Mi Share in Xiaomi: what is this feature in the phone and how to use it

Have you ever tried to transfer a file quickly from one smartphone to another, but faced with slow speeds through messengers or size restrictions? Xiaomi phones have a built-in solution, Mi Share technology, which allows you to exchange data between devices without the Internet, over a direct wireless connection, this feature often goes unnoticed, although it is faster and more convenient than many analogues.

In this article, we will go into detail about what Mi Share is, how it works at the protocol level, what devices are supported, and why file transfers can sometimes be interrupted. You will also learn how to enable this feature on different Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models, and what settings will help speed up data sharing.

What is Mi Share and Why is it Used?

Mi Share is a proprietary wireless file transfer technology developed by Xiaomi for its devices, which uses Wi-Fi Direct protocol, allowing you to exchange data at speeds up to 20-30 MB / s (in ideal conditions) without connecting to the Internet or mobile network, the main advantage over instant messengers is the absence of restrictions on file size and maintaining original quality.

The feature was introduced in 2019 as a response to similar solutions from other manufacturers. Today it is integrated into MIUI firmware and is available on most of the brand's smartphones, starting with Android 9 and later. Support is extended to some POCO and Redmi devices, but there are nuances with compatibility - we'll talk about this later.

• 📱 Main purpose: transfer of photos, videos, documents and applications between Xiaomi smartphones.
• 🔄 Protocol: Uses Wi-Fi Direct + Bluetooth for connection installation.
• 🚀 Speed: up to 20 MB/s (real speed depends on model and interference).
• 🔒 Security: Data is transmitted in encrypted form, without intermediate servers.

It’s important to understand that Mi Share is not the same as Bluetooth or NFC. It combines high Wi-Fi speeds with low power consumption of Bluetooth LE (used only to initialize the connection), making it ideal for transferring large files, such as 4K video or archives with documents.

How Mi Share Works: Technical Details

The process of transferring files through Mi Share can be divided into three stages: device discovery, connection installation, and direct data transfer, and let's take a closer look at each of them to understand why errors sometimes occur.

1 Device Detection. When you activate Mi Share, the smartphone starts scanning the nearest devices via Bluetooth LE. This is a low-energy protocol that allows you to detect other phones up to 10 meters away (in theory).

2. Connection: Once the device is selected, the smartphones exchange security keys via Bluetooth and then automatically connect to each other via Wi-Fi Direct. This step can take several seconds - this is where failures often occur if one of the phones does not support the desired protocols.

3. Data transfer: Files are transmitted directly over Wi-Fi at speeds that depend on the version of the standard (e.g. Wi-Fi 5 vs Wi-Fi 6), and Bluetooth is used only to control the process – if it turns off, the transmission will be interrupted.

One of the key advantages of the Mi Share is that it doesn't have to connect to the same Wi-Fi network. The devices create their own access point, which is convenient when traveling or places without Internet, but there are also disadvantages: for example, if the phone is power-saving mode, Wi-Fi Direct can turn off, interrupting the transmission.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi doesn't have Mi Share, check if Bluetooth is disabled in battery saving settings. Some firmware automatically blocks background radio activity.

What devices support Mi Share

The Mi Share feature is available on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO,Released smartphones after 2019, but there are important nuances: not all models support it out of the box, and some devices require a firmware update.

• 📱 Xiaomi: Mi 9, Mi 10, Mi 11, Mi 12, Mi 13, Mi Mix 3/4.
• 🔴 Redmi: Note 8 Pro and newer, Redmi. K20/K30/K40/K50, Redmi 10/11/12.
• ⚡ POCO: POCO F2 Pro, POCO X3/X4/X5, POCO F3/F4/F5.
• 🌐 Other brands: some Black Shark devices (e.g. Black Shark 4).

To check if your smartphone supports Mi Share, follow the following steps:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing.
2. Scroll down and find the Mi Share item (sometimes hidden in the Additional section).
3. If there is no item, update the firmware through Settings → About phone → System update.

Some older models (such as the Redmi Note 7 or Mi 8) may not have the feature even after the upgrade, in which case Google’s Nearby Share will be the alternative, but it’s slower and requires an internet connection.

