Reverse charging on Xiaomi: A complete guide to technology and usage

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones have long since ceased to be just “phones to call,” becoming versatile gadgets capable of performing dozens of functions, from managing a smart home to working as a powerbank. One of the most useful but often underappreciated features is reverse charging (or reverse charging), which allows your Xiaomi to power other devices: headphones, fitness bracelets, a second smartphone, or even an electric toothbrush.

Many users don’t even know their phone supports this feature, or are afraid to use it for fear of battery life. Meanwhile, reverse charging can help on a trip when there is no socket at hand, or help a friend who has a phone that has gone down. In this article, we will discuss what reverse charging is, how it works on Xiaomi smartphones, what models support it, and how to use it correctly so as not to damage the battery.

You will also learn about the hidden settings that allow you to optimize the process, and about the typical mistakes that users make, and at the end of this article, answers to the most common questions and life hacks that will make using reverse charging even more convenient.

What is Reverse Charging and How Does It Work

Reverse charging is a technology that allows a smartphone to act as a wireless or wired powerbank. Instead of only consuming power, the phone can give it to other devices via cable or by air (if wireless charging is supported).

On a physical level, the process looks like this:

1. A smartphone defines a connected device as a “consumer” of energy.
2. The power controller switches the direction of current from "input" to "output".
3. Energy begins to be transferred from the phone battery to the connected gadget.

It's important to understand that reverse charging is not the same as OTG. USB OTG allows you to plug in flash drives or keyboards, but it doesn't transfer power. Reverse charging requires a protocol that not all smartphones support.

On Xiaomi smartphones, reverse charging is implemented in two ways:

• 🔌 Wireless cable. USB-C (Micro-USB on older models).
• 📶 Wireless – according to Qi standard (only on flagships with support for Wireless PowerShare).

What Xiaomi models support reverse charging

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are capable of recharging, a feature that is available primarily on flagship and some mid-budget models, and below is a table of current devices (for 2026) that support reverse charging:

If your model isn’t listed, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exactly support the feature.Some devices (like Redmi K50 Gaming) have reverse charging, but it’s disabled by default and requires activation via ADB or an engineering menu.

How do I check for support?

1. Connect another device to your phone via cable.
2. If the notification “Return Charging is activated” appears, the function works.
3. If not, try to turn it on manually (instruction below).

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On some Xiaomi models, reverse charging only works at a battery level above 20%.If the phone is discharged, the function can be blocked.

How to turn on reverse charging on Xiaomi

If your smartphone supports reverse charging, you can activate it in a number of ways. Let's look at each of them.

Method 1: Through standard settings (for most models)

1. Connect another device to your Xiaomi via a USB-C (or Micro-USB) cable.
2. Unlock your phone and wait for the “Return Charging” notification to appear.
3. Click on the notification and confirm activation.

Method 2: Through the Engineering Menu (for hidden function)

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##4636##.
2. Go to the section "Battery Information".
3. Find the Reverse charging option and turn it on.

Method 3: Through ADB (for advanced users)

adb shell settings put global reverse_charge_enabled 1

This command unlocks reverse charging on models where it is software-enabled (e.g., on some versions of the Redmi Note 11 Pro).

Make sure your phone has a charge level above 30% |

Use the original USB-C| cable

Turn off power-hungry apps on your phone |

Check that the connected device supports charging on USB-->

Limitations and Risks of Reversible Charging

Despite the convenience, reverse charging has several important limitations that are worth knowing about:

1. Charging speed

• ⚡ Maximum reversible charging power on most Xiaomi is 5 watts (for comparison: standard charging of the phone is 18-120 watts).
• ⏳ Charging another smartphone from your Xiaomi will take 3-5 times longer than from the outlet.

2. Battery heating and wear

Recharge the phone warms up more than normal, because the power controller is in a non-standard mode, and prolonged use of reverse charging (over 30 minutes in a row) can accelerate battery degradation by 5 to 10 percent per year.

3. Compatibility of devices

• 📱 Not all smartphones can charge from another phone, for example, the iPhone requires a certified Lightning cable and may not recognize the power source.
• 🎧 Wireless headphones (such as AirDots) are charged only via the Qi wireless protocol.

⚠️ Note: Do not use reverse charging if the temperature of the phone is above 40°C. Overheating can cause the function to automatically shut down or even damage to the battery.

How to minimize damage to the battery

To prevent reverse charging from shortening your Xiaomi battery life, follow these guidelines:

1. Control the temperature.

• 🌡️ Do not use the function in direct sunlight or in a hot room.
• 📉 If the phone gets hot, interrupt the charging and let it cool.

2. Watch the charge level.

• 🔋 Don’t discharge your phone below 20% when recharging – this puts additional stress on the battery.
• ⚡ Optimal range for reverse charging – 30-80%.

3.Use quality accessories

• 🔌 Cheap cables can cause voltage surges, which is harmful to the power controller.
• 🛡️ For wireless charging, use certified devices (e.g. Qi cases).

4. Update firmware

Newer versions of MIUI often optimize power management algorithms, such as MIUI 14 adding a feature to automatically turn off reverse charging when overheating.

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Regular use of reverse charging reduces battery life by 1-2% per month and is recommended to use it only in emergency cases.

Hidden Reverse Charging Chips on Xiaomi

Few people know, but on some Xiaomi models, reverse charging has additional features:

1. Charging through OTG-hub

If you connect a USB-C hub with multiple ports to your phone, you can charge multiple devices at the same time (e.g. headphones and fitness bracelets), but the total power will be shared between them.

2. Wireless charging in Power Bank mode

On flagships (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Mix Fold 3) you can put the phone down and place on its back another device with support for Qi. The phone will automatically start transmitting power.

3. Automatic timer shutdown

In the engineering menu of some models there is a hidden setting reverse_charge_timeout, which allows you to set the time of automatic switching off reverse charging (for example, through 20 minute).

4. Charging from another Xiaomi

Two Xiaomi smartphones can be back-to-back (if both support Qi) and one will charge the other wirelessly.The speed will be low (about 2-3 watts), but on the trip this can save the situation.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users have trouble using reverse charging, and here are the most common errors and solutions:

1.The phone does not recognize the connected device

• 🔌 Check the cable – it should support data transfer (USB 2.0 or higher).
• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• ⚙️ Put the debugging on. USB in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — press 7 times).

2. Charging begins and immediately stops

• 🔋 Phone Charge Levels Below 20% – Charge It.
• 🌡️ The phone is overheated - let it cool for 10-15 minutes.
• 🛠️ Update the firmware - in older versions MIUI There are food control bugs.

3. Slow charging speed

• ⚡ Use a support cable USB Power Delivery (marking) PD).
• 📵 Turn off mobile internet and Wi-Fi on your donor phone.
• 🔄 Try another port (if you charge through the hub).

⚠️ Warning: If after using reverse charging, the phone starts to discharge quickly, perform battery calibration: completely discharge it before turning it off, then charge to 100% without interruptions.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions