ShareMe on Xiaomi: what kind of app is it and whether it should be kept on your phone

You opened up a list of installed apps on your Xiaomi and stumbled upon the mysterious ShareMe (formerly Mi Drop)? Take your time to remove it or ignore it. It's a standard Xiaomi app that's pre-installed on most of the brand's devices, but its purpose raises questions for many users. On the one hand, it promises easy file transfer without the Internet, on the other, it takes up space in memory and sometimes runs in the background without your knowledge.

In this article, we will discuss in detail: what is ShareMe and how it appeared on your phone, how to use it (and whether), can you delete ShareMe without consequences for the system, which alternatives are better - and why some users of Redmi, POCO Or Mi prefer to get rid of it immediately after buying the device.

You will also learn how ShareMe can affect battery autonomy and data security – this is critical for owners of budget models with limited resources.

What is ShareMe and why is Xiaomi installing it?

ShareMe (formerly Mi Drop) is a proprietary application from Xiaomi for wireless file transfer between devices, it works on the principle of Wi-Fi Direct or over a local network, without requiring an Internet connection.

• 📱 Fast transfer of photos, videos, documents and apps between Xiaomi smartphones (and some other brands).
• 🖥️ Sharing files with computers (via a web interface or special software).
• 🔄 Alternative to Bluetooth and NFC devices without support for these technologies.
• 🌐 The ability to create a temporary local area network for data transfer without a router.

The app appeared as a replacement for Mi Drop in 2019 and was integrated into firmware. MIUI It is now pre-installed on all new Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, But many users are unaware of its existence until they notice it on the list of working processes or receive a notification of the transfer of files.

Why Xiaomi insists on this app? First, it is part of the brand ecosystem: Xiaomi aims to create a closed environment where users only share data through its services. Second, in some regions (for example, China or India), ShareMe is actively promoted as an alternative to banned services like Google Files or SHAREit. Finally, the application collects anonymous usage statistics, which is useful for the company's marketing research.

How ShareMe Works: Step-by-step Instructions

If you’re trying ShareMe, here’s how to use it:

1. Activation: Open the app (a two-arrow icon on a blue background) and allow access to files, contacts and locations when you first start up (the latter is needed to find nearby devices).
2. Choice of regime: 📤 Send: Select files (photos, videos, APK, Documents) and click "Send." The app will start searching for nearby devices. 📥 Get: Click Get and wait for another user to find your phone in the list.

Connection:

Transmission:

Wi-Fi Direct

Features of the work:

• 🔋 File transfers don’t consume mobile traffic, but can increase battery consumption (especially on older models like the Redmi Note 8).
• 🔒 Transfers between Xiaomi and iPhone or other Android devices may require ShareMe installation on a second device (available on Google Play).
• 📁 The maximum size of one file is up to 1 GB (the restriction can be circumvented by archiving data).

Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices

Allow ShareMe to access storage

Close background applications to speed up transfer

Check the battery power (minimum 20%)

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Where is the transmission history stored? All files sent and received are saved by default in the Internal Storage folder → MIUI → ShareMe. You can view them directly in the app in the History tab».

Pros and cons of ShareMe: whether it is worth using it

Like any pre-installed software, ShareMe has its advantages and disadvantages, and let's look at them in a comparative table:

Who's going to do ShareMe? It's going to be useful if you're:

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Sharing files with friends/colleagues who also have Xiaomi.
• 📴 You're using a device without NFC or with slow Bluetooth (e.g. Redmi) 9A).
• 🌍 You are in a region with poor internet or cloud service restrictions.

Who should be removed? Consider uninstallation if:

• 🔋 You need autonomy, and the phone discharges too quickly (relevant to the phone). POCO M3 or Redmi Note 10).
• 🛡️ You do not use pre-installed services Xiaomi.
• 📲 You have alternatives like Nearby Share, Snapdrop or LocalSend.

💡

ShareMe is convenient for transferring files between Xiaomi devices, but it loses to alternatives like Nearby Share in terms of stability and versatility.

