Phone as a remote for Xiaomi TV: Full instructions for setting up and using

Manage Xiaomi TV It's convenient, practical, and it eliminates the need to search for a physical remote that is lost between the sofa pillows. POCO Can completely replace the original remote control due to the built-in infrared port (IR-blaster Wi-Fi/Bluetooth-But how does it work in practice? Which models are supported and which require workarounds?

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to turn your phone into a remote for Xiaomi TV: From the standard Mi Remote app to alternative programs for devices without IR-You'll learn how to connect to a TV over a local area network, what features are available, and what to do if something goes wrong, and you'll also learn hidden chips that aren't written about in the official instructions.

Not all phones are suitable for this task, for example, the flagship models Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro.+ fitted IR-with a blaster, but POCO F5 Xiaomi 12 Lite, no, but that doesn't mean that the owners of the latter will have to accept the search for the remote: there are workarounds through Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). The main thing is to properly configure the connection.

Before proceeding to the instructions, check:

1. Does your phone have an infrared port (usually located at the top of the case)
2. Does your Xiaomi support you? TV management Wi-Fi/Bluetooth (model-hard 2020 year and newer).
3. Updated firmware on both devices (this is critical for stable operation).

1. Method 1: Mi Remote application for phones with IR-port)

Mi Remote (formerly Mi Remote Controller) is the most reliable way to manage Xiaomi TV, If your phone has an infrared transmitter, it's pre-installed on most devices. Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO, You can download it from Google Play or AppGallery if necessary.

How to set up:

1. Open Mi Remote and allow access to the camera (you need to set up) IR-signal).
2. Click Add Device → Select Television Category.
3. Find Xiaomi (or Redmi) in the list of brands TV for appropriate models).
4. Point your phone to the TV and follow the instructions on the screen to test the buttons.

If the TV doesn't respond, try:

• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 📱 Make sure nothing is blocking. IR-port on the phone (case, film).
• 📺 Check if the TV is on (some models do not accept) IR-switch-off).

Mi Remote does not support all Xiaomi models TV. For example, for Mi TV Q1 75" 2023 may require manually configuring the control code.If the automatic search didn't work, manually select the protocol. NEC1 or RC5 appliance.

💡

If the volume buttons or channels are not working properly, try Mi Remote to Settings. → The device → Redefining buttons and reassigning commands.

2. Method 2: Wi-Fi control (for phones without a phone) IR)

If your phone doesn’t have an infrared port, don’t despair. TV (Starting with 2020 models, both devices must be connected to the same router.

Instructions:

1. On the TV, go to Settings. → The device → Connection and sharing → Mi Home/Smart home.
2. Activate the Control from the Phone (or Remote Control in English).
3. On your phone, install the Mi Home app (available for Android and iOS).
4. In Mi Home, add the TV as a new device by following the customization wizard.

Once connected, the app will have a virtual remote with the main buttons: turn on, volume control, media management and access to Google Assistant (if supported).

• ⚠️ Delay in input can reach 0.5-1 seconds (depending on the speed of the router).
• 🎮 Not all models support game mode via Wi-Fi remote.
• 🔒 When changing the router will have to re-connect the devices.

Critical detail: if the TV and phone are connected to different networks (for example, the phone to the mobile Internet, and TV to Wi-Fi), control over Wi-Fi will not work.

Television and phone connected to the same Wi-Fi network|The TV is on "Control from the phone"|Mi Home app updated to latest version|Disabled. VPN and a proxy on the phone-->

Method 3: Alternative applications (for all phones)

If Mi Remote or Mi Home are not suitable (for example, due to model incompatibility), you can use third-party applications.

1. AnyMote Universal Remote (for the IR and Wi-Fi):

• 📱 Supports more than 900,000 devices, including Xiaomi TV.
• 🔧 Allows you to create custom remotes with the right buttons.
• 💰 Free version with advertising; premium — ~300 ₽.

2. Yatse: Remote for Android (Wi-Fi only):

• 🎬 Optimized for Media Management (Kodi, Plex support).
• 🔄 Works through HTTP API TV (must be included in the settings).
• ⚙️ There are widgets for quick access.

3. Unified Remote (for the purpose of Wi-Fi/Bluetooth):

• 🖥️ Supports not only TV, but also PC, Raspberry Pi.
• 🎮 There is a gaming console with analog sticks.
• 🔒 Requires installation of server software on the TV (for some functions).

How do you choose?

