Mi Share on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: A Complete Guide to Wireless File Transfer

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is still one of the most popular budget smartphones, despite the release of new models, among its features is the Mi Share, Xiaomi’s proprietary wireless file sharing technology, which often raises questions among users: What is this feature, how does it work on the Redmi Note 9 and how does it differ from classic Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct? In this guide, we will go through everything in detail – from basic principles to hidden settings and solving typical problems.

If you’ve ever tried to quickly transfer photos from your phone to your laptop or share a video with a friend, but you’ve faced the slow speed of Bluetooth or the complexities of Wi-Fi Direct, Mi Share can be a lifeline. It combines high transfer speeds (up to 20MB/s in ideal conditions) with ease of use — without having to connect to the same network or download third-party apps. But it has its nuances, especially on older models like the Redmi Note 9, where support may differ from new devices.

In this article you will find:

  • 🔍 What is Mi Share and how does it work at a technical level.
  • ⚡ Step-by-step instructions for turning on and configuring on the Redmi Note 9.
  • 📱 Comparison with alternatives (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, Nearby Share).
  • ⚠️ Typical errors and ways to fix them (e.g., "device not found").
  • 🛠️ Hidden chips that are not written in official manuals.

What is Mi Share and how does it work on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9?

Mi Share is a proprietary wireless file transfer technology developed by Xiaomi based on the Wi-Fi Direct protocol. It allows data exchange between Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO, as well as some models of other brands (for example, Oppo or Vivo via Cross-Share).The main advantage over classic Bluetooth is the speed: theoretically up to 20 MB / s (in practice – 5-12 MB / s depending on interference).

On the Redmi Note 9, the feature works via a combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE):

  1. BLE is used to detect nearby devices and establish a connection.
  2. After pairing, data is transmitted via Wi-Fi Direct (without connecting to the router).
  3. Files are encrypted using AES-256 to protect against interception.

It's important to understand that Mi Share isn't just "enhanced Bluetooth," it's a separate protocol that:

  • 🔗 No Internet connection (works offline).
  • 📎 Supports the transfer of any files (photos, videos, APK, document).
  • 🔄 Can work in the background (not interrupted when the screen is locked).
  • 🚫 Does not consume mobile network traffic (unlike cloud services).

However, there are limitations, such as the Redmi Note 9 with MIUI 12 and below, which has a maximum size of 1GB (newer versions of MIUI have removed this restriction), and the feature may conflict with some custom firmware or root access.

📊 How often do you use wireless file transfer?
Every day.
Several times a week
Rarely, only when necessary.
Never used it.

How to enable and configure Mi Share on Redmi Note 9: step-by-step instructions

You can activate Mi Share on the Redmi Note 9 in two ways: through the notification bar or the settings menu. Let's consider both options.

Method 1: Quickly turn on through the curtain

  1. Swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar.
  2. Swipe down again to open the full panel.
  3. Find the Mi Share icon (two arrows in a circle) and click on it. ⚠️ Note: If there is no icon, tap the icon "⚙️ Edit and add it manually.
  4. After activation, select which mode the function will work in: 🔍 "Visible to all – the device will be detected by other phones. 🔒 "Contact only – visibility only for saved numbers.

Method 2: Through system settings

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Go to the Connections and Sharing section → Mi Share.
  3. Activate the Mi Share slider.
  4. Set up the parameters: 📱 Device name (default: phone model). 📂 Folder for saving (where will be downloaded the received files). 🔄 Auto-disconnection (after 5 or 10 minutes of inactivity).

Once you turn on, you can start transferring files.

  1. Open Explorer (Files) and select the desired files.
  2. Press Share. → Mi Share.
  3. Select the target device from the list.
  4. Confirm reception on the second phone.

If nothing helps, try an alternative method of transmission:

How to transfer files without Mi Share
1. Enable Wi-Fi Direct on both phones (Settings) → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct). 2. Connect to the network created by the second device. 3. Open the browser and enter IP-Address (displayed in Wi-Fi Direct settings). 4. Upload files via web interface.

Hidden Mi Share chips that few people know about

Mi Share on the Redmi Note 9 has a few hidden features that are not documented in the official instructions.

1. Transfer files to multiple devices simultaneously

You can send the same file to up to 5 devices at once:

  1. Select a file and click Share → Mi Share.
  2. Keep your finger on the first device in the list.
  3. Check the other phones with ticks.
  4. Press Send.

2.Use Mi Share for backup

You can quickly transfer contacts, SMS and applications to your new phone:

  • 📱 On an old phone: Settings → System system → Backup → Local backup.
  • 📲 On a new phone: Accept the file via Mi Share and recover the data.

Acceleration of transmission through the Turbo mode

Some firmware has a hidden acceleration mode:

  1. Activate Mi Share.
  2. Tap the Mi Share icon three times in the notification bar.
  3. In the menu that appears, select Turbo Mode (if available).

This temporarily shuts down background processes, increasing the speed by 10-15%.

4. File transfer without confirmation

You can set up automatic file reception from trusted devices:

  1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Mi Share.
  2. Enable the option Auto-receive from contacts.
  3. Add the device to the White List (by MAC-address).

💡

If you often have to transfer files between two specific phones (for example, a work phone and a personal phone), add them to a whitelist.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Share on Redmi Note 9

❓ Can I use Mi Share to transfer files to iPhone or Mac?
No, Mi Share only works between Android devices (mostly Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO, And some Oppo and Vivo models via Cross-Share. Use your iPhone or Mac to share: 🌐 AirDrop (only for Apple devices). ☁️ Cloud services (Google Drive, iCloud). 🔗 Snapdrop (web service without registration).
❓ Why Mi Share doesn’t work after the update MIUI?
After updating the firmware, the Wi-Fi Direct module settings may be lost. Try: Reset network settings: Settings → System → Reset → Reset settings Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth. Clear the Mi Share app cache. Reverse to the previous version of MIUI (if the problem appeared after the update). If nothing helps, check if Mi Share is removed from the firmware (in some regional versions of MIUI it is replaced by Nearby Share).
❓ How to Increase the File Size Limit (1GB) on Redmi Note 9?
Restriction on 1 GB acts on MIUI 11–12. To get around him: 🔄 Update the firmware to MIUI 13+ (limit increased 2 GB). 📦 Archivate files before transfer (e.g. via ZArchiver). 🔧 Use it. ADB-command (requires root or unlocked bootloader): adb shell settings put global mi_share_max_file_size 2147483648 This team increases the limit to 2 GB (value in bytes).
❓ Is it safe to transfer confidential files through Mi Share?
Mi Share uses encryption AES-256, Which makes interception unlikely: ⚠️ There is a risk if an attacker with specialized equipment is nearby (for example, Wi-Fi sniffing). 🔒 For maximum security: Use the function only in a trusted environment. Disable Mi Share after transfer. Use additional encryption for critical files (e.g., use additional encryption, 7-Zip password-wise).
❓ Can you use Mi Share to stream music or video?
Mi Share isn't technically designed to stream, but there's a workaround: Pass the video file to the target device. Use the app VLC or MX Player to play over the local network: On the first phone run FTP-server (for example, through ES On the second phone, connect to this server and open the file in the player. However, the delay will be noticeable (1-2 seconds), so you better stream Wi-Fi Direct. + DLNA.