Watching multimedia content on a big screen is a standard need for most users of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones. When the diagonal size of a mobile device becomes insufficient for comfortable viewing of video, a logical desire arises to broadcast the image to a TV. There are many wireless methods, such as Chromecast or Miracast, but it is a wired connection that often provides maximum stability and absence of delays.
Owners of devices based on Android often encounter connection nuances that are not obvious at first glance. In particular, using a USB cable for data transfer requires correctly setting the port operating mode. In this article we will look in detail at how to turn your Redmi into a powerful media center using a physical connection to the TV.
It is worth noting right away that simply inserting the cable into the connectors is not enough. The system MIUI or HyperOS by default can charge or operate in camera mode, ignoring the file system. To watch movies, you need to switch the communication protocol. This action is safe, but requires care when selecting parameters in the system menu.
Necessary equipment and preparation for connection
Before you begin setting up the software part, make sure that you have all the necessary physical components. The quality of the cable is critical: the cheap cords that come with some budget gadgets are often designed solely for charging and do not have data lines. You will need a high-quality standard cable USB Type-C or Micro-USB depending on the model of your smartphone.
The interface of the TV itself is also important. Modern models are equipped with USB 2.0 or 3.0 ports, which are capable of reading information from connected drives. However, if you plan to use an HDMI cable with a USB-C to HDMI adapter, the power and port version requirements increase. In a standard scenario, when the phone acts as a flash drive, any working port is sufficient.
⚠️ Attention: Using non-original or damaged cables can lead to unstable operation of the port, overheating of the device, or even a short circuit. Visually inspect the connectors for oxidation or debris before connecting.
Check whether your TV supports the file system in which the phone's memory is formatted. Usually this is exFAT or FAT32. If the TV is old and does not read modern file systems, you may need additional formatting, although if you directly connect the phone as an MTP device, this is rarely required.
Setting up USB mode in the Android operating system
After physically connecting the smartphone and TV with a cable, a system notification should appear on the screen of the mobile device. By default Android selects the "Charge Only" mode, which makes files inaccessible to the external device. You need to manually change this setting.
Lower the notification shade by swiping from top to bottom. Look for the "USB Charging" or "USB Settings" message. Click on it to expand the list of available options. To watch movies on a TV through the TV's built-in media player, you most often need to select the MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) or "File Transfer" mode.
In some cases, especially on older TV models, the PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol)mode may be required, although it is intended primarily for cameras. If the TV does not see the phone in MTP mode, try switching to PTP. This forces the phone to emulate a digital camera, which sometimes helps to bypass the limitations of Smart TV drivers.
☑️ Checking the connection
If the notification does not appear at all, the USB configuration function may be disabled in the developer settings, or the cable is damaged. It is also worth checking if USB debugging mode is enabled, although this is not strictly necessary for simple file transfers, but can help with diagnostics.
Using the phone as an external drive
The most common scenario is using a smartphone as a regular flash drive. In this mode, the TV accesses the phone's file system, reading video files directly. You do not need to launch any applications on the TV screen, just go to the signal sources menu (Source or Input) and select the appropriate port USB.
Navigation through folders is carried out using the TV remote control. The standard folder structure Android allows you to easily find downloaded movies. They are usually located in directories Download, DCIM or in the folder of a specific application, for example Telegram/Telegram Video.
It is important to consider codec limitations. Built-in TV players often do not support modern compression formats or subtitles. If the video plays without sound or the image crumbles into artifacts, the problem lies not in the connection, but in the software incompatibility of the codec HEVC or DTS.
Why does the TV not see the folders?
Some Android system folders are hidden from external access for security purposes. To ensure that the video is clearly visible, copy it to the root directory or to the "Movies" folder.
For comfortable viewing, it is recommended to use third-party player applications on the phone itself if the TV supports DLNA technology, but in direct USB connection mode you are completely dependent on the capabilities of the TV's media player.
Screen broadcast and advanced features
If your TV cannot read video files directly or you are interested in broadcasting the interface, and not just files, the situation becomes more complicated. Direct connection via a USB cable for transmitting a video signal (as via HDMI) is not supported by all Redmi models. This is only possible if you have a USB 3.0 port that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode.
