How to transfer all files from phone to phone Xiaomi: the full guide 2026

Transferring data between Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user faces when buying a new device or sharing large files. Unlike the iPhone, which requires AirDrop or iCloud, the MIUI ecosystem offers several built-in and third-party solutions at once. But what choice do you have to make when you need to transfer tens of gigabytes of photos, 4K videos or important documents without losing quality?

In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods, from Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop) to cloud services and physical media, and pay special attention to the hidden settings of MIUI 14/15, which speeds up the transfer by 2-3 times, and also warn against common errors that cause files to “disappear” or be transferred in a corrupted form. If you need to transfer data from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra or vice versa, you will find the optimal solution for any task.

1.Mi Share: Xiaomi's proprietary tool for fast transfer

Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop) is an analogue of Xiaomi’s AirDrop built into MIUI firmware. It works on the Wi-Fi Direct protocol, which allows you to transfer files at speeds up to 20-30 MB / s (depending on the model), the main advantage is that you do not need the Internet, and the data does not go to third-party servers.

To use Mi Share, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open the Files app on both phones.
• 🔍 Select the files you want to transfer (you can highlight several by holding your finger on one of them).
• 📤 Press the Send button. → Mi Share.
• 🔄 On the second phone, confirm receipt (a connection request should appear).

The transmission speed depends on the MIUI version:

• MIUI 12–13: Up to 10MB/s (protocol restriction)
• MIUI 14+: Up to 30MB/s (Wi-Fi 6 support on new models)

⚠️ Note: When transferring large amounts of data (more than 10 GB), Mi Share may interrupt the process due to overheating of the processor.

2. Transmission via OTG cable: for large volumes without loss

If you need to migrate terabytes of data (like a 4K video collection or Titanium Backup backup), the most reliable way is to use an OTG cable and an external drive (a flash drive or SSD), which works even on older Redmi 4X or Mi A1 models, where Mi Share may not be available.

You'll need:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (Type-C or Micro-USB, depending on the model).
• 💾 External drive (preferably with exFAT file system to support files) >4GB).

Instructions:

1. Connect the flash drive to the first phone via OTG.
2. Copy files into a folder on the drive (use Files → Internal Drive).
3. Disconnect the flash drive and connect it to the second phone.
4. Move the data to the desired folder.

Format in exFAT (if files >4 GB)|Check free space |Deactivate "Fast Retrieval" in Windows settings (if the flash drive was used on a PC)|Use UHS-I-enabled OTG cable for high speed-->

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI 11 and below may not work exFAT. in this case, divide files into archives of 4 GB or use FAT32 (You will lose support for large files).

3. Cloud services: Xiaomi Cloud vs Google Drive vs Telegram

If you don't have a cable or a second phone, you can use cloud storage. Xiaomi has its own cloud, Xiaomi Cloud, but it has limitations:

• 📁 5GB free (expands to 100GB for 99)₽/month).
• 🚀 Download speed depends on your internet connection.
• 🔒 Files are encrypted, but photos in their original quality take up a lot of space.

Alternatives:

• 🌐 Google Drive: 15GB free, Google Photos integration.
• ☁️ Telegram: channels or "Saved Messages" (limit 2 GB per file).
• 📦 Mega: 20GB free, but suspected data breaches.

How to transfer files through Xiaomi Cloud:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable synchronization for Gallery, Notes or Files.
3. On the second phone, log in to the same account and download the data.

Important: When transferring files through the cloud, for example, Google Photos defaults to upload photos in High Quality (16 MP compression) rather than in the original resolution. To avoid this, select Original Quality (but this will eat your cloud space) in Google Photos settings.

4. Local area network (FTP or SMB): for advanced users

If both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, you can set up a local server to transfer files, which is suitable for tech-savvy users, because it requires configuration.

Implementation options:

• 📡 FTP-server: use applications such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer.
• 🖥️ SMB (Samba: Integrated support in the MIUI 14+ (Path: Settings → Connections and sharing → Local area network).

Step-by-step instructions for FTP:

1. Install the first phone FX File Explorer.
2. Launch it. FTP-server in the application (remote access button) → Run the server).
3. On the second phone, connect to the address ftp://[IP-first-phone address]:2221.
4. Copy files through the file manager.

⚠️ Note: When using public Wi-Fi (cafes, airports) do not transmit sensitive data through the Internet. FTP — traffic is not encrypted. Better to use it. SFTP or HTTPS.

5. Bluetooth: When there is nothing else

Bluetooth is the slowest but most versatile method, suitable for transferring small files (up to 50 MB) when other methods are not available, the speed is usually less than 1-2 MB / s, and on older models (Redmi 5A) can drop to 500 KB / s.

How to transfer files:

• 🔵 Turn on Bluetooth on both phones.
• 🔍 Find the second phone in the list of available devices and connect.
• 📎 In the file manager, select the file → Send. → Bluetooth.
• 📥 On the second phone, confirm reception.

Limitations:

• 🚫 Folders are not supported – only individual files.
• 🕒 It's going to be 1GB. ~10-15 minutes.
• 🔋 Strongly planted battery (10-15% per hour of active transmission).

💡

Bluetooth 5.0 (starting with the Xiaomi Mi 8) supports speeds of up to 2MB/s, but in practice it rarely exceeds 1MB/s due to protocol limitations.

6 Computer Transmission: Reliable, but Longer

If you have a PC or a laptop, you can use it as an intermediary, and this method guarantees 100% data security, but requires an additional device.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect your first phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Copy the data into a folder on the computer.
3. Turn off the first phone, connect the second.
4. Move the files back.

Tips for acceleration:

• 🖥️ Use it. USB 3.0 (ports usually blue) – speeds up to 60MB/s.
• 🗃️ For large volumes, it is better to archive files in ZIP or RAR.
• 🔌 On Xiaomi, turn on Debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press → Additionally. → For developers).

⚠️ Note: When connecting through USB 2.0 (black ports) speed is limited to 5-10 MB/s if you have Xiaomi 13 Pro with support USB 3.2 but the computer is old, use the adapter USB-C → USB-A 3.0.

7 Third-Party Apps: Send Anywhere, Xender and Others

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t suit you, you can use third-party apps, which often offer additional features, such as:

• 🔗 Send Anywhere: Transfer by link or QR-code, speeds up to 50MB/s.
• ⚡ Xender: Support for Application Transfer (APK) backups.
• 🌍 LocalSend: Open source, no file size restrictions.

How to use Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On the first phone, select files and click Send.
3. A 6-digit code or QR is generated.
4. On the second phone, enter the code or scan the QR.

💡

If transfers through third-party apps are interrupted, try disabling Battery Optimization for them in the MIUI settings (Settings → Applications → Permissions → Auto Run).

FAQ: Frequent questions about file transfers to Xiaomi