Modern Xiaomi Mi TVs and Mi Boxs are powerful multimedia centers that allow you not only to watch terrestrial TV, but also to interact with other devices on the local network. One of the most popular features is the ability to duplicate images from a smartphone or tablet to a large screen. This is convenient for viewing photos, showing presentations or even playing mobile games on your TV. Screen Mirroring technology has become the de facto standard for smart TVs based on Android TV.
Connection can vary depending on your mobile device’s operating system and the firmware version of your TV. Xiaomi’s ecosystem uses different protocols, such as Miracast, Chromecast built-in, and DLNA, all of which have different features. Understanding the difference between them will help avoid problems with image latency or lack of sound. In this article, we will take a closer look at all available methods for syncing devices.
Importantly, for a live streaming function to work, both devices must be on the same LAN. It is critical that the router supports the 5GHz standard for high-resolution video transmission without delay. If you use a guest Wi-Fi network or client isolation on a router, device detection may not be possible. Let's look at the basic ways of connecting, starting with native system tools.
Device preparation and network verification
Before you start setting up, make sure your Xiaomi Mi TV is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your mobile phone, a fundamental requirement for any wireless data protocol to work. Often users make the mistake of connecting the TV to the router’s guest channel and the phone to the main one, which simply makes the devices not see each other in the list of available displays.
Check the version of the operating system on your TV. To do this, go to Settings → About TV → Version. If system updates are available, you better install them, because new versions of Android TV improve the stability of Wi-Fi Direct and Cast. Outdated software may contain bugs that prevent connection.
☑️ Checking before connection
Also worth paying attention to is the power saving settings: Some smartphone models aggressively restrict background activity of the network modules to save battery power. If you notice that the connection is constantly breaking, try turning off the power saving mode for the duration of the broadcast function, which will provide a more stable data flow.
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For the best image quality, position your router no more than 10 meters away from your TV and phone, avoiding thick walls and metal structures.
Use of the built-in Chromecast feature
Most modern Xiaomi TVs run on Android TV, which has built-in support for Google Cast technology.This allows you to stream content from apps directly without duplicating the entire screen of your smartphone, saving battery life and reducing the load on the processor. To work, you will need the Google Home app if it is not already installed on your device.
The process of launching the broadcast is as follows: open the Google Home app on your smartphone, find your Mi TV in the list of devices and click the Broadcast button. The system will request confirmation on the TV screen, after which the image from the phone will appear on a large display, the picture quality is adapted to the network.
If the standard app doesn't see the TV, try rebooting the Chromecast module in your TV settings. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Chromecast built-in and select Stop and then start it again. This action often helps to "freeze" the detection service if it stops responding.
What if Google Home doesn’t see TV?
Broadcasting via Miracast (Wireless Display)
Miracast is the universal standard for screen mirroring, which is supported by most Android smartphones and Xiaomi TVs. Unlike Chromecast, which relies on an Internet connection to stream content, Miracast creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices (Wi-Fi Direct), which allows display screens even without access to the global network, if the router supports access point or WPS.
To activate this feature on the Mi TV, you often don’t need additional actions, since the service runs in the background. However, some models may require you to run the Wireless Display app or Wireless Display from the app menu. On a smartphone, this feature can be called variously: Broadcast, Smart View (Samsung), Projection (Huawei/Honor) or Screen Replay.
In the phone menu, find the appropriate item, usually in the notification curtain or in the Settings → Connected devices → Connect to the TV. After scanning, select your Xiaomi TV from the list. Note that when using Miracast, the phone screen can be locked from turning off so as not to interrupt the connection.
| Characteristics | Miracast | Chromecast |
|---|---|---|
| Type of connection | Wi-Fi Direct (direct) | Through the router (local network) |
| Internet dependency | Not required | Required for management |
| Image quality | Depends on the Wi-Fi Direct signal | Adaptive, often higher |
| Phone battery consumption | High-pitched | Medium/Low |
Use of Mi Remote and Mi Home
Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers its own tools for managing appliances. Mi Home not only allows you to customize your smart home, but also manage media content. While the classic way of looking at the full screen may not be the case for all models, the app is great at transferring photos and videos from the gallery to the TV.
To use this method, install the Mi Home app on your smartphone and add your TV to the list of devices. After pairing, go to your TV card and select the Broadcast or Cast option. This is especially handy if you want to show photos from your birthday or video taken with your phone's camera, wirelessly.
Also worth mentioning is the Mi Remote app, which turns the phone into a remote control. Some versions of the app, especially Chinese firmware, have a tab to transfer files and images to the TV screen. It's not full mirroring, but a useful alternative for displaying static content.
⚠️ Note: When using Mi Home and Mi Remote, make sure they have permissions to access the LAN and storage. Without these permissions, the app will not be able to find the TV or read files for broadcasting.
Streaming from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi TV
Apple device owners are facing the question of how to display the screen, since native AirPlay technology is not built into standard Xiaomi TVs (except for some new models with AirPlay 2 certification).
Popular solutions are AirScreen, Receiver for AirPlay or (built into some versions of MIUI for TV). Once you install it on your TV, run it. The code or device name will appear on the screen. Now on your iPhone, open Control Point, press Screen Replay and select your TV.
Transmission quality through third-party AirPlay emulators can vary. 4K video may require a more powerful TV and a faster router. If you see audio and video desynchronization, try changing the video codec or buffering in the settings of the emulator app on your TV.
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For iPhone, it is mandatory to install a third-party AirPlay emulator app on the TV if the TV model does not have official support for Apple AirPlay 2.
Connection problems and their solution
Despite the simplicity of the technology, users often face problems, the most common of which is the invisibility of the device. If the phone can't see the TV, check if the router has an "AP Isolation" feature that prevents devices on the same Wi-Fi network from communicating with each other, a feature that is often included on public networks, but it can also be active at home by default.
Another common problem is image lag, which is typical of games where reaction is important. Wireless data transmission always has a delay, because the signal must be encoded, transmitted over the air, decoded and output. For games, it is better to use a wired connection or special game modes if they are supported by a TV.
If there is sound and no image (black screen), the problem may be in the format of protected HDCP content. Some streaming services (Netflix, Disney+) block screen mirroring because of copy protection, in which case you need to use the built-in "Translate" (Cast) function inside the video service application itself, rather than duplicate the entire screen of the phone.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to broadcast the video in 4K HDR Wi-Fi, if your router is running at 2.4 GHz. The bandwidth of that channel is not enough, and you'll get constant buffering. Switch to 5 GHz.
Alternative methods: DLNA and third-party software
If standard methods don’t work or are inconvenient, you can use the DLNA protocol, which is primarily designed to transfer media files (video, photos, music), not to mirror the screen in real time, to install a player that supports DLNA (for example, VLC or built-in Media Player), and on the phone – an application controller, such as BubbleUPnP or LocalCast.
Another powerful tool is the Web Video Caster app, which allows you to open web pages with video on your phone and send a direct stream to your TV without transcoding on the phone itself, which significantly reduces the load on your smartphone and allows you to watch videos even from sites that do not have official TV apps.
For advanced users, a method of connecting through ADB (Android Debug Bridge. You can force the broadcast services to be activated or configure network settings with the command line, for example, the adb shell settings put global settings. wifi_display_on 1 can enable hidden settings of the wireless display, but use it with caution.
adb shell am start -n com.android.tv.settings/.deviceinfo.AboutActivityThis command, for example, opens the "About TV" section, but in the context of debugging, you can use similar commands to manage caste services, but for the average user, the functionality of the graphical interface is enough.