Owning a smart TV from Xiaomi offers a wide range of multimedia options, but a standard remote is not always convenient. It is often lost, sits down or simply is too far when you need to switch a channel. Fortunately, modern Samsung smartphones have all the necessary tools to turn into a full-fledged universal remote control, this solution is especially important when you need to quickly enter text to search or run a complex application through an on-screen keyboard.
This task does not require complex hardware or special programming skills, just to have both devices on the same local network, or to have your phone equipped with an infrared port. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to synchronize gadgets, consider the best software solutions and answer frequent questions that arise from users of the Android ecosystem.
Using a smartphone as a remote has a number of benefits that standard IR remotes don't have: You get voice input, mouse control right on a TV screen, even content streaming, and device integration takes place in minutes, after which your phone becomes the control center of your home theater.
Preparing devices for synchronization
Before you start setting up, make sure both devices are ready to interact.The basic requirement for most methods is to connect to the same Wi-Fi network. Make sure your Xiaomi Mi TV or Android TV is connected to the router and the Samsung Galaxy smartphone uses the same network. The frequency difference (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) usually doesn't matter if the router is configured correctly.
It is also important to check the operating system version. On the TV, it is recommended to update the firmware to the latest available version through the settings menu. On the Samsung phone, make sure that the Google Play Services service is updated, since many management applications rely on its components to detect devices on the network.
⚠️ Note: If your router has a Client Isolation feature, devices won't see each other.This feature is often enabled on guest networks. Make sure you're connected to your main home network, not your guest network.
Checking the connection stability is a critical step, so if the Wi-Fi signal is weak, the remote will be latent, in which case it is better to use a wired connection for the TV or move the router closer to the point of use.
📊 What kind of Xiaomi TV is you?
Mi TV Stick
Mi Box S
Android TV (Mi TV)
Another model
The official Xiaomi TV Assistant app
The most reliable way to manage it is to use official software from the TV developer. Xiaomi has released a specialized application that completely duplicates the functions of the physical remote and adds new features. For owners of Samsung smartphones, this application is available in the Google Play Market store.
Once installed, the Xiaomi TV Assistant app launches it and allows access to the local network. The program will automatically start scanning the available devices. When your TV name appears on the screen, click on it to pair. The TV screen may have a request for confirmation of connection, which you need to confirm with a standard remote or buttons on the TV body.
The interface is divided into several functional zones: at the top there are navigation and power buttons, in the center there is a touchpad simulating touchpad, and at the bottom there are media buttons. Voice search in the application works faster than on a standard remote, thanks to the powerful microphone of the smartphone.
One of the key features is that you can stream photos and videos from the phone gallery, so you can pick any media file and send it to the big screen in high resolution, which is convenient for viewing family archives or showing presentations.
What if the app doesn’t see TV?
