In the digital age, the need to USB-The owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco often face a situation when you need to urgently throw photos, videos or documents on the big screen, and the wire is lying on the other side of the room or lost. MIUI Android operating system allows you to organize seamless communication between devices using only local network resources or Bluetooth.
Wireless connectivity provides access to advanced functionality that goes far beyond simple file transfer. You can control your smartphone screen from your computer keyboard, use your phone as a webcam for streaming, or even run mobile applications directly on the desktop. Wi-Fi Direct data transfer speeds up to 40 MB/s, which is many times faster than Bluetooth. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from built-in system functions to professional tools for advanced users.
The choice of the particular method depends on your goals: whether you just need to copy a folder with photos or require full synchronization in real time. We will look at both the standard tools that are already in your phone and proven third-party solutions, the main advantage of such methods is the lack of physical wear of the charging connector, which is critical for the durability of the device.
Use the built-in Mi PC Suite (Mi Connect) app
Xiaomi has introduced a native PC interface solution that users often ignore because they don’t know it exists. Formerly known as Mi Drop, the feature is now integrated deeper into the system and allows you to transfer files over Wi-Fi without installing additional software on your computer, working through a web interface.
To get started, you need to make sure that both your smartphone and your computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi hotspot. On your phone, find the standard Explorer app or a separate Mi Drop icon in the Tools folder. In the program interface, you press the send or receive button, and then the system will prompt the server to start. QR-code and address to be entered in the browser on the computer.
Once you scan the code or enter the address in the browser address bar (usually http://192.168.1.XX:port), you will see your phone's file manager. From here you can download files, download new ones or delete extra ones. It's important to note that this method does not require drivers and works on any operating system, whether it's Windows, macOS or Linux.
⚠️ Note: When using the Mi Drop web interface, make sure your PC antivirus does not block local connections and the firewall allows incoming browser connections.
Why can't Mi Drop see the computer?
Synchronization via Bluetooth: the classic method
Although Bluetooth is inferior in speed to Wi-Fi connections, it remains an indispensable tool for transferring small amounts of data, such as contacts, text documents or multiple photos. Bluetooth is present on almost every modern computer and laptop, making this method universal.
The pairing process begins with the inclusion of visibility on the smartphone. In the Bluetooth settings on Xiaomi, you need to allow detection by devices nearby. On the computer, through the control panel or system tray, find a new device and initiate pairing. The confirmation codes that appear on the screens of both gadgets must match.
Once a successful connection is made, the computer can be displayed in the Send/Receive list in the smartphone's Bluetooth menu. When transferring large files, the speed can be low, around 1-2 MB/s, so it's best used for urgent but easy tasks. The stability of the connection depends on the distance and the presence of physical obstacles between the devices.
- 📱 Universality: Works even without access to the Internet and router.
- 🔋 Energy efficiency: Consumes significantly less battery power than Wi-Fi.
- 🐢 Speed Limit: Not suitable for video transmission 4K or large archives.
Remote screen control via AirDroid
If your goal is not just to flip a file, but to fully control your smartphone from your computer, AirDroid is the perfect solution, which allows you to stream your phone screen to your PC monitor, respond to SMS, call and work with notifications directly from your keyboard. The app’s functionality goes far beyond a simple file manager, making your smartphone part of the desktop ecosystem.
To get started, you need to install the AirDroid app from Google Play Market on your Xiaomi smartphone and register an account. A similar procedure is required on your computer: you can use the web version through a browser or download a desktop client. Once you log in with one login on both devices, the connection is automatically established over the cloud or local network.
One of the key features of AirDroid is the ability to control the phone’s camera remotely, which is useful for video surveillance, and the Phone feature is available, which allows you to use the microphone and speaker of the PC for conversations. For MIUI users, it is important to provide the application with the necessary permissions in a special menu, otherwise the screen management functions may be limited by security.
☑️ Set up AirDroid
It’s worth noting that some features require a stable Internet connection to work, as traffic can go through developer servers. However, in local mode (Local Login), data speed is limited only by the capabilities of your router. This is a great option for those who want to integrate mobile notifications into the workflow on the big screen.
Screen broadcasting and control via Scrcpy
For tech-savvy users who want maximum performance and minimal latency, Scrcpy is the best option, an open-source project that allows you to display and control the Android screen on your computer using your mouse and keyboard, and the main advantage is that you don't have to install any application on your phone, all of the computing takes place on the PC side.
The main challenge is the initial setup: you need to turn on the developer mode on Xiaomi (click seven times on the build number in About Phone) and activate debugging over USB. Although the name implies USB, you only need to connect the cable to set up TCP/IP once for wireless operation, and then use the command:
adb tcpip 5555
adb connect IP_ANDRESS TELEphone:5555Once you've done these commands in the computer's command line, you can turn off the cable. Scrcpy will instantly open a window with a smartphone screen. Latency is only 35-70 ms, which allows you to even play simple games or watch videos without noticeable artifacts. The image quality is adjusted by bitrate parameters, for example, -b 8M for high quality.
⚠️ Attention: When in use ADB Make sure you are using the latest version of the platform tools, otherwise the connection may break or not be installed at all.
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To reduce the delay in Scrcpy use the argument --max-fps 60, If your computer has a weak processor, or raise the bitrade for better text clarity.
Comparison of methods of connecting Xiaomi to PC
The best way to do this depends on the specific tasks you want to tackle, and here's a comparison table that helps you define your tool, and each method has its own strengths: some are better for mass data, others are better for operational management.
| Method | Speed. | Do I need the Internet? | Screen control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Drop (Web) | Tall. | No (locally) | No. |
| Bluetooth | Low. | No. | No. |
| AirDroid | Medium/High | Yes (for removal) | Yes. |
| Scrcpy | Very high. | No (locally) | Yes. |
As you can see from the table, Bluetooth is enough for a simple transfer of photos once a week, but for constant work it is better to choose AirDroid or Scrcpy. Owners of Redmi Note and older models can count on stable Wi-Fi 5 GHz, which greatly speeds up the synchronization process. Do not forget about security: when using public Wi-Fi networks, it is better to refrain from transmitting confidential data.
Solving Connection Problems
Even if you set up correctly, there may be failures due to network infrastructure features or software versions. Often the problem lies in the settings of the router, which can isolate devices from each other, check whether the Guest Network or AP Isolation feature is enabled, which prevents devices on the same network from communicating.
Another common reason is energy saving: MIUI aggressively optimizes background processes, which can cause a Wi-Fi connection to break when the phone screen is off, you need to go to the battery settings, find the application you are using (such as AirDroid or Explorer), and set the No Limits mode, which ensures that the connection is stable in the background.
- 🔄 Rebooting modules: Sometimes it helps to simply turn off and turn on Wi-Fi on both devices.
- 🛡️ Antivirus: Temporary shutdown of firewall on PC can help diagnose port lock problem.
- 📶 Frequency Range: Make sure both devices are on the same frequency network (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz), although modern routers often combine them.
⚠️ Note: If you are using a corporate Wi-Fi network, the system administrator may have blocked the ports required for file transfers (usually 80, 443 or specific application ports).
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The stability of the wireless connection depends on 90% of the correct settings of the router and the absence of restrictions on the part of antivirus software.