File sharing between mobile devices remains a basic feature, despite the ubiquity of cloud storage. When you need to urgently transfer a couple of photos, a contact or a document, and there is no cable or stable Wi-Fi at hand, classic Bluetooth comes to the rescue. Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often face the nuances of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, which can hide the visibility settings or change the standard behavior of the system when paired.
Unlike proprietary solutions like Mi Drop (Xiaomi Share), Bluetooth is universal and allows you to connect devices from different manufacturers, for example, transfer data from an iPhone or an old Samsung to a new Xiaomi. However, the transfer speed and stability of the connection depend on the correct settings and version of the protocol. In this article, we will discuss the step-by-step algorithm of actions that ensures successful file sending, and also consider the typical errors that prevent the process from completing.
It's worth noting that it can take a lot of time to transfer large amounts of data, such as 4K video or multi-gigabyte archives, through this channel. The protocol is designed primarily for contacts, music and small documents. If you plan to regularly share heavy files, it's better to consider alternatives, but for one-time here-and-now operations, the built-in wireless module does fine, requiring only minimal preparation of both devices.
Preparation of devices and activation of the module
The first step is to activate the wireless interface on both smartphones. Without this step, detecting the device in range is impossible. On Xiaomi smartphones with a MIUI 12, 13, 14 shell or the new HyperOS, function management occurs through the notification curtain or system menu. You need to unlock the screen and swipe from top to bottom to open the Quick Access panel.
Find an icon with a characteristic “B” character and click on it to become active (usually blue or blue). For a deeper setting where you can change the visible name of the device, go to the settings section. The path to the menu may vary slightly depending on the version of the software, but the logic remains the same for all models, whether it is a budget Redmi Note or flagship Xiaomi 13.
It's important to make sure the screens of both phones are on and active. Android security often blocks pairing requests if the device is in sleep or the screen is locked.This is done to protect against unauthorized data access, but can interfere with legitimate file transfers.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure both devices are geolocated. Current versions of Android (starting with 6.0 and up) require active Bluetooth scanning to work. GPS-The phone will not see the neighbor.
To rename the device, not to guess which Android-123 is nearby, do the following:
- 📱 Go to the Settings of the main menu of the smartphone.
- 🔍 Find and open the Bluetooth section (often in the Connection and Sharing group»).
- ✏️ Click on the "Device Name" and enter an understandable name, for example, «Xiaomi_Office».
- ✅ Save the changes and return to the main menu of the module.
Once you've done that, the module is ready to go, and now you need to move on to the pairing procedure, which is critical to establishing a trusted connection between gadgets.
The pairing process and device search
Pairing is the process of establishing a trusted connection between two devices, where they exchange encryption keys. Once successfully paired, re-entering the confirmation code is usually not required. On the receiver device (your Xiaomi), you need to go to the Bluetooth menu and click the Device Search button, or just wait for the automatic scan if it does not start on its own.
The list of available devices will appear at the bottom of the screen. If you don't see the right phone in the "Available Devices" list, make sure that the corresponding menu is open on the transmitting gadget. Many smartphones hide themselves from prying eyes when they are in the general settings menu, and become visible only inside the selection window of the device for transfer.
When you select a target device, a pairing request pop-up will appear on the screen, and the same digital code should be displayed on both screens, a security measure to ensure that you do not connect to someone else's device with a similar name in crowded air (for example, in the office or public transport).
The confirmation process is as follows:
- 🔢 A 6-digit code will appear on the screen (e.g., 482910).
- 👀 Check the numbers on both displays – they should be the same.
- 👆 Click “Hide” or “Accept” on both devices.
- 🔄 The status will change to “Connected” or “Connected».
Sometimes, the system may ask permission to access contacts or call logs. It's not necessary for simple file transfers, but it's necessary for phone book syncs. If you're transferring files from an iPhone to Xiaomi, the process will be similar, but the confirmation interface on iOS will look different.
Algorithm for transferring files of different formats
Once paired successfully, you can start sending data directly. The mechanics of the process depend on which application or file type you start with. In an Android environment, there are two main ways: transferring from the gallery/conductor via the Share menu and receiving the incoming file through the system notification.
Consider when you send a photo from another Android smartphone to Xiaomi, you have to open a gallery, select a picture and click on the Share button. From the list of available methods, select a Bluetooth icon. The system will suggest you select a device — find your Xiaomi name in the list and tap it.
The receiving side (Xiaomi) at the top of the screen (the curtain) will display a notification about the incoming file, which will hang until you accept or reject the request. It is important not to miss this point, since after a while the request can be automatically rejected by the security system.
☑️ Checklist of successful transfer
For different types of content, the behavior of the system may differ:
- 📷 Photo and video: Save to a Bluetooth folder inside a gallery or guide.
- 📄 Documents: Opened through the appropriate application or saved to the download folder.
- 👤 Contacts: Usually imported immediately into the phone book after confirmation.
- 📦 APK-Files: Require additional permission to install from unknown sources.
⚠️ Note: When transferring installation files APK Xiaomi can block installations by citing security policies, and you will need to manually allow installation of applications from the source “Bluetooth” or “Mi Drop” in the window that appears.
The copy speed will be displayed in the notification.Don't turn off the screen or turn off the app completely if the transfer is interrupted - it's better to keep the phone unlocked until the end of the process.
MIUI Visibility and Security Settings
The MIUI and HyperOS shells have their own rights-based features. Unlike pure Android, more aggressive power saving and privacy settings can prevent Bluetooth from working properly. If the Xiaomi phone isn't visible to other devices, even though Bluetooth is on, the problem lies in the visibility settings.
The standard Bluetooth menu has a Visibility option that can be set to Always Seen or Seen 2 Minutes. You'd better pair up with a maximum time or a Always Seen mode to avoid timeouts while searching, but for public safety reasons, it's better to return limited mode.
Also worth checking is the permissions for the Bluetooth system service. Sometimes, after updating the firmware, you reset the permissions to access memory or contacts. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, look in the “Bluetooth” list (you may need to turn on the display of system processes) and check the permissions.
The table below shows the main settings and their impact on the work:
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on transmission |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Seems to everyone. | Allows other devices to find the phone |
| Name of device | Unique. | Helps identify the phone in the list |
| Access to files | Permitted. | Receiving photos and documents is required |
| Geolocation | Included. | Required to scan the environment |
Why Xiaomi can't see old phones
If you still don't have the device after checking all the settings, try rebooting the Bluetooth module: turn it off and turn it back on in the notification curtain. This resets the network stack's error cache.
Solving Connection and Speed Problems
Even with the right setup, there can be failures. The most common problem is low transmission speeds or constant connection breaks. Bluetooth is sensitive to interference. A running microwave, a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi router, or even a USB 3.0 port (which causes interference) can significantly reduce speed.
If the transmission is 99 percent stuck or it's broken in the middle of a large file, try to keep the distance between the devices to a minimum, and if you want to put the phones next to each other, you can also turn off the Wi-Fi on both devices if you're not using them to distribute the Internet, because the frequencies can conflict.
Another common mistake is, "File is not supported" or "Not enough memory." Make sure that the host Xiaomi has free space. Unlike the iPhone, where memory is tightly controlled, on Android files can be written to the user. SD-A card that sometimes runs slowly or has file system errors.
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If the transfer speed is critically low (less than 50 Kb/s), try clearing the Bluetooth cache in the application settings.This will not remove your pairings, but will reset temporary service files, which often solves the problem of “brakes”.
In the case of falsehood (the wrong one). PIN-code" or "conjugation error»):
- 🗑️ Remove the device from the list of saved devices on both phones ("Forget the device»).
- 🔄 Restart both smartphones completely.
- 🔗 Repeat the process of searching and entering the code again.
If the problem persists with only one particular sender device, it may be because of its firmware or Bluetooth version, and then it’s worth trying to transfer the file through alternative channels, such as Xiaomi Share or Google Files.
Alternatives to Bluetooth for Xiaomi
While Bluetooth is versatile, it is not always efficient for large tasks. Xiaomi’s ecosystem includes Xiaomi Share technology (formerly Mi Drop), which uses Wi-Fi Direct to transfer data, which provides speeds ten times faster than classic Bluetooth without consuming mobile traffic.
For transfer between Android devices of different brands, Google’s Quick Share feature, which is now built into most modern smartphones, works on the principle of AirDrop: you choose a file, the phone searches for nearby devices and offers to send a file at high speed.
However, if you want to transfer a file to a button phone, an old smartphone without internet, or a device with a damaged Wi-Fi module, Bluetooth remains the only working option, with its main advantage being minimal power consumption and basic support for almost any device with a screen.
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Bluetooth is ideal for contacts and documents, but for video and photos, it’s best to use Xiaomi Share or Quick Share for time saving.
Understanding the limitations and possibilities of each method will allow you to choose the best tool for a particular situation, whether it is an office, a home or a trip.