Make sure your TV is on Device Search or Miracast. Sometimes it helps to reboot your router. Also check if your antivirus on Samsung is blocking your connection to your local devices. IP-address for the TV in router settings for stable operation.Using Google Home and Android TV Remote: Xiaomi TVs run on Android operating system TV Google TV, Google Home is pre-installed on most Samsung smartphones or easy to download, it allows you to control not only media, but also the smart home in general. To set up, open the Google Home app and find your TV on the list of devices. If it is not, click Add and follow the instructions on the screen. Once you have a Google account (the same as your TV), you will have access to basic control. However, for a full remote, it is better to install a separate Android TV Remote Control app from Google. Android TV Remote app provides a minimalistic but functional interface. It is ideal for text input, because it uses the on-screen keyboard of the phone. This solves the main problem of smart TV owners - the inconvenience of typing search queries with buttons. Xiaomi TV Assistant Google Android Remote Full remote emulation Yes No Yes Photo / Video Broadcast Da Netova's voice command on the TV, Dagrata is enough to control the Google TV, Dagrata's TV is done with a smart phone. Many of Samsung’s flagship and mid-range smartphone models (the Note series, older S models, and some A-series models) have a built-in infrared transmitter. This allows you to control your TV without connecting to Wi-Fi, which is a huge plus when you have network problems. To check for an IR port, look at the top end of the phone. If there is a small black window, it is likely that an IR port is present. The standard Samsung SmartThings or Peel Smart Remote app (if available in your area) automatically recognizes the presence of the phone, and offers a loudness to the phone type of the device (the process of the device, then you will simply set up the button). After a successful test, you will get a fully working virtual remote control. ⚠️ Attention: Infrared port requires line of sight. Unlike Wi-Fi, the signal does not pass through walls and furniture. Point the top edge of the phone towards the TV receiver. The advantage of infrared control is its versatility. It works even if the TV is getting stuck and doesn't respond to network commands, because the signal emulates the physical push of the buttons, which often helps wake the device or exit the black screen. Alternative apps from the Play Market If official decisions do not suit you in functionality or design, there are many third-party developments in the Google Play store. TV CodeMatics’ Remote supports thousands of TV models, including all Xiaomi and Mi lineups. The app is notable for supporting both types of connectivity: Wi-Fi and IR (if you have one on your phone), it is fully customizable, you can change themes and button locations. The free ad units can be annoying, but the functionality doesn’t suffer. Another popular option is TV Remote - Universal Control. It's a minimalist design and it's fast, and it automatically scans the network and offers you a list of the devices you've found. TV Very well implemented, including the mouse cursor. 💡Choosing a third-party application is justified if you need specific features, such as command macros or advanced support for codecs when broadcasting the screen. When choosing third-party software, pay attention to the permissions that the application requests. For the remote operation, access to the local network is sufficient. If an application requires access to contacts or a microphone without an obvious need, it is better to refrain from installing it for the sake of data security. The most common problem is that the phone doesn’t see the TV on the list of available devices, and 90% of the time, it’s done by checking the network: make sure that both devices are connected to the same router, not to different ones (for example, one to the main router, the other to the repeater with the other subnet). The second common scenario is desynchronization of commands, you press "Up" and the cursor moves down, and this is treated by calibrating in the settings of the application or simply restarting both devices, sometimes it helps to clear the cache of the application on the smartphone through Settings. → Annexes. If the Xiaomi TV stopped responding to commands after updating the firmware, check the privacy settings on the TV. → Privacy must be allowed for management applications, and it is also worth checking if debugging mode is enabled. USB» Unnecessarily, though this rarely affects Wi-Fi management. ⚠️ Note: If you use a dual-band router, make sure that the phone and TV are connected to the same frequency (either both 2.4 GHz or both 5 GHz).Some routers isolate devices at different frequencies. ADB. If standard methods don't work, you can try to connect the phone to the TV through debugging. To do this, you need to activate the developer mode on the TV menu (click 7 times on the build number in the About menu) and allow debugging. adb connect 192.168.1.XX:5555 This command will allow you to establish a direct connection to the TV on the IP-But for the average user, it's enough to get by with the standard app tools. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions: Can I control a Xiaomi TV if there is no infrared port on a Samsung phone? Yes, absolutely. No infrared port is an obstacle. You can use the Wi-Fi connection through the Google Home, Xiaomi apps TV Assistant or third-party analogues. This is even more functional, because it supports voice input and screen broadcasting. Why does the app show that the TV is offline even though it's on? Most often this happens due to the fact that the TV went into power saving mode and turned off the Wi-Fi module, or the router changed the power. IP-Try restarting the router and the TV. Also check if the router is running a time limit for the devices. Will the remote work if the Internet is turned off? If the remote is running through an infrared port, then the Internet is not necessary at all. If you use Wi-Fi control, the local network must work. Without the router (even without access to the global network, but with a LAN running), Wi-Fi control is impossible, since the devices will not be able to “see” each other. How to enter text on a TV from a phone? The best way to type in is to use the Android TV Remote application or the official Xiaomi TV drive on the TV screen, this will automatically show the assistant on the TV.