How to control a Samsung TV from a Xiaomi phone: all the ways and instructions

Introduction: Why control the TV from your phone?

Modern Samsung TVs and Xiaomi smartphones support many features for remote control, but it’s not always clear how to pair them properly. You can use your phone instead of a standard remote, stream media to the big screen, or even control your smart home over a TV, but many users face compatibility issues — especially when it comes to different ecosystems (Samsung and Mi). UI).

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of connecting: from the standard SmartThings application to alternative solutions like Mi Remote or Google Home. You will learn how to set up a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or infrared connection, and what to do if the TV is not detected or refuses to connect. QLED 2022 may not see Xiaomi 13 Pro without additional settings.

If you want to use your phone as a full control center (including voice commands via Google Assistant or Bixby), this guide will help avoid typical errors. For example, on Samsung TVs 2019-2020 release may require a manual firmware update to work correctly with Mi devices.

1. Connection methods: which one to choose?

Before you start setting up, decide which management method is right for you. There are four main options:

• 📶 Wi-Fi (SmartThings) is the most reliable way for modern models to control a TV over a local network, including file transfer and voice commands.
• 🔵 Bluetooth is suitable for basic functions (on/off, volume control) and works even without the Internet, but requires prior synchronization.
• 📡 Infrared (IR) – a universal method for older TVs (until 2018) using the built-in IR transmitter in a smartphone (not all Xiaomi models have it).
• 🤖 Third-party applications such as Mi Remote or Unified Remote are suitable if standard methods do not work, but may require manual adjustment.

The choice depends on the model of your TV and phone. For example, Samsung The Frame 2023 supports only Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 does not have an infrared port. To avoid wasting time, check the specifications of your devices:

If your TV is released before 2016, it probably doesn't support SmartThings, so you'll have to use an IR port or third-party apps. → Support → On TV.

2 Connection via SmartThings (Wi-Fi)

This is the most reliable and functional way, but it requires both devices to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. The instruction is relevant for Samsung TVs on Tizen 4.0 and later (2018 and later).

Step 1. Install the SmartThings app

• 📱 Download SmartThings from Google Play (for Xiaomi on Android).
• 🔧 Sign up or sign in to a Samsung account (if not, create a new one).
• 🔄 Update the application to the latest version (in Settings) → About the annex).

Step 2: Add the TV to SmartThings

1. Open SmartThings and click Add Device (+).
2. Select the Television category → Samsung.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen. The TV must be on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the phone.
4. If the TV is not found, check if Remote Control is enabled in the TV settings (Settings) → General. → External devices → Device management).

Step 3: Set up control.

Once you've successfully connected, you'll have a TV control panel in the app, and you can:

• 🎮 Use a virtual remote with buttons On/Off, Volume, Channels.
• 📁 Transmit photos and videos from your phone to TV via Media.
• 🎤 Send voice commands via Bixby or Google Assistant (if supported).

Television and phone connected to the same Wi-Fi network|

The TV is on "Remote Control" mode"|

SmartThings app updated to latest version|

Samsung Account Confirmed (if required)-->

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If the TV is not detected, try restarting the router or temporarily shutting down the router. VPN Sometimes firewalls block the connection.

3. Connection via Bluetooth

If Wi-Fi is not available or is unstable, you can use Bluetooth, which is suitable for basic functions (on, off, adjusting sound), but does not support the transfer of media files.

Step 1: Turn on Bluetooth on both devices

• 📺 On TV: Settings → Sound. → Sound output → List of Bluetooth devices.
• 📱 On Xiaomi phone: Settings → Bluetooth and turn on visibility.

Step 2. Synchronize devices

1. On the TV, select Add Bluetooth device.
2. In the list, find your phone name (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro).+) and confirm the connection.
3. On the phone will be a request for pairing - click Connect.

Limitations of Bluetooth control:

• ❌ No support for file transfer.
• ❌ Not all Xiaomi models are compatible (e.g. Poco) X3 You may not be connected to the old TV).
• ❌ Delay when pressing buttons (up to 1-2 seconds).

4. Control via IR port (for old TVs)

If your Samsung TV is released before 2018 or doesn't support SmartThings, you can use an infrared port (IR).However, not all Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with an infrared transmitter.