For most devices with USB 2.0, direct video broadcasting via cable is not possible without special adapters. However, you can use a combination of USB connection for power and data transfer, and send the video stream over Wi-Fi using aggregator applications. In this case, the USB cable provides stability, preventing the battery from draining during long periods of viewing.
There is a method of using USB debugging to pass the image through a computer connected to the TV, but this is a complex scheme that requires the installation of ADB drivers. For the average user, it is more relevant to check video output support in the specifications of a particular model Redmi.
| Connection mode | Required cable | Video support | Transmission speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTP (Storage) | USB Data Cable | No (files only) | High |
| PTP (Camera) | USB Data Cable | No (photos only) | Medium |
| USB-C to HDMI | Adapter + HDMI | Yes (up to 4K) | Depends on the adapter |
| USB debugging | USB Data Cable | Via ADB/Scrcpy | Depends on the software |
⚠️ Attention: MIUI and HyperOS shell interfaces may differ. Menu items may have different names or be moved to different settings sections depending on the update version.
Solving common problems and errors
A common problem is when the phone is charging, but the TV says “No device” or “File not supported.” In the first case, check whether the correct mode is selected in the notification shade. Often the system resets the settings when you reconnect, and you have to reselect File transfer.
If files are visible but cannot be opened, check their format. Samsung or LG TVs may not read containers .mkv with certain audio tracks. In this case, installing a third-party player on the TV itself (if it is on Android TV) or converting the file on your computer will help.
Another problem is lack of power. If you use an active USB hub to connect several devices, the power of the TV port may not be enough to spin up the hard drive or ensure stable operation of the phone. In such cases, it is recommended to use a cable with additional power or connect the phone to a power outlet separately.
If the TV sees the phone, but the folders are empty, try rebooting both devices with the cable already connected. This helps reset the Android media service cache.
If the connection keeps dropping, replace the cable. Even if it works for charging, it requires good quality shielded wires to transfer data at high speed. The length of the cable also matters: for USB 2.0 it is not recommended to use cables longer than 2 meters without a signal amplifier.
Alternative methods for connecting Redmi to TV
If a wired connection via USB causes too many difficulties or does not give the desired result, it is worth considering wireless analogues, which often work more stable for video streaming. Technology Cast (Broadcast) is built into most applications, such as YouTube or Netflix, and allows you to display content in high quality wirelessly.
For complete screen cloning, use the "Broadcast" function in the Redmi notification shade. It works using the Miracast protocol. To do this, the TV must support Wi-Fi Direct. The picture quality in this case may be lower than with a direct connection, and delays are possible, but the ease of use outweighs these disadvantages for normal viewing.
You can also use Chromecast adapters or Android TV set-top boxes. They connect to the HDMI port of the TV and receive a signal from the phone via Wi-Fi. This frees up the phone's USB port and allows you to use the gadget while watching without draining its battery.
A wired connection is ideal for viewing heavy files with high bitrates, where Wi-Fi may not cope, but requires the correct MTP mode setting.
Why does the TV write "The file format is not supported"?
This means that the TV's built-in codec cannot decode the video or audio track. Try installing the VLC Player application on your TV (if it is a Smart TV on Android) or convert the video on your computer to MP4 format with the H.264 codec.
Is it possible to watch movies via USB if the phone's screen is turned off?
Yes, in MTP (Storage) mode, the phone can work with the screen turned off. However, some Redmi models may block data transfer when locked. Try setting the "Lock and Security" settings to allow access to USB when the screen is locked.
What cable is needed for Redmi Note 10/11/12?
These models require a cable with a USB Type-C connector. It is advisable to use an original Xiaomi cable or a certified analogue with support for USB 2.0 speeds and higher to quickly transfer large movie files.
The TV does not see the phone via USB, what should I do?
Check the USB mode in the notification shade (must be MTP). Try a different USB port on your TV. Make sure your phone's screen is unlocked when connecting. If it doesn’t help, reboot both devices.
Does a USB connection affect the picture quality?
In drive mode, the picture quality is original, without loss, since the file is read directly. When using USB-HDMI adapters, the quality depends on the capabilities of the adapter and may be limited to 1080p resolution if the adapter is budget.