
Mi TV Remote Not Working | Reasons & Fixes Worth Trying
Sometimes, the Mi TV remote may not work for specific reasons. Weak batteries, signal interference, and long distance are the main causes for the remote to be unresponsive. However, these problems can be easily resolved by yourself. We recommend users try the troubleshooting methods to fix the Mi TV remote not working issue. If the remote has been broken due to physical damage, you can buy a replacement remote instead of trying the workarounds.
In this article, you will learn why the Mi TV remote does not work and resolve it using DIY fixes.
Why is My Mi TV Remote Not Working
If the Mi Smart TV remote stops working unexpectedly, it is for the following reasons.
SCENARIO | REASONS |
---|---|
1 | If your Mi TV has a technical issue, it cannot receive signals from the Mi TV remote |
2 | The Mi TV remote won’t respond if the batteries aren’t charged sufficiently |
3 | If the remote has fallen from your hand, it will be prone to physical damage |
4 | The remote won’t work if you forget to pair it with your Mi TV |
5 | Since it is an electronic device, the remote might be faulty due to wear and tear |
6 | The remote may not work due to the accumulation of dust and dirt on the buttons. |
7 | If there is an obstructing object between the Mi TV and the remote |
8 | If the IR emitter on the remote is broken due to an accidental fall |
9 Ways to Fix Mi TV Remote Not Working
Follow these troubleshooting measures to fix Mi TV remote problems, if any.
Replace Remote Batteries
It is mandatory to check whether the Mi TV remote batteries have sufficient charge. If you find the batteries dead, then you should replace the old batteries with new ones.
- For this purpose, remove the battery cover from the Mi TV remote compartment and insert the brand-new batteries based on their nodes.
- It is recommended to use Duracell or Energizer AAA batteries for long-lasting.

Clean the Mi TV Remote Buttons
Sometimes, the Mi TV remote buttons may not work due to the accumulation of dirt in the gap. In these cases, the remote button will not perform the function even if you press it harder. To eliminate this problem, you need to clean the button with 99% isopropyl alcohol and cotton cloth. Just dip the cloth in the alcohol solution and wipe over the remote to clean the buttons. Also, clean the remote sensor. After that, try using it and check whether the remote issue continues. If the remote doesn’t work, move on to the next fix.

Pair the Remote
After replacing the batteries, you should pair the Xiaomi Voice Remote to know whether the remote works.
- Take your Mi TV remote, and press and simultaneously hold the MI and Home (O) buttons together.
- Make sure to keep the remote in the shortest range to your TV.
- If the remote pairing is successful, you will hear a beep sound on your Mi TV as a confirmation.
- After that, check if you can use the remote controls.

Restart Mi TV
Restarting Mi TV might fix the temporary glitches, like connection issues with the remote. Moreover, the steps to restart Mi TV are similar to Android TV, as the Smart TV comes with the Android TV OS.
1. On your Mi TV Home screen, select Settings.
2. Under Quick Settings, select Restart.
3. If you don’t find the Quick Settings, select Device Preferences.
4. Choose About and select Restart.

Soft Reset Mi TV
Sometimes, Mi TVs may get into trouble due to a power outage. If that’s the case, you can’t use the Mi TV remote. Therefore, you need to soft reset the Mi TV to fix the issue.
1. Unplug the power cable of the Mi TV from the wall outlet.
2. Keep it unplugged for about 10-15 seconds.
3. Then plug the cable back into the source and turn on your Mi TV.
Now, test the Mi TV remote by pressing all the remote control buttons.
Use the Mi Remote Controller App
Mi TV Remote App is an official application to control Mi TV from an Android device.
- You can use this app to control your Mi TV if the remote is malfunctioning or the batteries are down.
- The app is free to download from the Google Play Store.
- There is no need to connect the Mi TV to WiFi since it works by emitting IR signals from the phone.

Use Other Third Party Remote Apps
If you can’t install the official Mi TV Remote app or it doesn’t work fine on your smartphone, you can switch to other IR blaster remote apps to control your Mi TV.
REMOTE APPS | DOWNLOAD LINK | INSTALLATION GUIDE |
---|---|---|
SURE – Smart Home and TV Univ | Get it on Play Store | SURE Remote App |
Twinone Universal TV Remote | Get it on Play Store | Twinone Remote App |
Check for Object Interference
In some cases, electronic gadgets may disrupt the signals, which can be the reason for the remote not working.
- So, you should keep the speakers and soundbars in a sense that does not interfere with the TV signal.
- If you keep any objects right in front of the sensor, the TV can’t receive signals from your remote.
- Hence, you should aim the remote at the TV sensor in a direct line of sight to eliminate errors.
Hard Reset Mi TV
If the remote is still not working, you can hard reset it. To reset the Mi TV without a remote, you have to use the Mi Remote Controller app from your smartphone.
1. Unplug the Mi TV cable from the power source.
2. Open the Mi Remote Controller app.
3. Using the remote interface, turn off your Mi TV by pressing the power button.
4. Next, press and hold the OK and BACK buttons simultaneously.
5. While holding these buttons, plug the Mi TV cable back in.
6. If you see the Mi TV starts running in recovery mode, release those buttons.
7. Use the directional keys and click on wipe data/factory reset.
8. Then tap Yes to confirm the reset.
9. Once done, click on Reboot system now.
Your Mi TV will restart now and reset to factory defaults. Further, pair the remote with your Mi TV and test it.
Buy a Universal Remote
If you need a convenient option, you can opt for a new universal remote. We recommend buying a Xiaomi Mi TV universal remote, available on Amazon at a reasonable price.
Before you buy anything, read the product details and check whether your Mi TV is compatible with that remote. Furthermore, you should buy 2 AAA batteries additionally, which are not included with your purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions
If your Mi TV is under the warranty period, there is an option to fix the remote issue at no cost. You can contact the Xiaomi Service by emailing [email protected] and describing your issue.
If your Mi TV remote isn’t working after the factory reset, we suggest you use the universal remote app on your smartphone.
Restart or power cycle the Mi TV if the home button on the remote isn’t responding.