• ✅ There is an IR port: Xiaomi Mi 11, Redmi Note 10 Pro, Poco F3.
• ❌ No IR port: Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi 12, Poco X5.

Step 1. Install the Mi Remote app

1. Download Mi Remote from Google Play.
2. Open the app and click Add the device.
3. Select the Television category → Samsung.

Step 2. Set up the remote.

• 🔍 Point the phone’s IR port to the TV (usually located at the top of the smartphone).
• 📺 Follow the instructions in the button testing app.
• ⚙️ If the buttons don’t work, try a different profile for Samsung (Mi Remote has a few).

Challenges and solutions:

• 🔋 Phone does not send a signal: check if the IR port is closed with a cover or film.
• 📶 The signal does not reach: reduce the distance to the TV (maximum 5-7 meters).
• 🔄 Buttons are not working correctly: update the code base in Mi Remote (Settings) → Update the database).

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IR control is the only way for Samsung TVs to go through 2016, but it requires direct visibility between devices and only works within 5-7 meters.

5. Alternative ways: Google Home and third-party apps

If the standard methods don’t work, you can use third-party solutions, and let’s consider two options: Google Home (to manage through Google Assistant) and Unified Remote (a universal application for all devices).

Method 1. Google Home (for Chromecast or Google TVs) TV)

• 📱 Install Google Home on your Xiaomi phone.
• 🔧 Connect your TV to the same Google account as your phone.
• 🎤 Now you can control the TV voice: OK, Google, turn on Samsung in the kitchen».

Method 2. Unified Remote

1. Download Unified Remote from Google Play.
2. Install server software on your PC (if you need to manage it over a local network).
3. Select a profile for Samsung TV and follow the instructions.

Advantages and disadvantages:

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If you use Google Home, make sure that the TV is enabled with “Google Assistant” in the settings (Settings) → General. → Voice assistant).

6. Solving common problems

Even if you set it up properly, you can get errors, and let's look at the typical scenarios and how to fix them.

Problem 1: TV is not detected in SmartThings

• 🔌 Check if both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not mobile data!).
• 🔄 Restart router and TV.
• 📱 Update the SmartThings app and TV firmware.
• 🔒 Turn off the router settings AP Isolation (customer isolation).

Problem 2: Bluetooth is connected, but the buttons are not working

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 9) have a Bluetooth bug LE. Try disabling Quick Connection in your phone's Bluetooth settings.

• 🔄 Forget the device in Bluetooth settings and connect again.
• 📱 Check if the management of third-party software (for example, Lean mode in the system) is blocked. MIUI).

Problem 3: The IR remote in Mi Remote is not working

• 🔦 Make sure the phone’s IR port is not closed.
• 📱 Try another profile for Samsung in Mi Remote settings.
• 🔋 Replace the batteries in the TV remote (sometimes this interferes with the IR signal).

Problem 4: Delay in Wi-Fi management

⚠️ Note: If you have a dual-band router (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), connect both devices to the same frequency.

• 📶 Reconnect your TV and phone to a 5GHz network (if supported).
• 🔧 In router settings, enable QoS (Quality of Service) to prioritize traffic.

7. Additional features: what else can you do with your phone?

Controlling a TV is just the tip of the iceberg. With a Xiaomi smartphone, you can:

• 🎬 Streaming Video: stream movies from your phone to TV via Smart View (in SmartThings) or Google Cast.
• 🎵 Music Management: Use your phone as a remote for Spotify Connect or YouTube Music.
• 🎮 Game controller: connect the gamepad to the phone and play on the big screen via Steam Link.
• 🏠 Smart Home: Integrate TV into Mi Home scenarios (e.g., turn off TV when leaving home).

How to transfer the screen of the phone to the TV?

1. Make sure that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. On Xiaomi phone, open Settings → Connection and sharing → Screen transmission.
3. Choose your Samsung TV from the list.
4. Confirm TV connection (may require input) PIN-code).

Limitations:

• ❌ Not all apps support audio transmission (for example, Netflix can block output).
• ❌ Image delay can be as long as 1-2 seconds (depending on the router).

FAQ: Frequent questions