How to sync Xiaomi phones with each other without Mi Account: the complete guide

Synchronization between Xiaomi smartphones is usually associated with the mandatory use of Mi Account, the company’s branded account that links all devices in the ecosystem. However, not all users are comfortable creating another account, especially if it is a one-time transfer of files or contacts. Fortunately, there are alternative methods that allow data to be shared between Redmi, Poco and other Xiaomi models without being tied to the Mi cloud.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven syncs, from standard Android features to third-party apps and local networks, and learn how to migrate contacts, photos, videos, music and documents without losing quality and without having to sign up for Mi Cloud. We will pay special attention to the nuances that arise when working with different versions. MIUI (12 to 14) and Android 10–14 models.

Important: all methods are tested on current firmware and do not require root rights or unlock the bootloader. If you need to synchronize not only files, but also application or SMS settings, we will consider solutions for these tasks separately.

1.Using the built-in Quick Share function

Starting with MIUI 12.5 and up, Xiaomi has integrated Google Quick Share (formerly Nearby Share) into its smartphones, a tool that allows files to be transferred between Android devices without the Internet using Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth, with the main advantage of no file size restrictions and no Mi Account.

How it works:

• 📱 Activate Quick Share on both phones: Go to Settings → Connections and sharing → Quick Share.
• 🔄 Select Visibility Mode: Set “Visible to All” or “Visible to Contacts” on the receiving device (if the phones are linked to a single Google account).
• 📎 Send files: in the file manager (Files or Explorer), select the necessary data, click "Share" and select Quick Share.
• 🔗 Confirm the connection on both devices – the transfer will begin automatically.

The transmission speed depends on the firmware version:

• MIUI 12.5-13: Up to 10MB/s (only Wi-Fi Direct is used)
• MIUI 14+: Up to 50MB/s (a combination of Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2).

⚠️ Note: Some Poco models (e.g. Poco) X3 Pro) Quick Share can be hidden. To activate it, upgrade to the latest version of the firmware or install Google Play Services manually via APKMirror.

2. sync through Google account (contacts, calendar, notes)

If you need to migrate contacts, calendar events or notes, the most reliable way is to use Google services, which does not require a Mi Account and works on any Android device, including Xiaomi, the main condition is that both phones must be linked to the same Gmail account.

Step-by-step:

1. On the original phone: 📇 Open Contacts. → press three points → Contact management → Imports/Exports. 🔄 Select Export to File (.vcf format) and save to your device. ☁️ Upload the file to Google Contacts via browser (contacts.google.com).

target phone

• 🔄 Synchronize contacts: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.
• 📱 Wait for the synchronization to be completed (may take up to 5 minutes).

For calendar and notes, the algorithm is similar:

• 📅 Calendar: Export events through Google Calendar (calendar.google.com) in.ics format.
• 📝 Notes: Use Google Keep – Notes are automatically synced between devices.

⚠️ Note: If the target phone already has contacts, duplicates may occur when synchronizing.To avoid this, export existing contacts to a backup before importing (Settings) → System system → Backup).

3. Local area network: transfer of files over Wi-Fi (FTP or SAMBA)

For large data transfer (e.g. 108 MP photos or video) 4K) It doesn't require internet, and it works even on older Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 5). FTP-server on one phone and connecting the second device to it as a network disk.

Instructions for MIUI:

• 📡 On the original phone: Install the app FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer. Launch FTP-server (in Solid Explorer: side menu) → Network → FTP-- Remember the server. IP-address and port (e.g, ftp://192.168.1.100:2221).

target phone

1. Connect to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. In the file manager, select “Connect to FTP” and enter the server data.
3. Copy the files you want.

Alternatively, use the SAMBA protocol (for Windows-like access).

1. Install the MiXplorer (with SAMBA support) on the original phone.
2. Activate. SAMBA-server in application settings.
3. On the second phone, connect through \\IP-ADRES/FAPER (e.g, \\192.168.1.100\Download).

Install FTP-client|

Connect to one Wi-Fi network |

Launch. FTP-server|

Check availability IP-addresses (ping)|

Copy files into a separate folder for convenience-->

Critical nuance: on MIUI 14+, the built-in file manager blocks access to root folders over FTP. To get around this, use third-party applications (such as CX File Explorer) or temporarily disable Personal Data Protection in Settings → Privacy.

OTG cable and adapters: direct data exchange

If you do not have access to Wi-Fi or prefer a wired connection, you can use it. OTG-cable USB-C Hub. This method is suitable for models with support OTG (Xiaomi has almost all of it since 2018, and it's up to 40 to 60 MB/s faster than Wi-Fi.

What you need:

• 🔌 OTG-cable (Type-C) → Type-C or Type-C → MicroUSB, depending on the model).
• 📱 flash drive or external SSD (Optionally, if you need to transfer more than 100 GB).
• 🛠️ File management application (e.g. Files by Google).

Step-by-step action:

1. Connect. OTG-cable.
2. Connect a second phone or flash drive to the cable.
3. In the file manager, select files to copy and transfer them to an external drive.
4. Turn off the cable and connect it to the target phone.
5. Copy the data from the flash drive to the device.

For convenience, you can use a multi-port adapter (such as a USB-C hub) to connect both phones at the same time, which is true for models with large storage capacity, such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Black Shark 5 Pro.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware when connecting through OTG You may see a device not recognized error. To fix it, go to Settings. → Additionally. → Developer mode → Configuration USB and select File Transfer (MTP).

5 Third-Party Applications: Mi Cloud Alternatives

If standard methods don't work, you can use specialized synchronization applications that offer additional features such as automatic backup, data encryption, or transmission over the Internet. QR-code.

Top.-3 Applications for synchronization Xiaomi:

How to use LocalSend (recommended option):

• 📱 Install the app on both phones from Google Play or APKMirror.
• 🔄 Click "Send" on the original device and select the files.
• 📡 On the target phone, click "Get" and scan. QR-code or select the device from the list.
• ✅ Confirm the transfer – files will be sent without compression.

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If the transfer is interrupted, try disabling Battery Optimization for LocalSend in the MIUI settings (Settings → Applications → Battery Management → Application Selection).

6. Backup and Restore via PC

For users who prefer full control of data, the best option is to back up your computer and then restore it to a second phone, which is suitable for transferring all data, including:

Instructions for Windows/macOS:

1. Connect the original phone to the PC via USB-cable.
2. Select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
3. Copy folders: Internal Storage\MIUI\Backup (MIUI backups), Internal Storage\DCIM (photos and videos), Internal Storage\Download (downloads), Internal Storage\Android\data (application data).

Connect the second phone and transfer the files to the same folders.

Mi Mover

SMS Backup & Restore

For advanced users, you can use it. ADB-Teams to create a full backup:

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab

To restore:

adb restore backup.ab

⚠️ Note: Backup copies created through MIUI Backups may not recover on phones with a different firmware version, such as the backup with the Redmi Note 10 Pro (MIUI 13) is not suitable for Xiaomi 12T (MIUI In such cases, use universal tools like Titanium Backup (requires root).

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For data transfer between Xiaomi without Mi Account, it is optimal to combine methods: Quick Share for small files, FTP for large volumes, and Google account for contacts and calendar.

FAQ: Frequent questions about synchronization Xiaomi