Modern Smart TVs from Xiaomi (working on the basis of Android TV) open up vast multimedia possibilities, allowing you to display images from a laptop without unnecessary wires. This is especially convenient for watching high-definition movies, giving presentations, or playing heavy games on a large screen when the HDMI cable is lost or simply out of reach. Wireless connectivity ensures a clean décor and flexibility in equipment placement.
However, the setup process may vary depending on your laptop's operating system and TV firmware version. Users often encounter subtle nuances, such as different data transmission standards or signal frequency requirements. In this article, we'll cover all the current device synchronization methods in detail, so you can enjoy content without lag or artifacts.
The main goal is to provide a stable communication channel that will transmit a video stream with minimal compression. Wireless technology Today, it's possible to achieve quality that's practically equal to a wired connection, provided the network is properly configured. We'll explore both built-in operating system features and specialized applications.
Network requirements and equipment preparation
The foundation of a successful broadcast is a high-quality local network. To transmit video in high resolution 1080p or 4K A stable, high-bandwidth channel is required. If the router and receiver are in different rooms or separated by load-bearing walls, the signal may degrade, causing audio and video to become out of sync.
It is critical that the laptop and TV Xiaomi were connected to the same access point. Users often make the mistake of connecting one device to a guest network and another to the main network, or using different frequency bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), which in some router configurations can prevent the devices from discovering each other.
⚠️ Attention: Some router models have an "AP Isolation" feature that prevents devices within the network from communicating. If your TV isn't detecting your laptop, check your router settings and disable this feature.
You can use built-in utilities or third-party programs to diagnose connection quality. Make sure the drivers Wi-Fi adapter on the laptop have been updated to the latest version, as older versions may not work correctly with modern media transfer protocols.
- 📡 Make sure both devices are within a strong signal reception area (no further than 5-7 meters from the router).
- 🔌 Check that your router does not have separate guest and main networks enabled for your devices.
- ⚡ Update your TV's firmware via the menu
Settings → About TV → System update.
It's also worth considering the channel load. If someone in the household is actively downloading large files or playing online games while streaming, the picture quality on the TV may degrade. Prioritizing media streaming traffic in your router settings (QoS) can significantly improve the situation.
Mirror your Windows screen using Miracast
Windows 10 and 11 operating systems have built-in support for the technology Miracast, which allows you to broadcast your screen image without installing additional software. Televisions Xiaomi Android TVs also support this standard, often calling it "Wireless Monitor" or "Cast."
To get started, press the button with the application icon on your TV remote control or select a signal source Input, then find the Wireless Display app. Once launched, a message will appear on the screen stating that it is waiting for a connection. On a laptop, press the key combination Win + K.
The "Connection" panel will appear on the right, where the system will begin searching for available devices. Once your TV's name appears, Xiaomi, click on it. A permission request may appear on the TV screen—confirm it with the remote. After that, the laptop screen will be cloned to the TV.
☑️ Check before connecting Miracast
It's important to understand the difference between the operating modes. You can duplicate the screen (copy the image) or extend the desktop. In the latter case, the TV will become a second monitor, allowing you to display only the movie window, leaving your work windows on the laptop. Configuration is done via Settings → System → Display.
What to do if the connection is interrupted?
If the connection drops after short periods of time, try lowering your laptop's screen resolution or refresh rate. Another possible cause could be overheating of the TV's Wi-Fi module after prolonged use.
Miracast technology creates a direct connection Wi-Fi Direct between devices, which reduces the load on the main router, but requires both devices to support this standard. In rare cases, antivirus software or Windows Firewall may block incoming connections, so if problems occur, it's worth temporarily disabling protection to test.
Using the Cast feature in the Google Chrome browser
If the built-in Windows tools are unstable or you only need to broadcast the contents of a browser tab, the ideal solution is Google ChromeThe browser has a built-in Chromecast mechanism, which is natively supported by the operating system. Android TV on Xiaomi TVs.
To launch, open your browser, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Broadcast... (Cast). The system will prompt you to select a device for casting. Unlike Miracast, here you can choose to cast a specific tab, the entire desktop, or a media file.
The advantage of this method is hardware acceleration of video decoding on the TV, which reduces the load on the laptop's processor. However, if you're streaming your entire desktop through Chrome, latency may be higher than with the system's Miracast.
It's worth noting that image quality when streaming through a browser depends on the strength of your internet connection and processor. When viewing 4K video through a tab, you may experience stuttering if the Wi-Fi channel is congested. In this case, it's better to use local file playback via a media server.