How to turn on and use Mi Share: step-by-step instructions

You can activate Mi Share in two ways: through the Quick Settings Panel or the Settings menu, and let's look at both options, and we'll also look at how to transfer files between phones.

Method 1: through the notification panel

1. Swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Find the Mi Share icon (usually it looks like two phones with waves).If it's not there, click on the pencil icon (✏️) and add the widget manually.
3. Stick to the icon to activate the function, and now your phone will be visible to other devices.

Method 2: through settings

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Mi Share.
2. Turn on the switch at the top of the screen.
3. If necessary, adjust the visibility of the device (for example, only for contacts).

To transmit the file:

If the transfer does not start, make sure that:

• 🔋 Both phones have enough battery power (less than 15% can cause Wi-Fi Direct to shut down).
• 📶 The devices are at a distance of not more than 5 meters from each other.
• 🔒 Phones are offline. VPN Firewalls that can block the connection.

⚠️ Note: If you are transferring a large file (e.g., a video weighing 1)+ GB), don't switch to other apps during the process. On some Xiaomi models, this results in a connection reset.

Mi Share vs Nearby Share vs Quick Share

Mi Share isn't the only wireless file transfer technology, Google has Nearby Share, and Samsung has Quick Share, and let's compare them by key parameters to see which one is right for you.

Mi Share beats Nearby Share in speed and no limits, but it loses in cross-platform. If you have devices of different brands, you better use the solution from Google. But Samsung's Quick Share is comparable in speed, but it works more stable on flagship models (for example, the Galaxy S22 or S23).

Another caveat: Mi Share can conflict with Nearby Share if both are enabled simultaneously, in which case it is recommended to disable one of the features in the settings.

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If you frequently transfer files between Xiaomi and Samsung, install Send Anywhere or Snapdrop on both phones – they work over a local network and are not brand-dependent.

Frequent Mi Share Problems and How to Fix Them

Despite the convenience, Mi Share users sometimes encounter errors: devices can't find each other, transfers are interrupted or files are not sent, and let's look at the most common problems and ways to solve them.

Problem 1: The phones can't see each other.

• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 📱 Make sure that both phones have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled.
• 🔍 Check if your device is hidden in Mi Share settings (Contacts Only mode").
• 🔧 Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI.

Problem 2: Transmission is interrupted.

• 🔋 Charge both phones to at least 30 levels%.
• 📶 Make sure there are no physical obstacles (walls, metal objects) between devices).
• 🚫 Turn off the energy saving mode in Settings → Battery.
• 🔄 Try reconnecting by turning off and turning on Mi Share again.

Problem 3: Files are not sent ("failed to send" error).

• 📁 Check if the file is protected from reading (for example, DRM-video-protection).
• 🗃️ Free up space on the target device (at least 10% free space required).
• 🔄 Restart the process by selecting the file again.

If none of these methods worked, try using alternative methods of transmission, such as through the FTP-server FX File Explorer or LocalSend – an open analogue of AirDrop.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), the Mi Share function may not work stable or at all. MIUI.

Hidden Mi Share features: what does the function besides file transfer

Many users think that Mi Share is only for sharing photos or documents, but there are other useful features that few people know about.

• 🎮 Transfer installed applications. You can send an app.apk file from one phone to another, even if it is not available on Google Play for your region.
• 📱 When you first connect a new Xiaomi device, you can transfer all the data (contacts, messages, apps) to it via Mi Share without cable.
• 🔄 Data exchange with a laptop. Some models (such as Xiaomi Book) support file transfer between the smartphone and the PC using the same protocol.
• 📡 Used as a Wi-Fi router. In Mi Share mode, the phone can distribute the Internet to another device without creating a separate access point.

Another little-known feature is the transfer of live wallpaper or MIUI themes, which if you downloaded a unique theme in Themes, you can export it and send it to a friend via Mi Share.

On models with MIUI 13 and later, Mi Share Turbo has been introduced, which speeds up transmission by optimizing the Wi-Fi Direct protocol. To activate it, go to Settings → Special Features → Lab and turn on the appropriate switch.

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Mi Share can work not only between phones, but also with some Xiaomi smart devices, such as Pad 5 tablets or Mi Watch smartwatches.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Mi Share