How to sync two Xiaomi smartphones: all the ways of 2026

Why synchronization between Xiaomi devices is more profitable than competitors

Xiaomi’s ecosystem has long since ceased to be just a collection of individual gadgets — today it is a full-fledged infrastructure where smartphones, tablets, smart watches and even household appliances communicate almost instantly. But what if you need to transfer contacts, photos or notes not to a laptop or the cloud, but directly from one Xiaomi phone to another? It turns out that the brand has several unique tools for this — from the built-in feature of Mi Cloud to the Xiaomi Quick Share (formerly Mire), which works faster than AirDrop.

Unlike Samsung or Apple, where synchronization is often tied to a single ecosystem account, Xiaomi offers flexibility: you can share files even without registering in Mi Account, using local networks or Bluetooth. At the same time, data transfer speeds via Wi-Fi Direct in the Xiaomi ecosystem reach up to 20 MB / s – this is 2-3 times faster than the standard Bluetooth 5.0. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of synchronization, their pros and cons, as well as nuances that are not written in the official instructions.

Method 1: Sync with Mi Account (Cloud)

The most reliable and versatile method is the use of the branded Mi Cloud service, which is suitable for automatic synchronization of contacts, notes, photos, call history and even some system settings, the main advantage is that the data is available on any Xiaomi device where you have logged in under the same account.

How it works:

• 📱 Both phones must have the same Mi Account (check Settings). → Xiaomi account).
• ☁️ Enable synchronization of the desired data: go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud and activate sliders opposite Contacts, Gallery, Notes, etc.
• 🔄 Wait for synchronization to be completed (time depends on data volume and internet speed).

One important caveat: Mi Cloud only provides 5GB of storage for free, and if you need to sync large volumes (like 4K video), you'll either have to clean the cloud or buy extra space. Prices for 2026:

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience), sync via Mi Cloud may not work. In this case, move to local methods (Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth).

Method 2: Xiaomi Quick Share (Fast Wi-Fi Direct)

Xiaomi Quick Share (formerly known as Mi Share) is an analogue of Apple’s AirDrop, but for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. It allows you to transfer files of any size without an Internet connection using Wi-Fi Direct technology. Transfer speeds up to 10-20 MB / s (depending on the phone model).

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Files app (or Gallery if you are transferring photos/video).
2. Select the files you want and click Share → Xiaomi Quick Share.
3. On the second phone, turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, then select it from the list of available devices.
4. Confirm the receipt of files on the second phone.

Advantages of the method:

• 🚀 High speed – faster than Bluetooth 5-10 times.
• 🔒 Security – Data is transmitted directly, without cloud servers.
• 📱 Cross-platform – works even between Xiaomi and the Redmi/POCO.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Xiaomi Quick Share can be called Mi Share or Quick Transfer. If you don't find it on the menu, upgrade to the latest version of the firmware. MIUI 14+.

Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both phones |

Update MIUI to the latest version|

Charge both devices at least 30% |

Remove unnecessary files to speed up the process-->

Method 3: Sync via Bluetooth (for small files)

If you need to transfer a few photos, a contact or a small document, and you don’t have Internet at hand, classic Bluetooth will do. Despite the low speed (on average 1-2 MB / s), this method is reliable and works even on older Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi 4X or Mi A1).

How to synchronize data:

1. On both phones, turn on Bluetooth in the notification panel or through Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
2. Make the devices visible (click on “Search for Devices” or “Make them visible”).
3. On the first phone, select a file → Share → Bluetooth → Select a second phone.
4. Confirm reception on the second device.

Limitations of the method:

• 🐢 Slow speed – not suitable for video or large photo packs.
• 🔋 High battery consumption – Bluetooth consumes energy for long periods of transmission.
• 📱 Not all file types are supported (for example, some.apk formats may not be transferred).

Method 4: Use of third-party applications (ShareMe, Xender)

If you don't like Xiaomi's built-in tools, you can use third-party apps.

• 📲 ShareMe (formerly Mi Drop) is the official app from Xiaomi, but with advanced features.
• ⚡ Xender – a cross-platform solution for transferring files between Android, iOS and PC.
• 🌐 Send Anywhere – Allows you to send files through six-digit code generation.

Example of working with ShareMe:

1. Install the app on both phones (you can download it from Google Play or App Gallery).
2. Open ShareMe on the first phone, select files and click “Send”.
3. On the second phone, click "Get" and scan. QR-first-device.
4. Confirm transmission.

Advantages of third-party applications:

• 🌍 It works on all devices, not just Xiaomi.
• 📈 Often support Wi-Fi Direct transmissions up to 30MB/s.
• 🔧 Additional features: file compression, transmission history, support for.zip archives.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party apps, turn off mobile internet on both phones to avoid traffic consumption. Some programs (such as Xender) by default try to upload files through the cloud if Wi-Fi is disabled.

💡

Before transferring large files through third-party apps, close all background tasks on both phones, which will speed up the process by 20-30%.

Method 5: Sync through Google Account (for contacts and calendar)

If you don’t want to use Mi Cloud, you can sync contacts, calendar and email through Google Account, which is universal and works on any Android device, including Xiaomi.

Instructions:

1. On both phones, add the same Google Account (Settings → Accounts → Add an account).
2. Turn on sync: go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync and activate the necessary items (contacts, calendar, Gmail).
3. Wait until the synchronization is complete (usually takes 1-2 minutes).

Pros of the method:

• 🔄 Automatic synchronization in the background.
• 📱 It works even if one of the phones is not from Xiaomi.
• 🆓 Google Drive Cloud (15 GB per account).

Cons:

• 🚫 Does not sync photos, videos and notes (only contacts, calendar, mail).
• 🔒 Data is stored on Google servers, which can be critical to sensitive information.

💡

Google Account is the best choice for syncing contacts if you change phones frequently or use devices from different brands.

Method 6: Local synchronization via OTG cable or computer

If you don’t have access to the Internet or Wi-Fi and need to transfer large amounts of data (for example, a backup copy of.zip or 4K video), you can use an OTG cable or a computer as an intermediary.

Option 1: Direct connection via OTG-adapter

• 🔌 Buy it. OTG-adapter (stands) ~200–500 ₽) cable USB-C to USB-C (For new Xiaomi models).
• 📱 Connect the first phone to the adapter and the second to the adapter via a standard cable.
• 📁 On the first phone, select the "File Transfer" mode» (MTP) And copy the data as if it were a flash drive.

Option 2: Computer-assisted

1. Connect both phones to your PC via USB.
2. Copy files from the first phone to the computer.
3. Move them to the second phone.

Advantages of the method:

• 🚀 Maximum speed - up to 40-60 MB / s (depending on the version) USB).
• 🔋 Does not drain the battery (unlike Wi-Fi or Bluetooth).
• 📦 Suitable for transferring any files, including system backups.

⚠️ Note: When connecting through OTG Make sure the phone has enough battery power. Some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro) can quickly discharge when running in mode. USB-host.

Comparison of all synchronization methods: which one to choose?

To make it easier for you to determine, we have compiled a comparative table on key parameters:

Selection recommendations:

• 📱 If you need to sync your settings and contacts, use Mi Cloud or Google Account.
• 🚀 For fast photo/video transfer – Xiaomi Quick Share or ShareMe.
• 💾 For backups or large files — OTG-cable.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi synchronization