Like with other Mi devices launched in India over the last couple of years, the company’s latest budget wonder — the Redmi 4 — also comes with an IR blaster. While other OEMs have ditched the IR blaster on their devices, Xiaomi remains the only company that continues to offer this handy sensor on its devices.

Even Xiaomi’s cheapest handset in India, the Redmi 4A, features an IR blaster. Using the IR blaster and the bundled Mi Remote app, one can control almost any home appliance near them right from their phone. This includes electronic devices like TV, AC, refrigerator, music system, and more.

Xiaomi’s excellent Mi Remote is also incredibly helpful and allows one to take full advantage of the IR blaster. The company regularly updates the database of the app with more devices which has now ensured that it has an extensive library of supported devices.

What makes the Mi Remote app even better is that it can prioritise the list of remotes added to it depending on your location. So, if you are in your home, the list will automatically arrange itself to list those devices first that are in your home. This happens automatically without any user intervention or any additional input.

Additionally, you can also set Mi Remote to automatically display the remote for a particular (or multiple) device on your lock screen when you are at your home, office, or any other pre-specified location. This way, you can quickly control the device from the lock screen of your handset.

How To Use Mi Remote To Control Electronic Devices like TV on Redmi 4A and Redmi 4

Step 1: Open the Mi Remote app on your Redmi 4 or Redmi 4A . If you are using the stock launcher, the app is located inside the Tools folder. Do make sure that your Redmi device is connected to the internet during the setup process since the app will download the database of compatible apps as you move forward.

Step 2:  Tap the Add remote option and select the category of the device that you would like to add.

Step 3: Once you have selected the appropriate category, select the manufacturer and finally the model of the device.

Step 4: You will then be prompted to point the phone towards the device (AC in my case) and press the on-screen button. Keep the button pressed until your device responds as the app will automatically cycle through the various IR codes. As a form of feedback, your phone will vibrate slightly when it sends a command over the IR blaster. Once the device in question responds, make sure to leave the on-screen button.

Step 5: Press Yes under the ‘Does the device respond’ question. You will then again have to point your phone towards the device and press an on-screen button. Release the button once the device responds. Confirm your selection by pressing Yes again.

Step 6: Finally, you can now enter a name for the device and add a shortcut to quickly control it from your home screen. Depending on the remote of the device that you have added, all the options to control it will be displayed on-screen. If not, additional functions will be hidden under the ‘More functions’ option, though, the most common ones will already be available on-screen.

Remember that whenever you use the Mi Remote app, make sure to point the device that you want to control. And if one of your devices is not supported by the Mi Remote app, make sure to use the feedback tool in the app to let the Xiaomi team know about it. Chances are, they will end up adding support for it in the app within the next few weeks.