If you own Xiaomi equipment or are just planning to buy smart devices of this brand, you probably have come across the mention of the Mi remote. But what is it really? It is a separate gadget, an application or an embedded feature? In this article, we will understand what the Mi remote is, how it differs from the Mi Remote, what devices it works with and why it is often confused with other solutions from Xiaomi.
It’s worth clarifying right away that the name “Mi remote” can mean several products at once, from a physical control panel to a software solution in the Mi Home ecosystem. We will consider all the options, their capabilities and limitations, and give practical tips on configuration. Particular attention will be paid to compatibility with TVs, air conditioners and other household appliances not from Xiaomi – this point often raises questions among users.
What is Mi remote: physical device vs software solution
The first confusion arises from the fact that by Mi remote can mean:
- 📺 Physical IR remote (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Remote Control or Mi Remote Control) TV Stick Remote – a separate gadget with buttons for controlling equipment over an infrared port.
- 📱 Mi Remote app is a software remote in a smartphone that simulates IR signals through an IR transmitter built into the phone (if any).
It’s important to understand that Mi Remote and Mi remote are different things, although they do similar things. For example, the Xiaomi Mi Remote Control 2 can control a Samsung TV via IR, and the Mi Remote app can only control an IR port on your smartphone (as in the Redmi Note 8 Pro or POCO X3 NFC).
Another nuance: some users mistakenly call the remote Mi Control Center - this widget in MIUI for quick access to smartphone functions (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.), which is not related to the management of household appliances.
Xiaomi physical remotes: models and their capabilities
If we talk about physical remotes, Xiaomi has released several models, the most famous of which are:
| Model | Type of connection | Compatibility | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi Remote Control 1/2 | IC + Bluetooth | Televisions, air conditioning, audio systems | Support for up to 50,000 devices in the database, touch panel |
| Mi TV Stick Remote | Bluetooth + IC | Only for Mi TV Stick and Mi Box | Voice assistant, Netflix button |
| Mi Smart Projector Remote | Bluetooth | Only for Xiaomi projectors | Minimalist design, no IR |
The most versatile model is Xiaomi Mi Remote Control 2 - it can manage almost any equipment with an infrared port (even not from Xiaomi), and also supports Bluetooth connection for smart TV. The main plus is the built-in codebase for popular brands (LG, Samsung, Sony, etc.), so the setup takes literally a couple of minutes.
The Mi TV Stick Remote is less versatile, it’s designed for Xiaomi media consoles and won’t work for air conditioning, for example, but it does have a voice assistant (works through Google Assistant or XiaoAI in Chinese).
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If your Xiaomi physical remote stopped working, try resetting it to factory settings: press the Menu + OK buttons for 10 seconds.
Mi Remote app: how to turn a smartphone into a remote
If you don't want to buy a separate remote, you can use the Mi Remote app, which is available for Android (but not iOS!) and only works on smartphones with an IR transmitter.
- 📱 Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, Note 9 Pro, Note 10 Pro
- 📱 POCO X3 NFC, POCO F3
- 📱 Mi 9, Mi 10, Mi 11 (not all versions)
To check if your phone has an IR port, open the top notification curtain – if there’s a Remote icon or «IR Blaster means it's supported. If it's not, Mi Remote won't be able to control the IR (but it'll still be able to control the IR). Wi-Fi/Bluetooth smart-device).
The interface is simple: you choose the type of device (TV, air conditioning, etc.), then the brand and model (or you select the code manually), and then you can create macros, sequences of commands, for example, by one click to turn on the TV, switch it to HDMI1 and start Netflix.
How to add a device to Mi Remote if it is not in the database?
Compatibility of Mi remote with other brands
One of the most common questions is, can you control Samsung, LG or Daikin hardware with the Mi remote?
- ✅ IR devices (most TVs, air conditioners, audio systems) – supported if their model is in the Mi Remote database or physical remote.
To check compatibility, you can use the official Xiaomi database (Mi Remote Compatibility section). If your model is not there, it does not mean that the remote will not work - sometimes manual code selection helps.
⚠️ Note: Some brands (such as Apple) TV Or Bose) uses proprietary protocols that are not supported by Xiaomi remotes, and you'll have to use the original remote or universal solutions like Logitech Harmony.
How to set up Mi remote: step-by-step instructions
Let’s take a look at the Xiaomi Mi Remote Control 2:
- Turn on the device you want to control (such as a TV).
- On the Xiaomi remote, press the Menu + OK button for 3 seconds to activate the pairing mode.
- Select the device type (TV, AC, etc.) with the ↑/↓ buttons, then press OK.
- Select a brand from a list (such as Samsung) and confirm.
- The remote will send a test signal, and if the device responds, the setup is complete.
If the automatic selection does not work, you can manually re-select the codes:
- In the brand selection menu, hold OK until the Manual Code appears.
- Enter a 3- or 4-digit code from the IR code database.
- Check the buttons. If nothing happens, repeat with another code.
☑️ Preparation for setting up the Mi remote
The Mi Remote application is similar, but the setup is done in the interface of the smartphone, and the main difference is that you can save multiple remotes for different devices and switch between them in one click.
Problems and Solutions: Why the Mi remote does not work
If the remote does not respond or controls the equipment incorrectly, check the following:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The remote does not turn on the device | Wrong code in the database. | Recheck codes or manually teach |
| The buttons are not working properly. | Signal conflict | Reset the remote and reset |
| The remote does not connect via Bluetooth | The device does not support the protocol | Use IR or Wi-Fi (via Mi Home) |
| Fast battery discharge | Continuous search of devices | Disable auto search in settings |
A common mistake is trying to control smart devices via IR. For example, a Yeelight lamp won't respond to Mi Remote Control because it needs a Wi-Fi command via Mi Home. The same goes for the Mi Robot Vacuum robot vacuum cleaners, which are controlled only through the app.
⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Remote on a custom firmware smartphone (such as LineageOS), the IR port may not work due to the lack of drivers. MIUI.
Mi Remote Alternatives: What to Choose If It's Not Suitable
If the Mi remote failed your task, consider alternatives:
- 🎮 Universal remotes (Logitech Harmony, BroadLink) RM4 Pro – Support more brands and protocols, but more expensive.
- 📱 Remote applications (AnyMote, SURE Universal Remote – works on smartphones with IR, but may require the purchase of a premium version.
- 🏠 Smart speakers with IR (Xiaomi Mi) AI Speaker, Amazon Echo with Harmony Hub – Control voice technology.
- 🔌 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth-Relay (Shelly Plug, Sonoff) – for controlling sockets and lighting without IR.
For example, the BroadLink RM4 Pro can control technology by IR, RF (radio frequency) and even through the cloud, while Mi Remote Control is limited to IR and Bluetooth, but it costs 2-3 times more.
If you need a remote exclusively for Xiaomi TV or Mi Box, the original Mi TV Stick Remote is the best choice – it is cheaper than universal solutions and fully integrated into the ecosystem.
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To control the Xiaomi smart home (lamps, sockets, sensors), the remote is not needed - everything is configured through Mi Home or voice assistants (Alice, Google Assistant).