Why Xiaomi doesn’t run Wi-Fi Direct: all the reasons and solutions

Are you trying to transfer files between Xiaomi smartphones via Wi-Fi Direct, but the feature is not working hard? Or the device simply can not see other gadgets on the network? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi — despite the promised support for the technology, in practice it often fails. In this article, we will discuss 7 key reasons why Wi-Fi Direct does not work on Xiaomi, from the bugs of MIUI firmware to the hardware limitations of budget models.

It's important to understand that Wi-Fi Direct is not the same as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The technology allows you to create direct connections between devices without a router, but its work depends on many factors: the version of MIUI, smartphone model, security settings and even regional restrictions. We will not offer template tips like "reboot your phone" - instead, you will get a detailed analysis of the technical nuances relevant to Xiaomi in 2026.

If you've tried to turn on Wi-Fi Direct through Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → Additional → Wi-Fi Direct, but without success - don't be quick to blame the manufacturer. 80% of the time, the problem is solved by settings or software updates. Let's start with the most obvious, but often overlooked.

1.Your Xiaomi model doesn't support Wi-Fi Direct at hardware level

Yes, it’s an unpleasant truth: some Xiaomi budget models (especially those released before 2020) don’t physically support Wi-Fi Direct due to chipset limitations. For example, Qualcomm Snapdragon 425/435 smartphones (such as Redmi 5A or Redmi 6A) often don’t have this feature, despite having it on more expensive devices of the same line.

How to check support? Go to Settings → About Phone → Full Specification → Wi-Fi Status. If there is no Wi-Fi Direct or P2P (Peer-to-Peer) on the list of available modes, then your chipset simply can’t do it. Alternatively, use Bluetooth (even if slower) or Xiaomi Local Network (if both devices are on MIUI).

  • 📱 The Wi-Fi Direct: Redmi 4A/5A/6A, Mi A1/A2 (on pure Android, some versions POCO M2.
  • 🔧 Workaround: Use Mi Drop (application from Xiaomi to transfer files over the local network).
  • ⚠️ Note: Do not confuse Wi-Fi Direct with Mi Share – these are different technologies!

⚠️ Warning: If you see the Wi-Fi Direct option in the settings but it is inactive (grey), it may mean the feature is disabled at the firmware level. MIUI last-minute.

2. Conflict with Wi-Fi or mobile internet enabled

Wi-Fi Direct requires clean radio — if your Xiaomi has Wi-Fi or mobile internet (4G/5G) at the same time, the connection may not be established, which is because some chipsets (such as MediaTek Helio) are not able to correctly allocate resources between different types of connections.

The solution is simple, but not obvious:

Turn off Wi-Fi in the notification panel

Turn off the mobile Internet (or turn the phone into "On the plane" mode with Wi-Fi on)

Close all applications that use the network (for example, Telegram or YouTube)

Try restarting your phone if the problem persists.-->

If after that Wi-Fi Direct worked, but you need to stay in touch – try using modem mode (to distribute the Internet from another device) or Xiaomi Local Network (if both gadgets on MIUI 12+).

Qualcomm Snapdragon

MediaTek Helio

MediaTek Dimensity

Another (write in the comments)-->

3. MIUI firmware bug: how to update or roll back the system

One of the most common reasons is software bugs in MIUI, for example, in the versions of MIUI 12.5-13 there was a bug that caused Wi-Fi Direct to not work on Android 11+ devices. Xiaomi fixed this in updates, but many users still use outdated builds.

How to check and correct:

  1. Update MIUI: Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update. If there are no updates, manually check through Three Dots → Select the Service Pack (download the latest firmware from the official website).

Reverse to stable version:

  • If the problem has occurred after the update, try to roll back to the previous version via Fastboot (instructions are available on xiaomi.eu).
  • This will require an unlocked bootloader and PC.

Decisions:

  • 🌍 Change region: Install MIUI China (requires unlocking the bootloader).
  • 📲 Use it. VPN: Sometimes it helps to connect to servers in China before activating Wi-Fi Direct.
  • ⚠️ Risks: Chinese firmware may not support Google Services and local networks (e.g. Megaphone or Beeline).
How do I know the current region of the firmware?
Open the Settings → About Phone → All specs → find the line MIUI Version. The last 2 letters will indicate the region: - CN - China; - EU - Europe; - IN - India; - RU - Russia (not officially released, but there are adapted assemblies).

5. Conflict with other Xiaomi features (Mi Share, Bluetooth, NFC)

Wi-Fi Direct may conflict with other wireless technologies Xiaomi, especially if they use the same RF module.

  • 🔄 Mi Share: If this feature is enabled, it can block Wi-Fi Direct as both use it. P2P-linkage.
  • 📶 Bluetooth 5.0+: On some chipsets (e.g. Snapdragon) 720G) Wi-Fi Direct does not work if Bluetooth is active. LE (low-energy).
  • 🏷️ NFC: In rare cases, the module NFC It can interfere with the work of Wi-Fi Direct (relevant to the POCO X3 NFC).