure the bridge between Home Assistant and HomeKit via the HomeKit Bridge plugin.

Important: When using Home Assistant, the TV will appear in HomeKit as an “uncertified device” and this may result in management restrictions (e.g., the inability to use Siri to turn on the TV).

4.Integration with Yandex Alice and other voice assistants

Xiaomi TVs do not have direct support for Alice Yandex, but they can be connected via Yandex IoT using a cloud bridge.

1. Install the Yandex Android TV app on your TV (available on Google Play).
2. Sign in to the application under the same account as in Yandex.Station or column with Alice.
3. Activate the Device Management function in the application settings.
4. In the Yandex app on your smartphone, go to the Smart Home section and add a TV manually (it can be displayed as "Unidentified Device").

Once connected, you can use voice commands such as:

• 🎤 "Alice, turn on the TV in the living room."
• 🔊 "Alice, pause on the TV."
• 📺 "Alice, open YouTube on the big screen."

⚠️ Attention: Voice control through Alice only works for basic functions (on/off, volume control, pause). To run specific applications (e.g. Netflix or Kinopoisk) you will need to set up IFTTT or Home Assistant.

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If Alice doesn't recognize the command, try re-phrasing it by adding the name of the room (e.g., "turn on the TV in the bedroom"), which helps avoid conflicts if there are multiple TVs in the house.

5. Setup of automation scenarios

One of the key features of a smart home is automatic scripting, such as the TV can turn on with the lights when you get home, or turn off on a timer. The Mi Home app offers the following types of automation for Xiaomi TVs:

To create a script:

1. Open Mi Home → go to Automation section.
2. Click Add Script → Select a trigger (e.g. Time or Geolocation).
3. Add the action – select the TV and the desired command (on/off, volume control, etc.).
4. Save the script and test it out.

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For stable scenarios, turn off the energy-saving mode on the TV (Settings → Power → Standby mode: Always on), otherwise the TV may “fall asleep” and not respond to commands.

6. Solving common problems

Even with the right setup, users are faced with typical errors, and we have compiled proven solutions for the most common cases:

Problem 1: The TV doesn't respond to commands from Mi Home

• 🔌 Check that the TV is plugged in and is not in Eco-sleep mode (turns off in Settings → Power).
• 🌐 Make sure that the router settings do not block ports 80, 443 and 5555 (used to communicate with Xiaomi servers).
• 🔄 Reconnect the TV to Mi Home: Remove it from the app and add it again.

Problem 2: Voice commands are delayed

• 📶 Check the Internet speed – it takes at least 10 Mbps for voice control to work smoothly.
• 🔊 Update your speaker firmware (Xiaomi AI Speaker or Redmi Smart Speaker) to the latest version.
• 📍 Reduce the distance between the speaker and the TV, optimally to 3-5 meters.

Problem 3: TV is not displayed in Google Home

• 🤖 Make sure that the Google Assistant app is installed on the TV and it is authorized.
• 🔗 Check that the Google account on your TV and smartphone is the same.
• 📱 Reinstall the Google Home app on your smartphone.

⚠️ Warning: If after updating the firmware, the TV stopped showing in the smart home, reset the network settings: Settings → Network → Network Reset. This most often solves the problem without completely resetting the TV.

7. Alternative management practices

If standard methods do not work, consider the following options:

1. Through IFTTT

IFTTT (If This Then That) allows you to create chains of commands between different platforms, such as setting up a script:

• 🔄 If the Aqara motion sensor is working, turn on the Xiaomi TV.
• 📱 If you post a Twitter post with the hashtag #Movie, then launch the Kinopoisk app on TV.

For this:

1. Register at iftt.com.
2. Connect Mi Home and Xiaomi Smart Home services.
3. Create an Applet with the right trigger and action.

2. Through Home Assistant

The Home Assistant platform supports integration with Xiaomi TVs via the MiIO protocol.

• 📊 Manage TV via web interface.
• 🔄 Create complex scripts involving other devices (e.g., Philips Hue or Shelly).
• 📱 Receive TV status notifications (on/off, current channel, etc.).

The setup will require:

1. Install Home Assistant on a server (such as a Raspberry Pi or NAS).
2. Add Mi Home integration through HACS (Home Assistant Community Store).
3. Get Token and Device TV ID (instructions in documentation)

3. via BroadLink RM Pro

The universal remote control BroadLink RM Pro allows you to control the Xiaomi TV on an infrared signal, even if it does not support a smart home.

1. Add BroadLink to Mi Home or Google Home.
2. Teach the remote to your TV commands (on/off, volume control, channel switching).
3. Use the remote in automation scenarios.

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Alternative methods require more time to set up, but offer flexibility not available in standard solutions, such as Home Assistant, which allows you to control your TV even off-premises (if you set up your remote access correctly).

FAQ: Frequent questions