How to Enable Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi Redmi 9: A Complete Guide with Pictures and Tips

What is Wi-Fi Direct and why do Redmi 9 owners need it?

Wi-Fi Direct technology allows devices to communicate directly — without a router, internet or mobile network. 9 (model M2003J15SC, M2004C3LGG) This means that you can transfer files at a speed of up to 250 Mbps (realistically) ~30-50 Mbps), connect wireless printers or even manage smart devices like the Mi Smart Projector without intermediaries.

The main difference from Bluetooth is that there is no limit on the size of the file (you can send the film to the Internet). 4K weight 10 GB and speed in 5-10 And compared to traditional Wi-Fi, you don't have to configure the hotspot: the connection is automatically set up as soon as both devices confirm the password (if you need one). 9 The function is stable thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon chip 662 Wi-Fi-enabled 5 (802.11ac).

Where it comes in handy:

• 📱 Transfer photos/video between smartphones (for example, with Redmi 9 on iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy)
• 🖨️ Print documents on Wi-Fi Direct-enabled printers (e.g. Canon) PIXMA MG3640)
• 🎮 Gaming controllers of the type 8BitDo Xbox Wireless Controller (if it supports the protocol)
• 📺 Screen streaming on Mi TVs TV or LG Smart TV routeless

But there are nuances: MIUI 12/13 The configuration interface is hidden deep in the menu, and in some firmwares the function is disabled by default due to battery saving.

Preparing the phone: compatibility checks and updates

Before turning on Wi-Fi Direct on Redmi 9, make sure your device meets two key requirements:

1. Version. MIUI: function is stable on firmware MIUI 11 and newer. MIUI 10 May Have Device Detection Bugs.
2. Hardware support: all Redmi modifications 9 (including Redmi 9A/9C/9T) equipped with the necessary chip, but on budget versions (for example, Redmi) 9A helio G25) data transfer speed lower 20-30%.

To check the firmware version:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Scroll down to the Version item MIUI (for example, MIUI Global 13.0.4).
3. If the version is older MIUI 11, update the system through Settings → Update of the PO.

Important! After the update, reset the network settings: Settings → Wi-Fi → ⋮ (three-point) → Additionally. → Resetting Wi-Fi settings. This will eliminate possible driver conflicts.

⚠️ Note: On Redmi 9 with custom firmware (like LineageOS), Wi-Fi Direct may not work due to the lack of proprietary Qualcomm drivers. XDA Developers.

How to turn on Wi-Fi Direct on Redmi 9

The activation algorithm depends on the version MIUI. Below is a universal method that works on all firmware from MIUI 11 MIUI 14:

1. Open Settings and go to the Wi-Fi section.
2. Tap it on. ⋮ (three dots in the upper right corner) and select.
3. Scroll down to the Wi-Fi Direct block and activate the switch. On some firmware, the item is called Wi-Fi. P2P.
4. Wait for the phone to scan the available devices (may take up to 30 seconds).If the list is empty, click Update or Search.
5. Select the target device from the list. The screen will request to connect with the PIN-code (usually this is the case) 4-8 figures, for example, 12345678).
6. Confirm the connection on both devices. Status will change to Connected.

If Wi-Fi Direct is not on the menu, try an alternative way:

1. Open the Settings. → Connections and sharing → File transfer.
2. Select Wi-Fi Direct as your transmission method.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Critical detail: on MIUI 13+ After connecting Wi-Fi Direct automatically shuts down after 5 minutes of inactivity. To avoid this, activate the developer mode (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — tap 7 times) and in the menu for developers, turn off the option to turn off Wi-Fi in sleep mode.

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If the device is not detected, try temporarily disabling Bluetooth – on some firmware, these modules conflict when scanning.

Typical errors and their solutions

Even after setting up Wi-Fi Direct correctly, Redmi 9 can crash, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

1. The device is not detected

• 🔄 Restart both devices – sometimes resetting network drivers helps.
• 📵 Turn off flight mode and check that Wi-Fi is on (but not connected to the network).
• 🔧 Reset network settings: Settings → Wi-Fi → ⋮ → Additionally. → Resetting settings.
• 📱 Update the firmware on both devices – version incompatibility MIUI/EMUI/One UI frequently blocks the connection.

2.The connection is cut off after a few seconds

The reason is usually the energy saving settings.

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management.
2. Select No Limits for applications that use Wi-Fi Direct (e.g. Xiaomi Files or Send Anywhere).
3. Disable the Adaptive Battery in the Additional section.

