Configure Mi TV Remote with Any Cable/DTH Set-Top Box
Juggling two remotes every time you want to switch channels- one for the TV, one for the set-top box -gets old fast.
If you own a Mi TV, there’s a genuinely simple fix. With one small accessory and a few minutes of setup, your Mi TV remote can control your cable or DTH set-top box directly, no matter which operator you’re with.
This guide walks through exactly what you need, how to wire it up, and how to configure it through the Sensy TV app; plus what to do if it doesn’t work on the first try, since STB variations are common enough that a bit of trial and error is normal.
Quick Answer: What You Need and How It Works
You need a Mi IR Cable Set-Top Box Controller (sold separately by Xiaomi), which plugs into your Mi TV’s USB port and sits facing your set-top box. Once connected, you configure it through Settings > Sensy TV Guide (or the standalone Sensy TV app on older models), and your Mi TV remote will then control channel changes on your STB directly. It works with virtually any IR-based set-top box, regardless of the operator (Airtel, Tata Play, Den, Hathway, or a local cable operator), since it transmits standard infrared signals rather than anything operator-specific.
What Is the Mi IR Cable Set-Top Box Controller?
The Mi IR Cable is a small hardware accessory that acts as a bridge between your Mi TV remote and your set-top box.
It converts the command sent from your TV remote into an infrared (IR) signal your STB can understand and act on, essentially teaching your Mi TV remote to “speak” the same language your original STB remote does.
It only works with Mi TVs, and it’s compatible with set-top boxes that have a built-in IR sensor, which covers the overwhelming majority of Cable/DTH boxes sold in India across more than 48 brands and 3,500+ regional operators.
Related: Best Mi TVs in India: Which Is the Right One for You?
What You’ll Need Before You Start
- A Mi TV (the accessory doesn’t work with non-Xiaomi TVs)
- The Mi IR Cable Set-Top Box Controller, available on the Mi.com website
- Your existing cable or DTH set-top box, powered on and working normally
- A clear line of sight between where the IR cable will sit and the front of your STB
Pricing for the IR cable has varied slightly across listings (commonly seen between ₹199–₹249 plus shipping), so it’s worth checking the current price directly on the Mi.com store before ordering.
If your original Mi TV remote is lost, damaged, or simply not pairing reliably anymore, a genuine Mi TV replacement remote (available on Amazon) is worth picking up before you start this setup. A faulty original remote is one of the most common reasons this whole process fails at the first step.
How to Set Up the Hardware
Step 1: Connect the IR Cable to Your TV
Plug the Mi IR Cable into any available USB port on your Mi TV. This end simply draws power from the TV. It doesn’t need any special port.
Step 2: Position the IR Transmitter End
The other end of the cable houses the actual IR transmitter. Place this end so it faces directly toward the front panel of your set-top box, ideally within a foot or two and with a clear, unobstructed line of sight. It should be in the same way your STB’s original remote needs a clear line to work.
Step 3: Confirm Your STB Is Powered and Idle
Make sure your set-top box is switched on and sitting on its normal home/live TV screen before you begin software configuration. Some STB models won’t respond correctly to setup commands if they’re mid-boot or showing a menu screen.
Related: Google TV vs Android TV: What’s the Real Difference?
How to Configure It Through the Sensy TV App
Step 1: Open Sensy TV Guide
On most current Mi TVs, this is accessible directly from Settings > Sensy TV Guide, though on some older models it appears as a standalone Sensy TV app on the home screen.
Step 2: Follow the On-Screen Setup Wizard
The app will walk you through a guided setup. Select your operator/service provider (Airtel Digital TV, Tata Play, Den, Hathway, GTPL, or your local operator), and the app will attempt to auto-detect the correct IR profile for your STB brand and model.
Step 3: Test Channel Changes
Once configuration completes, try changing channels using your Mi TV remote. If the STB responds correctly, you’re done. Your single remote now controls both the TV and the set-top box.
Step 4: Retry with a Different Profile If It Doesn’t Work
If channel changes don’t register, it’s usually because your specific STB model uses a slightly different IR command set than the one auto-detected.
Go back into the Sensy setup and manually try alternate remote/operator profiles through trial and error until one responds correctly. This is a known limitation with STB variety, not a fault in your setup.
Related: IPTV vs Cable TV in India: Which Should You Actually Choose?
What the Mi TV Remote Can and Can’t Control on Your STB
It’s worth setting expectations correctly here. The Mi IR Cable primarily handles channel changes and basic navigation on your set-top box.
It does not control STB-specific volume. Your STB’s audio still routes through your TV, so use your Mi TV remote’s regular volume buttons, which control the TV’s output level directly rather than the set-top box itself.
