Xiaomi’s current smartphones have enormous potential to work with a file system that goes far beyond just storing photos and music. One of the most sought-after features for advanced users is the ability to connect to other devices on the local network directly through an integrated file manager, allowing data to be exchanged between a phone and a computer, a TV or network storage without using cloud services, which greatly speeds up the process and does not require Internet traffic.
The standard Mi File Manager Explorer, or its HyperOS and MIUI counterpart, supports both SMB and FTP protocols, making it a versatile content management tool. However, many users have difficulty first configuring where to look for the network add button or why the phone can't see the computer. In this article, we'll take a closer look at each step needed to successfully pair devices.
Using a local connection is not only convenient, it is also secure. Your data does not leave the boundaries of your home network, which eliminates the risk of leakage through third-party servers. In addition, the speed of transferring files over a Wi-Fi router often exceeds the speed of downloading to the cloud, especially if you have a charging Internet or a low connection speed with the outside world.
Network preparation and device compatibility check
The first and most critical condition for successfully adding a remote device is to have all your gadgets on the same subnet.This means that your Xiaomi smartphone and your computer (or NAS, or Smart TV) must be connected to the same Wi-Fi router. If your router is broadcasting two networks (such as 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), make sure that the devices are not isolated from each other by the router’s security settings, although in 99% of cases they see each other automatically.
On a Windows computer, you need to activate network discovery. Without this step, the phone will not physically be able to tap into your PC folders. To do this, open the control panel, go to Network and Internet and find the sharing options. Here you need to enable the option "Enable Network Discovery" and "Enable File and Printer Sharing".
⚠️ Note: If you use public Wi-Fi (cafe, airport), the remote device option will likely not work due to network security policies that block direct connections between customers.
It’s also worth checking that both devices have current dates and times.Dissynchronizing the clock can cause an authorization error when you try to log in, as security protocols may find the certificate invalid.Make sure the Windows firewall doesn’t block incoming connections for the SMB protocol.
There's an extra layer of control for Xiaomi routers, and in the Mi Wi-Fi app, you can list the connected devices and make sure they don't have a guest mode that defaults to isolating the devices from each other, which is a common reason why the phone sees the router but doesn't see the computer.
Xiaomi Explorer Interface: Where to Look for Network Function
The interface of the standard Explorer app on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, but the logic remains the same. At the bottom of the screen is a navigation bar where we are interested in a tab, often designated as Network, Remote, or having a computer/antenna icon.
If you don't see this tab right away, try clicking on the menu icon (three dots or three bars) at the top of the screen. The drop-down list often hides the option "Add Remote Device" or "Scan." In newer versions of the interface, this feature can be taken into a separate widget on the app's home screen, which needs to be manually activated.
When you first start the network manager function, the system will ask for permissions, the local area network is a key request without which the application will not be able to scan the environment, and permission to access media may also be required if you plan to not only transfer files, but also broadcast them.
It is important to note that in some regional firmware (e.g. Global ROM vs China ROM) item names may differ. If you can't find the desired partition, search inside the Explorer app itself by entering the word "SMB" or "Network."
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If a standard conductor doesn’t display network features, try clearing its cache through Settings → Apps → Explorer → Memory → Clear the cache.
Step-by-step: Adding a computer over SMB
SMB (Server Message Block) is the standard for file sharing on Windows networks. To add a computer, go to the Network tab in Xiaomi Explorer and click New Device or Add. The phone will begin automatically scanning the available resources on the local network.
If the automatic scan fails, select the option "Input manually." You will need to know. IP-You can find out your computer's address by opening the command line on your PC (Win).+R, enter cmd) and enter ipconfig. We're interested in the string IPv4-The address usually looks like 192.168.1.X or 192.168.0.X.
☑️ Checklist of connection SMB
After input IP-And there's a common mistake here: you have to type in the username and password for the particular Windows user you log in to, not the arbitrary data. 10/11 You may have connection problems because Microsoft defaults to locking in without a password through SMB.
You can specify a specific directory in the Path or Folder field if you don't want to open the entire drive, or leave the field blank to access the root. Once you press OK or Connect, the phone will try to establish a connection. If you succeed, a new shortcut will appear on the list with your computer's name.
| Parameter | Meaning/Action | Where to find on PC |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | SMB v1/v2/v3 | Control Panel → Programs and components |
| IP-address | 192.168.x.x | Command Prompt (ipconfig) |
| Port port | 445 (standard) | Router settings/Brandmauer |
| Login. | Windows username | Start → Settings → Accounts |
Setting up FTP-server
The alternative SMB protocol FTP, It's often more stable and faster within the Android ecosystem. Xiaomi's Explorer has a built-in feature that allows you to turn the phone into a new device. FTP-server, but you can also connect to the external FTP-To create an access point on your phone, select Access by FTP» conductor-menu.
Once activated, an address will appear on the screen, such as ftp://192.168.1.55:2121, which can be typed into the address bar of any conductor on your computer or browser, and is the perfect way to quickly transfer files without installing additional software on your PC.
If you want to add an external FTP-server (e.g., remote server or server) NAS), Select "Add Remote Device» → «FTP». Enter the server address, port (often 21 or 22 for the server). SFTP), login and password. SFTP more secure, as it encrypts the transmitted data, which is important when connecting through public networks.
⚠️ Attention: When in use FTP codeless (SFTP) Passwords are transmitted in plain form. Do not use this method to transmit sensitive data on untrusted networks.
For permanent connections, it is convenient to save profiles. Enter all data once, tick “Remember password” and give an understandable name to the connection, for example, “Home NAS” or “Office PC”, in the future, file access will be carried out in one click.
What to do if the connection is reset?
Solving Typical Connection Errors
One of the most common problems is the “failed to connect” error or endless rotation of the boot indicator. Often this is due to the version of the SMB protocol. Older versions of Windows (XP, 7) use SMBv1, which is disabled by default in Windows 10/11 for security reasons. Modern Xiaomi phones may also not support outdated SMBv1.
To solve the problem, you need to enable SMB 1.0 support on your computer. Go to Control Panel → Programs and Components → Enable or disable Windows components. Find the list of Support for Sharing SMB 1.0/CIFS Files and activate the desired component.
Another common cause is antivirus or firewall: Third-party antivirus (Kaspersky, ESET, Avast) have their own network protection modules that can block incoming connections from unknown devices, which is your phone for them. Try temporarily turning off the antivirus network screen for verification.
If the phone sees a computer but doesn’t see a folder, check the sharing settings for a particular folder on your PC. Right-click on the folder, select Properties → Access → Advanced Setting and make sure that the Open Sharing boxes are ticked and read/write rights are given for your account.
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90% of connection problems are solved by verification IP-Addresses, enabling network detection on the PC and correctly entering the Windows login / password.
Security and optimization of data transmission
Using a local network is a great opportunity, but it requires basic cybersecurity rules: Never leave folders open to all users (All group) without a password, especially if your Wi-Fi can be accessed by outsiders.
To optimize the speed of transferring large amounts of data (for example, movies in 4K), it is recommended to use the 5 GHz band if your router and Xiaomi phone support it. 2.4 GHz standard is often overloaded by neighboring networks, which leads to speed drops and jerks when playing video directly from the disk.
Update Explorer regularly through the GetApps store or Google Play. Updates often fix network protocol vulnerabilities and improve compatibility with new versions of operating systems. Also watch for router firmware updates, as they may contain security patches for network protocols.
Remember that when you transfer files over the network, the phone battery is consumed more actively because of the constant operation of the Wi-Fi module for receiving / transmitting. If you plan to pump gigabytes of data, make sure that the device is sufficiently charged, or connect it to the charger to avoid unexpected shutdown in the process.