3. Low data transfer speed

If files are transmitted at a speed below 10 Mbps, check:

• 📶 Distance between devices - should be no more than 5 meters (walls and obstacles reduce speed).
• 🔋 Battery charge – at levels below 15%, the phone limits the performance of the chipset.
• 🗑️ Background Processes – Close all applications through Recent → Close it all down.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 9A helio-chip G25 Wi-Fi Direct is artificially limited to 20 Mbps at the driver level.

How to transfer files over Wi-Fi Direct to Redmi 9

Once you've connected successfully, you can start sharing data. There are two main ways to do this on Redmi 9:

Method 1: Using a standard file manager

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Select the files you want to send (long press). → checkmark).
3. Tap to share. → Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Select the target device from the list and confirm the transfer.

Method 2: Through third-party applications

For large files (>1 GB) or batch shipping is more convenient to use specialized utilities:

• 📲 Send Anywhere – Supports folder and archive transfers without size restrictions.
• 📲 Xender – optimized for Xiaomi, has built-in chat for sharing.
• 📲 Feem – creates a local network for transferring files between multiple devices.

Example of transfer via Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both devices.
2. On Redmi 9, select files and click Send.
3. 6-digit code is generated or QR-code.
4. On the second device, enter the code or scan. QR — transmission will start automatically.

The speed of transfer depends on the file format:

• 📷 Photo Photo (JPEG): ~30-40 Mbit/s.
• 🎥 Video (MP4): ~20-25 Mbit/s.
• 📄 Documents (PDF/DOCX): ~50 Mbit/s.
• 🎵 Music (MP3): ~40-50 Mbit/s.

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For maximum transfer speed, turn off background synchronization of cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) - they consume the processor resources.

Hidden Wi-Fi Direct features on Xiaomi

Few people know, but Wi-Fi Direct on Redmi 9 can be used for more than just file transfers. Here are 3 non-obvious scenarios:

1. Wireless display of the screen on the TV

If you don't. TV Or another brand of TV supports Miracast, you can duplicate the screen of Redmi 9 without a router:

1. Turn on Wi-Fi Direct on your phone and TV.
2. On Redmi 9, open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Screen Transfer.
3. Select the TV from the list and confirm the connection.

The signal delay will be ~100-150 MS – enough for watching videos, but not for games.

2. Connecting the gamepad without Bluetooth

Some controllers (e.g, 8BitDo SN30) Supports Wi-Fi Direct connectivity as an alternative to Bluetooth:

• ⚡ Less input delay (on the 10-20 miss).
• 🔋 Low power consumption (the gamepad battery lasts longer).

To connect:

1. Activate Wi-Fi Direct mode on the gamepad (see the device instruction).
2. On Redmi 9, connect to the gamepad as a regular Wi-Fi Direct device.
3. In games, select the gamepad as the input device.

3. Printing documents without a router

If your printer supports Wi-Fi Direct (e.g. Canon) PIXMA or HP Envy, you can print directly from your phone:

1. Turn on Wi-Fi Direct on the printer (usually a button) WPS switch-off).
2. On Redmi 9, connect to the printer via Wi-Fi Direct.
3. Open the document in Google Docs or WPS Office, select Print and specify your printer.

⚠️ Note: When connected to printers via Wi-Fi Direct, Redmi 9 may temporarily lose mobile Internet. This is normal - after printing, the connection will automatically restore.

Security: How to Protect Data When Using Wi-Fi Direct

Unlike Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct does not encrypt traffic by default, which means that in theory, an attacker can intercept the transmitted files if they are within range of the network, to minimize the risks:

• 🔒 Use it. PIN-code when connected (even if the device suggests skipping this step).
• 📵 Disable Wi-Fi Direct after file transfer – long-term activation increases the risk of attack.
• 🛡️ Check it out. MAC-address of devices before connection (they must match the specified on the case or in the settings).
• 🔄 Update the firmware - in new versions MIUI closed vulnerabilities KRACK (Wi-Fi attack).

To check. MAC-plug-in:

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. Slip on the connected device - information about it will appear MAC.
3. Compare it to the address given on the device sticker or in its settings.

If you frequently share sensitive data (such as document scans), use encrypted archives:

1. Pack the files in. ZIP password-wise RAR or 7-Zip.
2. Transfer the archive via Wi-Fi Direct.
3. Password separately (for example, via Telegram with a timer for self-destruction).

It's important. MIUI 12.5+ There's a built-in Private Mode for Wi-Fi Direct:

1. Go to Settings. → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct → ⚙️ (setting).
2. Turn on the option to Hide the device after connecting.
3. Activate Request Confirmation for new devices.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions