Xiaomi Redmi 5, released in late 2017, remains a popular device due to its balanced specs and affordable price. Despite the fact that the model is not a flagship, users often wonder how to bring the image from it to the big screen. This allows you to comfortably watch movies, show photos or run mobile games on your TV. TV even the old models with HDMI-Input provides several connection scenarios.
The choice of method depends on the technical equipment of your TV and personal preferences. Wireless technology provides convenience and no unnecessary wires, but can suffer from signal delays. Wired options guarantee a stable picture without compression artifacts, but require the purchase of additional accessories. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods of synchronization.
The setup process can vary depending on the MIUI shell version and the year of the TV. It is important to understand that Redmi 5 is equipped with a microUSB connector, which imposes certain restrictions on the choice of adapter cables. We will consider both the standard operating system tools and third-party solutions for maximum quality video streaming.
Wireless connection via Miracast and Wi-Fi Direct
The easiest way to broadcast a screen is to use a built-in wireless display feature. Miracast technology allows you to transmit an image over a local Wi-Fi network without having to connect to the Internet. If your TV supports a Smart TV, it probably has a built-in receiver of this standard. Older models will require an external console.
The setup process on the side of the Xiaomi Redmi 5 smartphone is as simple as possible for developers: you don’t have to search for hidden menus or enter complex commands, just lower the notification curtain and find the appropriate shortcut. In some versions of the firmware, it can be called “Translation” or “Wireless Display”.
Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network for correct detection. If the TV doesn't appear in the list, check the settings of the TV itself, as the signal reception function may be disabled by default. Once connected, the image from the phone will appear on the large screen.
- 📱 Open the control menu and select the Translation icon».
- 📺 Turn on Wi-Fi Display or Screen Share on your TV.
- 🔗 Wait for your TV name to appear on the list of available devices.
- ✅ Confirm the connection on the smartphone screen.
It is worth noting that when using the wireless method, the Redmi 5 battery discharges faster than usual, due to the active operation of the Wi-Fi module and the processor encoding the video stream in real time, it is recommended to keep the device on charge or use an external battery for long views.
Use of Chromecast technology and applications
Xiaomi Redmi 5 owners can take advantage of Google's ecosystem to output content. If you have a Chromecast console or a TV with built-in support for this technology, the process becomes even more convenient. Unlike full screen broadcast (screen to screen), here you transfer a link to content, which reduces the load on the smartphone.
Many popular apps, like YouTube, Netflix or ivi, have a built-in Cast button, so you can click on it and tell the TV to download and play the video itself, and the picture quality is maximum, because the stream goes directly from the server to the TV.
You can use the Google Home app to stream the entire Android interface, which allows you to duplicate your smartphone screen onto your TV with minimal latency, which is especially useful if you want to show the interface of a particular application that doesn't have its own Cast button.
Why do you keep video on the air?
It is important to consider that Chromecast requires a stable Internet connection, and if the connection speed drops, the video stream will automatically lower the resolution to compensate for packet losses, which can lead to compression artifacts or “squares” in the image.
Connecting via HDMI adapter
For best picture quality and no delays, a wired connection is best. However, Xiaomi Redmi 5 does not support MHL or SlimPort technology, which would allow you to transfer video directly through the charging port.
The only working wired option is to use a DisplayLink adapter, which is a hardware-software solution that requires a special driver to be installed on a smartphone, and the image is processed by the phone's processor and transmitted as data via USB.
To implement this method, you will need:
- 🔌 adapter USB to HDMI DisplayLink support (e.g. from iVoler or Baseus).
- 📲 MicroUSB cable with support OTG (On-The-Go).
- 📥 Installed DisplayLink Presenter from Google Play.
- 🔋 External power supply (adapter often requires additional feeding).
Once you have all the components connected and you have the DisplayLink Presenter running, you can recognize the external display, and you can choose between mirroring or advanced desktop, which is ideal for presentations or games where response speed is critical.
☑️ Checking before buying an adapter
Broadcasting through DLNA and media servers
If you want to watch movies or photos that you've downloaded to your phone, you don't have to duplicate the entire screen. DLNA allows you to transfer media over a local network, and the TV is a renderer, and the smartphone is a controller and a server.
Most modern TVs have built-in DLNA support. You just need to enable Media Server in your TV settings. On the Xiaomi Redmi 5 side, you can use a standard file explorer or third-party applications such as BubbleUPnP or LocalCast.
The playback process is like this: you open a video file on your phone, you select the "Translate" or "Cast" option, and you select your TV from the list of devices, the file starts to buffer and play on the big screen, and the phone can be used for other tasks.
⚠️ Attention: Video file formats should be supported by the TV, and if the TV doesn't "see" the audio track or subtitles, the codec may not be compatible. VLC For Android, which has built-in codecs and can broadcast a signal.
DLNA has the advantage of having low power consumption compared to Miracast. The smartphone doesn't encode the video stream again, it just transfers the finished data, and it allows you to watch long movies without the risk of a quick discharge of the Redmi 5 battery.
Comparison of connection methods
To make it easier for you to decide on the method, we have prepared a comparison table that reflects the key characteristics of each method in the context of using Xiaomi Redmi 5.
| Parameter | Miracast / Wi-Fi | HDMI (DisplayLink) | DLNA / Cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image quality | Good (compression) | Excellent (Full HD) | Original file |
| Delay (Latency) | Tall. | Minimum | Absent. |
| Necessity of wires | No. | Yes. | No. |
| Battery consumption | High-pitched | Medium. | Low. |
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For games and presentations, choose HDMI, for viewing photos and videos from memory - DLNA, and for a quick demonstration of the interface - Miracast.
As you can see from the table, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. If you're planning to play mobile shooters on a big screen, wireless methods won't work because of input lags. DLNA is ideal for static content like a photo slideshow.
Problem Solving and Sound Customization
When you connect the Xiaomi Redmi 5 to your TV, you often have an aspect ratio problem, and the image may not fill the entire screen or be cut off at the edges, and this is solved by settings on the TV, usually by the "Aspect" or "Format" button on the remote.
Another common problem is the lack of sound. In the phone settings, when you connect the external display, you may not switch the audio output, you need to manually select the output of sound via HDMI or Bluetooth (if the sound is transmitted separately), in MIUI this sometimes requires restarting the application.
If the image twitches or has a low resolution, check the screen resolution settings in the engineering menu or through the DPI change apps. However, for Redmi 5, the standard 1440×720 resolution is native, and changing it can lead to unstable system operation.
⚠️ Warning: Don't use cheap adapter cables without external power.The microUSB port on Redmi 5 may not give out the current needed to run the video chip, resulting in permanent connection breaks or port damage.
It’s also worth mentioning the possibility of using Bluetooth to transmit sound separately if the video signal is on HDMI but the audio channel is not working.
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To reduce the latency of audio when broadcasting wirelessly, use headphones with support for the aptX Low Latency codec, if your TV or console allows it.