How to sync your phone to Xiaomi phone: The full guide to 2026

Synchronizing two Xiaomi smartphones opens up a lot of possibilities, from instant photo transfer to automatic contact backup. But how to set up this process to avoid data loss or conflict between devices? In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of synchronization, from standard Mi Cloud features to hidden Mi Share and Wi-Fi Direct features.

Xiaomi’s ecosystem has a lot of built-in data sharing tools, but not all of them are equally convenient: you’ll need a stable Internet connection somewhere, and you’ll need physical proximity of devices. We’ve tested each method on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5 and Xiaomi 13 Ultra to see their strengths and weaknesses. At the end of this article, you’ll find a comparative table that will help you choose the best option for your task.

1. synchronization via Mi Cloud: automatic backup

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s cloud storage that allows you to synchronize contacts, notes, photos, and even SMS between devices, and the main advantage of the method is that data is available on any phone associated with a single Mi Account. However, there are limitations: only 5 GB of storage is provided for free, and for some regions the service can work with delays.

To enable synchronization:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud on both phones.
• 🔄 Include switches opposite data categories (e.g. Contacts, Notes, Gallery).
• 🔄 Press Sync and wait until the process is complete (may take up to 10 minutes on the first run).
• ☁️ Make sure that both devices use the same Mi Account.

Important: If you have previously used Google services (e.g. Google Contacts), data may be duplicated, and before synchronization, it is recommended to export contacts to a.vcf file and clear duplicates using the Contacts app.

💡

If Mi Cloud doesn’t sync photos, check Settings → Applications → Application Management → Gallery → Permissions and enable storage access.

2. Mi Share: fast file transfer without the Internet

Mi Share (formerly Xiaomi Share) is a proprietary technology for transferring files between Xiaomi, POCO and Redmi devices over Wi-Fi Direct protocol. Transfer speeds can reach 20 MB / s, which is 4 times faster than Bluetooth. The method is ideal for transferring large files (video, archives) or photo packages.

Instructions for use:

1. Activate Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both phones.
2. On the sending device, open the Gallery or Explorer, select files and click Send → Mi Share.
3. On the receiving phone, confirm the connection request (a notification will appear).
4. Wait until the transfer is completed – the files will be saved to the MiShare folder in internal memory.

Wi-Fi is on both phones|Bluetooth activated|The devices are at a distance of up to 5 meters|There is enough free space on the receiving phone.-->

⚠️ Note: If the transmission is interrupted, try to turn off Adaptive Wi-Fi in the settings (Settings) → Wi-Fi → This feature may conflict with Wi-Fi Direct.

3. Bluetooth: The classic method for small files

Although Bluetooth is inferior to Mi Share in speed, it remains a versatile solution for transferring contacts, small documents or audio files, with the advantage of low power consumption and working at a distance of up to 10 meters. However, for transferring videos or photo packets, this method is not suitable due to the speed limit (1-2 MB / s).

How to transfer files:

• 📲 Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth).
• 🔍 On the sending device, click Device Search and select the second phone from the list.
• 🔑 Confirm pairing (code must match on both screens).
• 📎 In Explorer or Gallery, select files, click Send → Bluetooth and select the target device.

⚠️ Note: when you transfer contacts via Bluetooth, they are saved in.vcf format, which may not support all fields (for example, additional phone numbers or profile photos.

4.Wi-Fi Direct: Mi Share alternative for older models

Wi-Fi Direct is a technology that allows devices to connect to each other directly, without a router. Unlike the Mi Share, it works on all Xiaomi smartphones, including models older than 2018 (such as the Redmi 5 or Mi A1). Transfer speeds are comparable to Mi Share, but setting up requires more action.

Step-by-step:

1. On the receiving phone, open Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. On the sending device, follow the same path and select the target phone from the list.
3. Confirm the connection on both devices (entry may be required) PIN-code).
4. In Explorer, select files, click Send → Wi-Fi Direct and wait for completion.

5. Sync through Google Account (for contacts and calendar)

If you use Google services, syncing contacts and calendars through a Google Account may be easier than through Mi Cloud, a method that is universal and works on any Android device, including Xiaomi. SMS.

How to set up:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Google on both phones.
• 🔄 Enable synchronization for Contacts, Calendar and other categories.
• ☁️ Make sure that both devices use the same Google account.
• 🔄 Click Sync Now for Forced Data Update.

⚠️ Note: if you are using Mi Cloud and Google Account to sync contacts, you may experience duplicated records. To avoid this, disable contact sync on one of the services (Settings for Contact Sync). → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Contacts).

6. synchronize notes and reminders via Mi Notes

The Mi Notes app automatically syncs text information between Xiaomi devices if they are tied to a single Mi Account. This is convenient for working with to-do lists, important entries or saved web pages. However, an Internet connection is required to sync.

How to turn on:

• 📝 Open the Notes app on both phones.
• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Synchronize and activate the option.
• ☁️ Wait for the first synchronization to be completed (may take a few minutes).
• 🔍 Check that notes are displayed on both devices in the All Notes section.

💡

Mi Notes supports collaborative editing of notes in real time, if both devices are connected to the Internet.

7 Problems and Solutions: What to Do When Synchronization Fails

Even with the right setup, synchronization can fail, and let's look at the typical problems and ways to solve them:

• 🚫 Mi Cloud does not sync data: Check that both phones are on Mobile Internet or Wi-Fi. Update the Mi Cloud app to Google Play. Sign out of your Mi Account and log in again.
• 🔄 Mi Share can't find the device: Make sure both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on. Reboot both devices. Turn off power saving mode (Settings) → Battery → Energy saving regime).
• ⚠️ Bluetooth breaks the connection: Remove the pairing and reconnect the devices. Disable other wireless devices (earphones, fitness bracelets). Check if the transmission is blocked by an antivirus or optimizer (for example, Security or Clean Master).

If neither method works, try resetting the network settings on both phones (Settings → System → Reset → Network Reset) this will delete all saved connections, but often solves wireless data problems.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions