How to Share a Xiaomi Device: The Complete Guide

The modern smart home is unimaginable without Xiaomi’s ecosystem, which brings together hundreds of different gadgets under the control of a single center. However, there are often situations when access to control of a light bulb, a robot vacuum cleaner or air conditioner is needed not only by the account owner, but also by other family members. The standard approach with the transfer of passwords from the Mi Account account is a grave security mistake and leads to conflicts of data synchronization.

Fortunately, the developers have provided a feature that allows you to delegate access rights to specific devices. Device sharing is a process that requires attention to detail, since the Mi Home application interface changes periodically, and regional server settings can affect the availability of functions. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of the shared access configuration.

To get started, you'll need a stable Internet connection and an app installed on everyone's smartphones, and it's important to understand that the cloud management architecture means that rights are not transferred directly over Bluetooth or the LAN, but through the manufacturer's servers, which means that everyone involved must have a properly configured account.

⚠️ Warning: Never give your username and password from your main Xiaomi account to third parties, even family members.This could result in your profile being completely blocked or identity theft.

There are several scenarios where delegation becomes critical, such as if you want children to be able to control the lights in the nursery but not have access to the living room security cameras, or if spouses want to be able to run the robot vacuum cleaner remotely while the owner is in the office.

Account preparation and server selection

The first and most important step is to properly set up the accounts of all participants in the process. The basic rule of the Xiaomi ecosystem states that the region of the account of the owner of the device and the region of the user account to which the rights are transferred must coincide. If your device is tied to the server "Russia", and a family member has registered an account in "China", the transfer of rights will not be possible.

The region is checked in the application profile, and you need to go to Profile → Settings → Region. If the regions are different, the user who receives the device will have to re-register an account or create a new one with the right location parameters, a requirement that is required by data retention laws and server architecture.

Also, make sure that all smartphones have the current version of the Mi Home app installed.Outdated versions may not support new authorization protocols or have bugs in the sharing interface.

• 📱 Make sure that all participants have the same region in their account settings.
• 🔄 Update the Mi Home app to the latest available version on all devices.
• 🔐 The recipient’s account must be verified and linked to the phone number.
• 🌐 Check the stability of the Internet connection on the smartphone of the owner and recipient.

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If you change regions in an app often, some automation scenarios may not work properly, and it’s better to create accounts in the right region right away.

Step-by-step: transfer of rights through QR-code

The fastest and most reliable way to share a Xiaomi device is to use it. QR-This method minimizes the risk of error when entering data and allows you to send an invitation instantly, the process begins with the owner of the device, which initiates the transfer of rights.

Open the Mi Home app and find the device card you want to share. Click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner or click on the device card to enter the control menu. In the options list that opens, you need to find General Settings or Share Device immediately.

After selecting the appropriate item, the system will prompt you to select the transfer method"QR-The user's smartphone screen will display a graphic code that is valid for a limited time. The recipient must open the Mi Home app, click on the symbol"+" in the upper corner and select "Scan".

After scanning, the recipient's device will receive a request to confirm acceptance of the device, the owner will see a notification that the request for addition has been sent, and after confirmation, the device will appear in the list of gadgets of the second user, but with a limited set of functions, depending on the type of device.

Transfer of rights through search by account ID

If you can't physically access the recipient's smartphone or the camera can't read the code, you can use manual identifier input, which requires accuracy, because Mi Account ID is a long string of characters, and an error in even one character will lead to a request being sent to the wrong user.

The recipient must provide their account ID, and you can find it in the application profile, usually under a nickname or in the security settings section. Copy this ID or write it down. The owner of the device in the sharing menu needs to select the "By ID" or "User Search" option and paste the copied line.

⚠️ Please note: Make sure you copy your Mi Account. ID, not a phone number or email address if the system requires a specific identifier format.

Once you enter the data, the system will search for the user. If the account is found and the regions match, you will see the avatar and the recipient's nickname. Click on it, select the device to transmit and send the request. The recipient will receive a push notification that must be confirmed to complete the procedure.

This is especially useful when you want to give access to someone who is far away from you, you can just log in to the messenger, share your account ID and do all the settings remotely, but it is worth remembering that without confirmation from the recipient, the device will not appear in his list.

Rights management and access restrictions

Xiaomi's functionality allows you to adjust the access level flexibly. You don't have to give full control of the device. Depending on the type of gadget, the rights menu may differ. For example, for a smart security camera, you can only allow you to watch live streams, but you can not turn the camera or access the archive of records.

To manage rights, you go to the device menu, select Share, and find a list of users who have access to it, and if you click on the username, you'll see the switches on different functions, which allows you to create a safe environment where, for example, children can't change the alarm settings on the smart speaker or turn off the alarm.

It is important to note that the owner of the device always has priority, and at any time, he can revoke access rights, and the device will instantly disappear from the application of the user who was granted access.

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The owner of the device retains full administrative control and can at any time revoke the rights of any user without his consent.

Typical problems and ways to solve them

Despite the system's fine-tuning, users often encounter errors when trying to share a device, the most common problem being "Device failed to add" or "User not found", 90% of the time it is due to a mismatch in server regions, as discussed at the beginning of the article.

Another common reason is the user limit: Some devices, especially cameras and hubs, have a limit on the maximum number of simultaneous connections, and if you're trying to share a device that's already in use by the maximum number of people, the system will give you an error.

Also consider the firmware version of the device itself, if the gadget runs on a very old version of the software, it may not support the new MIoT authorization protocols. In this case, you need to update firmware through the device menu before attempting to transfer rights.

• ❌ Error "Region does not match": Check the settings of accounts for all participants.
• ❌ User Limit Error: Remove old users or wait for them to untie the device.
• ❌ Error "Device offline": Make sure the gadget is connected to the network and lit with a blue indicator.
• ❌ The server is busy: Try repeating the process 10-15 minute.

⚠️ Note: When you change device owner (transfer rights forever), the old binding may not be removed automatically.

Features of sharing for different categories of devices

The process of transfer of rights can vary significantly depending on the category of device: gadgets running through the Zigbee protocol or Bluetooth Mesh require a gateway (hub), in which case the rights are transferred not to the sensor itself, but to the hub that broadcasts the status of the sensors to all authorized users.

For Mi Home Security devices, there are additional security checks, and when a new user first logs in, confirmation from the owner's main device may be required, to prevent unauthorized access to the video stream.

Smart kitchens (multi- cookers, kettles) and health (libras, toothbrushes) often have restrictions on simultaneous use, for example, scales can transmit weight data to only one account at the time of weighing, even if access is open to the whole family, the data will be synchronized with the account of the person who is logged in to the app on the phone at that time.

Owners of the Aqara ecosystem integrated into Mi Home should know that the transfer of rights works through Aqara servers. If the device was added through the Aqara Home plugin, it is better to share through the native Aqara Home app, and then share a room in Mi Home, if such a bundle is supported in your region.

Security and removal of access

Regularly auditing users who have access to your devices is an important part of digital hygiene: periodically check the list of devices and users, and if you sell your phone, change your SIM card, or simply stop trusting someone, you should immediately close your access.

To delete the user, go to the device menu, select Share, find the user list, and click on the name of the person you want to delete. From the menu that opens, select Delete or Revoke Access. Changes take effect instantly, and the device will become unavailable from the remote account.

In case of loss of a phone or compromise of an account of one of the users, it is recommended to change the password from your main Mi Account. This will forcibly log all devices and require re-authorization, which will allow access to attackers, and you can temporarily disconnect the device from the network through the router.