Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones have powerful screens, but to watch high-quality movies, you often want to switch to a large TV screen. Fortunately, the Mi Home ecosystem and the MIUI or HyperOS operating system offer many built-in tools for wireless image transfer. You do not need complex cables or adapters if both devices are connected to the same local network.
In this guide, we will look at all the current ways to turn a movie from your phone to your TV via Wi-Fi, using standard Android features and proprietary developments from the Chinese manufacturer. We will look at the native Translation feature, working through Google Chrome and third-party applications that can come in handy in difficult cases. Understanding these methods will allow you to enjoy content with maximum comfort.
Before you start setting up, make sure your router supports the 5GHz standard, which will ensure a stable video stream without delays and artifacts. Older routers that only work at 2.4GHz may not be able to handle video streaming in Full HD or 4K resolution. Also check that the TV has Miracast or DLNA technology enabled.
Preparation of equipment and network
The foundation of successful broadcasting is the right organization of the local network: both devices — Xiaomi smartphone and Smart TV — must be connected to the same Wi-Fi router. If you have a dual-band router, it is desirable that both gadgets “sit” on the same frequency, although modern routers often combine networks under the same name.
Check the software's relevance on both devices. On Android TVs, updates come through the Google Play Store or system settings, and on TVs with proprietary OSes (like Tizen or webOS) through the support menu. On the phone, the path to upgrade is usually: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
⚠️ Note: If your router is configured with client device isolation (AP Isolation, the phone won't see the TV, and this security feature prevents devices on the same network from communicating with each other.
To diagnose the connection, you can use a built-in network test. Go to your phone's Wi-Fi settings, click on your network name and select Network Check. Make sure the connection status is marked as Connected, not Connected, no Internet access.
Use of the built-in "Translation" function
The fastest way to display an image is to use the Cast system function, which is built into the MIUI shell. This method is based on the Miracast protocol and does not require additional software installation. It is ideal for duplicating the screen when you need to show a photo, presentation or run a video from an application that does not have its own Translate button.
To activate the mode, lower the notification curtain down and find the Translation icon. If it's not on the first page, click on a pencil or three dots to edit the panel and drag the icon to the active zone. On some firmware versions, this feature may be called Wireless Monitor or be in the Settings menu → Connection and Sharing → Broadcast.
Once you turn on the search, the phone will start scanning the available devices. When your TV name appears on the screen, tap it. You can see a request on the TV screen for confirmation of the connection — you can agree, using the remote control. Now the smartphone screen is completely duplicated on the large display.
☑️ Pre-broadcast checks
It is worth noting that when you duplicate the screen, the phone continues to work, and any notifications, messages in messengers or incoming calls will be visible to all viewers on the TV. For comfortable watching movies, it is better to turn on the Do Not Disturb mode in advance to hide unnecessary information.
Broadcasting via Google Home and Chromecast
If the on-board broadcast is unstable or your TV supports Google Cast (Chromecast built-in), it is better to use the official Google Home app. This is the de facto standard for Android TV devices and many other manufacturers' Smart TVs. The Cast protocol differs from Miracast in that the phone acts only as a remote control, and the TV itself downloads the video stream, which saves battery power and reduces the load on the smartphone processor.
To start, make sure that the Google Home app is installed and updated through the Play Market Store. Launch it and log in to your Google account. The app will automatically find devices online. Select your TV from the list of available devices.
In the TV control menu that opens, click the Cast my screen button. The system will warn you that everything that happens on the phone screen will be broadcasted. Confirm the action and the image will appear on TV. Unlike Xiaomi's system broadcast, there are often fewer delays and higher picture quality.
Why does the sound disappear during broadcast?
It’s important to understand the difference between broadcasting a browser tab and an entire screen. In the Google Home app, you can select a specific Chrome tab if you’re watching a movie through a browser, which is also an effective way to get around the limitations of some sites.
Broadcast from YouTube, Netflix and online cinemas
The best way to view it is to use the built-in Cast function inside the apps themselves. Services like YouTube, Netflix, Kinopoisk or ivi have a button that looks like a rectangle with waves in the corner, which is the most preferred method because it allows you to control playback from the phone without spending its resources on encoding videos.
The algorithm is simple: open the movie in the app on your smartphone, click on the Cast icon and select your TV. The video will play directly to TV, and the phone will turn into a remote with the ability to rewind, select subtitles and adjust volume, during which time you can turn the application and do other things, such as answering messages.
If the Cast button does not appear, check the following parameters:
- 📱 Make sure your phone and TV apps are updated to the latest versions.
- 📶 Check that both devices are on the same subnet (sometimes a guest Wi-Fi network isolates the devices).
- 🔄 Reboot the router, as multicast packets responsible for finding devices may be lost».
Some streaming services may block the broadcast if they find you are using a VPN or proxy services, in which case temporarily disable the VPN in the Connection and Sharing settings → VPN.
💡
For maximum picture quality in the YouTube app settings on your TV, manually select 4K or 1080p resolution, as auto mode can start from low quality to save traffic.
Using the Mi Remote application for management
Xiaomi and Redmi owners often forget about the built-in Mi Remote app (Mi Remote), which is an infrared port control, but in the latest firmware versions it also works as a media server and remote for a Smart TV. This is especially true if your TV doesn’t have Chromecast support, but has DLNA.
Launch the Mi Remote app and add a new remote by selecting the TV type and the manufacturer of your TV. After pairing, go to Media or Mi Drop (depending on the software version), where you can select the video file stored in your phone's memory and send it to the TV.
This method is good because it allows you to play local files (formats.mkv,.avi,.mp4), which are not always correctly read by the built-in players of the TV, in this case the phone acts as a server that broadcasts the data stream over the DLNA protocol.
| Method | Delay. | Battery consumption | Quality. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miracast (Translation) | Low. | High-pitched | Depends on the signal. |
| Google Cast | Minimum | Medium. | High (up to 4K) |
| DLNA (Mi Remote) | Absent. | Low. | Original |
| HDMI cable | No. | Charging. | Maximum. |
Problem Solving and Quality Customization
Even with perfect setup, there can be technical difficulties, the most common problem is the desynchronization of sound and image or periodic “suspend” of the picture, which almost always indicates a lack of Wi-Fi bandwidth or interference in the air.
If you see lags, try to get closer to the router or free up the Wi-Fi channel by turning off downloads on other devices. It is also worth checking whether the smartphone overheats, as Xiaomi can throttling (reduce performance) of the processor at high temperatures, which will affect the encoding of the video stream.
⚠️ Note: When using the Translation feature, the phone screen must be turned on. If the screen goes out on the sleep timer, the broadcast may be interrupted. Increase the time before the screen is turned off in the Screen settings → Sleeping mode.
In some cases, resetting network settings helps. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. This action will delete saved passwords, but often solves problems with incorrect handshake of devices on the network.
💡
The stability of the broadcast depends on the quality of the Wi-Fi signal and the absence of interference in the air, not on the power of the smartphone.