How to transfer data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi over Bluetooth

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to transfer information when buying a new device. The question of how to transfer data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi over Bluetooth remains relevant, especially when there is no Wi-Fi router at hand or mobile Internet is unstable. Although modern methods like Mi Mover use Wi-Fi Direct for speed, classic Bluetooth remains a versatile tool for transferring small amounts of data without first setting up the network.

The process of sharing files between devices in the same ecosystem has its own features that make life easier for the user. The MIUI shell and its current version of HyperOS offer built-in synchronization mechanisms, but the basic blue tooth protocol works at the system level. You do not need to install third-party applications if your goal is to quickly send several photos or contact.

But it's important to note that Bluetooth transmission speeds are far inferior to wired connections or cloud services. If you plan to carry gigabytes of media or a full copy of the system, this method can take hours. However, for fast transfer of documents on the road or in the absence of other communication options, this method remains a reliable and time-tested solution.

Preparing devices for synchronization

Before you start transferring, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to go. First of all, check the battery level on both devices. Although Bluetooth consumes less power than Wi-Fi, the long process of searching and transmitting can drain the battery, which will lead to a connection interruption.

Turn on the wireless module on both devices. To do this, lower the notification curtain and click on the appropriate icon, or go to settings via Settings → Bluetooth. Make sure your Xiaomi device is visible to other gadgets. In some versions of MIUI, the visibility screen opens automatically when the module is turned on, in others manual confirmation is required.

• 🔋 Charge both smartphones to at least 50% to avoid sudden shutdown.
• 📱 Unlock the screens of both devices to confirm the pairing request.
• 🔍 Make sure that device names are different so you don’t confuse them in the list of available devices.

⚠️ Note: When pairing devices, a request for input may appear PIN-The standard code is often 0000 or 1234, but modern Xiaomi usually just show the same numerical value on both screens to confirm a match.

It is important to understand that to transfer files successfully, they must be stored in local memory. If you are trying to send photos from the Google Photos or Xiaomi Cloud cloud, first make sure that they are uploaded to the device. Otherwise, the system may try to send only a link to the file, and not the object itself.

Setting up visibility and finding devices

To flip the data, your phone has to "see" the person you're talking to. Unlike the iPhone, which uses AirDrop with instant detection, in the Android and MIUI world, you sometimes need to manually run the scan. Go to the Bluetooth menu and click "Device Search" or "Scan."

If the device doesn't appear in the list, check if it's hidden in the privacy settings. On the receiving phone, go to Settings → About → All settings → Device name and make sure it's set correctly. Sometimes switching visibility mode to advanced (if available in your HyperOS version) helps.

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If devices can’t see each other, try temporarily disabling mobile internet (3G/4G/5G) on one of them, which can resolve priority conflicts between network modules.

Once detected, click on the name of the smartphone you want, a pairing request window will appear on both screens, a pairing key is a temporary digital code that guarantees connection security, and don't confirm action if the codes on the screens are different.

Once paired successfully, the devices are stored in memory; later, when the module is turned on, they will automatically connect within range, which will speed up the retransfer of files.

Transfer of files through a standard interface

The easiest way to send an object is to use the context menu of a gallery or file manager. Open the desired photo, video or document. Press the Share button (usually a three-dot icon or arrow icon).

The system will suggest you select a device from a list of paired devices. Select your second Xiaomi. A window will pop up on the receiving side requesting the file to be accepted. The user must click "Accept." Then the data copying process will begin.

Transfer speeds depend on the Bluetooth protocol version (4.0, 5.0, 5.2 and higher) and the type of file being transferred. Text documents fly instantly, whereas 4K video can be transmitted for several minutes. Progress bar will show the remaining time, but it is often approximate.

The received files are saved by default to the Bluetooth folder in internal storage. The path to them usually looks like an Internal Drive → Bluetooth. In the gallery, they can be displayed in a separate album or in a general stream depending on the MIUI sorting settings.

Using the Mi Mover application for data migration

While the question was “slip over Bluetooth,” it’s much more efficient to use Mi Mover’s built-in app for mass data migration between Xiaomi, which uses Wi-Fi Direct technology, which works on principles similar to Bluetooth (search and pair devices), but provides speeds comparable to cable.

Run Mi Mover on both phones. The app is usually in the Tools or Services folder. On the old device, select I send, on the new device, select I'm the recipient, and the system will create an access point to connect to.

The app allows you to select specific categories of data: contacts, call logs, messages, apps and their data, as well as multimedia, which makes Mi Mover an indispensable tool for a complete smartphone replacement.

It is important to note that Mi Mover may not migrate some system settings or passwords from Wi-Fi networks for security reasons, and once the migration is complete, it is recommended to check the operation of mission-critical applications, especially banking ones.

Solutions and connection errors

Despite the system's fine-tuning, users may encounter errors, and one of the most common problems is "failure to send a file" or endless waiting, often due to a crowded clipboard or background processes blocking the connection.

Try clearing the Bluetooth cache. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. From the menu, select Show System Processes (three dots in the corner). Find the Bluetooth or Bluetooth MIDI Service list and click Clear → Clear Cache.

• 🔄 Reboot both smartphones – it solves 90% of problems with suspended communication modules.
• 📶 Make sure that the distance between the devices does not exceed 5-7 meters.
• 🚫 Remove the old pairing from the device list and create_pairing_ freshly.

⚠️ Note: If files are corrupted during transfer (for example, a photo is partially opened), the problem may not be in Bluetooth, but in the lack of free memory on the receiving device.

Some versions of Android and MIUI have a limit on the size of one file transmitted through a standard Bluetooth interface (often around 1-2 GB). For larger video, it is better to use Mi Mover or cable.

Alternative methods of rapid transmission

If classic Bluetooth seems too slow and Mi Mover doesn’t work for some reason, there are other ways built into Xiaomi’s ecosystem, such as Quick Share, which combines Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies to transfer large files instantly.

To activate Quick Share, lower the notification curtain and find the appropriate icon. Turn it on both devices. The mechanism is similar to Airdrop: you select a file, the system finds a device nearby, and the transfer begins automatically after confirmation.

Another option is to use Xiaomi Cloud or Google Drive cloud storage, where you download data on one device and access it instantly on another by logging in to the same account, which requires a stable internet connection, but eliminates the need to keep phones close to each other.

The choice of method depends on your current conditions. Bluetooth is ideal for a couple of photos in the elevator. Mi Mover is ideal for moving to a new phone. Cloud or Quick Share is the way to work with documents in the office. Combine these tools for maximum efficiency.

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The fastest way to transfer data between Xiaomi is through the Mi Mover app, which runs over Wi-Fi Direct, not the classic Bluetooth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)