Download music on Xiaomi: what you need to know before you start
Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO offer several ways to download music tracks, from the built-in Mi Music app to third-party services like Spotify or Yandex Music. However, not all methods are equally convenient: some require subscriptions, others limit sound quality, and others can be blocked in certain regions.
Before you start downloading, consider three key points:
- 📱 Version. MIUI: On devices with MIUI 14+ The built-in Mi Music player may not be available, but has been replaced by Google Music. → The phone. → Version. MIUI.
- 🎵 File format: Xiaomi supports.mp3,.flac,.wav and.aac, but for.m4a.ogg may require an additional player (e.g, VLC).
- 🔒 License Restrictions: Downloading music from torrents or pirated sites infringes copyright and may result in the blocking of your Mi Account.
If you plan to listen to music offline, the best option is to use cloud-based caching services (like YouTube Music or Boomplay) or direct download through specialized applications.
Method 1: Download through the built-in Mi Music app
The Mi Music app (or Music in newer versions of MIUI) allows you to download tracks directly to the device, but with limitations: the catalog is not available in all countries, and the sound quality is only enough for casual listening.
Downloading instructions:
- Open the Mi Music app, if you don't have one, install it from the Mi App Store.
- In the search box, type in the name of a track or artist, such as The Weeknd - Blinding Lights.
- Click on track → select Download (down arrow icon) The file will be saved to the MIUI/Music folder.
- To listen offline, go to the tab My Music → Downloads.
⚠️ Note: In Mi Music downloaded tracks are protected DRM — They can't be moved to another phone or edited, and the app can automatically delete files if there's a memory shortage, unless you turn that option off in the settings.
Make sure the app is updated to the latest version|
Connect to Wi-Fi (downloading via mobile Internet may be blocked)|
Check the space available (minimum 500MB for albums) |
Disable the option "Auto-Deleting" in the settings of the application-->
Method 2: Use of third-party music services
Services like Spotify, Yandex Music or Apple Music allow you to download tracks for offline listening, but require a subscription. For example, in Spotify, Download is only available to Premium users (from 169). ₽/But the sound quality is 320 kbps.
How to download music on Spotify:
- Install the app from Google Play and log in.
- Find a playlist or album → click on three dots → select Download.
- Turn on the offline mode in the settings: Settings → Play → Offline.
Alternative services with free tariffs:
- 🎧 Boomplay: Free download of tracks (quality up to 128 kbps), but the catalogue is limited to African and Asian music.
- 🎵 SoundCloud: Some tracks can be downloaded via the Download option (available only to authors who have allowed downloads).
- 📱 YouTube Music: Download available by subscription (Premium), but there is a life hack: convert videos from YouTube to YouTube.mp3 (below).
💡
In Yandex Music, you can download up to 100 tracks per month for free if you turn on the option "Caching" in the application settings. The quality will be 192 kbit / s, but the files will remain on the device even after you cancel the subscription.
Method 3: Convert YouTube videos to MP3
One of the most popular ways to get music on Xiaomi is to convert YouTube videos to audio files, which requires a third-party app like Snaptube or VidMate, which allows you to download.mp3 videos directly, without losing quality.
Step-by-step instructions for Snaptube:
- Download Snaptube from the official website (the app is not available in Google Play). Before installing, allow installation from unknown sources: Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install unknown applications.
- Open Snaptube. → In the search, enter the name of the track + lyrics or audio (e.g. Billie Eilish Happier Than Ever lyrics).
- Select video → click Download → specify MP3 format and quality (optimum – 320 kbit / s).
- The file will be saved to the Snaptube/Download/Music folder.
⚠️ Attention: Converting YouTube videos may violate the terms of use of the service. Google actively blocks accounts that massively download content. VPN (For example, ProtonVPN and do not download more than 10 tracks per day.
How to get around the Snaptube block in some countries?
Method 4: Downloading through torrents and file sharing
Torrents and file sharing tools like Rutracker or Zaycev.net offer huge collections of music, but there are risks: viruses, poor sound quality, legal consequences, and yet, if you choose to use it, follow the safety guidelines.
How to download music through torrents on Xiaomi:
- Install a torrent client, such as FrostWire or LibreTorrent (available on Google Play).
- Find a torrent file on a tracker you have tested (like Rutracker.org). Avoid files with the.exe extension.
- Open the torrent file in the app and wait until the download is complete. The music will be saved to the Download folder.
- Before listening, check the files with an antivirus (for example, Dr.Web Light).
Popular sources of music (with reservations):
- 🏴 Rutracker: The largest Russian-language tracker, but requires registration and confirmation through the Internet SMS.
- 🎶 Zaycev.net: Free download, but quality often leaves much to be desired (128 kbps).
- 🌍 The Pirate Bay: International tracker, but blocked in Russia without VPN.
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Never download files with.apk,.exe or.bat extensions under the guise of music - these are 100% viruses. Secure formats:.mp3,.flac,.zip (archive tracks).
Method 5: Transfer music from a computer or cloud
If you already have a music collection on your PC or in cloud storage (like Google Drive or Yandex Disk), it can be easily transferred to Xiaomi without losing quality. FLAC or WAV.
Modes of transfer:
| Method | Instructions | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB-cable | Connect your phone to your PC → Select File Transfer Mode → Copy the music to your Music folder. | Maximum speed, no loss of quality. | We need a cable and a computer. |
| Google Drive | Download files to Drive → open the app on your phone → download the tracks. | Available from any device. | Restriction of 15 GB on free fare. |
| Yandex Disk | It is similar to Google Drive, but without traffic restrictions. | Fast loading in Russia. | Maximum 10 GB on a free account. |
| Bluetooth/FTP | Use applications like Solid Explorer to transmit over FTP or Bluetooth. | No wires. | Slow speed, possible cliffs. |
⚠️ Note: When you transfer music via Google Drive or Yandex Disk, files can be automatically converted to the same content. MP3 To avoid this, archive the tracks in ZIP before loading.
Optimizing Music Storage on Xiaomi
Downloaded tracks take up space in the device's memory, and erratic storage makes it difficult to find. To avoid chaos, follow these tips:
- 📁 Folders by genre: Create a folder structure like Music/Rock, Music/Pop Use the Files by Google app to sort.
- 🔍 Tags: Programs like this MP3Tag (on PC) or Star Music Tag Editor (on Android) allow you to edit metadata (track title, album, cover).
- ☁️ Cloud reservation: Automatically sync your music to Google Drive or Dropbox to avoid losing files when you reset your phone.
- 🧹 Duplicate Files Fixer App Finds and Deletes Repetitive Tracks.
On Xiaomi devices with hybrid memory (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+), music stored on a microSD card can play slower due to the limitations of MIUI. To eliminate lags, transfer frequently played tracks to internal memory or use A2 class cards (such as SanDisk Extreme).