How to add music to Xiaomi smartphone: all the ways 2026

Xiaomi smartphones are not only a communication tool, but also full-fledged media centers that can store thousands of tracks. However, many users face difficulties when downloading music for the first time: where to store files, how to avoid duplicates, why the player does not see the song? This article will help you understand all the nuances from basic methods to advanced life hacks for audiophiles.

We’ll look at 5 current ways to add music to Xiaomi devices (including Redmi, POCO and Mi models), compare them in speed, convenience and limitations. Pay special attention to typical errors that cause tracks to not play or lose tags. And for owners of flagship models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Mix Fold 3) have prepared a bonus: how to set up Hi-Res Audio for perfect sound.

1 Music Transmission via USB- Cable (classical method)

The most reliable way for large collections is to connect your smartphone to your computer, suitable for devices running MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS, but requires the right data mode setting.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

• 🔌 Connect your smartphone to your PC with the original cable (cheap analogues may not support data transfer).
• 📱 Select File Transfer Mode (MTP) on your phone screen. If this window is not available, check the USB- debugging settings in Settings → About Phone → Version MIUI (tap 7 times to unlock).
• 💻 The computer will open the Internal Memory → Music folder (if not, create it manually).
• 🎵 Drag tracks in.mp3,.flac,.wav formats (supported by all Xiaomi players).

Disable antivirus on PC|Use the original cable|Recharge the phone at least 30%|Create a backup of music on PC-->

An important nuance: if you connect Xiaomi to a Mac, install Android File Transfer – the standard Finder does not recognize devices on MIUI.

⚠️ Warning: Do not remove the USB- cable during transmission - this can damage the file system F2FS that Xiaomi uses on flagships. If the phone is "hang" when connected, reboot it to Fastboot (clip Volume down + Power).

2. Download music through cloud services

Cloud storage is convenient for syncing collections between devices. Xiaomi is integrated with the Mi Cloud, but its limit (5 GB) is quickly running out.

To download via Google Drive:

1. Download the tracks to Google Drive from your computer.
2. Open the Drive app on Xiaomi.
3. Find the files → press ⋮ → Download.
4. Move the downloaded tracks to the Music folder through the File Manager.

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If the music is not playing after downloading from the cloud, check the file extension. Sometimes Google Drive converts.flac to.mp3 with loss of quality. Use the.zip archives to transfer without loss.

3.Use of the Mi Music app

The branded Mi Music player is able not only to play local tracks, but also to download music from the Internet (legally, through partner services), the feature is available in regions with support for Xiaomi Music Store (Russia, India, China).

How to download music through Mi Music:

• 🎶 Open the Mi Music app (if you don't have one, download from GetApps).
• 🔍 Go to the Find → Tab, select a playlist or album.
• ☁️ Click on the cloud next to the track for download (Migret Account authorization required).
• 📁 The songs will appear in the Inner Memory → MIUI → Music.

In the Xiaomi 12S Ultra and newer Mi Music models, it supports the.mqa format (Master Quality Authenticated) – this allows you to listen to tracks in studio quality, but requires headphones with support for LDAC or aptX Adaptive.

⚠️ Warning: When downloaded via Mi Music in Russia, some tracks may only be available in 128 kbps format due to licensing restrictions.

Mi Music|Google Play Music|VLC|Poweramp|Other-->

4 Connection USB- drive or OTG- flash drive

If internal memory is not enough, you can use external drives. Xiaomi supports USB OTG (On-The-Go) on all models with MIUI 10 and later.

Required accessories:

• 🔌 Adapter USB-C → USB-A (for modern Xiaomi).
• 💾 A flash drive or external HDD with a file system FAT32 or exFAT (NTFS is not supported!).
• 🔋 Power supply for HDD (if additional power is required).

Instructions:

1. Connect the flash drive through the adapter.
2. In the notifications will appear the option "Use as USB- drive" - click it.
3. Open Files → find your drive in the Devices section.
4. Copy music into internal memory or play it directly from a flash drive (not all players support this).

5 Streaming Services: Alternative to Local Storage

If you don’t want to upload music to your device, use streaming. Xiaomi is optimized to work with:

• 🎧 Spotify (there is a version with support for 320 kbps for MIUI).
• 🎵 YouTube Music (allows you to download tracks for offline listening).
• 🎼 Yandex Music (integrated into Mi Music in Russian firmware).
• 🎹 Tidal (the only service with MQA for Xiaomi)

To save traffic:

1. In the application settings, select Sound Quality → Low (96 kbps) for mobile network.
2. Download playlists only via Wi-Fi (in Spotify: Settings → Storage → Wi-Fi only).
3. Limit background playback in Settings → Battery → Optimization.

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Streaming services consume up to 150 MB/h at a quality of 320 kbps. To save, use offline mode or reduce the bitrate to 160 kbps (the difference in sound is minimal for most headphones).

6 Advanced settings: Sound optimization

After downloading music, adjust the sound to your headphones. Xiaomi has hidden features:

Equalizer and effects:

• Open Mi Music → ⋮ → Equator.
• Choose a preset (Rock, Pop, Classic) or create your own.
• Turn on the 3D- sound for surround sound effect (works only with headphones).

Hi-Res Audio (for flagships):

• Go to Settings → Sound → Sound quality.
• Select High Resolution (24 bits/192 kHz).
• Connect headphones with LDAC support (e.g. Sony WH-1000XM5).

Dirac HD Sound setup (only for Xiaomi 12/13 series):

• Activate the Settings → Sound → Dirac Audio Tuner.
• Select a profile for your headphones (there are presets for Xiaomi Buds, Sony, Sennheiser).
• Adjust Bass and High Frequency with sliders.

7. Solving typical problems

If the music is not playing or the player does not see it, check:

Reset media settings: if the player "gluts", reset its data:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Mi Music (or another player).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Warning: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14) playback history may be lost after a player reset. To avoid this, export playlists through Settings → Export to Mi Music.

8.Alternative players for Xiaomi

The standard Mi Music isn’t for everyone, but consider the best alternatives from Google Play and GetApps:

• 🎛️ Poweramp — supports.cue,.ape, a customizable equalizer. paid (749₽), but there is a 15-day trial.
• 🎧 VLC -- plays any format, built-in converter. Free, but the interface is overloaded.
• 🎵 Musicolet -- no ad, supports folder playlists, perfect for large collections.
• 🎼 Neutron Music Player for audiophiles (support DSD, 32-bit). Costs 399₽.

For the installation of Poweramp:

1. Download APK from Google Play or GetApps.
2. When you first start, give access to Warehouse and Media Files.
3. In the settings, enable Hi-Res output and select OpenSL ES as an audio engine.

Comparison of players:

FAQ: Frequent questions