Advanced STB functions ( recording, on-demand menus, or provider-specific apps) typically still require the original STB remote, since these go beyond simple channel-change IR commands.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Channels don’t change at all: Double-check the IR transmitter end has a genuinely clear, close line of sight to your STB’s front sensor. Furniture, glass cabinet doors, or even a dusty sensor window can block the signal entirely.
Some channels work, others don’t. This usually points to an incomplete or slightly mismatched IR profile for your exact STB model. Try re-running the setup and selecting a different sub-variant of your operator if the app offers one.
The remote worked before but stopped suddenly. Check that the IR cable hasn’t been accidentally unplugged or knocked loose from the USB port, and confirm your STB hasn’t been swapped or upgraded by your operator, since a replacement box can carry a different IR command set.
Setup wizard doesn’t recognise your operator. Not every regional or smaller cable operator is pre-listed. In this case, try the generic/universal profile option if Sensy offers one, or reach out to the Sensy support team directly at their listed email for help identifying your STB’s specific IR codes.
Nothing works after multiple attempts. Confirm your STB actually has a built-in IR receiver. A small number of modern boxes, particularly some newer Android-based STBs, use Bluetooth remotes exclusively and don’t have an IR sensor at all, in which case this method won’t work regardless of configuration.
Related: Best DTH Services in India (2026): Which DTH is Best For You?
Alternative: Using the Mi Remote App on Your Phone
If you’d rather not buy the IR cable, Xiaomi phones with a built-in IR blaster can run the separate Mi Remote Controller app, which turns your phone itself into a universal remote for TVs, STBs, ACs, and more.
This is a different tool from the Mi TV remote setup covered above. It uses your phone’s own IR blaster rather than the TV-connected cable. But it’s a useful fallback if you have a compatible Xiaomi phone handy and don’t want to buy additional hardware.
How to Pair (or Re-Pair) Your Mi TV Remote
If your actual Mi TV remote itself needs pairing ( separate from the STB configuration above), point it at your TV from about 20cm away and press and hold the Mi button and Home button simultaneously until you hear a confirmation beep.
You can view all paired remotes and accessories under Settings > Additional Settings > Remote & Accessories.
How to Unpair or Reset Your Mi TV Remote
There’s no dedicated hardware reset button on the Mi TV remote.
To unpair it, go to Settings > Additional Settings > Remote & Accessories, select your remote from the list, and choose Unpair.
From this same menu, you can also rename the remote or check its battery percentage, which is a handy way to confirm it’s still holding charge before assuming a fault is with the IR configuration rather than the remote itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
It only works with Mi TVs, since it relies on the Sensy TV Guide software built into Xiaomi’s smart TV platform.
Yes, it’s designed to work across more than 48 DTH/cable brands and thousands of regional operators, provided your STB has a standard IR sensor.
No, STB volume isn’t controlled through this setup. Audio routes through your TV, so use your Mi TV remote’s normal volume controls instead.
It’s sold directly on the official Mi.com India store, typically priced in the ₹199–₹249 range plus shipping, though it’s worth checking the current listed price before ordering.
Try a generic or universal profile if the Sensy app offers one, or contact Sensy’s support team directly for help identifying the correct IR codes for your specific box.
Some Mi TV models have been tested to work with devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Apple TV 4K, though compatibility isn’t guaranteed across every streaming device the way it is with standard IR-based cable/DTH boxes.
The IR cable is primarily built for channel-change commands; more advanced STB functions like on-demand menus or recording still typically require your original STB remote.
If your original STB remote requires a direct line of sight to work (rather than working through walls or at any angle), it’s IR-based and compatible with this setup.
No, the setup is configured for one STB profile at a time; switching between two different boxes would require reconfiguring the Sensy setup each time.
No, it draws power directly from the Mi TV’s USB port, so no separate charger or battery is needed.
Try re-running the Sensy TV Guide setup from scratch, since TV software updates can occasionally reset IR configuration profiles.
If you have a compatible Xiaomi phone with a built-in IR blaster, the Mi Remote Controller app offers similar functionality directly from your phone as an alternative.
Keep it as close as practical with a clear, unobstructed line of sight; generally within a foot or two gives the most reliable results, similar to how a standard remote performs best up close.
There’s no hardware reset; instead, unpair it via Settings > Additional Settings > Remote & Accessories, then re-pair it using the Mi + Home button combination.
The core process is consistent, though on some older Mi TV models Sensy appears as a separate downloadable app rather than being built into Settings. Check your model’s app menu if you don’t see it directly under Settings.
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Wether Mi IR cable control the volume etc of STB or control only channel.
As of now, you can’t control the STB volume directly through the Mi TV remote other than the volume control for the TV.