Introduction: Can a charge be transferred between phones?
The situation is familiar to many: a friend or colleague has a phone that has gone down, and you have a Xiaomi Redmi with a charge of 50-70%. Can you quickly share energy without resorting to an outlet or power bank? The answer is yes, but with reservations. Modern Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and the flagship Redmi K50/K60) support several ways of transferring charge, but not all of them are equally effective or safe.
It's important to understand that direct charge transfer between phones (as is the case with Reverse Charging on some flagships) is not a regular feature in most Redmi models, but that doesn't mean that the task is impossible. OTG-cable to wireless technologies, and also tell you what Xiaomi models still know how to give a charge out of the box".
Before you start, check two key points: 1. Your Redmiβs charge level β if itβs below 20%, some methods may not work or even harm the battery. 2. The type of port on both phones is USB-C or Micro-USB (this will determine the choice of cable).
Method 1: Use of the OTG-cable (the most universal method)
This method works on all Xiaomi Redmi models with OTG support (that is, almost all released after 2018).
- π OTG-cable USB-C Micro-USB, depending on your Redmi).
- π± A charger cable for a second phone (for example, USB-C β USB-C or USB-A β Micro-USB).
- β‘ Your Redmi battery charge is at least 30% (otherwise the system can block power output).
Step-by-step:
- Connect. OTG-cable to your Xiaomi Redmi.
- Connect the second end of the OTG to the charging cable of the second phone.
- Connect the second phone to the assembled design.
- On your Redmi screen, a notification will appear: "Connected" USB-Charging..." means it's in progress.
Charging speeds will be low (usually 0.5-1.5W), but 5-10% charge will be enough for emergency recovery.
- β Does not work on models older than Redmi 5 (no support) OTG feed-in).
- β Some phones (such as iPhones) may not recognize this type of connection.
- β οΈ Warning: With a long charge transfer, your Redmi may overheat!
OTG support in your Redmi (Settings β About Phone β All specs)
Port type on both phones (USB-C/Micro-USB)
Charge level not lower than 30%
Original cable (low-quality cables may not transmit power)-->
Method 2: Wireless charge transfer (only for selected models)
Some flagship Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi K50 Pro, Redmi K60 Ultra) support Reverse Wireless Charging, which means that the phone can give power to other devices according to the Qi standard.
How it works:
- Activate the function in settings: Settings β Battery β Wireless reverse charging.
- Place the second phone (with Qi support) on the back of your Redmi so that the coils match (usually in the center).
- Charging will start automatically. Speed up to 5W (depending on model).
Redmi models with Reverse Wireless Charging support (2026):
| Model | Max. recoil power (W) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi K50 Pro | 5 | Requires MIUI 14+ firmware |
| Redmi K60 Ultra | 10 | Supports charging accessories (headphones, watches) |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | 3 | Only for devices with Qi |
β οΈ Warning: Wireless charging heats both phones very much.Do not use this method for more than 20 minutes in a row and do not put the devices on soft surfaces (risk of overheating!).
Why donβt all Redmi models support Reverse Charging?
Method 3: Using Power Bank as an intermediary
If direct charge transfer is not possible, you can use an external battery (power bank) as an intermediate, this method is universal and works with all models of Xiaomi Redmi, but requires the presence of the power bank itself.
Algorithm of action:
- Connect your Redmi to the power bank and charge it for 10-15 minutes (to wake up the battery of the external battery).
- Turn off Redmi and connect the second phone.
- If power bank supports two-way charging (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 3 Pro), you can connect both phones at the same time: one will give off charge, the other will take.
Advantages of the method:
- β Works with all Redmi models and other brands.
- β Safe for the batteries of both phones.
- β The speed of charging is higher than when OTG (before 18W on the supported power bank).
Disadvantages:
- β Additional equipment (power bank) is required).
- β Energy loss to be converted (up to 20% lost in the circuit).
π‘
If you donβt have a power bank, but you have a laptop, you can use it. USB-Port as an intermediary: connect Redmi to a laptop (it will start charging from it), and then connect the second phone to the same laptop.
Method 4: Charging via an adapter (for USB-C models)
This method is suitable for owners of Xiaomi Redmi with a USB-C port (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro, Redmi K50).The point is to use a special adapter (for example, USB-C to USB-C OTG), which allows one phone to act as a power source for another.
What you need:
- π adapter USB-C (male) β USB-C (female) (stands ~300-500 rubles).
- π± Cable USB-C β USB-C (It usually comes with modern phones).
How to connect:
- Insert the adapter into the USB-C port of your Redmi.
- Connect the cable. USB-C β USB-C adapter and second phone.
- On the Redmi screen, a notification will appear about the start of charge transfer.
β οΈ Note: Not all adapters support power transmission. Check the "Power Delivery" function in the description before buying (PD)" Or "Reverse Charging." Also avoid cheap Chinese adapters, which can damage the port. USB-C.
π‘
The adapter method is one of the fastest (up to 5W), but requires the purchase of an additional accessory, suitable for regular use if you often have to share a charge.
Method 5: Cloud services (if you donβt need energy, but data)
If the goal is not so much to transfer charge as to save important data (contacts, photos, documents) from a phone that is about to run out, you can use cloud services. This will not solve the battery problem, but it will help to avoid loss of information.
How to proceed:
- On the discharge phone, turn on the aircraft mode (to save charge).
- Connect to Wi-Fi or mobile internet (if the charge level allows).
- Upload critical data to the cloud: π Contacts: Contacts β Exports/imports β Exports to VCF β Google Drive. π· Photo: Gallery β Select β Send. β Google Photo. π Documents: Download to Mi Cloud, Google Drive or Yandex Drive.
On the second phone, download data from the cloud.
The advantage of this method is that it doesn't require physical connection to the phones, but it doesn't help if you:
- β A discharged phone <5% charge (not enough to load).
- β No internet access (for example, on a hike or subway).
- β You need to transfer large data (video, backup copies).
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When trying to transfer a charge from Xiaomi Redmi to another phone, users often face typical problems, and let's look at the most common and ways to solve them.
1.The phone does not give off charge through the OTG
Causes and solutions:
- π Low battery charge (<20%) β Charge the Redmi at least until 30%.
- π Unoriginal cable β Use a certified cable with data transmission support.
- βοΈ Unplugged. OTG customized β Check the Settings. β Connected devices β OTG.
2.The wireless charging does not start
- π± Incompatible models β Make sure both phones support Qi.
- π Wrong position β Try to shift the second phone to the 1-2 sideways.
- π Overheating β Let the phones cool down. 5-10 minute.
3 Power Bank doesn't charge second phone
- π Faulty cable β Try another cable.
- β‘ Too low current. β Use Power Bank with Quick Charge Support.
- π Discharged power bank β Connect it to the socket for 10 minutes.
β οΈ Note: If your Xiaomi Redmi started to warm up strongly (over 45)Β°C), immediately disable the devices! Overheating can cause the battery to bloat or the protection to go off, after which the phone will refuse to turn on.