Switching to a new smartphone or simply having to make room on an old device often poses a challenge to the user to quickly transfer data. USB-And with cables, and Wi-Fi is unavailable or unstable, the most obvious solution is Bluetooth, which is built into every Android gadget, and allows you to transfer files without unnecessary traffic and complex settings.
Owners of Xiaomi devices with MIUI or HyperOS shells may encounter nuances when pairing, since the security system here is more strictly configured than in pure Android. However, the process of transferring images remains simple enough if you know where to look for the right switches and how to correctly confirm the connection request between the two devices.
In this guide, we will take a detailed look at a step-by-step algorithm that will help you skip through your photo archive without errors, and we will also look at the typical problems when one device can’t see another, and suggest faster alternatives if the amount of data being transferred is measured in gigabytes.
Preparation of devices for pairing
Before you try to send the first file, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to communicate. Both the device — the one you send from (source) and the one that receives (Xiaomi) — you need to activate the wireless module. Usually the blue tooth icon is in the notification curtain, but sometimes you need to look for it in the depth of the settings.
The visibility of the device is critical. Even if Bluetooth is on, the phone can be hidden to prying eyes for security reasons. On Xiaomi, this often requires manual detection mode, as the default system can hide the gadget after a couple of minutes of downtime.
It’s also worth checking if one of the smartphones is activated in In-Air mode, which forcibly shuts down all radio modules, and make sure the screens of both phones are unlocked, as some versions of MIUI block pairing requests on the locked device.
☑️ Pre-transfer checks
Step-by-step instructions for file transfer
The process of transferring photos is technically simple, but requires a sequence of actions. First, open the gallery on the sender device and select the desired pictures. You can mark several files at once by holding your finger on one of them and swiping the rest.
After highlighting, click the Share button (usually a three-dot icon or Share symbol). In the menu that opens, select Bluetooth. The phone will start searching for available devices within range. Find your Xiaomi name (such as Redmi Note 12 or POCO X4) in the list and click on it.
On the screen of the receiving smartphone, Xiaomi will interlace the system window requesting pairing and transfer of the file. You must click "Accept" or "Pair." If the codes on the screens match (although this is rarely required when transferring files), confirm the action. Files will start to load, and progress will be displayed in the status bar.
- 📂 Select photos in the old phone gallery via the “Select All” menu or manually.
- 🔵 Click Share and select the Bluetooth icon from the app list.
- 📲 Wait for your Xiaomi name to appear on the list and tap it to start transferring.
- ✅ Confirm the request to receive the file on the screen of the new Xiaomi device.
It's worth noting that the speed of transmission over this protocol is limited by the specifications of the standard. For a couple of photos, it takes seconds, but for an album of 100 shots, the process can take several minutes.
Visibility settings in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi shells are known for aggressive power optimization and advanced security features, which sometimes leads to the phone not showing up in the list of available devices on another smartphone, and to fix this, you need to go to Bluetooth settings.
In the settings menu, look for "Visibility" or "Visibility for other devices." Make sure the switch is activated. Some versions of MIUI have a timer that turns off visibility automatically -- extend that time or leave the menu open while you search.
Why can’t Xiaomi see other phones?
Another reason for stealth is that you might be in the background, so if you folded your settings, the system could fall asleep, leave the screen on when you search, and check if the tick is ticking the device name in the expanded settings.
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If you transfer files frequently, add your Xiaomi name to Favorites on the sending device after the first pairing, which will speed up the process in the future, as the phones will connect automatically without re-searching.
Table of comparison of data transmission methods
While Bluetooth is a universal method, it is not always the most effective, and to understand the feasibility of using this method, compare it with other popular options for transferring files between Android devices.
| Method | Transmission speed | Do I need the Internet? | Difficulty setting up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Low (up to 2-3 Mbps) | No. | Minimum |
| Wi-Fi Direct (Mi Drop) | High (up to 20-40 Mbps) | No. | Medium |
| Google Photos (Cloud) | Depends on the speed of the network. | Yes. | Minimum |
| USB-cable + PC | Very high. | No. | Requires a computer |
As you can see from the table, Bluetooth is perfect for transferring one or two pictures because of its simplicity, but to transfer the entire archive of photos when changing your phone, you should use the Mi Drop function (now part of Xiaomi Share) or a wired connection, since the speed here is tens of times faster.
Using cloud services requires a stable Internet, which is not always available. Local methods, such as our core protocol or Wi-Fi Direct, work faster and do not consume mobile traffic, which saves the user’s budget.
Solving Connection Problems
Despite the simplicity of the technology, users often encounter bugs, the most common being "Device not found." If your Xiaomi doesn't appear on the list, try turning off and back on Bluetooth on both phones, which will restart the protocol stack and update the neighbor list.
⚠️ Warning: If after several attempts to pair devices still do not see each other, check if they are previously connected to other gadgets. Sometimes an active connection to headphones or watch blocks the search for new devices.
Another problem is the interruption of transmission in the middle of the process, which often happens when one of the screens goes out and the system goes into power saving mode, killing the background transmission process. Set a longer timeout in the screen settings before the display is turned off for the duration of the transfer.
It's also possible that a file is accepted but not opened or corrupted. This is rare for photos, but happens when a bad signal is sent. Make sure there are no thick walls or powerful sources of interference between phones, such as microwave ovens or running routers.
Alternatives: Mi Drop and Xiaomi Share
Xiaomi ecosystem owners should look to the built-in Mi Drop tool (newer versions called Xiaomi Share), which is the equivalent of Apple’s AirDrop, which uses Bluetooth bundle for search and Wi-Fi for data transfer, and it’s running at tens of megabytes per second.
To take advantage of this method, lower the notification curtain on both phones and activate "Mi Drop" or "Xiaomi Share." Devices will find each other instantly. When you send a photo through the Share menu, choose this option instead of the classic Bluetooth. Files will fly much faster.
The advantage of this method is that it doesn't require passwords or complex pairing, but you just have to choose the recipient's avatar on the screen, and you don't lose the quality of the photo, unlike some messengers that compress images.
⚠️ Attention: To work Mi Drop/Xiaomi Share on both devices should be enabled GPS (This is a requirement of Android for the nearby device search function to work. Without geolocation enabled, phones may not see each other in this mode.
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Xiaomi Share is the evolution of Bluetooth for Xiaomi appliance owners. It combines the ease of turning on Bluetooth with Wi-Fi speed, making it a matter of seconds to transfer gigabytes of photos.