How to transfer files via Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi smartphones: the complete guide

Wi-Fi Direct allows you to share files between Xiaomi devices without connecting to the Internet or a router, which is especially useful when you need to quickly transfer photos, videos or documents from one smartphone to another – for example, from Redmi Note. 12 ce POCO X5 Pro or even a laptop with this feature.The data transfer speed over Wi-Fi Direct often exceeds Bluetooth in the Internet. 5-10 once 250 Mbps under ideal conditions.

But many users are struggling: the connection doesn't get established, the files freeze by 99 percent, the speed drops suddenly. In this article, we'll look at all the steps in file transfer, from turning on Wi-Fi Direct to solving common bugs. And you'll also learn which Xiaomi models support this feature best and how to get around the 4GB file size limit.

Wi-Fi Direct works on a point-to-point principle" (P2P), And you create a local area network between two devices, and unlike traditional Wi-Fi, you don't need a router, one of the devices becomes a host, and the other connects directly to it. This makes the technology indispensable in travel, outdoors or in places with poor mobile network coverage.

But there are nuances. For example, on Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 14 and newer, the device search algorithm has changed — now a stable connection requires both phones to be unlocked. MIUI 12.5) Larger files may have been interrupted due to an energy saving error.

What is Wi-Fi Direct and how does it work for Xiaomi?

Wi-Fi Direct is a wireless standard that allows devices to communicate directly, without intermediaries. In the context of Xiaomi smartphones, the technology is implemented through the Wi-Fi protocol. P2P (Peer-to-Peer, which automatically selects the optimal frequency (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) for the connection, the main advantage over Bluetooth is the high speed of transmission and the lack of distance binding (up to 200 meters in ideal conditions).

On smartphones Xiaomi Wi-Fi Direct integrated into the system menu "File Transfer" (Settings) → Connections and sharing → When the function is activated, the phone starts scanning nearby devices with Wi-Fi Direct enabled. Importantly, both devices must support this protocol. For example, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will connect to Redmi without any problems. 10C, But you may not see the old Mi. A1 Due to different versions of Wi-Fi modules.

Technically, the process looks like this:

1. One device (for example, yours) POCO F5) Creates a temporary access point.
2. The second device connects to it using a password or PIN-code (sometimes the connection is automatically established).
3. Files are transmitted over a secure channel with encryption WPA2-PSK.

The transmission speed depends on several factors:

• 📶 Wi-Fi version: on smartphones with Wi-Fi 6 (for example, Xiaomi 14) speeds up to 900 Mbps, while on Wi-Fi 4 (Redmi) 9A) — not more than 150 Mbps.
• 🔋 Power saving mode: if one of the devices is activated "Ultra mode", the speed may fall 30-40%.
• 📁 File Type: Small photos are transmitted almost instantly and videos are transmitted in the 4K It can be “slowed” by fragmentation of packets.

What Xiaomi models support Wi-Fi Direct

The vast majority of Xiaomi smartphones released after 2018 support Wi-Fi Direct out of the box. MIUI. Below is the compatibility table of key models:

If your model is not in the table, check Wi-Fi Direct support as follows:

1. Open the settings → About the phone → version of MIUI.
2. Slip 7 times on the line "Version of the kernel" - the developer menu will open.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and find the Wi-Fi Direct.

On some budget models (e.g. Redmi) 9AT) The function can be disabled at the firmware level, in which case only the firmware reflashing to custom software (for example, LineageOS) will help, but this will void the warranty.

💡

Before buying a used Xiaomi smartphone, check Wi-Fi Direct support through the Kimovil service - enter the model and see the Communications section.

Step-by-step: how to turn on Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi

The activation algorithm for Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi smartphones is the same for most models, but there are differences depending on the version. MIUI. Let us consider the universal method for MIUI 13/14:

1. Open Settings and go to Connections and Sharing (on some models, Wi-Fi).

2.Tap on "File Transfer" (or "Wi-Fi Direct" on older versions).

3. Activate the "Wi-Fi Direct" slider, and the phone will start searching for available devices.

4. On the second smartphone, do the same thing. When both devices detect each other, tap the name of the second phone.

5. Confirm the connection on both devices (sometimes you need to enter) PIN-code that is displayed on the screen).

Once you've successfully connected, the file transfer interface will open, and you can choose from here:

• 📁 Send files – select photos, videos or documents from your phone’s memory.
• 📥 Receive files – receive data from another device.
• 🔄 Contact exchange – transfer phone numbers or business cards (not working on all models).

Enable Wi-Fi on both devices |

Turn off the power saving mode |

Unlock the screens (on MIUI 14+)|

Make sure there is enough memory on the receiving device-->

If the connection is not established, try:

1. Reboot both phones.
2. Disable Bluetooth (sometimes it conflicts with Wi-Fi Direct).
3. Reset network settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings).

