Modern smartphones Xiaomi Redmi series have powerful screens, but to view high-quality content in the company of friends or family diagonal 6 inches is often not enough. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and proprietary shell MIUI provide users with ample opportunities for wireless image transmission.
There are several proven ways to do this, each with its own technical features: you can use built-in system features, third-party applications or special data protocols. The choice of the specific method depends on the model of your TV and the version of the software installed on your smartphone.
In this guide, we will take a look at the algorithms for different connectivity scenarios, learn about the nuances of Miracast and DLNA, and how to ensure stable communication between devices, and enjoy high-resolution movies with no delays or artifacts when you’re properly configured.
Preparation of devices for wireless connection
Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that both your Redmi smartphone and your TV are on the same LAN, which is a basic requirement for most wireless protocols. If a router is sending out signals at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, it is advisable to connect the gadgets to one of them, although modern routers usually handle traffic between subnets correctly.
Check the software's relevance on both devices. On the TV, it can be a firmware update through the settings menu, and on the phone, installing the latest security patches and MIUI enhancements. Outdated versions of WiFi drivers often cause unstable connections or a complete lack of visibility of devices to each other.
⚠️ Note: If your router is set up with customer isolation (AP Isolation, devices will not be able to "see" each other on the network, even if you are on the same WiFi network.
Also worth paying attention to power consumption: With long-term streaming of high-resolution video, the smartphone can significantly heat up, it is recommended to install the device on a stand or turn off energy-intensive background processes to ensure stable operation of the processor and WiFi module.
Use of the built-in Translation function in MIUI
The fastest way to display an image is to use the native feature of the system, which is called "Translation" or "Cast" in the MIUI shell, and is based on the Miracast standard, which allows you to duplicate the screen of your smartphone on your TV in real time, and is ideal for showing photos, videos from a gallery or games.
To activate the function, open the control center, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen, and find the Translation icon. If the icon is hidden, click on the menu edit button (usually three dots or a pencil icon) and add it to the panel. Once turned on, the system will begin to search for available signal receivers within the network range.
When the name of your TV appears on the list, tap it to pair it. A connection confirmation request may appear on the TV screen, which must be coordinated by the remote control, and then the image from the Xiaomi Redmi phone will appear on the big screen. The quality of the picture depends on the power of the WiFi module and the loading of the channel.
☑️ Checking before connection
It's important to understand the difference between screen duplication and streaming. With built-in broadcast, the phone keeps working and notifications will come to the TV screen. If you want to watch a movie and still respond to privately messages, this method may not be the most convenient, since the phone screen will burn and consume charge.
Streaming videos through YouTube and streaming services
The most popular use case is watching content from online cinemas, with apps like YouTube, Netflix or IVI using Google Cast (Chromecast built-in) technology, a method that is radically different from Miracast: the phone acts only as a remote control, and the TV downloads video streams from the Internet on its own.
To start playing, run the video on your smartphone and click on the broadcast icon (a rectangle with WiFi waves in the corner). Select your TV from the list. Unlike screen duplication, here the video quality is adjusted automatically depending on the speed of the Internet connected to the TV, not the phone.
⚠️ Note: For Google Cast, the app on your phone and the app on your TV must be logged in under the same Google account, or be on the same subnet without firewall restrictions.
The advantage of this method is that you can turn off the YouTube app or even lock the phone — playback on the TV will not be interrupted. This also saves Redmi battery power significantly, since the video stream is not decoded by the mobile processor, but only controlled remotely.
What to do if the broadcast button does not appear?
Configure DLNA through the built-in video player
If you have movies or TV shows saved on your phone in local files and want to watch them on your TV without copying to a flash drive, the ideal solution is the DLNA protocol. The built-in MIUI (Mi Video) video player can work with this standard, finding media servers on the local network.
Open a video file on your smartphone, click on the "More" button or three dots in the player menu, and select the "Translate" or "DLNA" option. The system will scan the network and suggest a list of available devices that support video rendering, which can be Smart TVs, game consoles or special consoles.
Unlike Miracast, it only transmits video streams, and the phone interface remains accessible for other tasks. However, playback control (pause, rewind) is from the phone, and the stability of the transmission depends on the bandwidth of your local network.
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To transfer video in 4K resolution over DLNA, make sure the router supports 802.11ac (WiFi 5) or later, otherwise image buffering and jerking may occur.
Some TVs require DLNA to be enabled in their settings, usually in the Network or Connections section and may be called Mobile Access or Media Server. Without this option, Xiaomi phone will not see the TV in the list of available devices for displaying local video.
Comparison of methods of connection and their features
Once you've figured out the basics, you need to organize the information to make the best choice for your situation, and each method has its own advantages and limitations, depending on the type of content and hardware.
| Method | Protocol | Dependence on the phone | Quality. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen broadcasting | Miracast | High (screen active) | Depends on WiFi. |
| YouTube / Netflix | Google Cast | Low (DU remote) | Maximum. |
| Local files | DLNA | Medium (management) | Original file |
Miracast is good for displaying interfaces, but can delay audio (audio-video dissynchron) and Google Cast and DLNA are more stable for watching movies because the TV takes over decoding, but for them to work, the TV must be smart or have a set-top box.
If you plan to use your phone as a remote and media source often, consider your TV’s support for codecs. Older models may not play the current DLNA compression formats, whereas the Miracast will be successful because the phone decodes the video itself.
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To watch online videos, always use the built-in Cast button in the app – this gives the best quality and does not land the phone’s battery.
Solution: Why there is no image or sound
Despite the ease of customization, users often face technical problems, one of the most common being the lack of sound when using Miracast, which is because some TVs don't support the transmission of audio through this protocol or use incompatible codecs, in which case the sound will only come from the phone's speakers.
Another common problem is intermittent image and constant buffering. This almost always indicates a weak WiFi signal or congestion of the channel by neighbouring routers. Try switching the router frequency from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz if your devices support this range. 5 GHz frequency provides the higher speed required to transmit Full HD and 4K content.
⚠️ Attention: When in use VPN On the phone, the TV feed may stop working as the LAN becomes inaccessible to the devices. VPN pre-connection.
If the TV isn't on the list, try restarting both devices. Sometimes the device detection service on the router crashes and requires you to update your list of connected customers. Also make sure that the TV doesn't have a Wi-Fi Direct connection password if it's activated.
The Secret to Stability
In conclusion, using Xiaomi Redmi to display images on your TV is a convenient way to expand the multimedia capabilities of your home, and choosing the right connection method will avoid technical difficulties and enjoy content in high quality.