How to set up and use Android TV Box (Mi Box)

How to set up and use Android TV Box (Mi Box)

How to set up and use Android TV Box. Xiaomi launched its Android-TV set-top box, the Mi Box, in October last year, and it attracted quite a bit of interest from all fans. After all, the box includes 4K streaming support, HDR, Android TV 6.0, a Cortex A-53 quad-core CPU clocked at 2.0GHz, 2GB of RAM, and 8GB of built-in flash storage.


All of this in a beautifully crafted package, with an affordable price tag of $ 69. If you've bought the tiny but powerful Mi Box, here's how to set up and use the Android TV Box.



How to set up and use Android TV Box (Mi Box)

  • Note: This is a Mi Box setup, but the process should be the same on almost all Android TV Boxes. However, some of the pre-installed apps may be different.

Setting up the Android TV Mi Box box: prerequisites

You can connect Android TV Mi Box to a TV via standard HDMI cable. You can then connect the power supply to start setting up the Mi Box. Before setting up the Mi Box and then before connecting it to your TV, there are a couple of things you absolutely need to know. You must have:

  • A WiFi network that requires no additional logins, other than the WiFi password.
  • 2 AAA batteries for the remote control. These are not included in the package and must be purchased separately.
  • Lots of patience when entering passwords when logging into your WiFi network and when logging into your Google account.

Set the Mi Box box

Configuring the Mi Box is a rather easy task, if you are not forced to enter passwords with a remote control.




Once the Mi Box is connected to the power supply, and to the TV with an HDMI cable, the game is to follow the steps that will be shown to you on the screen. However, if you need a little more help, here are all the steps explained in detail:

  • Connect your Mi Box to power and TV with the supplied HDMI cable. Press the power button on the remote to turn it on. The Android home screen will appear, followed by the “Welcome” screen. Here you can choose your preferred language.
  • The box will then ask you if you have an Android phone or tablet at hand to quickly complete the setup. If you have it you will choose "Yes", otherwise you will choose "No".
  • Next, you need to connect the Mi Box to a WiFi network. If your WiFi network is secure, enter the password and continue.
  • The Mi Box will then connect to your WiFi network and, if the connection is successful, it will attempt to connect to Google. You will then need to log into your Google account to set up Android TV.
  • You will then have to accept the Terms of Service, Google's Privacy Policy, and so on. You will also be given the option of enabling location access for apps, as well as sending anonymous usage data to Google to improve Android TV.
  • After, the installation will be complete and you will be taken to the main Android TV interface.

This is pretty much all you need to do to set up the Mi Box and convert your HDTV into an Android TV.


Using the Android TV Mi Box box: the remote control

Now that you've set up your Mi Box, it's time to figure out exactly how to navigate the beautiful Android TV interface. The remote control supplied with the Mi Box takes care of managing the interface of your TV and it is important to understand which buttons are there and how they work.



  • The top button is the power button. You will use it to turn your Mi Box on and off.
  • Just below, there is a circular 4-way button that you can use to move around the Android TV interface and to select apps and menu items.
  • The button in the center is the navigation button, you will use it to select the highlighted option, open apps, etc.
  • Below, there are three buttons, this is what they do (functions sorted from left to right):
  • Back button: you can use this button to enter and exit the app menus.
  • Home Button: You can press this button at any time to go directly to the Android TV home interface, no matter where you are.
  • Mic Button: You can use this button to activate the microphone and to search for TV shows, movies, Google information, and so on. By the way, the microphone is located at the bottom of the remote control.
  • The last two buttons are the volume up and volume down buttons, which should be pretty self-explanatory.

Note: You can use the power + volume button to take screenshots on your Mi Box.


Mi Box Android TV: the interface

The Mi Box enjoys the Android version and the interface itself is pretty simple to understand, so you won't encounter any problems while browsing. There is a row of recommended movies to watch, followed by a number of streaming services that you can use on Android TV.

The Mi Box comes with well-known streaming apps like Netflix, Sling, HBO NOW, Hulu, etc. And if you use these services, you can simply log into Android TV and proceed with watching.



This is followed by the list of apps included in Android TV, such as: YouTube, the Google Play Store, Play Music and others, while the Settings and WiFi options you will find at the end.

Almost all Android apps can be installed on an Android TV, from the Play Store or via sideloading, however, not all Android apps work properly if they are not optimized for the TV interface.

To sum it up, it's easy to get used to the Android TV interface, with well-defined sections, large, well-designed windows for apps, and smooth overall performance.

Set up and use the Android TV Mi Box with your TV

The Android TV Mi Box is definitely a good way to convert your boring old TV into an Android powered smart TV. Also, with specs of this level and a cost that doesn't empty our wallet despite the features it provides, the Mi Box is definitely something to consider if you're interested in Android TVs.

Since the Mi Box connects to WiFi, you can easily watch videos from YouTube, stream your favorite TV shows from Netflix, and buy movies on Google Play Movies. The Mi Box is able to make you live a really great experience if you are interested in Android TV.

As always, we would like to hear your thoughts on Android TV and the Mi Box, as well as your thoughts on what it looks like and how it works. Don't hesitate to leave a comment below!

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