Xiaomi’s modern Smart TVs offer a wide range of multimedia capabilities, turning a normal viewing into a full-fledged home theater. However, embedded content does not always meet expectations, and users often want to bring a photo, video or game to the big screen from a mobile device. The process of transmitting an image known as screencasting or broadcasting has become the standard for modern media systems.
There are several proven ways to do this, each with its own setup and compatibility features: Android smartphone owners can use Miracast’s built-in protocols, while iOS users will have to use third-party solutions or built-in Chromecast support. Understanding the differences between these methods will avoid problems with image latency or lack of sound.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods of connection, from standard system functions to specialized applications. You will learn how to configure a wireless network for perfect synchronization and what nuances to consider when working with different versions of the Android TV operating system.
Technical requirements and equipment preparation
Before you start setting up the broadcast, you need to make sure that your equipment meets the minimum technical requirements. The fundamental condition is the presence of both devices - smartphone and Xiaomi TV - in the same local Wi-Fi network. If the router distributes at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, it is highly desirable to connect both gadgets to the same frequency, preferably 5 GHz, to ensure high bandwidth.
The TV operating system should be updated to the current version, as old firmware may contain bugs in the wireless data protocols. Check for updates in the Settings menu → About TV → Search for updates. Also make sure that the smartphone includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct modules, which are often used for the initial handshake of devices.
⚠️ Note: Using a mobile hotspot (wi-fi distribution from a phone) to connect a TV may not work for screen broadcasting, as devices must be on the same subnet, rather than being a client and host at the same time.
For a comfortable viewing of high-resolution video content, it is recommended to use a router that supports 802.11ac or later. This minimizes compression and delay artifacts when playing dynamic scenes. If your router is old, picture quality can suffer even with a perfect setup of the software part.
☑️ Checking before connection
Use of the built-in Chromecast feature
The Android TV operating system, which is installed on Xiaomi TVs, has native support for Google Chromecast built-in technology. This is the most stable and high-quality way to transfer media content from support applications such as YouTube, Netflix or Google Photos. Unlike full screen mirroring, only the data stream is broadcast here, which reduces the load on the smartphone.
To get started, open the video app on your smartphone and find the characteristic broadcast icon — a rectangle with waves in the corner. Once clicked, the system will suggest a list of available devices. Select your Xiaomi TV from the list. If the devices can't see each other, check if the router is on client isolation mode (AP Isolation), which prohibits the interaction of devices within the network.
The advantage of this method is that you can use your phone for other tasks while you're watching, you can switch to a messenger or a browser, and you can play it on your TV, and you can also automatically adapt the quality of the picture to the speed of the Internet connection.
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If the Chromecast icon doesn’t appear in the app, try to close and restart the app entirely on your smartphone, and make sure your phone and TV use the same Google accounts.
It’s important to note that Chromecast requires login to Google services, and make sure your profile TV is logged in, especially for paid content where permissions are verified by the server.
Screen broadcast via Miracast (Wireless Monitor)
If you want to bring a smartphone image to the big screen, including a desktop, games or presentations, Miracast technology is used. On Xiaomi TVs, this feature is often called Wireless Monitor or Translation, which allows you to create a direct connection between screens, ignoring routing through Internet services.
To activate mode on your TV, go to the app menu and start the Wireless Monitor program. You'll see a connection waiting on your screen. On your Android smartphone, open the Quick Settings Panel (curtain) and find the Translation, Smart View (on Samsung) or Project (on Xiaomi) button. From the list of available devices, select your TV.
The connection is directly installed via Wi-Fi Direct, so the Internet can temporarily disappear on the phone during a session, which is ideal for demonstrating the interface of applications that do not have their own casts support, or for mobile games.
| Characteristics | Chromecast | Miracast |
|---|---|---|
| Type of transmission | Streaming video/audio | Screen mirroring |
| Internet dependency | High (needed for streaming) | Low (works locally) |
| Impact on the battery | Minimum | High. |
| Delay (Latency) | Low. | Medium/High |
| Support for iOS | Yes (via annexes) | No (needs third-party software) |
⚠️ Note: When using Miracast, the sound is also transmitted to the TV. If you are watching subtitled videos or conducting a presentation, make sure that the volume on the TV is twisted, as the system sounds of the phone will also be broadcasted.
Connection of iPhone and iPad (AirPlay)
Owners of Apple equipment are less fortunate with native integration, as the iOS ecosystem uses the AirPlay protocol, which is not directly built into older versions of Android TV. However, modern Xiaomi TVs with an updated shell often have built-in support for AirPlay 2.
If native support is not available, the solution is to install a special remulator app on your TV, such as AirScreen or AirPin. Once you run such an app on Xiaomi TV, your iPhone will see the TV as an available AirPlay device in the control center, the setup process takes no more than a minute.
Transmission quality through third-party AirPlay emulators is usually very high, supports sound and video streams in 1080p and even 4K. However, there may be a slight delay, noticeable in dynamic games, but almost invisible when watching movies. Connectivity stability depends on the power of your Wi-Fi router.
For iOS users, the option of using client applications such as Xiaomi Mi Home is also available if the TV functionality allows control over the cloud, but for screen broadcasting, the method with the AirPlay emulator remains the most versatile and simple.
What if AirPlay can’t find the TV?
Third-party broadcast applications
When standard methods fail or require advanced functionality, third-party solutions come to the rescue. One of the most popular applications is Web Video Caster, which allows you to stream video files from any site directly to the TV, bypassing browser restrictions.
Another powerful tool is the LocalCast app or BubbleUPnP. They are ideal for playing back a media library stored in a smartphone memory or on a NAS network storage. These programs are able to transcode video on the fly if the TV does not support the file format, ensuring compatibility with Xiaomi TV.
For gamers and advanced users, there is a possibility of using remote desktop applications like TeamViewer or AnyDesk, although they are more suitable for management than for media. However, there are specialized launchers that turn the phone into a remote with the ability to output the interface.
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party APK-files on the TV (if they are not in the official store) turn on the "Unknown sources" mode in the security settings → Security → Unknown sources: download applications only from trusted sources.
Wired connection via HDMI (Alternative)
Although the topic of this article is about wireless methods, you can't ignore wired connectivity, which guarantees maximum stability and no delays. USB-C to HDMI (for modern smartphones, or MHL-The cable for older models. Xiaomi TV will switch to mode HDMI-login.
The advantage of this method is that it does not depend on the quality of the Wi-Fi network and does not create additional load on the wireless air, it is ideal for watching movies at maximum bitrate or games where every millisecond of response is important, and the smartphone will charge (if the adapter has a charging port).
Not all smartphones support video output via USB-C. Flagship models of Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi (top-end series) usually have this feature called DisplayPort Alt Mode. Budget models may not transmit video signal, limited only to charging and data transfer.
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Wired connection is the only way to get a picture without compression and delays, which is critical for gaming and viewing. HDR-quality content.