How to transfer a file from your phone to your Xiaomi phone: all the ways

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have become powerful multimedia centers that generate gigabytes of high-resolution photos, 4K videos and bulky gaming packages every day. At some point, each user faces the need to move this digital baggage to another device, whether it is a friend’s new gadget, tablet or spare phone, the speed and convenience of this process directly depend on the chosen method of data transfer.

The MIUI and the new HyperOS ecosystem have many built-in tools that allow you to share information without using a computer or paying mobile Internet rates. However, the abundance of options is often confusing: some methods are ideal for transferring one photo, others for migrating hundreds of gigabytes of data, and understanding the differences between them will help you save time and preserve the quality of the originals.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current ways of transferring files between Xiaomi smartphones, you will learn about the advantages of the Wi-Fi Direct protocol, the peculiarities of cloud storage and the nuances of setting up a local network, and we will also discuss data security issues when using open channels.

Using ShareMe for fast transfer

The most efficient and quick way to exchange data between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices is the proprietary ShareMe app (formerly known as Mi Drop), which uses Wi-Fi Direct technology, which creates a direct wireless connection between two phones, bypassing routers and the mobile network, while transferring speeds can reach 20-40 MB / s, which is ten times faster than classic Bluetooth.

To get started, make sure both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. Launch the ShareMe app on the sender phone and click the Send button. It could be photos, videos, contacts, apps, or even entire folders from internal memory. QR-search-code.

• 🚀 High speed copying of large amounts of data without quality compression.
• 📱 The ability to transfer files to Android and iOS devices (via the web interface).
• 🔒 Secure connection that does not require an external Internet connection.

On the receiving device, you also need to run ShareMe and select the "Get" option. QR-Importantly, when you send files through ShareMe, they are stored in their original quality, unlike instant messengers, which often compress images, and once confirmed on both screens, you will begin a copying process, the progress of which is displayed in real time.

⚠️ WARNING: When transferring sensitive documents via Wi-Fi Direct in public places, make sure you connect to the right device, not a fake access point with a similar name.

Transferring data via Bluetooth: the classic method

Despite the advent of high-speed alternatives, Bluetooth remains the universal standard found in almost any mobile device, ideal for transferring small files such as a contact book, a single document or a photo when there is no Internet connection at hand or installing additional applications is impossible.

The connection setup process is simple: open the notification curtain and activate the Bluetooth icon on both phones. In the Settings menu → Connected Devices → New Device, run a search. When the name of the target Xiaomi smartphone appears on the list, click on it. Both screens should show the same digital code that needs to be confirmed to create a pair.

Bluetooth

• 🐢 Low transmission speeds for video and large archives.
• 🔋 Minimum power consumption compared to Wi-Fi modules.
• 🌐 Full compatibility with all smartphones, tablets and laptops.

The bandwidth limitations of this channel should be considered. 1GB video can take several hours to transmit, so other methods are better for multimedia, but for fast sending a business card or a text file.txt, this solution remains one of the most reliable.

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If Bluetooth doesn’t see the device, try clearing the Bluetooth service cache in the Apps section → All Apps → Bluetooth → Memory → Clear.

Google Files and Wi-Fi Data Sharing

Owners of Xiaomi's clean-shell smartphones or those who prefer standard Android tools often use the Files by Google app.This utility is built into many modern models and offers a "File Sharing" feature that works on a similar principle to ShareMe but in the Google ecosystem.

To transfer a file, open the Files app and go to the Sharing tab. Click Send or Receive button depending on the role of your device. The app will request permission to use geolocation and Bluetooth, as they are necessary for initial device detection within range.

The main advantage of this method is the lack of advertising and deep integration with the Android file system. the application automatically sorts files by type, suggesting that you clean up garbage or transfer only certain categories of data, for example, only “Images” or “Documents”.

Google Files also creates a secure connection, which transfers files directly between devices without being stored on Google servers, which provides a high level of privacy, which is especially important when working with personal photos or work documents.

Exchange through messengers and cloud storage

When you can't physically be near someone, Internet technologies come into play, and messengers like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Viber have become the de facto standard for sharing small and medium-sized files, but there's a big caveat: many messengers compress media files by default to save traffic.

To transfer a file to Telegram or WhatsApp without loss of quality, you need to choose the option “File” or “Document” rather than “Gallery”, in which case the image or video will be sent as a binary file, retaining the original resolution and metadata (EXIF).

The alternative is cloud storage: Google Drive, Yandex.Disk or Mi Cloud, where you upload a file to your account and then send the recipient a link with the rights to view or download, which is convenient because it does not require both users to be present online at the same time.

⚠️ Note: When transferring files through public cloud links, always check your access settings.A link with the status "Available to anyone with a link" may fall into unauthorized hands.

Wired connection and mode USB-modem

For users who want maximum stability and speed, or when wireless interfaces are damaged, the time-tested method is cable. Modern Xiaomi smartphones support the USB OTG (On-The-Go) standard, which allows them to connect to each other or to the computer directly.

There are two main scenarios for using cable: One is computer transmission as an intermediate, you connect the first phone with a USB-C cable to a PC, copy files to a hard drive, then plug the second phone in and copy the data there, which makes it easy to structure files and back up.

The second, more advanced way is to use a dedicated USB-C to USB-C cable or an OTG adapter. Some file managers, such as Mi File Manager or Total Commander, are able to see the connected device as an external drive, in which you can drag and drop files directly between the internal memory of two smartphones.

• ⚡ Maximum possible transmission speed limited only by the standard USB.
• 🔌 Simultaneous charging of devices during data transfer.
• 💾 No dependence on interference in the air and distance.

When connecting your phone to another device via USB, always select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification that appears on the screen. Charge Only mode will block access to the file system, and data transfer will become impossible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

As users learn different methods of data transfer, they often have specific questions related to compatibility of MIUI versions, file formats and connection errors, and the answers to the most popular of them are given below.

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The choice of transfer method depends on the file size and distance: for gigabytes of data nearby – ShareMe or cable, for documents at a distance – the cloud or messenger in document mode.