How to watch movies on Xiaomi TV from your phone: the complete guide

Xiaomi’s modern Smart TVs are powerful, but the screen is often the main source of content. You may find yourself in a situation where you have an interesting video saved on your mobile device, or you want to show a photo album to friends on the big screen. Owners of Mi TV and Redmi TV can use several proven methods for wireless image transfer.

The main advantage of Xiaomi ecosystem is deep integration with Android TV operating system.This allows you to use both standard broadcast protocols and specialized applications. Before starting the process, make sure that your router supports 802.11ac or higher, as high-resolution video streaming requires stable bandwidth.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from built-in functions to third-party solutions. You will learn how to configure a DLNA server, use Miracast technology to fully clone the screen or run a broadcast through Chromecast. Each method has its own features that affect image quality and signal delay.

Use of the built-in Chromecast feature

The Android TV operating system that runs Xiaomi TVs has native support for Google Cast. It's one of the most convenient ways to run videos from apps like YouTube, Netflix or online cinemas (Ivi, Okko, Kinopoisk). You don't need to install additional software on TV, just to have the devices on the same network.

To start playing, open the supported app on your smartphone and find the Wi-Fi wave rectangle icon in the corner. Click on it, select your Mi TV from the list, and the content will start automatically. The TV will download the video stream from the Internet itself, unloading the phone's processor.

⚠️ Note: If the broadcast icon doesn't appear, check that Bluetooth is on on the phone and TV.The Google Cast protocol often uses Bluetooth Low Energy to initially detect the device on the LAN.

The quality of the video you stream depends on the speed of the Internet connection, not the speed of the Wi-Fi router, since the data goes directly from the server to the TV, but the stability of the connection between the router and the TV is critical for buffering.

Why does video slow down when broadcasting?
If the router is running in a congested 2.4 GHz band, micro-flash breaks are possible. Switch devices to 5 GHz for stable 4K content transfer.

Screen broadcast via Miracast and Wi-Fi Display

When you want to show the entire screen, like a presentation or a game that doesn't support Cast, Miracast technology is used. On Xiaomi TVs, this feature is often called a Wireless Monitor or Wireless Display, which creates a direct connection between displays by transmitting a video signal in real time.

To activate reception on the TV, go to the app menu and launch the corresponding widget. On Android smartphones, the path may be different: in pure Android it is Settings → Connected devices → Broadcast, and in the shells of MIUI or HyperOS, the control is in the notification curtain and is called Broadcast or Mi Drop.

  • 📱 Open the notification curtain on your smartphone and find the “Translation” button".
  • 📺 Launch the Wireless Monitor app on Xiaomi TV.
  • 🔗 Wait for the TV name to appear in the list of available devices on your phone.
  • ✅ Click on the title to pair and clone the screen.

It's important to understand that when you use Miracast, the phone continues to work, using battery power. The screen of the smartphone will burn all the time of the session if the settings do not turn off the display, which distinguishes the method from Chromecast, where the phone acts only as a remote control.

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For games, use the Game mode in the settings of the Xiaomi TV to reduce the input delay (Input Lag) when broadcasting the screen on Miracast.

Configure DLNA server to play files

If you have movies or photos on your phone in local files, the best solution is DLNA, which allows your TV to see your smartphone's media library and play files directly, and unlike mirroring, it only transfers the media file itself, which saves resources.

To implement this method, you need to install a DLNA-enabled application on your TV, such as VLC for Android or MX Player. Your smartphone will also require a file manager or gallery with DLNA server function. After installing the applications, make sure that your network settings have a profile set as “Private Network” or “Trusted.”

The process of launching a video is as follows: open the video file on your phone, select from the “Translate” or “Cast” menu, and select your Xiaomi TV. The file will start playing on the big screen, and the phone can be used for other tasks or blocked.

ParameterMiracastDLNAChromecast
Type of transmissionScreen mirrorStreaming mediaLaunch teams
Dependence on the phoneHigh (screen active)Low (background mode)Minimum (pulse)
Support for iOSNo (crutches needed)Through applicationsYes (via annexes)
Image qualityDepends on the signal.Original fileDepends on the service.

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DLNA is the best choice for viewing heavy 4K files stored in your phone’s memory without losing compression quality.

Broadcast from iPhone and iPad (AirPlay)

Apple owners often wonder how to display an image on an Android TV, since native AirPlay is not directly compatible with Mi TV. However, Xiaomi has implemented support for the AirPlay 2 protocol in newer TV models, and there are software solutions for older TVs.

Check your TV settings: go to Settings → AirPlay and make sure the feature is enabled. If your TV doesn't have built-in support, install an emulator app like AirScreen or AirPin on it from the Google Play Store. These programs create a virtual receiver that iOS devices see.

Once set up, open Control Point on your iPhone (swipe down from the top right corner or bottom up on older models). Click Screen Repeat and select your TV. An image from your iOS device will instantly appear on the screen.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party AirPlay emulators on your TV (such as AirScreen), you can slightly desynchronize audio and video. The emulator application settings often have an "Audio Delay" slider for manual adjustment.

AirPlay connection stability is highly dependent on the quality of the Wi-Fi network. The protocol is sensitive to interference, so for comfortable viewing, it is recommended to use dual-band routers and place them in line of sight from the TV.

📊 What is your source of content for TV?
Files in the phone memory
Online cinemas (YouTube, Netflix)
Screencast with iPhone
Broadcast from Android

Third-party applications for enhanced capabilities

The regular tools are good, but sometimes they require more flexible tools, like Web Video Caster or LocalCast, which lets you stream videos from browsers that don't have a built-in Cast button, and they can pull the video stream off the page and send it to the TV.

Another powerful tool is TeamViewer or AnyDesk if you want full remote access, although they are not suitable for watching movies due to low frame rates. DLNA-servers such as BubbleUPnP, which provide advanced equalizer and support for subtitles.

Installation of such applications on Mi TV It's made through the built-in Google Play Store, and if you don't have the right app in the TV store, it's made from the Google Play Store. APK-The file can be downloaded to the phone and transferred through the file manager, but this requires the inclusion of the "Unknown Sources" mode in the security settings.

  • 📥 Web Video Caster – Ideal for Video from Websites.
  • 🎵 BubbleUPnP is the best audio player and DLNA controller.
  • 📂 VLC — omnivorous player for local files of any encoding.

Using third-party software gives access to buffer and codec settings. If the TV's built-in player does not open the file due to an unsupported audio format (e.g., DTS), the third-party player can solve the problem with software decoding.

☑️ Pre-broadcast checks

Done: 0 / 5

Solution: Why there is no image or sound

Even when set up correctly, there can be technical failures. The most common problem is that devices can't see each other. This almost always means they're connected to different networks or frequencies on the router. Make sure the router doesn't have a Guest Network for one of the devices.

The second common problem is the lack of sound when successfully transmitting video, which often happens when broadcasting content from secure sites (DRM-protection) or incompatibility of the audio codec, in such cases, it helps to switch the audio output in the settings of the TV to the PCM Auto or Passthrough.

If the broadcast is constantly interrupted, try restarting the router. Prolonged operation without turning off leads to overflow of the buffer. DHCP It's also worth checking if the router has a speed limit (QoS) for the speed limit. IP-TV address.

Why can’t the TV see the phone when setting up DLNA?
Make sure that the antivirus or firewall on your phone does not block incoming connections. DLNA-Apps must be ticked "Allow external connections".
Can I broadcast the screen in "Sound Only" mode?
Yes, in Bluetooth settings or in the broadcast menu of some applications there is an option “Audio output”, which allows you to use the TV as a wireless speaker.
Does the broadcast affect the speed of the Internet?
With Chromecast, the Wi-Fi load is minimal because the TV is pumping itself, and Miracast doesn't use the Internet, it's inside the local network.
How to improve the quality of the image at lags?
Reduce the output resolution in your phone’s settings or turn off background downloads on other devices connected to the router.
Does the broadcast work without the internet?
Miracast and DLNA don't need internet, local networking is enough. For Chromecast, the initial handshake often requires access to Google servers.