Modern Smart TV has become a full-fledged multimedia center, and a standard remote control often can not cope with the complex tasks of text input or navigation. Using a smartphone as a remote is not just a replacement for a lost “sticker”, but a way to significantly expand the functionality of your Xiaomi Mi TV or Redmi Smart TV. WiFi wireless connection provides instant response and allows you to use the touch screen of the gadget to control the interface.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can integrate your mobile device with your TV, how to set up an official app from the manufacturer, how to use the built-in capabilities of the Android and iOS operating system, and what nuances you need to consider for stable operation. This solution is ideal for those who value convenience and want to turn their phone into a universal home management center.
The main advantage of this approach is that it does not require the direct vision of an infrared receiver, which is required for conventional remotes. The signal is transmitted over the local network, allowing you to control the equipment even from another room if the router provides sufficient coverage. In addition, the keyboard on the smartphone screen eliminates the tedious set of search queries using direction buttons.
Official Mi Remote app for Android and iOS
The most reliable and functional way to manage is using proprietary software from the manufacturer. Mi Remote (or Mi Remote Controller) application is designed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem and supports a wide range of devices, including TVs, Mi Box consoles and other smart equipment. To start, you will need to download the installation file from the official Google Play store or the App Store.
Once installed, the program will request the necessary permissions to access the local network.This is a critical step, since without access to the LAN, the application will not be able to detect your TV. Make sure that your smartphone and TV are connected to the same WiFi network; using guest access or different frequencies (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) in some routers can make it difficult to detect devices, although modern routers usually combine them into a single network.
The pairing process happens automatically: launch the application, and it will start scanning the available devices on the network. If the TV is on and is in standby mode, it will appear in the list. In some cases, it may be necessary to confirm the connection on the TV screen, where a digital code will appear or a request for access permission.
⚠️ Warning: If the app can't see the TV, check the firewall settings on your router. Some antivirus programs on smartphones can block incoming and outgoing connections for unknown applications, considering them potentially dangerous.
The app interface mimics the standard remote, but adds additional features such as volume control of individual applications and quick access to popular streaming services. Android users also have the ability to emulate an IR remote if your smartphone has a module that allows you to control equipment even without a WiFi connection, but for this article we focus on networking.
Setting up the built-in Android TV remote
Most modern Xiaomi TVs run Android operating system TV Or a customized version of PatchWall, which means that you don't have to install third-party software to manage it, because the functionality is already built into the Google ecosystem. TV (formerly known as Android TV Remote Control is a native tool for these devices.
To activate this feature, go to your TV's settings menu. You need to find the partition responsible for connection or remote control. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but it usually looks like this: Settings → Apps → Android TV Core Services → Related devices. Here you need to activate the switch that allows mobile devices to connect.
On your smartphone, open the Google TV app. In the upper right corner of the interface, you'll find the remote icon. When you click on it, you'll start the search process. The system will prompt you to enter the code displayed on your TV screen to confirm the pair, which ensures security and prevents unauthorized devices from accidentally connecting to your media center.
☑️ Checking before connection
The main advantage of this method is deep integration with the voice assistant Google Assistant. You can give voice commands, search for content on YouTube or Netflix by simply clicking on the microphone in the application.
What to do if the code is not accepted?
It’s worth noting that this method works most consistently on devices with a “clean” Android TV. On models with a PatchWall shell, functionality may be slightly limited, but basic navigation and text input functions remain available, a great option for those who do not want to clutter up the phone’s memory with unnecessary applications.
Using Google Home Technology and Chromecast
Google Home ecosystem allows not only to manage the media player, but also to integrate the TV into the overall smart home system. If your Xiaomi TV supports the built-in Chromecast feature (which is typical for most modern models), you can stream the contents of the smartphone screen or run videos from apps directly to the big screen.
To set up, download the Google Home app to your mobile phone. Once logged in to your Google account, click the add new device button and select "Configure a new device." The app will find your TV on the network. During the setup process, you will be asked to assign a room where the TV is located, which will make it easier to control your voice through smart speakers.
Screen Cast allows you to duplicate images from your smartphone to your TV, which is useful for displaying photos, presenting documents or running games from a mobile device on a large display, and the signal latency when using 5 GHz WiFi is minimal, which provides a comfortable experience.
| Function | Description | Required SOFTWARE |
|---|---|---|
| Media management | Play, Pause, rewind. | Google Home / YouTube |
| Screen broadcasting | Duplication of phone display | Built-in Android/iOS function |
| Voice control | Search and launch of commands | Google Assistant |
| Scripts | Automation of actions | Google Home |
It's important to understand the difference between simply mirroring a screen and using the Cast protocol. When mirroring, the phone encodes the video and sends it out as a stream, which can consume the battery and load the processor. The Cast protocol only transmits a link to the content, and the TV uploads the video itself, which saves the smartphone resources and provides better picture quality.
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For the best quality of 4K gaming or video, make sure your router supports either WiFi 5 (AC) or WiFi 6 (AX) and is in line of sight from your TV to avoid packet loss.
iPhone and iPad management via AirPlay 2
Apple device owners often question compatibility, but modern Xiaomi Android TVs often have built-in support for AirPlay 2 technology.This allows you to control the TV, stream photos, videos and music from your iPhone or iPad without having to buy additional hardware like an Apple TV.
To check the availability of the feature, make sure your TV firmware is updated to the latest version. In the settings of the TV, find Settings → AirPlay and enable this option. You can also set security requirements here, such as requiring code input every time you connect, or allowing connection only for devices on the same network.
On iPhone, open Control Point (swipe down from the top right corner on new models or swipe up on old ones). Click on Screen Replay icon and select your Xiaomi TV from the list. The smartphone screen will instantly display on the TV. To control video playback, you can use the standard iOS interface that will appear on the locked screen of the phone.
In addition, AirPlay allows you to control the volume of your TV directly from the iOS control center without using a physical remote. This is especially convenient when the phone is in your hands and the remote is lost or discharged. The quality of audio and image transmission remains high thanks to efficient data compression.
⚠️ Warning: When using AirPlay, make sure that the router has disabled the Customer Isolation feature. AP» (AP If this feature is enabled, devices on the WiFi network cannot communicate with each other, and the connection between the iPhone and the TV will not be possible.
Third-party universal remotes
If official apps don’t fit you or work properly on your version of the operating system, you can always turn to proven third-party solutions. App stores offer a variety of universal remotes that use the standard DLNA and ADB management protocols.
One of the most popular solutions is the Android TV Remote Control app from independent developers or TV Remote Control. They often have more flexible interface settings, the ability to create macros (sequences of commands) and the theme of design. Install these applications is simple: find them in the store, provide access to the network and run the scan.
Some advanced users prefer to use remote access applications such as TeamViewer or special ones. ADB-Customers, if the TV is on debugging USB/Network. This gives full root access to the system, allowing not only to manage the interface, but also to install system applications, remove preinstalled software and change hidden parameters.
- 📱 TV Remote - Universal Control - supports thousands of models and has a convenient keyboard emulator.
- 🎮 GamePad – turns the phone into a gamepad for Android games TV, maintaining a gyroscope and vibration.
- ⌨️ ADB Keyboard – allows you to transfer text from your computer or phone directly to the input field on your TV, which is indispensable for entering passwords from WiFi.
Using third-party software requires permissions, and don’t let apps access contacts or gallery if they’re only connected to TV control, a digital hygiene rule that will help protect your personal data from leaks.
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Third-party apps are a great alternative if standard methods don’t work, but they may have ads or require paid subscriptions for advanced features.
Solving Connection and FAQ Problems
Despite the ease of setting up, users may encounter technical difficulties, and the most common problem is that the phone can’t see the TV on the network, 90% of the time it’s connected to different subnets (e.g., one to the guest WiFi network, the other to the main one) or using the 2.4 GHz band versus 5 GHz band with strict segmentation on the router.
Another reason could be the energy-saving mode of the router or TV. Some Xiaomi models in deep sleep turn off the WiFi module to save energy. In this case, try quickly pressing any button on the physical remote (if any) or power button on the TV body to “wake up” the network module before launching the application on the phone.
If the connection is unstable and the commands are executed with a delay, try restarting the router.Accumulation of errors in the ARP table or overflow of the router buffer often leads to lags in the local network.Also make sure that the latest version of the firmware is installed on the TV through the Settings menu → About the system → System Update.