How to remove ShareMe from Xiaomi: safe ways

If you've decided to get rid of ShareMe, there are a few ways you can go from simply disabling to completely removing it. K60) The application is system-based, and deleting it can cause malfunctions. So first check if it can be uninstalled without root rights.

Method 1: Normal deletion (for non-system versions)

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find ShareMe in the list and tap it.
3. If the Remove button is active, press it. If it's not, move on to the next one.

Method 2: Disconnect (if deletion is not available)

1. In the app menu (Settings) → Annexes → ShareMe) press "Deactivate».
2. Confirm the action. The app will disappear from the menu, but it will remain in the system.
3. To return it, go to Settings. → Annexes → Turn it off and turn it back on.

Method 3: Remove via ADB (for power users)

If ShareMe is system-based, but you want to remove it, you will need to ADB (Android Debug Bridge: Warning: This method requires caution and can disrupt the work MIUI.

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect the phone to the PC, open the command line and execute the command above.

💡

Before removing ShareMe through ADB Backup data on some models (Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) This can lead to a breakdown of services. MIUI.

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB It can cause errors in work. MIUI, including issues with updates or resets. If you're not sure what you're doing, it's best to limit yourself to disabling ShareMe.

ShareMe Alternatives: Which Is Best for File Transfer

If ShareMe doesn’t suit you, consider these analogues:

Which alternative should I choose?

• 🤝 If you share files with iPhone or Windows users, LocalSend or Snapdrop.
• 📱 For transfer between Android devices – Nearby Share (already built into the system).
• 🚀 Need top speed? try Xender, but be ready for the ads.

Why do many choose LocalSend? is an open source application that doesn't collect user data and works across all platforms. It's often recommended by owners. POCO F4 redmi K50 The most reliable alternative to ShareMe.

ShareMe's Impact on Battery and Performance

One of the big questions is, how much does ShareMe consume battery power? according to tests on Redmi Note 12 devices and the latest in the series. POCO X5, The application in the background can consume up to 3-5% of the charge per day if Wi-Fi Direct is actively used. 9T) This can be as high as 7-10% due to less optimized iron.

How does ShareMe affect productivity?

• 📉 With active file transfer, it can take up to 200-300 MB of RAM, which is critical for devices with 3-4 GB of memory.
• 🔄 In the background consumes up to 50-100 MB of RAM (tested on Xiaomi 11 Lite).
• 🛑 On some firmware (MIUI 13–14) may slow down other applications due to conflicts with the Wi-Fi module.

How to reduce the impact on the battery?

1. Turn off ShareMe auto-start in the app settings.
2. Limit work in the background: Settings → Annexes → ShareMe → Battery → Limit background activity.
3. Turn off notifications: Settings → Notifications → ShareMe → Turn it off.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, ShareMe can automatically turn on when connecting to some Wi-Fi networks (for example, in the subway or shopping centers).To avoid this, turn off the location permission for the application.

ShareMe Security: Does Xiaomi Collect Your Data?

According to official statements from Xiaomi, ShareMe does not transfer personal data to the company’s servers, but collects anonymous statistics about:

• 📊 Frequency of use of the application.
• 📱 Device models and versions MIUI.
• 🌍 Region (defined by IP or SIM-map).
• 🔗 Types of transmitted files (photo, video, APK etc.).

How do I turn off data collection?

1. Open ShareMe and go to Settings → Confidentiality.
2. Turn off the “Send Error Reports” and “Participate in Product Improvement” options.
3. Disable geolocation and contacts in Android settings.

Are there any risks when using ShareMe?

• 🔓 When transferring files over Wi-Fi Direct, data is not encrypted (unlike Nearby Share, which uses Wi-Fi Direct). TLS).
• 🕵️‍♂️ In 2021, researchers discovered a vulnerability in Mi Drop (the predecessor of ShareMe), which allows you to replace the transferred files. MIUI 13 and newer problem fixed.
• 📴 On devices with unlocked bootloader ShareMe can conflict with custom firmware.

If you are concerned about security, use alternatives like LocalSend (encrypted). TLS) Nearby Share (from Google).

FAQ: Frequent questions about ShareMe on Xiaomi