How to transfer files: photos, videos, documents

Once successfully connected via Wi-Fi Direct, you can transfer almost any type of file, but there are limitations:

• 📸 Photos: formats supported JPEG, PNG, HEIC (on MIUI 14+). The permission is not limited, but the files >50 MB can be transmitted for longer.
• 🎥 Video: maximum size — 4 GB (limitation) MIUI). Formats: MP4, MKV, MOV. Video in the video 4K/60fps speed-transmittent ~50-70 Mbit/s.
• 📄 Documents: PDF, DOCX, XLSX are transmitted without size restrictions, but may be opened with a delay on the receiving device.
• 🎵 Audio: MP3, FLAC, WAV — Transfer time limit (up to 10 minutes per file).

Instructions for transmission:

1. In the Wi-Fi Direct interface, select "Send Files".
2. Mark the files you want in the gallery or file manager (for example, Files). → Categories → Images).
3. Click "Send" and wait for confirmation on the second device.
4. On the receiving phone will appear a notification – tap “Accept” to save files to the folder Download/WiFiDirect.

Critical limitation MIUI: Files larger than 4 GB are only transmitted after manually changing system settings through the ADB (See “Resolving problems” section").

The transmission speed can be calculated approximately by the formula:

(File size in MB) / (Fast in Mbit/s) × 8 = Time in seconds

Example: Video weighting 1.5 GB (1500 MB on Xiaomi 13 Pro (600 Mbit/s) will be passed over: 1500 / 600 × 8 = 20 seconds.

💡

For maximum transmission speed, turn off background applications (especially instant messengers and streaming services) – they occupy a Wi-Fi channel.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even with the right setup, Xiaomi users often encounter errors when transferring files over Wi-Fi Direct. Here are the most common problems and proven ways to solve them:

1. "No device found"

Reason: Different versions of Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth conflict

- Decision:

• Turn off Bluetooth on both devices.
• In the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI, Select 7 times the preferred frequency of Wi-Fi → 2.4 GHz.
• Reboot both phones.

2. "Transmission is 99 percent frozen."

- Reason: Limitation MIUI file size or energy saving.

- Decision:

“Low transmission speed”

Reason: Automatic switching to 2.4 GHz or background processes.

- Decision:

• Close all applications through the recent → Clear it all up.
• Turn off "Adaptive Brightness" and "Smart Resolution" in the screen settings.
• If speed is critical, use Airplane Mode with only Wi-Fi on.

4. “Files are not opened after transfer”

Cause: File damage during transfer or format incompatibility.

- Decision:

• Check the integrity of the file through the files → Set up a file → Properties → Hash sum.
• For the video in HEVC install the codec MX Player with hardware decoding support.

⚠️ Note: If you transfer files between Xiaomi and a device of another brand (such as Samsung), you may need to install a third-party application, such as Send Anywhere or Feem. MIUI Sometimes it conflicts with other manufacturers.

Alternative ways to transfer files to Xiaomi

If Wi-Fi Direct is not working or is not satisfied with the speed, consider alternative methods:

1. Mi Share (built-in solution from Xiaomi)

- It works through a combination of Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth. LE.

Speed: Up to 20MB/s (slower than pure Wi-Fi Direct, but more stable)

- How to turn on: Settings → Connections and sharing → Mi Share.

2. Local area network via router

Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.

- Use it. ES Explorer or Solid Explorer for accessing shared folders.

Speed: up to 100 Mbps (depending on the router).

3. USB-cable (OTG)

- Connect the second phone through USB-C → USB-C cable.

- On the receiving device, select the "File Transfer" mode" (MTP).

- Speed: up to 40 MB/s (limited) USB 2.0 on most Xiaomis).

Third-party annexes

- Send Anywhere: The Transmission P2P with encryption, speeds up to 50 MB / s.

- Feem: Creates a local network, supports files >10GB.

Snapdrop: Web service for transfer via browser (does not require installation).

Comparison of methods by key parameters:

⚠️ Note: When transferring sensitive data (documents, passwords) over Wi-Fi Direct or a local network, always check that the connection is protected by encryption. In the Wi-Fi Direct settings, Xiaomi is used by default WPA2-PSK, But on some custom firmware, this parameter can be turned off.

Security of File Transfers via Wi-Fi Direct

Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi smartphones uses encryption WPA2-PSK, But there are risks that you should be aware of:

1. "Man in the Middle" (MitM Attack)

- The attacker can connect to your temporary network if PIN-weak code (e.g. 0000).

How to protect yourself: Always confirm your connection on both devices and don’t use Wi-Fi Direct in public places with a lot of devices.

Metadata leakage

- When transferring photos via Wi-Fi Direct, you can save them EXIF-data (geolocation, camera model).

- How to protect yourself: Clear metadata through the app before sending EXIF Eraser.

3. Automatic connection to unknown devices

- V MIUI 13+ There is a bug: the phone can remember “foreign” devices and connect to them automatically.

- How to protect yourself: After transferring files, remove the device from the trusted list (Settings) → Wi-Fi → Save networks).

4.Seal traffic through public Wi-Fi

If you are connected to public Wi-Fi and using Wi-Fi Direct at the same time, traffic can be vulnerable.

How to protect yourself: Turn off mobile internet and Wi-Fi before transferring.

For maximum safety:

• 🔒 Use only trusted devices (don’t connect to unknown phones).
• 📱 After transfer, turn off Wi-Fi Direct manually.
• 🔄 Clean the list of saved devices (Settings) regularly → Connections → Wi-Fi Direct → Clear history).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi