Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Setup and Use

Wi-Fi Direct technology allows Xiaomi devices to share data directly – without a router, mobile Internet or Bluetooth. 4K, Photo archives, firmware images) up to 250 Mbps, 5-10 times faster than Bluetooth, but many users face problems: the function does not turn on, devices do not see each other, or the transmission is cut off halfway.

In this article, we will analyze all ways to activate Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones. POCO (including models MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS, explain why errors can occur, and give unique solutions to eliminate freezes when transferring files larger than the previous one. 4 GB: You’ll also learn how to use Wi-Fi Direct to stream video to your TV or connect peripherals (printers, projectors) without additional adapters.

What is Wi-Fi Direct and Why You Need It on Xiaomi

Wi-Fi Direct is a wireless standard that allows two devices to create a direct point of access (peer-to-peer) without intermediaries. Unlike classic Wi-Fi, which requires a router, or Bluetooth, with its speed limits, this technology combines:

• 🔥 High speed - up to 250 Mbps (real) ~150-200 Mbps on Xiaomi, which is comparable to the USB 2.0.
• 📱 Universality – works between smartphones, tablets, TVs, printers and even some cameras.
• 🔒 Security – the connection is encrypted by protocol WPA2, It's like home Wi-Fi.
• 🚫 No dependence on the Internet – the connection works even in an airplane or underground parking lot.

On smartphones Xiaomi Wi-Fi Direct is most often used for:

• 📁 Transfer of large files (movies, backups, firmware) between phones.
• 🖨️ Print documents on printers without AirPrint or Google Cloud Print support.
• 📺 Streaming video/photos on Xiaomi TVs TV or other smart TV Miracast.
• 🎮 Connect gamepads or keyboards if they support this protocol.

It is important to understand that Wi-Fi Direct does not replace other technologies.

• ❌ Not for the Internet — it doesn't give away a network like Wi-Fi Hotspot.
• ❌ Not for low-energy devices – consumes more battery than Bluetooth LE.
• ❌ Not for long distances – effective distance ~10 meters (unlike a Wi-Fi router).

How to enable Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

The activation process depends on the firmware version (MIUI or HyperOS) and the device models, and here's a general-purpose algorithm that works on the computer. 90% Smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO (including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5).

Step 1. Open your Wi-Fi settings

Go to Settings. → Wi-Fi. If you have HyperOS, the path may look like Settings. → Connections and sharing → Wi-Fi.

Step 2: Activate Wi-Fi Direct

In the upper right corner of the screen with networks, click on three dots (⋮) and select Wi-Fi Direct (or Direct Wi-Fi on some models). POCO This item is sometimes hidden in Additional functions.

Step 3. Select the device to connect

Your smartphone will start scanning the nearest devices with Wi-Fi Direct enabled.

• 📱 Other smartphones (e.g. Samsung, Huawei).
• 🖨️ Printers with Wi-Fi Direct support (e.g. Canon) PIXMA, HP Envy).
• 📺 Televisions (Xiaomi) TV A2, Sony Bravia with Miracast).

Click on the desired device and confirm the connection on both screens (entry may be required). PIN-code).

Enable Wi-Fi Direct on both devices

Ensure that the distance between devices is ≤ 10 m

Disable the power saving mode (in the battery settings)

Close background applications that use Wi-Fi (e.g. downloaders)-->

Step 4: File transfer

After connection:

1. Open the Files (or Gallery for Photo/Video)
2. Select the files you need and click Send (or Share).
3. In the list of methods of transfer, select Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Confirm reception on the second device.

Note for HyperOS: The path to Wi-Fi Direct may be different on new firmware. If the item is not on the Wi-Fi menu, try:

1. Open Settings → Connections and sharing → Other wireless networks.
2. Or enter the search for settings query "Wi-Fi Direct".

💡

If the devices don’t find each other, try restarting both smartphones or temporarily disabling Bluetooth, which can sometimes interfere with Wi-Fi Direct.

Compatibility table Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi

Not all Xiaomi devices work equally well with Wi-Fi Direct, and below are the support data for the feature on popular models (relevant for firmware 2023-2026):

If your model is not in the table, check the support as follows:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI/HyperOS.
2. Press 5 times on the Core (or Version) MIUI), to activate the Developer Mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers, find Wi-Fi Direct. If you have one, it's supported.

Typical Wi-Fi Direct Problems on Xiaomi and Their Solutions

Even on supported models, users are faced with errors.-5 problems and ways of eliminating them:

1. The devices don't find each other

Reasons:

• 🔄 Different Wi-Fi standards (e.g., one device running on a single device) 802.11n, another 802.11ac).
• 🔋 Power Saving Mode Disables Wi-Fi Direct in the Background.
• 📶 Interference from other networks (especially in apartment buildings).

Decision:

1. On both devices, go to Settings. → Battery → Power saving mode and turn it off.
2. Turn on Flight Mode for 10 seconds, then turn off and repeat the search.
3. If one of the devices is Samsung, try turning on the Smart Network Switch in its Wi-Fi settings.

2. file transfer is interrupted by 50–90%

This problem is typical for files size >1GB. My bad:

• 🗑️ Limitations MIUI background activity (especially on models with 4 GB of RAM).
• 🔄 Automatic reconnection to the mobile network.

Decision:

3. Wi-Fi Direct is enabled but does not transfer files

Frequent situation: devices are connected, but when you try to send a file, an error appears "Can not transfer".

Causes and solutions:

• 📂 Access Rights: On the receiving device, check that the Files application has permission to access the memory (Settings) → Annexes → Files. → Permits).
• 🔄 Conflict with VPN: Turn it off. VPN or proxy on both devices.
• 🛠️ Cache failure: Clear the app's cache Settings (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Clear the cache).

4. Wi-Fi Direct is not working after the update MIUI/HyperOS

After major updates (e.g., with the MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) the function may disappear from the menu.

Ways to get back:

1. Reset network settings: Settings → Wi-Fi → ⋮ → Additionally. → Resetting Wi-Fi settings.
2. Install. ES Conductor – it has a built-in Wi-Fi Direct module that bypasses the system’s limitations.
3. Reverse to the previous firmware version (if Wi-Fi Direct is critical).

5. Low transmission speed (less than 50 Mbit/s)

If files are being transferred slower than cable, check:

• 📶 Wi-Fi Channel: Manually set channel 6 or 11 (less loaded).
• 🔋 Performance mode: Include it in Settings → Battery.
• 📱 Background Processes: Close all applications except Files.

💡

If none of these methods worked, try using alternative protocols: FTP by Wi-Fi (appendix) FX File Explorer or SMB (PC-transmitted).

How to transfer files between Xiaomi and other brands (Samsung, iPhone, Huawei)

Wi-Fi Direct is a cross-platform standard, but manufacturers sometimes put their own restrictions on it.

Xiaomi ↔ Samsung

On Samsung, Wi-Fi Direct is called Wi-Fi Direct or Smart View (depending on the model).

Algorithm:

1. On Samsung: Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. On Xiaomi: Enable Wi-Fi Direct (as described above).
3. On Samsung, select your Xiaomi from the list and confirm your connection.

Challenges and solutions:

• 🚫 Can't see the device: On Samsung, turn off Smart Network Switch.
• 🔄 Communications Breakdown: On Xiaomi, turn off Adaptive Wi-Fi in network settings.

Xiaomi ↔ iPhone (iOS)

The bad news is that Apple doesn't support Wi-Fi Direct as usual.

• 🍎 AirDrop – but it only works between Apple devices.
• 🌐 LocalSend (free open source) – creates a local network for transferring files.
• 📎 Google Files app – there is a feature to Send over a local network.

Instructions for LocalSend:

1. Install LocalSend on both devices.
2. Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network (or enable Hotspot on Xiaomi).
3. In the app on Xiaomi, select a file and click Send, then scan. QR-iPhone-code.

Xiaomi ↔ Huawei

Huawei has a feature called Huawei Share (formerly Wi-Fi Direct).

How to connect:

1. On Huawei: Settings → Connections → Huawei Share.
2. On Xiaomi: Turn on Wi-Fi Direct.
3. On Huawei, select Connect to another device and follow the instructions.

Important: New Huawei models (such as the Mate 50) may require installing the Huawei Mobile Services app on Xiaomi.

Xiaomi ↔ Television (Xiaomi) TV, Samsung, LG)

To stream a video or photo on TV:

1. On your TV, turn on Miracast or Screen Mirroring (Xiaomi) TV: Settings → Connections → Wireless projection).
2. On Xiaomi, go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Screen Transfer.
3. Select the TV from the list and confirm the connection.

If the TV doesn't find the phone:

• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 📶 Make sure your TV and phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (even if you use Wi-Fi Direct).
• 🛠️ Update the TV firmware (on Xiaomi) TV Check in the settings → On TV. → Update of the PO).

💡

To stream video without lags on the TV, use the Mi Home app (if you have Xiaomi). TV) Google Home (for Android) TV).

Xiaomi’s Wi-Fi Direct Alternatives: What to Use If It Doesn’t Work

If Wi-Fi Direct is not working or is not supported by your model, consider these options:

1. Bluetooth 5.0/5.2

Pros:

• ✅ It works on all Xiaomi devices, including budget (Redmi) 10A, POCO C50).
• ✅ Low energy consumption.

Cons:

• ❌ Speed. ~2–10 Mbps (slower than Wi-Fi Direct 10–50 times).
• ❌ File size limit (often up to 1 GB).

How to speed up: Use the protocol BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy for small files or applications like Files by Google that optimize transmission.

2. FTP-server

Method for transferring files between Xiaomi and PC/Mac or other telephones.

Instructions:

1. Install the FX File Explorer app on Xiaomi.
2. Open the side menu. → Remote access → Launch. FTP-server.
3. On another device, enter the address FTP (for example, ftp://192.168.1.100:2221) c conductor or file manager.

Speed: Up to 100 Mbps (depending on the router).

3. Applications for local transmission

Recommended applications (work without the Internet):

4. Cable OTG + Flash drive./SSD

To transfer very large files (for example, backups or videos to the 8K):

• 🔌 Buy it. OTG-Adapter (e.g., Xiaomi Type-C to) USB).
• 💾 Connect the flash drive or external SSD Xiaomi.
• 📁 Copy files to the drive, then connect it to another device.

Speed: Up to 400 Mbps (s) USB 3.0).

5. QKD (Quick Share by Google)

Google’s new standard for Android (similar to AirDrop).

How to use:

1. Update Google Play Services on both devices.
2. Enable Quick Share in Settings (Settings) → Google → Devices and sharing → Quick Share).
3. Select a file → Share. → Quick Share.

Restrictions: It only works on Android 10+ And it requires a Google account.

💡

Maximum speed of transfer of large files (>10 GB) combine methods: for example, use Wi-Fi Direct for the bulk of the data, and the remaining 10% download the data. FTP.

Wi-Fi Direct Security: Risks and How to Avoid Them

Wi-Fi Direct encrypts traffic according to the standard WPA2, But there are nuances that few people know about:

1. Vulnerabilities when connecting to public devices

If you connect to a printer in an office or a hotel TV, an attacker can:

• 🕵️ Capture file names (but not their contents).
• 📡 Substitute MAC-Device address and access your network.

How to defend yourself:

• 🔐 Always confirm the connection on both devices (don’t ignore the requests). PIN-code).
• 🚫 Turn off Wi-Fi Direct after transferring files.
• 📱 Use it. VPN (For example, ProtonVPN for additional traffic encryption.

2. Risks in the transfer of confidential data

Even with encryption. WPA2 It is not recommended to transfer Wi-Fi Direct:

• 🔑 Passwords (use KeePassDX or Bitwarden for secure sharing).
• 💳 Bank card details (better to use Google Pay or Samsung Pay).
• 📄 Scans of documents (passport, driving license).

Alternatives for sensitive data:

• 🔗 Encrypted archives: Compress files into ZIP Password-wise (ZArchiver app).
• 📧 Encrypted Email: Send the file to your email with it on PGP (For example, through ProtonMail).

3. How to turn off Wi-Fi Direct if you don't need it

The feature can be activated by using certain applications (e.g. Mi Home for smart devices) to completely deactivate it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Settings (system application) and clear its cache.
3. B Settings → Additionally. → For developers, turn off Wi-Fi Direct (if there is a point).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi