MiDrop (com.xiaomi.midrop): what is this application in Xiaomi and how to use it

If you’ve ever looked into the list of installed apps on a Xiaomi, Redmi or smartphone POCO, It’s not a virus or system junk, but one of the most useful (and little-known) standard applications from Xiaomi. MiDrop allows you to transfer files between Xiaomi devices at a speed several times higher than Bluetooth, and without the need to connect to the Internet.

In this article, we’ll go into detail about what MiDrop is, how it works at a technical level, why it’s not on the app menu (and how to add it), and compare it to alternatives like Google’s Nearby Share or Samsung’s Quick Share, which files can be transferred, how to fix common bugs (like “device not found”), and even how to make MiDrop work on informal firmware. If you share photos, videos, or documents frequently between Xiaomi smartphones, tablets or laptops, this guide will save you hours of time.

What is com.xiaomi.midrop and why you need it

MiDrop (full name of the package – com.xiaomi.midrop) is a proprietary application from Xiaomi, designed to wirelessly transfer files between devices of the Xiaomi ecosystem over a local network. ~2–3 MB/s, MiDrop uses Wi-Fi Direct (or a combination of Wi-Fi) + Bluetooth for device search), which allows you to reach speeds up to 10-15 MB / s – comparable to the speed of the Internet. USB 2.0.

The application is preinstalled on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO (starting MIUI 8), but often hidden from the user, its main advantages:

• 🔹 There is no limit on file size (unlike Bluetooth or email)
• 🔹 Does not require mobile internet or router connection
• 🔹 Maintains original quality of photo/video (without compression)
• 🔹 It works even on a locked screen (background mode)
• 🔹 Supports group shipment (up to 5 devices at a time)

Technically, MiDrop creates a Wi-Fi Direct access point between devices, and uses Bluetooth Low Energy for search (BLE). This explains why sometimes file transfers only start after Bluetooth is turned on – even though the data itself goes over Wi-Fi. Importantly, MiDrop is not compatible with devices from other brands (such as Samsung or iPhone), but works on all Xiaomi gadgets – from smartphones to Mi Notebook laptops.

⚠️ Warning: If you see the com.xiaomi.midrop process in Task Manager but can't find the application itself, don't delete it! MIUI. Removal may cause system update failures.

How to find and open MiDrop on a Xiaomi smartphone

The main problem with users is that MiDrop doesn't show up in the default app menu, and there are three ways to run it:

Method 1. Through "Fast Transmission" in the conductor:

1. Open the standard Files (or Explorer) application.
2. Select the file(s) you want to send.
3. Press Share. → Quick transmission (MiDrop).
4. Turn on the visibility of your device to other Xiaomi gadgets.

Method 2. Through settings:

• Go to Settings. → Connections and sharing → Quick transmission.
• Activate the device's visibility slider.
• Click Send or Receive depending on the task.

Method 3. Through a hidden menu (for power users):

If MiDrop doesn’t show up even in the settings, you can run it directly through Android activity:

am start -n com.xiaomi.midrop/.ui.MiDropActivity

This team needs to be injected into ADB Or through an app like Activity Launcher (available on Google Play).

Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices

Activate visibility in MiDrop settings

Make sure there is enough free space on the devices

Disable power saving mode (may interrupt transmission)-->

Transfer speed: MiDrop vs Bluetooth vs Nearby Share

To understand how much more effective MiDrop alternatives, we conducted tests on smartphones Xiaomi 13 Pro and Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Results (average values per 5 attempts):

As you can see from the table, MiDrop is 4-5 times ahead of Bluetooth, and compared to Nearby Share, it benefits from a more stable connection (especially on large files), the main disadvantage is that it works only in the Xiaomi ecosystem, and if you need to transfer files to devices of other brands, you will have to use alternatives.

Interesting fact: when transferring between a smartphone and a laptop Mi Notebook MiDrop automatically switches to mode FTP over the local network, which further increases the speed (up to 20 MB / s on Wi-Fi 6).

MiDrop (Xiaomi)

Bluetooth

Nearby Share / Quick Share

Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)

Cable USB-->

Typical MiDrop Errors and How to Fix Them

Despite being reliable, users often encounter problems when using MiDrop, and here are the most common errors and solutions:

1. "Device not found" or "Impossible to connect"

• 🔄 Reboot both devices – it resets the Wi-Fi Direct cache.
• 📶 Turn off mobile data – sometimes 4G/5G Prevents the creation of a local network.
• 🔒 Check your security settings: on some firmware, MiDrop is blocked by Security MIUI (Exceptions should be added).
• 🔄 Change the role of devices: if you can not send from phone A to phone B, try the opposite.

2. Transmission is interrupted or suspended

• 🔋 Turn off the power saving mode – it can pause Wi-Fi.
• 📱 Close background apps, especially instant messengers and games.
• 🔄 Reconnect: Cancel the transmission and start again.
• 📡 Change the Wi-Fi channel in your router settings (if you use it as an intermediary).

3 MiDrop is not available on the menu

If the application is missing after the update MIUI:

1. Check if it is disabled in Settings. → Annexes → Application management → All applications → MiDrop.
2. Install Activity Launcher from Google Play and find hidden activity from com.xiaomi.midrop.
3. Reset the settings. MIUI before the factory (last version).

⚠️ Note: On custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), MiDrop may not work due to the lack of proprietary Xiaomi libraries. MIUI-Fix for Wi-Fi Direct or use alternatives like LocalSend.

MiDrop on PC: how to transfer files between a smartphone and a Xiaomi laptop

Few people know, but MiDrop supports file transfer not only between smartphones, but also between a smartphone and a Xiaomi laptop (Mi Notebook series, RedmiBook).

1. Make sure that the Mi Drop for app is installed on the laptop PC (You can download from the official Xiaomi website).
2. Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (or activate Wi-Fi Direct on your smartphone).
3. On your smartphone, open Settings → Connections and sharing → Quick transfer and select Send to the computer.
4. On the laptop, confirm receipt of the file in the Mi Drop window.

Advantages of this method:

• 🖥️ Up to 20 MB/s (on Wi-Fi 6).
• 📁 Support for folders and archives without unpacking.
• 🔒 Transmission encryption (as opposed to normal transmission) FTP).

If Mi Drop for PC Does not detect the smartphone:

• Check that your PC has Wi-Fi network adapter on (sometimes it shuts down to save power).
• Update your Wi-Fi drivers on your laptop (especially for Windows 11).
• Temporarily disable Windows Firewall or add MiDrop.exe to exceptions.

💡

If you need to transfer files from Xiaomi to Mac, use Android File Transfer + LocalSend (a free open source alternative to MiDrop).

MiDrop Security: Is Transmitted Data Encrypted?

One of the common questions is how secure file transfer is via MiDrop, and according to Xiaomi, the connection uses:

• 🔐 WPA2-PSK encryption for Wi-Fi Direct (same standard as in home routers).
• 🔑 Dynamically generated password for each session (not saved on devices).
• 🛡️ Bluetooth Device Authentication (Warns of Connecting to Unknown Gadgets).

But there are nuances:

• ⚠️ Vulnerability when connecting to public networks: If you use MiDrop in a cafe or airport, in theory, an attacker could intercept traffic by connecting to your Wi-Fi Direct point.
• ⚠️ Lack of end-to-end encryption (E2E): Unlike Signal or Telegram, files are not encrypted at the app level, but only at the transport level.

For maximum safety:

• Use MiDrop only on trusted networks (at home, at work).
• For confidential files (documents, passwords) pre-archive them with encryption (ZIP + AES-256).
• After transfer, turn off the visibility of the device in the MiDrop settings.

💡

MiDrop is safer than Bluetooth, but inferior to specialized messengers (Telegram, Signal) in terms of data protection.

MiDrop Alternatives: What to Use If You Don’t Have a Xiaomi Device

If you need to transfer files between devices of different brands, consider these alternatives:

If you want the fastest speed between different brands, LocalSend (free and unlimited) is the best choice. Snapdrop (open the site on both devices and drag files) is the right option for transfer to your computer.

The main advantage of MiDrop over alternatives is the absence of the need to install additional applications (all are already built into the system). MIUI) Higher speed on Xiaomi devices.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about MiDrop