How to connect the Xiaomi Mi 6 smartphone to another Xiaomi phone: all ways

Synchronizing the Xiaomi Mi 6 with another smartphone of the brand gives access to convenient features: fast file transfer, synchronization of notifications and even remote control. However, owners of older models often face compatibility problems – especially if the second phone runs on the latest version of MIUI 14/15, and the Mi 6 stuck on MIUI 10-12 due to restrictions on upgrades.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of connecting, including official methods through Mi Account and Mi Share, as well as alternative options such as Wi-Fi Direct or third-party applications, and we will focus on solutions for cases where standard synchronization does not work due to different firmware versions or lack of support for new protocols.

1. Preparation of devices before connection

Before you connect the Mi 6 to another Xiaomi smartphone, do the basic checks:

• 🔋 Battery charge on both devices – at least 30%. The synchronization process can drain the phone 5-10% few minutes.
• 📶 Stable Internet connection (to log in to Mi Account) Use mobile Internet or Wi-Fi.
• 🔄 Update MIUI The latest version available for the Mi 6 (usually the MIUI 12.5 for global firmware).
• 📱 Network reset (optional): if you have previously had connection problems, follow Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

The Mi 6 also has to turn off the power saving mode for Mi Share and Bluetooth apps, as they can block background activity:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management.
2. Find Mi Share and Bluetooth apps, select No Limits mode.

Make sure the battery is charged. >30%|Update MIUI last-minute|Turn off energy saving for Mi Share/Bluetooth|Reset network settings (if necessary)-->

If you plan to use Wi-Fi Direct, note that on the Mi 6, this feature may not work stable with models newer than the Redmi Note 8 due to different wireless standards, FTP-server FX File Explorer.

Method 1: Synchronize with Mi Account (cloud)

The most reliable method for connecting two Xiaomi phones is using a single Mi Account, which will not only transfer files, but also synchronize notes, contacts, call history and even some system settings.

Instructions for connection:

1. On both phones, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account and log in with the same account. If you don’t have an account, sign up for a new one.
2. On Mi 6, enable data synchronization: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sync → Enable all switches
3. On the second phone, follow the same step, wait until the sync is complete (it can take up to 5 minutes).
4. To transfer files, use the built-in Files app: Open the file → Click Share → Select "Mi Cloud" → Specify the second phone

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ It works even if the phones are on different networks (for example, one on Wi-Fi, another on the mobile Internet).
• ✅ Supports automatic synchronization of contacts and notes.
• ✅ There are no limits on file size (unlike Bluetooth).

💡

If sync is hanging, try manually updating the data: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sync → Update.

Limitations:

• ❌ Files are first uploaded to the cloud and then downloaded to a second phone – this takes time and traffic.
• ❌ On Mi 6s MIUI below 12.0 may not have the option of synchronizing notes.

Method 2: Quick transmission over Mi Share (Wi-Fi Direct)

Mi Share is Xiaomi’s proprietary protocol for high-speed file transfer between the brand’s devices. On the Mi 6, it works, but with reservations: speed is limited to the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard (up to 300 Mbps), and compatibility with new models (for example, Xiaomi 13) can be unstable.

Step-by-step:

1. On both phones, turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
2. On Mi 6, open the Files app, select a file and click Share → Mi Share.
3. On the second phone will appear a notification about the incoming file - confirm the reception.
4. Wait for the transfer to be completed (status is displayed in the notification panel).

The transmission speed depends on the conditions:

If Mi Share doesn't find the second phone,

⚠️ Attention: On Mi 6s MIUI The Mi Share 2.0 protocol used in new models may not be supported below 12.0.3. Solution: Update the firmware to the latest available version or use an alternative method (see section 4).

Mi Share (Wi-Fi Direct)|Bluetooth|The Cloud (Mi Cloud)|Cable OTG|Third-party applications (SHAREit)-->

Method 3: Connect via Bluetooth (for small files)

Bluetooth is a versatile but slow way, suitable for transferring contacts, small photos or documents (up to 50 MB). The Mi 6 uses Bluetooth 4.2 standard, which limits speeds to ~2-3 Mbps.

How to connect:

1. On both phones, turn on Bluetooth in the Quick Settings panel.
2. On Mi 6, go to Settings → Bluetooth, click Device Search.
3. Select the second phone from the list and confirm pairing (enter the same one). PIN-code, if required).
4. To transfer a file, open it in the gallery or file manager, select Share → Bluetooth.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ The maximum file size is usually 50–100 MB (depending on the firmware).
• ❌ Transmission speed ~200–300 KB/s (1 GB to be transmitted) ~1 hour).
• ❌ Possible breaks of connection at a long distance (>10m).

To speed up the process, you can use Bluetooth FTP:

1. Install Bluetooth File Transfer on both phones (available on Google Play).
2. On Mi 6, run the FTP server in the application.
3. On the second phone, connect to the server and download files as if over a local network.

💡

If Bluetooth is permanently shut down, check your power saving settings: Settings → Battery → Consumption Management → Bluetooth → No Limits.

5. Method 4: Alternative methods (FTP, OTG cable, third-party applications)

If the standard methods don’t work, use one of these solutions:

5.1. FTP-server via Wi-Fi

Suitable for transferring large files (movies, backups).

1. Install FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer.
2. Launch it. FTP-server in the application (usually an option in the side menu).
3. Connect the second phone to the network you have created (the address will be in ftp://192.168.x.x:port format).

OTG + flash drive cable

If you have OTG-adapter, you can use the flash drive as an intermediary:

• 🔌 Connect the flash drive to the Mi 6, copy the files.
• 🔄 Unplug the adapter and connect the flash drive to the second phone.

Third-party annexes

Applications like SHAREit or Xender often run more stable than Mi Share on older devices, and can transfer speeds of up to 20-30 MB/s (depending on Wi-Fi).

💡

For the Mi 6 with MIUI 10-12, Xender is the best choice, as it supports older versions of Android (7.0–9.0) and does not require a firmware update.

6. Solving Connection Problems

If the phones can’t see each other or file transfer is interrupted, check:

To diagnose problems with Mi Share, check the connection log:

1. On Mi 6, open Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Click 7 times on the MIUI version to enable the developer mode.
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers → Mi Share Magazine.

⚠️ Note: If the log appears "Unsupported protocol version", it means that Mi Share versions on two phones are incompatible (FTP cable).

7. Comparison of connection methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on your tasks:

• 📁 Transfer of large files (movies, backups) → FTP via Wi-Fi or cable OTG.
• 📎 Quickly sending photos/documents → Mi Share (if it works) or Xender.
• ☁️ Synchronization of contacts/notes → Mi Account (cloud).
• 🔗 Connecting to a phone without internet → Bluetooth (but slowly).

On Mi 6s MIUI 12.0 is the most stable of the FTP-server and third-party applications such as Xender – they do not depend on the firmware version and support outdated protocols.

FAQ: Frequent questions