How to bring video from your phone to your Xiaomi TV: all methods

Modern smartphones have high-resolution screens, but for viewing content in a company or for immersing in the atmosphere of the movie screen, this is often not enough. Owners of the Xiaomi and Redmi ecosystem have a unique advantage, because their devices are perfectly synchronized with each other.

There are several proven ways to stream content, and the choice of the specific method depends on your goals: you can use built-in Android features, branded applications from the manufacturer or physical cables. Wireless connection is the standard today, but a wired solution ensures no delays, which is critical for gamers.

In this article, we will take a look at each option available so you can choose the one that suits your situation. Whether you’re using the flagship Mi or the budget Redmi Note, the algorithm will be similar, the main thing is to ensure that the Wi-Fi network is running smoothly or to prepare the adapter you need.

Technology of wireless image transmission

Before you start setting up, it is important to understand the difference between the main data protocols. Miracast creates a direct connection between devices, bypassing the router, which ensures minimal signal latency. Dlna allows you to transfer media files over the local network, but does not duplicate the screen completely, but only sends a specific video or photo.

Google Cast (Chromecast) technology is built into many modern Smart TVs and allows you to control playback from your phone as from a remote. For Xiaomi TVs with a PatchWall shell or Android TV, this is a native feature that does not require additional software. However, if the router is unstable, the picture quality may fall.

⚠️ Note: For the operation of Miracast and DLNA Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network, otherwise the search for gadgets will not give results.

If you plan to use wireless transmission frequently, make sure your router supports the 5GHz standard.This will significantly increase channel bandwidth and allow you to stream video in 4K resolution without jerking. Older routers at 2.4GHz may not be able to cope with the high-density data stream.

πŸ“Š What type of broadcast you use most often?
Miracast (screen translation): DLNA (file transfer): Google Cast (Chromecast):Wired HDMI

Use of the built-in Translation (Miracast) function

The fastest way to display the screen is to use a system function, which can be called differently in different versions of MIUI, usually hidden in the control center or in the optional menu, and you don't need to download third-party applications, because the Miracast protocol is integrated into the core of the system.

To activate the mode, lower the notification curtain and find the "Translation" or "Wireless Monitor" icon. If it is not visible, click on the menu edit button (usually a pencil icon or three dots) and drag the desired item to the active panel, and after activation, automatically search for available display devices will begin.

Xiaomi TV should be running the appropriate signal reception mode at this time. From the signal source menu (the button with the square and arrow on the remote), select "Wireless display" or "Miracast." Once the phone detects the TV, click on its name in the list.

β˜‘οΈ Checking before connection

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If the connection is successful, you'll see on the big screen an exact copy of what's happening on the display of your smartphone, which is ideal for showing presentations, photo albums or games that don't support Cast, but it's worth remembering that this mode discharges the phone's battery faster than usual.

Broadcasting via Mi Home and Mi TV

For deeper integration with the Xiaomi ecosystem, the official Mi Home app is recommended, which allows not only to manage a smart home, but also to perform the function of a remote and media server, this is especially true if the built-in system tools for some reason are not working correctly or can not see the TV.

After installing the app and adding your TV to the device list, go to the control section of a specific TV. There you will find the "Translate" or "Screen Cast" button. The app may suggest updating the TV firmware to ensure connection stability, which really improves performance.

The advantage of using the Mi Home is that you can transfer files from the phone's internal memory to the TV without losing compression quality. You can open the gallery right in the app, select the video and send it to the big screen. The system itself recodes the stream to the optimal format for PatchWall.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party remote apps, make sure they are given all the necessary permissions to access the local network in the Android settings.

Also, Mi Home is a convenient way to control the playback queue, so you can add a few video files from your phone to the playlist, and the TV will play them sequentially, so you can free up your hands and use your smartphone for other tasks while you're watching the video stream.

What if Mi Home doesn’t see TV?
Make sure that the router's settings turn off "AP-Isolation" (Customer Isolation), which prevents devices on the same network from seeing each other, which is necessary for local Xiaomi services to work.

Broadcast from YouTube and online cinemas

The most popular use case is to run videos from apps like YouTube, Netflix or Kinopoisk, and it uses Google Cast technology. You don't have to duplicate the entire screen of your smartphone; just click on the stream icon (a rectangle with waves) in the corner of the video player.

Once you click on the icon, the system will suggest you select a device. Select your Xiaomi TV from the list. The video will play on the TV, and the phone will turn into a remote control. You can pause, rewind or change the volume without interrupting the viewing.

The main advantage of this method is the saving of battery power and CPU resources: the phone only sends a start command, and the video itself is downloaded by the TV directly from the Internet, which allows you to watch content in the highest quality of HDR and Dolby Vision, if your tariff and Internet speed allow it.

AnnexType of technologyQuality.Phone load
YouTubeGoogle CastUp to 4K HDRMinimum
Gallery (Mi)Miracast / DLNAOriginalMedium
Chrome browserCast TabDepends on the site.Tall.
VLC PlayerDLNA / CastOriginalLow.

Importantly, some streaming services may block image output through Miracast due to DRM copyright protection. In such cases, only the native Cast button inside the app or cable connection helps.

Connecting via HDMI adapter

If wireless connection does not give the desired result or you need maximum stability, use cable. For modern Xiaomi smartphones with a Type-C connector, you will need a USB-C to HDMI adapter. It is important that your phone supports video output through the charging port (MHL technology or DisplayPort Alt Mode).

Connect the adapter to your smartphone, and it has an HDMI cable going to the TV. Switch the signal source to the TV to the appropriate port (e.g. HDMI 1). The image will appear automatically. This method is ideal for gaming, since there is almost no input delay (Input Lag).

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When buying an adapter, choose models with support for 4K@60Hz and a separate charging port so that your phone does not run out while playing or watching a movie.

Not all phone models support video output. Budget devices often lack this feature at the hardware level. You can check for support in the model specifications on the official website or by trying to connect an adapter. If there is no image, then the Type-C port in your device only works for data and charging.

And using cable, you can also stream the screen to TVs that don't have Smart features or wireless protocols, and it's a universal solution that works even without the Internet or the router, just two devices connected physically.

Solving Connection and Delay Problems

Even with the right setup, you can have problems, like desynchronizing sound and video, low resolution, or periodic cliffs, most often because of congestion in your Wi-Fi channel, and if you have a lot of neighborhood networks, the signal can get choked.

Try changing your router settings by switching the broadcast channel to a less busy one, and shutting down other devices on the network that consume a lot of traffic (torrents, update downloads) while loading also helps. Network stability is a key success factor.

If the problem is desynchronizing the sound, check the settings of the audio in the application through which the broadcast is being broadcast. Sometimes it helps to switch the codec or reduce the video quality from 4K to 1080p. In some cases, you need to reset the network settings on the TV through the Settings menu β†’ Network β†’ Reset.

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to update the TV firmware during active screen broadcasting, this can lead to system freeze and the need to reset to factory settings.

In rare cases, antivirus software or a firewall on your smartphone will conflict, try temporarily disabling them for verification, and make sure that both devices have the current date and time, as desynchronizing the clock can interfere with establishing a secure connection.

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90% of broadcast problems are solved by restarting the router and transferring devices to a single 5 GHz frequency network.

Why can't the phone see the Xiaomi TV?
Most often, devices are on different networks (for example, one on the guest network, another on the main network). Check that the SSID networks are identical. Also, the problem may be Wi-Fi drivers on the old router, which improperly handle the multicast traffic necessary to detect devices.
Can I put a screen on my TV without Wi-Fi?
Yes, using Wi-Fi Direct technology (built into Miracast), devices can connect directly bypassing the router. However, for initial handshakes and some services (YouTube Cast), having a router is still desirable. Completely without wireless networks, only the HDMI cable works.
It's only broadcasting sound and the screen is black. What do you do?
This is typical for applications with protected content when using unsupported screen capture methods. Try using the built-in Translation feature instead of third-party remote applications, or check if Incognito mode is enabled in the browser.