Owners of the Apple ecosystem often face the desire to stream content from their smartphone to the big screen, but the integration of iOS and Android TVs like the Xiaomi Mi TV is not always obvious. Apple's standard methods, such as AirPlay, may not work out of the box without first configuring or installing third-party apps. However, the Chinese manufacturer's modern Smart TVs are equipped with enough flexibility to interact with the Cupertinov company's gadgets.
There are several proven ways to connect: through built-in Smart TV features, customized applications from developers, or using wired adapters. The choice of method depends on your TV model (global or Chinese), the version of MIUI for TV firmware, and personal preferences regarding picture quality and signal delay. In this guide, we will discuss in detail all available options for synchronizing devices.
Before you start setting up, make sure that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi wireless network. This is a fundamental condition for most wireless data protocols. If the router distributes networks at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz with different names, it is better to connect both the phone and the TV to one of them to avoid problems with detecting devices on the local network.
Using AirPlay support in Xiaomi TV
Many modern Xiaomi TVs, especially global versions with Android TV or Google TV installed, have built-in support for AirPlay 2 protocol.This allows you to stream videos, photos and music directly through the standard screenplay menu in iOS without installing additional software.
To activate the built-in AirPlay receiver, you need to go to the TV settings menu. Find the partition that connects external devices or network. Depending on the version of the shell, the path may differ, but most often it is hidden in the depths of system parameters, where communication protocols are controlled. Once turned on, the function becomes available for searching the iPhone.
If standard search doesn’t work, try updating your TV software to the latest version. Xiaomi engineers regularly release patches that improve compatibility with the Apple ecosystem. It’s also worth checking if your router blocks device-to-device data exchange (AP Isolation feature), as this can prevent the phone from detecting the TV.
- 📺 Go to Settings. → Network and Internet → AirPlay and make sure the switch is activated.
- 📡 Check that Bluetooth is enabled on your TV and iPhone, as it is used for initial pairing of devices.
- 🔄 Restart your router if your devices are on the same network but can’t see each other.
It is important to understand that the built-in AirPlay on Xiaomi TVs can work unstable when transmitting high-resolution video in 4K HDR if the Wi-Fi signal is weak. In such cases, the system can automatically reduce the quality of the stream to prevent buffering.
Mi Home app: management and broadcasting
The official Mi Home app is the central control node of Xiaomi’s smart home, allowing not only customization of gadgets, but also broadcast content. Although the main functionality of the application is sharpened for managing IoT devices, it implements the DLNA and Cast mechanism, which allows you to display media files from the iPhone to the TV screen.
To get started, you need to download the app from the App Store and log in to your Mi Account. Once you add the TV to your device list, you can use it as a target screen for photos and videos stored in your smartphone memory, a technique that is particularly handy for showing family albums or short videos without having to search for specific files through the TV interface.
⚠️ Warning: Mi Home sometimes requires you to change region in your profile settings. If your TV is not identified, try switching the region to China or the country corresponding to your device model, but remember that this may change the list of available features.
The interface of the application may seem overloaded, but to broadcast it is enough to find the desired media file in the Gallery or Video section of the application and click the Cast button. It is worth noting that this method is not full screen duplication (Screen Mirroring), but only broadcasts specific content, which means that you can use the phone for other tasks while the video is played on the TV.
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For stable operation of Mi Home on iOS, allow the app to access the local network in the iPhone privacy settings, otherwise it will not be able to find the TV.
Third-party apps for Screen Mirroring (LetsView, AirScreen)
If the built-in methods don’t work or your TV model doesn’t support AirPlay natively, third-party solutions come to the rescue, and apps like LetsView, AirScreen, or ApowerMirror install a virtual receiver on the TV that emulates Apple protocols, making TV visible to the iPhone.
The installation process is usually standard: you download the app to your TV via the Google Play Store (if you have Android). TV) or download APK-A flash drive file, and when you start the application, the code or QR-On the iPhone, you need to run Screen Replay at Control Point and select the device that appears from the list.
These applications often offer advanced functionality that is not available in standard protocols, such as the ability to control a mouse cursor from a phone, drawing on a screen or broadcasting the system's sound, but it is worth considering that free versions of such programs may contain advertising or have session time limits.
| Annex | Type of installation | Delay (Latency) | 4K support |
|---|---|---|---|
| LetsView | Google Play / APK | Low. | Yes. |
| AirScreen | Google Play | Medium | Yes. |
| ApowerMirror | Google Play / APK | Low. | Yes (paid) |
Why is there an ad on the app?
When using third-party software, the load on the TV processor increases. If you notice that the video twitches or the sound lags behind the picture, try closing the background applications on the TV or reducing the quality of the stream in the settings of the receiver application.
Wired connection via Lightning/USB-C adapter
For users who are critically interested in connection stability and lack of delays, wired connectivity is the best solution. Using the Lightning to HDMI adapter (or USB-C to HDMI for new iPhones) allows you to turn the TV into a regular monitor, transmitting the signal digitally without compression and loss of quality.
You will need to purchase a compatible adapter (official from Apple or certified MFi) and a regular adapter. HDMI-One end of the cable connects to the adapter that's inserted into the iPhone, and the other end connects to the free port. HDMI You can then switch the signal source to the TV by pressing the Input button on the remote and selecting the appropriate connector.
The main advantage of this method is complete independence from Wi-Fi speed and no compression of the image. The picture is transmitted in the native resolution of the smartphone, which is ideal for games where every millisecond of response is important, or for presentations where communication breaks are unacceptable.
☑️ What you need for a wired connection
It is worth considering that some cheap Chinese adapters may not support HDCP (copy protection), which will result in video from secure services (Netflix, Apple TV+) being displayed in a black screen with sound, in such cases only the use of original accessories or certified counterparts helps.
Configure DLNA and local area network
The DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) protocol remains one of the most reliable ways to transfer media content on a local network, unlike Mirroring, it does not duplicate the screen, but allows the TV to play files stored on the iPhone itself, acting as a renderer, which frees up the phone's resources and saves battery life.
To implement this method, an iPhone will require a server application, such as VLC for Mobile or nPlayer. In the application settings, you need to activate the function “Sharing over Wi-Fi” or “DLNA Server”, and then the Xiaomi TV, using an integrated player or an application like Media Player, will be able to see the smartphone in the list of available storage devices.
This is especially useful for viewing heavy video files (MKV, AVI), which the TV's built-in player may not pull directly from the flash drive, but which are perfectly decoded by the powerful iPhone processor. You just select a file on the phone and it streams to the TV.
⚠️ Note: When transferring large files DLNA Make sure your router supports the standard 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) or newer, otherwise you can jerk images at high bitrate video.
Fixing (FAQ) and Resolving Problems
Even if you follow all the instructions, there can be technical complications, often network security settings or app cache, and if the TV stops responding to commands, try resetting the network settings on both devices completely by deleting the stored Wi-Fi profiles and connecting again.
Another common cause of problems is an outdated version of the operating system: Make sure that the iPhone has the current version of iOS installed, and the Xiaomi TV has received the latest security and driver updates. Developers are constantly improving compatibility, and older versions of the software may contain bugs that interfere with the connection.
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90% of connection problems are solved by restarting the router and checking that both devices are on the same subnet (the same is true). IP-lock-house).
If nothing helps, you can try static settings. IP-Addresses to eliminate addressing conflicts on the network, although this is rarely required for home use, and in a pinch, resetting the TV to factory settings will return the system to its original state, where all services are running correctly.