Modern smartphones Xiaomi Smart TVs have powerful screens and excellent multimedia components, but even the highest-quality display can't compare to a home theater. Every smart TV owner has the urge to watch an interesting movie or family video on the big screen. Fortunately, the ecosystem Android Provides a variety of built-in and third-party tools for wireless image transmission.
You don't need to search for cables or buy complicated adapters if both devices are connected to the same network. Wireless data transmission technologies have come a long way, allowing you to stream high-definition content without lag. In this article, we'll cover all the current methods for playing videos from a Xiaomi phone to a TV via Wi-Fi, using standard system features and proven apps.
The setup process may vary depending on your operating system version. MIUI and your TV model. We'll cover universal methods that work in most cases, as well as highlighting frequently overlooked nuances. Proper equipment preparation is the key to successful synchronization.
Basic requirements and equipment preparation
Before setting up, you need to ensure your infrastructure is ready to handle heavy video streaming. A fundamental requirement is that the smartphone and TV are on the same local network. If your router broadcasts on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, ensure both devices are connected to the same frequency, as some older protocols may not recognize devices on different subnets.
The quality of your wireless connection directly impacts image stability. For video streaming in 4K or Full HD It is recommended to use a Wi-Fi standard not lower than 802.11acA weak signal can lead to desynchronization of sound and image or the appearance of compression artifacts.
- 📱 A Xiaomi smartphone with enabled Wi-Fi and the latest version of MIUI.
- 📺 A TV with Smart TV support or a connected set-top box.
- 📡 A router that supports the Wi-Fi Direct or DLNA standard.
- 🔋 The phone battery is sufficiently charged or connected to a charger.
⚠️ Attention: If your router has a Guest Network or AP Isolation feature, enabling this option will prevent devices from seeing each other on the local network, making broadcasting impossible.
It's also worth checking for software updates on both devices. Manufacturers frequently release patches that improve protocol stability. Miracast And ChromecastOn TVs with Android TV Updates come automatically, but on models with proprietary systems (such as Tizen or WebOS), it's best to check them manually through the settings menu.
Using the built-in "Broadcast" function (Miracast)
The fastest and most native way to display an image is to use the built-in Android system function, which in MIUI is called "Cast." This method is based on the standard Miracast, which allows you to transmit a video signal directly from your phone's screen to your TV screen without using a router (Wi-Fi Direct technology), although the router can act as a connection coordinator.
You don't need to install any third-party software to activate this feature. Simply pull down the notification shade and find the "Cast" icon (sometimes hidden in an additional button editing menu). Once enabled, the phone will scan for available devices. If your TV supports the standard, it will appear in the list.
Some TV models require you to manually enable the connection. For example, on Samsung this is a feature Screen Mirroring, on LG — Screen Share, and on Sony devices, it's screen mirroring. After selecting the TV, a confirmation prompt will appear on the smartphone screen, which you'll need to accept with the remote control.
It's important to understand the difference between the two modes. In screen mirroring mode, everything that happens on your phone is displayed on the TV. This is convenient for presentations or showing a photo album, but if you receive a message or minimize a video, everyone in the room will see it. Some apps, such as YouTube or Netflix, may block the output of protected content via Miracast due to restrictions HDCP.
Image quality in this mode depends on the strength of your phone's Wi-Fi module. If you notice lag, try reducing the screen resolution in your phone's settings or moving closer to the router.
☑️ Check before connection
Broadcast via YouTube app and streaming services
The most popular use case is watching videos on YouTube, which uses a more advanced protocol. Google Cast (Chromecast built-in). Unlike Miracast, the phone in this case only acts as a remote control, and the TV downloads the video stream directly from the internet.
This means that video quality isn't dependent on your phone's Wi-Fi connection speed, but rather the internet speed of your TV. To start streaming, open the app. YouTube On your smartphone, click the TV icon in the corner of the video and select your device from the list.
The advantage of this method is the ability to control playback, pause, or add videos to the queue without interrupting viewing. You can use the phone screen for other tasks, chat on messengers, or even turn it off, and the video will continue playing on the TV.
- 🎬 Ideal for watching long movies and TV series.
- 📉 Minimal power consumption by the smartphone battery.
- 🚫 Not suitable for streaming videos from the gallery or local files without conversion.
- ✅ Supports high resolution up to 4K HDR.
⚠️ Attention: For Google Cast to work, the service must be installed and enabled on your TV. Older Smart TV models may require a firmware update or an external Chromecast device.
A similar operating principle is used in applications Netflix, IVi, Okko and other online cinemas. Look for the distinctive rectangle icon with Wi-Fi waves. If the icon is gray and unclickable, check if your phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV—this is a common cause of errors.
Transfer local files via DLNA and third-party apps
The situation becomes more complicated if the video file is stored on your Xiaomi device rather than in an online service. Android's built-in tools don't always correctly transfer local files to the TV. This is where media player apps that support the technology come to the rescue. DLNA or UPnP.
One of the best solutions is the app VLC for Android or Xiaomi Mi Video (in global versions). After opening a video in the player, click the "Cast" or "Broadcast" button. The app will scan the network, find your TV (which must support DLNA Rendering), and begin streaming.
Unlike screen mirroring, with DLNA streaming, the phone only sends the data stream, and the TV handles the decoding. This reduces the load on the smartphone's processor. However, if the video format is specific (for example, with rare codecs), the TV may not understand it, and you'll see a black screen with audio playing.
What should I do if my TV can't see the files?
Make sure the Media or Gallery app is running on your TV, which puts it into DLNA standby mode. Some TVs go into sleep mode and become undiscoverable on the network if the remote control isn't used for more than 5 minutes.
For advanced users, it's possible to set up a media server directly on your phone, although more often the server is a PC or NAS, with the phone simply managing playback. You can also use aggregator apps such as Castify or Web Video Castor, which are able to "slip" links to video files to the TV, making it think that it is an online broadcast.
Comparison of video transmission technologies
To better navigate connection methods, it's helpful to understand their technical differences. Each protocol has its own strengths and weaknesses, depending on the task you're trying to accomplish.
| Characteristic | Miracast (Broadcast) | Google Cast (YouTube) | DLNA (Players) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signal source | Phone screen | Internet (server) | Phone/PC memory |
| Phone addiction | High (requires active screen) | Low (remote control only) | Medium (buffering) |
| Picture quality | Dependent on Wi-Fi Direct signal | Maximum (up to 4K) | Depends on the TV codec |
| Battery consumption | High | Minimum | Average |
The choice of method depends on the content. For demonstrating the interface of applications or games, it is definitely necessary Miracast. Ideal for watching movies from online libraries. Google Cast. And for viewing an archive of home videos shot in format HEVC or AVI, the best option would be a combination of the player and DLNA.
It's worth noting that modern TVs often combine these features. For example, when trying to stream a video from the Xiaomi gallery, it may automatically prompt you to use the built-in Cast feature if the TV supports the necessary profiles.
Solutions to common problems and errors
Even if all instructions are followed, technical issues may still occur. The most common problem is devices not seeing each other. In 90% of cases, this can be resolved by rebooting the router. Network services on the router may freeze, preventing them from correctly routing the broadcast packets needed for device discovery.
Another common problem is audio and video desync. If the audio lags behind the picture, try adjusting the "Audio Delay" or "Audio Sync" settings in your TV settings. A congested Wi-Fi channel could also be the cause.
- 🔄 Restart your router, phone, and TV (unplug them completely for 10 seconds).
- 📶 Check if your phone has a data or power saving mode that blocks background networking.
- 🔒 Make sure your router doesn't have MAC address filtering enabled.
- 📲 Update the YouTube app and Google Play system services.
⚠️ Attention: Antivirus programs or firewalls installed on your router or ISP network may block ports used by the DLNA and Cast protocols. Try temporarily disabling your protection to check.
If nothing helps, you can use a wired connection via an adapter USB-C to HDMIThis is guaranteed to provide a lag-free picture, although it will deprive you of the benefit of wireless freedom. However, for modern Xiaomi models that support USB 3.0 video output, it's an excellent alternative.
In conclusion, the Xiaomi and Android ecosystems offer flexible multimedia tools. Once you master the basic principles of Wi-Fi networks and data transfer protocols, you can enjoy content on the big screen in any quality.
Why doesn't my phone see my TV in the list of devices?
Most often, the problem is that the devices are on different subnets (for example, one on a guest network and the other on the main network) or the router is blocking data exchange between clients (AP Isolation). Also, check if Multi-screen interaction is enabled on your TV.
Is it possible to stream video with a delay (lag)?
Latency is typical for Miracast technology due to the real-time encoding and decoding of the video stream. With Google Cast, latency is minimal, as buffering occurs on the TV's end.
Does broadcasting use a lot of internet traffic?
When using Miracast, the internet is completely ignored; data is transmitted directly. When using YouTube or online movie theaters, the data usage is the same as if you were watching the video directly on your TV, regardless of the device being used.
Does my Xiaomi support wired streaming?
To work with a USB-C to HDMI cable, the phone's port must support the DisplayPort Alt Mode standard. This feature is found on Xiaomi's flagship series (Mi 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and Pro versions), while budget models (Redmi Note) often lack this feature.