How to transfer files from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: all the ways 2026

Transferring files between smartphones of the same brand should be simple – but in practice, Xiaomi users face connection errors, slow speed or unobvious settings. In 2026, owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi devices have at least 7 ways to share data, and each of them is optimal for different situations, from transferring heavy video to sending contacts quickly.

In this article, we’ve tested all the methods with step-by-step instructions, speed comparisons and hidden settings that speed up the process. We’ve tested them on Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and POCO F6 models with the latest versions of MIUI 15 and HyperOS. If you’re looking for a way to transfer data from the old Xiaomi to the new one, here you’ll find a solution without loss of quality and with maximum speed.

1. Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop) is the standard way from Xiaomi

Mi Share is a proprietary file sharing solution between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, working via Wi-Fi Direct. This is the most stable method for transferring large files (up to 20 GB per session), but with nuances: on new firmware, the function can be hidden in the menu.

To activate Mi Share, follow the steps:

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the home screen).
2. Slip three dots in the top right corner → select Mi Share (HyperOS may call it Quick Transfer).
3. Click Send on the source device and Receive on the target.
4. Confirm the connection on both smartphones – the transfer will begin automatically.

Speed depends on the model: on Xiaomi 14 with Wi-Fi 6E reaches 12-15 MB / s, on budget Redmi - 4-6 MB / s. If the transfer is interrupted, check:

• 📶 Turn off mobile internet on both devices – it may conflict with Wi-Fi Direct.
• 🔋 Battery charge above 20% – at low levels, the system limits performance.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version: in old firmware Mi Share works unstable.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14), the Mi Share feature may be called Xiaomi Quick Transfer and require enabling NFC first-connection.

2.Bluetooth: When speed is not critical

Bluetooth is the most versatile but slow way to transfer, suitable for small files (up to 50 MB): contacts, documents or multiple photos. The new Xiaomi models use Bluetooth 5.3 protocol, which speeds up the process to 1-2 MB / s (versus 0.5 MB / s on older versions).

Instructions:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices: swipe down → long tap on the Bluetooth icon.
2. On the original smartphone, select a file → Share → Bluetooth.
3. Select the target device from the list and confirm reception on the second phone.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 It is impossible to transfer a folder - only individual files.
• ⏳ Long connection: it can take up to 30 seconds to find devices.
• 📱 Battery discharge: during active transmission, energy consumption increases by 15-20%.

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If Bluetooth doesn’t find the device, try rebooting both smartphones or enabling Visibility for All mode in Bluetooth settings.

3. Wi-Fi Direct: Mi Share alternative for older models

Wi-Fi Direct is a technology that allows devices to connect directly without a router. On Xiaomi, it is more stable than Mi Share on firmware older than MIUI 12, but requires manual tuning. Transfer speeds comparable to Mi Share, up to 10 MB/s on current models.

How to turn on Wi-Fi Direct:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Wi-Fi.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Wi-Fi Direct.
3. On the original device, select a file → Share → Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Confirm the connection on the second phone.

If Wi-Fi Direct is not displayed on the menu, use this workaround:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (5 times tap to enable developer mode)


Back to Settings → Additional → For developers → Enable Wi-Fi Direct

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X5) Wi-Fi Direct is disabled by default. It requires a patch installation to activate it. ADB.

OTG Cable: Maximum speed without internet

Using an OTG cable (or USB-C to USB-C adapter) is the fastest way to transfer data between Xiaomi, especially for large files (such as backups or 4K video). Speeds reach 40-50 MB/s (about 3-4 times faster than Mi Share), but requires an additional accessory.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect. OTG-cable.
2. Connect the second phone to the cable (file transfer permission may be required).
3. On the original device, open Files → select files → Copy.
4. Go to the folder of the second phone (will appear as an external drive) → Insert.

Important nuances:

• 🔌 Type of cable: For Xiaomi 13/14 need USB-C to USB-C supportive USB 3.2 (common OTG will work in 2 slower).
• 📁 Formatting: If the second phone doesn’t show up, check that it has File Transfer Mode enabled (MTP) In the settings for developers.
• 🔋 Charging: When transferring large files (>10 GB) it is recommended to connect both devices to charging.

Connect OTG-cable|

Enable "File Transfer" mode on the target phone |

Check the free space on the target device |

Disable battery optimization for the Files app-->

5. Cloud services: Mi Cloud, Google Drive, Telegram

If devices can’t connect directly (for example, due to different versions of MIUI), use cloud services.

• ☁️ Mi Cloud: 5 GB free, integration with Gallery and Contacts. download speed depends on the Internet connection (on average). 3-5 MB/s).
• 📁 Google Drive: 15GB free, but requires authorization.Suitable for backups.
• 📱 Telegram: Channels or Saved Messages for files up to 2GB. Fastest way for small data.

How to transfer via Mi Cloud:

1. On the original phone: Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for the Gallery or Files.
3. On the target device, log in to the same Mi Account and download files from the cloud.

The advantages of cloud services:

• 🌍 Access from any device (not even Xiaomi).
• 🔄 Automatic backup of photos and contacts.
• 🛡️ Encryption of data during transmission (in Mi Cloud used) AES-256).

⚠️ Note: When using Google Drive on Xiaomi with HyperOS, there may be a sync error.Solution: Clear the cache of the Google Play Services app in the settings.

6. Messengers: Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber

For the transfer of small files (up to 2 GB), it is convenient to use instant messengers. Telegram leads in speed and no compression, and WhatsApp is suitable for fast sending contacts or documents.

Comparison of messengers for file transfer:

How to send a file via Telegram without loss of quality:

1. Open the Saved Messages chat (or any other chat).
2. Click on the paperclip → select File or Gallery.
3. Mark the files and send them.
4. On the second phone, download files from the chat.

If you need to transfer a folder, archive it to ZIP through the Files app:

Open the folder. → three-point → Squeeze. → Select the format (ZIP or RAR)

7.LAN (FTP-server SMB)

For advanced users, transfer over a local network over FTP or SMB protocols is suitable. This method requires connecting both devices to the same Wi-Fi network, but allows you to transfer files at speeds up to 20-30 MB / s without size restrictions.

Instructions for FTP-server:

1. Install the FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer app on the original phone.
2. Launch it. FTP-server in the application settings (usually in the Network section).
3. Write down the server address (e.g. ftp://192.168.1.100:2221).
4. On the second phone, open any file manager → Connect to FTP → enter the address.

For SMB (advanced method):

• 📌 On the original device, install MiXplorer and turn on SMB-server.
• 🔗 On the second phone, connect through \\IP-address/folder (e.g, \\192.168.1.100\Download).
• 🔐 For security, set the password to the folder in the settings SMB.

⚠️ Attention: When in use FTP/SMB disable Battery Optimization for File Managers, otherwise the connection will break through 5-10 minutes of inactivity.

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For maximum speed transfer over the local network, connect both phones to the router via cable (if supported) or use a mesh network (for example, Xiaomi AIoT Router AX3600).

FAQ: Frequent questions about file transfers to Xiaomi