How to transfer files from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: all ways from Mi Share to cable

Transferring files between Xiaomi smartphones may seem like a trivial task, but in practice, users face a lot of nuances, from data limitations to compatibility issues between old and new models. If you need to urgently transfer photos from the Redmi Note 12 to the POCO X5, send videos from vacation to the new Xiaomi 14 Pro or synchronize working documents between devices, the choice of method depends on the priorities: speed, data security or lack of Internet.

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven methods of file transfer, including Xiaomi proprietary solutions (such as Mi Share and Quick Share), universal protocols (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct), as well as little-known life hacks using OTG cable and cloud services.

Spoiler: If you need to toss tens of gigabytes (like backup or video collection) 4K), If you're going to have a direct cable or a local network, you're going to be able to get past cloud services 10 or 50 times faster, and you're going to have to transfer a couple of photos. QR-code through Mi Share.

1. Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop) – a proprietary way from Xiaomi

Mi Share is a file-sharing app built into MIUI between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. It works on the principle of Wi-Fi Direct, that is, it creates a local network between phones without Internet access. The main advantage is that there are no volume limits (unlike Bluetooth), and the speed reaches 10-15 MB / s (depending on the model).

To use Mi Share, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Files app on both smartphones.
2. Select the files you want to send and click Share.
3. In the list of options, tap Mi Share (or Quick Transfer on new versions of MIUI).
4. On the second phone, confirm receipt of files via notification.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and later Mi Share may be called Quick Share (due to integration with Google services).If you don't find the app, check the Tools folder or search the system.

The pluses of Mi Share:

• 🔹 There are no limits on file size (you can transfer movies to the 4K).
• 🔹 It works without the Internet and SIM-map.
• 🔹 Supports transfer between Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and even some other branded devices (for example, Oppo or Vivo with Mi Share installed).

Cons:

• ❌ On older models (e.g. Redmi) 4X) may not be supported.
• ❌ Speed depends on version. MIUI — on MIUI 12 and below, it's way below.
• ❌ Sometimes you need to restart the application if the devices can’t see each other.

2. Quick Share (Fast Sharing from Google) – an alternative for new models

With the release of MIUI 14, Xiaomi began integrating Quick Share, a service from Google similar to Apple AirDrop. It works not only between Xiaomi devices, but also with other Android smartphones (starting with Android 10), the main difference from Mi Share is support for Internet transmission (if the devices are not on the same Wi-Fi network).

How to use Quick Share:

1. Activate Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both phones.
2. Select files in the Files or Gallery app and click Share.
3. Tap Quick Share (three wave icon)
4. Select the target device from the list (it should be displayed automatically).

⚠️ Note: If Quick Share does not appear in the Share menu, check your settings:

1. Go to Settings → Google → Devices and Sharing → Quick Share.
2. Make sure the feature is on and visibility is set to All contacts or All nearby.

Quick Share and Mi Share Comparison:

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If Quick Share doesn’t find a device, try temporarily disabling a VPN or firewall – they can block a local connection.

3. OTG cable transmission is the fastest way for large files

If you need to roll over tens of gigabytes (like a.zip backup or video collection), OTG direct cable will be the most reliable and fastest solution, with transfer speeds of 40–60 MB/s (depending on the USB version), which is 3–5 times faster than wireless methods.

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C — USB-C OTG (for new models or MicroUSB — USB-C (If one of the phones is older than 2018).
• 📱 Both smartphones should be supported OTG (Check the settings additionally → USB).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the OTG cable to the receiving phone (the one you will copy files to).
2. Connect the second end of the cable to the sending phone.
3. A notification will appear on the receiving device USB-The drive is connected - open it.
4. Select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
5. On the sending phone, open the Files, select the necessary data and copy them to the Internal Memory folder of the second device.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) plug-in OTG You may need to include a debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers → Debugging by USB). Without this, the phone will not recognize the second device as a drive.

A critical caveat: if you transfer files from phone to phone via OTG, do not remove the cable until the copy is complete – this can lead to data corruption (especially for files >4 GB in size).