Setting up a DLNA media server for local files
For watching movies stored on your laptop's hard drive without having to cast the entire screen, the technology is ideal DLNAIt allows the TV to see folders containing media files on the computer as network drives and play them natively using built-in codecs.
This feature is built into Windows 10 and 11, but it's often disabled by default. You'll need to open "Media Streaming Settings" in Control Panel and allow access for your TV. XiaomiAfter this, your computer will appear in the TV's signal source menu (often in the Media or Gallery app).
| Protocol | Purpose | Delay | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miracast | Screen cloning | Low/Medium | Depends on the signal |
| Chromecast | Tabs and media | Average | High (hardware) |
| DLNA | Local files | Absent | Original (uncompressed) |
| AirPlay 2 | Apple devices | Low | High |
If the media server does not start or works slowly using standard Windows tools, it is recommended to install specialized software, for example, Plex or Universal Media ServerThese programs automatically convert videos to a format compatible with your TV if the native codec isn't supported, and feature a more user-friendly interface with cover art and descriptions.
When setting up DLNA, make sure the network type in Windows is set to "Private" and not "Public." In the Public profile, the system blocks device discovery for security reasons, making it impossible to connect the TV to the media library.
Connecting Apple MacBook laptops (AirPlay)
For equipment owners Apple I was the luckiest one, since many modern TVs Xiaomi Android TV supports the protocol AirPlay 2This allows you to display your macOS or iOS screen natively on your TV, without installing any apps.
Check for AirPlay support in your TV settings: go to Settings → AirPlay and make sure the feature is enabled. On a MacBook, click the "Screen Mirroring" icon in the menu bar (the two rectangles) and select your TV from the list.
If your TV model doesn't officially support AirPlay, don't despair. On the platform Google Play Store inside the TV you can find emulator applications such as AirScreen or Receiver for AirPlayThey create a virtual receiver that the MacBook sees as a native Apple TV device.
- 🍏 Make sure Bluetooth is turned on on both your MacBook and TV (often required for initial pairing).
- 🔒 When you first connect, a 4-digit code may appear on the TV screen, which you need to enter on your laptop.
- ⚙️ In the AirPlay settings on your TV, you can select the code-requiring mode: “First time only” or “Every time”.
Using third-party emulators can introduce a slight delay in image transfer, which is critical for games but unnoticeable when watching videos or presentations. Free versions of such apps often have limited runtimes or display ads upon launch.
Troubleshooting and diagnostics
Even with proper setup, issues can still occur. One of the most common problems is the TV not showing up in the list of available devices. In 90% of cases, this can be resolved by rebooting the router and clearing the app cache on the TV (Settings → Apps → All Apps → Wireless Monitor → Reset).
Another common scenario is audio and video desynchronization. This can be resolved by changing the audio settings in Windows: right-click the speaker, select "Sounds," find the output device (your TV), go to Properties, and in the "Advanced" tab, try changing the default format to 16 bit, 44100 Hz or 48000 Hz.
⚠️ Attention: Android TV interfaces and settings menus may vary depending on the operating system version and regional firmware. If you don't find an exact match for a menu item, look for equivalent names.
If the image is choppy or has low resolution, check the Wi-Fi channel load. Use Wi-Fi analyzer apps on your smartphone to find a clear channel or switch to the 5 GHz band, which is less noisy and offers higher throughput.
In rare cases, the problem lies with the power-saving settings of your laptop's Wi-Fi adapter. Go to Device Manager, find your wireless adapter, open its properties, and in the Power Management tab, uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to connect a laptop to a Xiaomi TV without a router?
Yes, this is possible using Wi-Fi Direct technology, which is used when connecting via Miracast (Wireless Display). In this case, the laptop and TV create a direct wireless connection, bypassing the router. However, the laptop won't be able to connect to the internet unless it has a second network interface (such as Ethernet or a 4G modem).
Why is the picture worse when connected via Wi-Fi than via HDMI?
Wireless connections are susceptible to interference and have limited bandwidth compared to cables. To save bandwidth, the video stream is often compressed, which can lead to compression artifacts, especially during fast-paced scenes. Furthermore, input lag is always higher over Wi-Fi, making this method less suitable for competitive gaming.
The TV sees the laptop, but says “Connection error”.
This could be caused by codec incompatibility, outdated Wi-Fi drivers, or an antivirus blocking the connection. Try temporarily disabling Windows Firewall. Also, make sure the Wireless Monitor app on your TV is updated via the Google Play Store.
How can I transfer sound to a TV if the video is playing but the sound remains on the laptop?
Click on the speaker icon in the Windows tray (lower right corner), click on the name of the current playback device and select your TV from the list Xiaomi or a device marked NVIDIA Shield / Android.