Modern Xiaomi TVs, which are based on the Android TV operating system, are powerful multimedia centers that can play content in high quality. However, built-in speakers do not always cope with the transmission of all the nuances of sound, or the user simply more convenient to control the playlist from a smartphone, in such cases, connecting a mobile device via Bluetooth becomes the ideal solution for creating a home acoustic system without unnecessary wires.
The process of syncing gadgets may seem complicated only at first glance, but it actually takes only a couple of minutes.It is important to understand that Xiaomi Mi TV and most Redmi TV models support standard audio transfer protocols, which ensures compatibility with both Android smartphones and iPhone.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the steps of connectivity, explore the potential challenges, and suggest alternatives if the standard method for some reason fails. You will learn how to activate hidden functions, improve sound quality, and avoid delays in playback. Get ready to turn your TV into the center of a music party.
Preparation of equipment and compatibility check
Before you start pairing, you need to make sure that your equipment is technically ready to work. Not all Xiaomi TVs have a built-in Bluetooth module, especially for budget series or very old firmware versions. You can check the presence of the module in the documentation or through the system settings menu by finding the Settings → Repairs and Connections section.
It is also critical that both devices are in sight, the distance between the phone and the TV should not exceed 5-7 meters, and the presence of thick walls or working microwave ovens can significantly degrade the signal.
Note the operating system version. For the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) protocol, which is responsible for stereo sound transmission, the TV must have up-to-date firmware installed. Outdated software may contain bugs that block audio devices from connecting.
⚠️ Note: If the TV menu does not have Bluetooth, this does not always mean that it is not physically available. On some Xiaomi models, the module may be disabled software or require the installation of an additional driver through the engineering menu.
Check the battery power on both devices. The process of searching and pairing consumes a lot of power, and if the phone goes into power saving mode during setup, the connection may break.
Activation of Bluetooth mode on Xiaomi TV
The first step to a successful connection is to put the TV in visibility mode. MIUI for TV or pure Android TV interface may vary slightly depending on the region and model, but the logic of action remains the same. You need to get into the main settings menu, which is usually indicated by the gear in the upper right corner of the screen.
In the menu that opens, find the peripheral section, which can be called Add Accessories, Bluetooth, or Remotes and Accessories, and that's where the TV starts scanning the airwaves and becomes visible to external gadgets.
☑️ Checking before connection
After logging into the Bluetooth menu, make sure that the activation slider is moved to the "On" position. If the system requests confirmation of the action, agree with it. Now the TV will go into the waiting mode of connection, and its name (for example, Xiaomi TV or Android TV) will be searchable.
In some cases, if the list of previously connected devices is full, the new gadget may not be decided, it is recommended to remove old, unused pairs from the TV memory, which will free up the module resources and speed up the process of discovering a new device.
Setting up a smartphone to transmit audio
Now, we're going to get to the mobile device setup. Whether you're using a Xiaomi smartphone, a Samsung smartphone or an iPhone, the algorithm will be the same. Open your phone's settings and go to the Bluetooth section. Make sure the switch is activated and lit in blue.
The system will automatically search for available devices. Your TV's name should appear in the "Available Devices" list. If you see "Not Connected" next to the TV's name, just click on it. A pairing confirmation request may pop up on the TV screen at that point.
It's important to distinguish between types of connections. The phone can suggest connecting as an "Audio device" or as a "Remote." To transfer music, you need to choose the audio option. If you choose the remote mode, the phone will control the volume and playback, but the sound will remain in the speaker of the smartphone.
Once successfully paired, the status will change to Connected. Now, when you run any media file on your phone, the sound must be automatically broadcast through the TV's speakers. If that doesn't happen, check the audio output settings in the player app itself.
Step-by-step instructions for pairing devices
For those who prefer to follow the algorithm, a detailed sequence of steps will help avoid most of the typical errors that occur in the initial setup.
- Turn on the Xiaomi TV and wait for the full desktop load.
- On the remote, press the Settings button (cogs) or go to the settings through the top menu.
- Select Remote and Accessories (or similar).
- Click Add Accessory and make sure Bluetooth is on.
- On your smartphone, open Settings → Bluetooth and start a search.
- In the list, find your TV (e.g. MI TV 4A) and click on it.
- Confirm the pairing code on the TV screen and on the phone if it appears.
Once you've done this, you'll be able to connect, and to check, play any track in the music app, and if the sound came from the TV, it's a success.
| Phase | Action on TV | Action on the Phone | The result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Preparation | Entrance to Settings | Turning on Bluetooth | Both devices are ready. |
| 2. Search. | Add an accessory | Scanning devices | Displaying the name TV |
| 3. The conjugation | Code confirmation | Pressing the name TV | "Connected" status |
| 4.Verification | Volume control | Launching music | The sound is coming through TV. |
If there is an error at some point, try restarting both devices and repeating the procedure, and often a temporary failure in the communication modules is solved by simply restarting the system.
Using the Mi Remote application for management
While the standard Bluetooth protocol allows audio transmission, for deeper integration and playback management, Xiaomi smartphone owners should pay attention to the Mi Remote app, which is often pre-installed on the system, but can be downloaded from the Google Play store.
The app allows you to use your phone as a full-fledged remote control with advanced functionality, so you can not only switch tracks, but also control the volume of the TV, which is especially convenient if the physical remote is lost or is far away. Synchronization occurs either through the IR port (if any), or by Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.
The Secret Feature of Mi Remote
To connect through the app, launch it, click Add Device, and select TV. Follow the instructions on the screen to pair, and then the phone will know the state of the TV's media player and will be able to control the flow of data more efficiently than standard OS tools.
The use of the application is especially relevant if the standard Bluetooth connection is unstable or has a large latency.The software method of management often compensates for the interface lags.
Solution and alternative methods
It's not always easy to connect first. Users may experience a situation where devices see each other, but the connection is not established, or the sound is missing, most often the problem lies in the cache of Bluetooth services or the conflict of profiles.
Try removing the device from the phone's paired list and "forget" the TV in its settings. Then clear the cache of Bluetooth and Bluetooth MIDI apps in the Applications section → All Apps → Show system processes. After cleaning, restart the equipment.
⚠️ Note: If the TV doesn’t produce sound, check if the “Media Audio Only” mode on the phone is activated, which can block system sounds, or vice versa, make sure that the Bluetooth settings of the phone for connected TV are ticked “Media Audio".
If Bluetooth is lagging, which is common when watching videos, try alternative methods, such as the Cast function over Wi-Fi Direct, which provides a more stable channel with high bandwidth, and you can also use an AUX cable if the TV model has the appropriate 3.5 mm input.
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To minimize delays when playing games or watching videos via Bluetooth, turn off other active Bluetooth connections (headphones, watches) on your phone to free up the channel.
In extreme cases, if the Bluetooth module on the TV is defective, you can purchase an external Bluetooth transmitter that connects to the optical output (S/PDIF) or AUX of the TV and transmits sound to wireless headphones or speakers, bypassing the built-in defective module.
Optimizing the quality of sound and codecs
The quality of the audio transmitted depends on the codec used. Standard SBC codec provides basic quality, but modern Xiaomi smartphones and TVs can support more advanced formats such as aptX, aptX HD or LDAC.
You can check and change the codec in the "Developers" menu on an Android smartphone. However, it is worth remembering that the TV must also support the selected codec. If the TV only supports SBC, then turning on the aptX on the phone will not increase the quality, but only increase the load on the battery.
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The sound quality is limited to the weakest link in the chain: if the TV only supports SBC, then even if there is an LDAC on the phone, the sound will be compressed to SBC.
For high-resolution enthusiasts, it’s worth considering connecting external acoustics via optical output if the TV’s built-in speakers don’t meet the requirements. Bluetooth is still a compromise between convenience and quality due to the inevitable compression of data.
Regularly update your TV firmware. Xiaomi engineers are constantly working to improve the stability of the Bluetooth stack and add support for new codecs in MIUI TV system updates.