⚠️ Attention: When using third-party apps, the risk of data leakage is higher than with official solutions. Before installing, check the app's permissions in Google Play and user reviews. Avoid programs that request access to the app. SMS or contact.

4. Advanced functions: voice control and gestures

Modern Xiaomi TV Not only does it support basic commands from the remote, but it also supports voice control, and it also supports gesture control through the phone:

Voice assistant:

• 🎤 In the Mi Home app, click on the microphone icon and say the command (e.g., “Put Netflix on your TV").
• 🌐 Russian, English and Chinese languages are supported (depending on the TV firmware region).
• 🔇 It requires a microphone on the phone and an active Internet connection.

Gesture control:

Some Xiaomi models TV (Like Mi. TV Q2 65" supports Air Gesture Control, which is hand movement control:

1. Open the Settings. → The device → Sensors.
2. Turn on the gesture control option.
3. On the phone in Mi Home, activate Gesture mode (not available on all firmware).

Limitations:

• 👋 Gestures only work up to 3 meters from the TV.
• 🌓 In a brightly lit room, sensors may not work correctly.

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Voice control via Mi Home works even without IR-port, but requires a stable Internet connection to process commands on Xiaomi servers.

5 Problem Solving: What to Do When the Remote Is Not Working

Even with the right setup, there can be failures.

1.The TV does not respond to commands from the phone:

• 🔋 Check the phone’s charge (at low battery level) IR-port may be off).
• 📶 Make sure your phone and TV are on the same network (for Wi-Fi management).
• 🔄 Restart the TV by holding the power button for 10 seconds.

2. the buttons are not working correctly (for example, volume is controlled by channels):

• 🔧 In Mi Remote, select Settings → Redefining buttons and reassigning commands.
• 📋 Check if the application is in conflict with other programs (e.g, IR Blaster from third-party developers).

3.The app does not find the TV over Wi-Fi:

• 🔒 Turn off the firewall or VPN phone-on.
• 📡 Reconnect the TV to the router (sometimes changing the Wi-Fi channel to 2.4 GHz helps).
• 🔄 Update the TV firmware through Settings → Update of the PO.

⚠️ Note: If after updating the TV firmware Wi-Fi remote stopped working, try resetting the network settings on TV: → Network → Network resets. This will delete all the saved connections, but often solves compatibility problems.

Compatibility table of Xiaomi phones and TVs:

6 Hidden chips: what a remote phone does that you didn't know

In addition to basic features, the phone is like a remote for Xiaomi TV It can offer advanced features that are rarely mentioned in official guides:

1.Management of multiple devices:

In Mi Remote, you can save remotes for the air conditioner, projector and even Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner. For example, with one button on your phone you turn on the TV, and the other you start cleaning the Mi Robot Vacuum.

2. Automation through Google Assistant:

If your phone and TV are connected to the same Google account, you can create voice scripts:

Google, turn on Netflix on your TV and set the volume to 50%

To do this, add the TV as a device to Google Home and set up routines.

3. Game mode with touch buttons:

Apps like Unified Remote have Gamepad mode, which converts your phone's screen into a gamepad with analog sticks, which is convenient for emulators or Android games. TV.

4. Transfer of files to the TV:

Mi Home or Send Files to TV (Xiaomi allows you to send photos, videos and music directly to the TV screen without using a flash drive.

Night light mode for remote control:

Mi Remote has a hidden Night Mode option that makes the remote interface dark (relevant for use in the theater) to enable:

1. Open Mi Remote.
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ top-right.
3. Choose Dark Theme.

7.Security: How to protect your TV from unauthorized access

Controlling the TV over the phone is convenient, but it opens up potential vulnerabilities. Here's how to minimize them:

1. Turn off Wi-Fi control when it is not needed:

In the settings of the TV (Settings) → The device → Connection and sharing) can temporarily deactivate access from the phone, which will prevent accidental connections.

2. Use a separate network for smart devices:

Set up a guest network on the router and connect the TV to it, which isolates it from the main devices (laptops, smartphones with important data).

Update the firmware:

Xiaomi regularly releases security patches. check for updates once a month through Settings → Update of the PO.

4.Tune in. PIN-code:

The Mi Home app can be installed PIN-device-control:

1. Open Profile. → Security settings.
2. Activate the request PIN steering.
3. Come up with a 4-6 digit code.

⚠️ Warning: If you sell or transfer a TV to another person, be sure to reset it to factory settings via Settings → Restore and reset. Otherwise, the new owner will be able to connect to your Mi Home account!

FAQ: Frequent questions