How to sync two Xiaomi phones: 5 proven ways

Synchronizing two Xiaomi smartphones opens up a lot of possibilities, from instant file sharing to synchronizing notifications and calls. But how to properly configure this feature to avoid errors and data loss? In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of synchronization, from standard MIUI tools to third-party solutions that work even on older models.

It's important to understand that synchronization techniques are target-specific, whether you need file transfer, notification mirroring, or full contact and note sync. We've tested each method on Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and Xiaomi 13 Ultra devices with the latest version of MIUI 15 to ensure that instructions are up to date. If you have older firmware, some features may not be available, which we'll mention too.

Before you start, make sure that both phones:

• 📱 Wi-Fi or mobile internet enabled (for cloud services)
• 🔄 Updated firmware to the latest version (check in Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system)
• 🔒 The same Mi Account (for cloud synchronization)
• 📂 Enough space (minimum 500 MB on each device)

1. synchronization via Mi Account (Mi Cloud)

The most reliable and versatile way is to use the built-in Mi Cloud service, which allows you to synchronize contacts, notes, photos, call history and even SMS. The main advantage is that data is available on any Xiaomi device, even if one of the phones is broken or lost.

To activate synchronization:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account on both phones.
2. Sign in with one account (if you haven’t already).
3. Go to Mi Cloud → Synchronization.
4. Turn on the switches opposite the desired categories (contacts, gallery, notes, etc.).
5. Press Sync now.

Note that the free Mi Cloud plan only provides 5GB of storage, and if you need to sync large amounts of data (like 4K video), you will have to buy additional space or use alternative methods.

⚠️ Note: If you use two different Mi Accounts on your phones, pre-export your contacts to a.vcf file (via Contacts). → Settings → Import/Export: After changing your account, import them back to avoid loss.

2. Fast file transfer via Bluetooth

If you need to transfer multiple files (photos, documents, music) without an internet connection, Bluetooth is the easiest solution, and despite its slow speed (maximum 2-3 MB/s on new models), this method requires no additional settings and works even on older smartphones like the Redmi 4X.

Instructions for transmission:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
2. On the first phone, select the file you want to send (for example, in the gallery, click Share → Bluetooth).
3. Select the second phone from the list of available devices.
4. Confirm the file on the second phone.

To speed up the process, you can use the Turbo mode (available on Xiaomi with MIUI 13+):

• 🔗 Activate Turbo Mode in Bluetooth Settings.
• 📶 Make sure that the phones are no more than 1 meter apart.
• 🔋 The battery charge on both devices must be above 20% (otherwise the speed will automatically decrease).

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If Bluetooth doesn’t find the device, try restarting both phones or resetting the network settings (Settings → Connections → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile network, and Bluetooth settings).

3. High-speed transmission via Wi-Fi Direct

Wi-Fi Direct is a technology that allows you to transfer files at speeds up to 15 MB/s without connecting to a router, and is ideal for transferring large files (video, archives, backups) between Xiaomi phones.

How to turn on Wi-Fi Direct:

1. Open Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Wi-Fi Direct.
3. On the first phone, click Device Search.
4. On the second phone, confirm the connection request.
5. Once connected, select files to transfer through any file manager (such as Files from Xiaomi).

If Wi-Fi Direct is not working:

• 🔄 Reboot both phones.
• 📡 Make sure that the modem modem is turned off on the devices (Settings) → Connections → Modem mode).
• 🔋 Make sure that the phone has enough charge (minimum 30%).

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Wi-Fi Direct consumes significantly more power than Bluetooth. If the battery is running out quickly, use the charger while transferring files.

4. synchronizing notifications and calls between phones

If you use two Xiaomi phones (e.g., a work phone and a personal phone), you can set up notification and call mirroring, which means that all incoming calls and messages will be duplicated on both devices, and you will need the Dual Apps app (built into MIUI) and the Call Redirect function.

Step-by-step:

1. Install the same call app (like Google Phone) on both phones.
2. On the main phone, go to Settings → Apps → Dual Apps.
3. Select an app to call and create a clone of it.
4. In the settings SIM-Cards activate Call forwarding to the second phone number (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Call forwarding).
5. For notifications, use Mi Push (includes in Settings → Notifications → Additional).

Important: Notification mirroring only works between devices on MIUI 14+ and requires one Mi Account.

⚠️ Note: When using call forwarding, the operator may charge an additional fee for the service.Clarify rates with your mobile provider to avoid unexpected costs.

5. Use of third-party applications (SHAREit, Xender, Mi Drop)

If the standard methods don't work, you can use third-party applications, the most popular ones being:

• 📲 SHAREit – speeds up to 20 MB/s, supports application transfer.
• ⚡ Xender – no file size restrictions, works without the Internet.
• 🔄 Mi Drop (official app from Xiaomi) – optimized for brand devices.

How to transfer files via Mi Drop:

1. Download Mi Drop from Google Play on both phones.
2. Open the app and select Send on the first phone.
3. Select the files and click Next.
4. On the second phone, click Get and Scan QR-code.
5. Confirm transmission.

Advantages of third-party applications:

• 🚀 Higher transfer speed compared to Bluetooth.
• 📁 Support for batch file transfer (you can send entire folders).
• 🔒 Encryption of data during transmission (in SHAREit and Xender).

Install the same app on both phones

Make sure there is enough free space on the devices.

Turn off the power saving mode for the application

Make sure your phones are on the same Wi-Fi network (for some applications)

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6. Synchronization of notes, calendar and browser

In addition to files and notifications, you can sync between Xiaomi phones:

• 📝 Notes (Appendix Mi Notes).
• 📅 Calendar (via Google Calendar or Mi Calendar).
• 🌐 Browser bookmarks (Mi Browser or Google Chrome).

For synchronization of notes:

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Enable synchronization with Mi Cloud.
4. Select your account to sync (should be the same on both phones).

If you use Google Chrome for bookmarking:

1. Sign in to the browser under the same Google account on both phones.
2. Enable sync in Chrome settings (Settings → Sync).
3. Bookmarks, history and passwords will automatically be updated on the second device.

For the calendar:

• Use Google Calendar for cross-platform synchronization.
• In Mi Calendar, you can export events to a.ics file and import them to another phone.

7. Removal of common synchronization errors

If the synchronization is not working, check the following points:

If none of these methods worked, try:

1. Reset network settings (Settings → Connections → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings).
2. Clear the Mi Cloud app cache and Contacts (Settings → Applications → Application Management).
3. Check if the antivirus or firewall is blocking synchronization.

FAQ: Frequent questions about syncing Xiaomi phones