4. Wi-Fi Direct is a universal protocol for all Android devices

Wi-Fi Direct is a technology that allows devices to communicate directly over Wi-Fi without a router. Unlike Mi Share, it works on all Android smartphones, including Xiaomi, Samsung and other brands, with a transfer speed of 5-12 MB/s, which is comparable to Mi Share, but without being tied to MIUI.

How to turn on Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi:

1. Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi.
2. Tap Wi-Fi Direct (on some models, the item is called additionally → Wi-Fi Direct).
3. Activate device search on both phones.
4. Confirm the connection on the second device.

After the connection, you can transfer files through any application (for example, Files or Gallery) by selecting the option Send via Wi-Fi Direct.

Advantages of Wi-Fi Direct:

• 🌐 It works between any Android devices.
• 🔗 Doesn't require the Internet.
• 📶 Speed is faster than Bluetooth.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi) A2 Wi-Fi Direct may not be on the menu – then use Mi Share.
• ⚠️ Transferring large files (>1 GB) connection may break – it is recommended to break the data into parts.

5. Bluetooth is slow but reliable for small files

Bluetooth is the most versatile but also the slowest way to transfer, and it is suitable for small files (photos, documents up to 50 MB) when there is no cable or Wi-Fi at hand. Speeds rarely exceed 1-2 MB / s, and on older versions of Bluetooth (4.0 and below) can drop to 0.5 MB / s.

How to transfer files over Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
2. Make one of the devices visible (detectable option).
3. On the second phone, find the first device in the list and connect to it (code confirmation is required).
4. Select files in the Files or Gallery app, click Share → Bluetooth and select the target device.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 13+ When you transfer files over Bluetooth, they automatically store them in the internal Bluetooth folder. If you don't have a folder, create it manually through Files.

When to use Bluetooth:

• 📎 For contact transfer (.vcf files).
• 📄 For small text documents (.pdf,.docx).
• 🎵 To send music in a format MP3 (not FLAC — It's too long).

What can not be transmitted via Bluetooth:

• ❌ Video in the video 4K full HD (will be transmitted for hours).
• ❌ Archives size >100 MB (high risk of connection breakdown).
• ❌ Apps (.apk) – better to use Mi Share.

6 Cloud services – convenient, but dependent on the Internet

If you have stable Wi-Fi or mobile Internet, you can use cloud services like Mi Cloud, Google Drive or Telegram, which is convenient for remote transmission (for example, if the phones are in different rooms) or for backup before resetting.

Comparison of cloud services for Xiaomi:

How to transfer files via Mi Cloud:

1. On the sending phone, open Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for Gallery or Files (if necessary).
3. Upload files to the cloud manually (via the Mi Cloud app).
4. On the second phone, log in to the same Mi Account and download files.

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Drive, please note that the free space (15 GB) is shared between mail, photos and documents. If you exceed the limit, downloads will stop (>5GB is better to use Mi Share or OTG.

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Cloud services are convenient for transferring files from a distance, but are not suitable for large amounts of data due to speed and tariff restrictions.

7. Local area network (FTP-server) - for advanced users

If you need to transfer files between Xiaomi and a computer or other phone on the same Wi-Fi network, you can run it. FTP-This allows you to access files through any browser or file manager, the speed depends on the router, but usually 10-30 MB/s (faster than the cloud).

How to set up FTP-server:

1. Install the FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer app from Google Play.
2. Open the application, go to the section Network → FTP-server.
3. Click Start Server (Default Port 2221).
4. Remember the address of the form ftp://192.168.x.x:2221.
5. On the second device, open a browser or file manager and enter that address.

Advantages of FTP:

• 🖥️ It works between devices on the same network (even with the same network). Windows/Mac).
• 📂 You can transfer entire folders without archiving.
• 🔄 Supports the resumption of interrupted transmission.

⚠️ Attention: Do not use FTP For sensitive data (e.g. document scans) to be transmitted on public Wi-Fi networks, traffic is not encrypted. SFTP (If supported by the application, or use Mi Share.

FAQ: Frequent questions about file transfers between Xiaomi