Phone as a remote for the TV Xiaomi Mi TV

Modern remotes are often too cumbersome or lost at the most inappropriate time when you want to relax at the screen. Using a smartphone as a universal controller is becoming the standard for owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem, allowing you to control the TV without finding physical buttons. This solution is especially relevant for models Mi TV Stick and Mi Box, where the traditional infrared port may be absent, and voice input from the phone works faster and more accurately.

The main advantage of this approach is the deep integration of the Android TV operating system with mobile devices. You get not just a replacement buttons, but a full-fledged keyboard for quick typing in YouTube or Netflix search, which greatly speeds up navigation.

There are several ways to do this, depending on the technical equipment of your gadget and the TV model: you can use the built-in infrared radiation, if it is provided by the design of the smartphone, or go the way of wireless connection via Wi-Fi network. The choice of method directly affects the functionality: the IR port emulates a conventional remote, and Wi-Fi provides access to advanced multimedia capabilities.

Using a built-in IR port for emulation

Many flagship and mid-budget smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO They have an integrated infrared emitter on the top end of the body, and this technology allows you to turn the phone into a universal remote that can see the TV just like the original device, even without an Internet connection. For work, the standard Mi Remote application, which is preinstalled in the shell, is enough. MIUI or hyperos.

The setup process is as simple as possible and takes only a few minutes. Once the app is launched, you need to select a category of TV device and start looking for a brand. The system will offer a series of test signals that you need to respond to with buttons on the smartphone screen. If the TV responds to a command, you confirm the action by gradually collecting a working control profile.

⚠️ Warning: Make sure there are no obstacles between the top end of the phone and the signal receiver on the TV.Infrared radiation operates on the principle of line of sight, so a case with high sides can block the signal.

Importantly, this method does not require both devices to be connected to the same network, making it ideal for guest modes or situations where the router is overloaded. However, the functionality will be limited to basic commands: turn on, turn off, adjust volume and navigate through menus. Advanced features such as screen broadcasting or voice search will not work through the IR port.

• 📱 It works without Internet connection and local network.
• 🔋 Minimum impact on the battery charge of the smartphone.
• 📺 Compatible with any TV with an IR receiver.
• 🚫 No support for voice control and keyboard.

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone doesn’t have an IR port (often found in budget models or other brands), this method won’t work. IR Blaster.

Configure management via Wi-Fi and Mi Remote app

A more modern and functional way is to control over a local Wi-Fi network. Unlike infrared radiation, this method requires that both the smartphone and the Xiaomi Mi TV (or the Mi Box console) are in the same subnet, which allows you to transmit not only commands to switch channels, but also complex multimedia, and use the phone as a touchpad.

To get started, make sure that the device detection option is enabled on the TV. It usually activates automatically, but some versions of PatchWall or Android TV firmware require manual confirmation. Go to the TV settings, select Settings → About TV and check the connection status. If the devices see each other, the app on the phone will immediately suggest pairing.

Once paired successfully, the interface on the smartphone screen completely copies the layout of the original remote, but adds the ability to type text. This is critical for services like YouTube or Kinopoisk, where finding movies using the direction buttons takes too long.

Connection stability is directly dependent on the router's signal quality. If you notice delays in remote response, try moving the router closer to the TV or switching to a 5 GHz frequency, which is less loaded with neighboring networks. IP-address for the TV so that the phone does not lose contact with it after restarting the router.

Alternative apps for Android TV

While native Mi Remote is the best choice for the Xiaomi ecosystem, there are times when an alternative is needed: Third-party developers offer solutions with advanced functionality, macro support, or a more user-friendly interface, often used if the standard application is unstable on a particular version of Android.

One of the most popular solutions is Google’s Android TV Remote Control, which provides native support for Android TV protocols and is often faster in terms of transmitting video streams when broadcasting the screen, and Universal TV Remote, which combines support for infrared ports and Wi-Fi, creating a single profile database for all devices in the house.

When installing third-party software, pay attention to the permissions requested. The remote application should not require access to contacts, a microphone (other than voice search) or a gallery. Data security on the local network is important, so download programs only from trusted sources such as the Google Play Store.

• 🌐 Android TV Remote Control is Google’s official solution with minimalist design.
• 🎮 TV Remote Control – Supports gamepad emulation for simple games.
• ⚙️ Universal Remote – a huge codebase for old and rare TV models.

Broadcasting the smartphone screen on the TV

The Cast or Mi Play feature is a logical extension of the phone as a remote, and it allows you to display not only the control interface, but any content on your smartphone display, whether it's photos, gallery videos, browsers or mobile games, and it turns the TV into a huge monitor for your gadget.

To activate the broadcast in the curtain of the smartphone notifications, find the Broadcast or Cast button. The phone will start searching for available devices on the network. Select your Xiaomi TV from the list. On the TV screen, a request for confirmation of connection may appear - it must be received using the same smartphone, which now acts as a remote.

The quality of the transmitted image depends on the bandwidth of the wireless network. For comfortable video viewing in 1080p or 4K resolution, it is recommended to use the Wi-Fi 5 standard (802.11ac) or later. When using the old 802.11n standard, compression artifacts or sound desynchronization can be observed.

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To reduce latency when streaming games, close the background apps on your phone that are actively using the network, such as torrents or cloud syncs.

Solving Connection and Visibility Problems

The most common problem that users face is that the phone doesn't see the TV on the list of available devices, and 90 percent of the time it's due to the router settings that separate devices into different virtual networks, check if you have guest network enabled for one of the devices or split the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands into different SSIDs.

If the networks are the same but the connections are not, try rebooting the Wi-Fi module on both devices. Sometimes resetting the network settings on the TV through the Settings menu → Network → Network Resetting network settings helps. It is also worth checking whether the router firewall blocks local device detection (UPnP or DLNA protocols).

⚠️ Attention: If you are using VPN On a smartphone, local TV detection will not work. VPN It redirects traffic through a remote server, isolating the phone from the local home network. VPN pre-registration.

In rare cases, the problem lies in outdated software. Make sure that the latest firmware version is installed on the TV. You can update manually by downloading a file from the official website and installing it via USB, or through the About TV menu → System Update.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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Using a smartphone as a remote for Xiaomi Mi TV is not just a replacement for a lost accessory, but a way to gain advanced control over multimedia with a convenient keyboard and voice control.