How to bring photos from Xiaomi phone to TV: a step-by-step guide

In the digital age, storing memories in the cloud or on the internal memory of a smartphone has become the norm, but viewing photos on a small screen is not always fun. Especially when you want to share joyful moments with family and friends gathered in the living room. Today’s smart TVs and Xiaomi smartphones offer many ways to synchronize devices, allowing you to turn a regular viewing gallery into a real multimedia show.

There are several proven methods of image transmission, from wireless protocols to physical cables, and the choice of the specific method depends on the model of your TV, the version of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system, as well as whether there is support for certain wireless data standards, and in this article we will discuss each of them in detail so that you can choose the most convenient option.

Before you start setting up, make sure that both your phone and your TV are working correctly. Connection stability is key, especially when using Wi-Fi networks. A little preparation will take a couple of minutes, but save you time to fix possible connection errors in the future.

Wireless broadcasting through the built-in function "Translation"

The easiest and fastest way to get no third-party software is to use the native system function, which Xiaomi shells call "Translation" or "Cast," which is based on Miracast technology, which allows you to stream video and image in real time without loss of quality, and to work, you need your TV to also support this standard (usually a Smart TV).

Turn on the smart TV feature that's responsible for wireless connectivity. On Samsung's menu, it might be called Screen Mirroring, on LG, it might be Screen Share, and on Sony, it might be Duplicate Display. Once you activate the big screen standby, pick up your smartphone.

Lower the notification curtain on your Xiaomi phone and find the Translation icon. If it's not available, click three dots or an edit button to add a widget to the panel. The system will begin searching for available devices within Wi-Fi range.

• 📡 Make sure your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, otherwise your search may not be able to produce results.
• 📱 On some Xiaomi models, the function is hidden in the Settings menu → Connection and sharing → Broadcasting.
• 📺 If the TV isn’t found, try restarting the router, as sometimes multicast packets are blocked by security settings.

Once you select your TV, you'll see a connection request on your smartphone screen, take it from the TV remote, now the phone screen is completely duplicated on the large display, open the gallery and enjoy the viewing, and note that in this mode, it's best not to lock the phone, because the image on the TV may go out or interrupt.

Using DLNA technology and Mi Remote application

If you don't need to duplicate the entire screen of your smartphone, but only show specific photos or videos, the best solution is DLNA, which allows you to transfer media files directly without loading the phone's processor with constant encoding of the video stream.

Xiaomi and Redmi are the luckydest owners, because they already have Mi Remote, which not only controls the hardware, but also broadcasts the content. Open the app, select your TV from the list of devices (if it is added), and find the Translation button or screen icon.

Another option is to use the standard Gallery app. Open the photo, click the Three Dots button or the broadcast icon. From the list of available devices, select your TV. The system uses the DLNA protocol to send the file.

⚠️ Attention: When in use DLNA The compression quality can vary depending on the formats of the TV. HEIF It may not be displayed on older TV models, it is better to use classic TV. JPEG.

The advantage of this method is that you can control playback from your phone, flip through photos, pause videos, and this will not be interrupted by incoming calls or notifications, as is the case with a full screen broadcast.

Broadcasting via Google Home and Chromecast

For Android TVs or Chromecasts, the ideal solution is to use the Google ecosystem, which provides high stability and excellent picture quality. On Xiaomi smartphones, Google services are usually pre-installed, but the Google Home app may require a separate download from the Play Market store.

Install and open the Google Home app. It will automatically find all compatible devices on your local network. Select your TV from the list. In the control menu that opens, click the "Cast my screen" button.

The system will tell you that everything that happens on the phone screen will be broadcast. Confirm the action. Now, if you open the gallery and select a photo, you will see it on the TV. Unlike Miracast, it uses a more advanced compression codec, which reduces latency.

• 🌐 Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi subnet (important for dual-band guests). 2.4/5 GHz).
• 🔋 Google Home streaming can consume more power, so watch your battery.
• 📹 Supported broadcasting not only photos, but also sound, which is convenient for viewing a slide show with music.

If the standard gallery doesn’t see the Cast button, try opening a photo through the Google Photos app, which is native to the feature and works almost seamlessly with any Chromecast receiver.

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Use a 5GHz Wi-Fi network to stream video in 4K to avoid jerking and buffering images.

Third-party synchronization applications: AirDroid and others

When the built-in hardware is not working properly or the TV is classified as “not very smart” (for example, it only has Smart-functions through the console), third-party developers come to the rescue. Applications like AirDroid, LocalCast or Web Video Caster allow you to organize data transfer over the local network or even over the Internet.

So let's look at the way that a bundle works, where you have a receiver app installed on your TV (or a browser built in) and a client on your phone, and you open a photo in the app, you pick up the device, and you send the file. Often such programs create a local web server, and to view it is enough to enter IP-browser.

It works on almost any platform, whether it's Tizen, webOS or old Linux TV, but it can take longer to set up than just pressing the Translation button.

Using third-party software is justified if Xiaomi’s regular tools don’t see your TV, and often these apps have more flexible codec and buffering settings.

Wired connection via HDMI and USB-C

For those who appreciate maximum quality and do not tolerate delays, the best choice is cable connection. However, there is an important caveat: not all Xiaomi smartphones support image output via USB Type-C. This feature (MHL or DisplayPort Alt Mode) is usually only available in flagship models of the Mi and Xiaomi series (for example, Mi 11, Xiaomi 13, 14), and in budget Redmi and POCO are often absent.

If your phone supports video output, you'll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter. Connect one end to the phone, the other end to the free HDMI port on your TV. Switch the signal source to the TV (Input or Source button) to the appropriate connector.

The image will appear automatically. Depending on the model, the system will offer modes of operation: “Mirror” (screen copy) or “Extended desktop” (as in DeX mode for Samsung, but Xiaomi has limited functionality).

⚠️ Note: Before buying an adapter, check the specification of your phone model on the official website «USB 2.0" without mentioning the video output, the cable method will not work.

An alternative method of wired connection through USB-Some TVs allow you to open the contents of your phone's memory like flash cards. USB-TV port, on the phone in the notification, select the mode "File transfer» (MTP). On the TV in the file menu, select your phone and open the folder. DCIM/Camera.

Solution: TV can't see the phone

The most common problem with setting up is that devices just don't find each other, and this is almost always connected to network settings. Modern routers often have an AP Isolation feature that prevents devices within the network from sharing data with each other for security purposes.

Check if the guest network is on one of the devices, if the phone is on Guest Wi-Fi and the TV is on the main, they won't see each other, and also make sure that the router doesn't have to divide into 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies with different network names (SSIDs), although modern routers can combine them.

If the problem persists, try resetting the network settings on your phone. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. This won't delete your data, but will return the network settings to factory settings.

• 🔄 Reboot your router, phone and TV – it solves 80% of detection problems.
• 🛡️ Check the antivirus or firewall on the router, they can block the protocols DLNA/Miracast.
• 📶 Make sure that new devices are allowed on the TV (sometimes you need to confirm the request with the remote).

In rare cases, the problem lies in outdated software. Check for system updates on your smartphone in the About Phone → MIUI version and in the TV menu.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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For a one-time viewing of photos with friends, the easiest way to use the built-in Translation function, and for a permanent media server, it is better to configure DLNA or connect a TV set-top box.