How to Share a Xiaomi Device with Mi Home: A Complete Guide to Error Solutions

Xiaomi's smart device ecosystem allows you to control lighting, sockets, sensors and other equipment through a single Mi Home app. But what if you want to give access to the device to another family member, neighbor or colleague? QR-Transferring control of an existing device has limitations on regions and account types that many users only learn about during the setup process.

In this article, we will look at all the ways Xiaomi devices are shared in Mi Home, from standard sharing to workarounds for cases when the function is blocked, you will learn which devices can be transferred and which are not, how to avoid binding errors and what to do if the invitation does not come, and we will pay special attention to the nuances of working with accounts from different countries (for example, Mainland China vs Russia), since this is a common cause of failures.

Why can’t I share my device in Mi Home?

Problems with transferring devices to Mi Home are usually associated with three key factors:

• 🌍 Account Region: Devices linked to an account from China cannot be transferred to a user with an account from Russia or Europe, the system will give an error "This device does not support sharing".
• 🔒 Device type. Not all Xiaomi gadgets support sharding. For example, robot vacuum cleaners and some of the other gadgets. IP-Cameras can only be transmitted via a special invitation, and Yeelight smart lamps can be transmitted through a separate application.
• 📱 App version: Older versions of Mi Home (up to 6.0) have limited or unstable sharing features. Update the app to the latest version on Google Play or App Store.

Another common reason is the limit on the number of calls, where you can transfer a device to no more than 5 users (only 2 for some models), and if the limit is exhausted, you have to delete one of the users first through the access control menu.

⚠️ Note: If you are trying to transfer a device that was previously tied to another region (for example, purchased on AliExpress with Chinese firmware), first perform a factory reset via Device Settings. → General. → Reset. Otherwise, the sharing function will be blocked.

How to transfer a Xiaomi device to another user

Mi Home has two main methods of transferring device control:

1. Standard Sharing: Temporary granting of access (management but not full rights).
2. Full transfer of ownership – the device is untied from your account and tied to another.

Let us consider both options in detail.

Method 1: Temporary Sharing (shared use)

This is a good way to do this if you want to give another user the ability to control the device, but not to transfer it completely, for example, so that a neighbor can turn on a smart outlet while you're away.

Make sure that both users have the latest version of Mi Home installed.|

Check that the device is connected to the network and online|

Please specify the region of the recipient’s account (should match yours)|

Open the device settings in Mi Home

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Instructions:

1. Open the Mi Home app and select the device you want.
2. Go to the Device Settings → Sharing (or Share Device).
3. Click Add User and enter an email or phone number linked to the recipient’s Xiaomi account.
4. Select the access level: 🔧 Control - you can turn on / off, change settings. 👁️ View only – access to the status of the device (e.g., sensor temperature), but without control.

Mi Home

Temporary Sharing Limitations:

• ⏳ The invitation is valid for 24 hours – if not accepted, you will have to send it again.
• 🚫 You can’t transfer robot vacuum cleaners and recording cameras to the cloud (full ownership transfer required).
• 📵 If the recipient is not from your region, the invitation will not come (User not found error").

Method 2: Complete transfer of possession of the device

If you're selling a device, or if you want to transfer it completely to another user, you have to untie it from your account and tie it to a new one, and that process is irreversible, and once you transfer it, you lose access!

Instructions:

1. Open Mi Home, select your device and go to Settings → General. → Transfer Device (or Transfer Device).
2. Enter your new owner’s email or phone number (to be registered with Xiaomi).
3. Confirm transmission through SMS or email (confirmation code will come in).
4. The new owner must accept the device in his Mi Home account within 30 minutes.

⚠️ Warning: Once ownership is transferred, all device settings will be reset to factory settings, such as the robot vacuum cleaner will delete the map of the room, and the smart lamp will delete the saved scripts.

Compatibility table of Xiaomi devices with Sharing function

Not all Xiaomi devices support handover, and below is a table with popular models and their features:

Smart sockets

Smart lamps

Robot vacuum cleaners

IP-camera

Sensors (movements, temperatures, etc.)

Others

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Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you try to share a device in Mi Home, users encounter common mistakes, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Error: "This device does not support sharing"

This error appears in two cases:

1. The device does not support sharding (see table above).
2. The regions of the sender and recipient accounts do not match.

Decisions:

• 🔄 Check the region of the account in the Profile → Settings → Region: If the regions are different, create a new account in the right region or reset your device.
• 🔍 Clarify the model of the device - perhaps it is not provided for Sharing (for example, smart locks or air conditioners).

Error: "User not found"

This error means that the system cannot find the recipient's account.

• 📧 Incorrectly entered email or phone number.
• 🌐 Recipient’s account from another region.
• 🔒 The recipient did not confirm email/phone in your Xiaomi account.

Decision:

1. Check with the recipient the exact email or number associated with the Mi Account.
2. Ask the recipient to enter the Profile → Settings → Account and confirm contact details.
3. If the regions do not match, use workarounds (see the next section).

Error: "Device transfer failed"

This error occurs when you try to transfer ownership completely.

• ⏱️ Expired invitation (30 minutes).
• 📶 The device is not connected to the Internet.
• 🔄 The device has been previously reset but not removed from your account.

Decisions:

• 🔄 Restart the device and try again.
• 📡 Check your Wi-Fi connection (the device must be online).
• 🗑️ Remove your device from your account through Settings → Remove the device, then the new owner can add it as a new one.

💡

If you are selling a device, always make a full reset before transfer! this will protect your data and avoid problems with binding the new owner.

Bypass Sharing Methods If the Standard Method Does Not Work

If Mi Home doesn’t allow sharing because of regional restrictions or other issues, alternative methods can be used, and it’s important that these methods may require additional actions and may not always guarantee stable operation.

Method 1: Use of Home Assistant

Home Assistant is an open source smart home system that allows you to manage Xiaomi devices without being tied to the Mi Home.

1. Install Home Assistant on Raspberry Pi, NAS or PC.
2. Add Xiaomi Mi Home integration through HACS (Home Assistant Community Store).
3. Sign in with your Xiaomi account token (can be obtained through the official portal).
4. Set up sharing via the Home Assistant web interface.

Advantages:

• 🌐 It works regardless of the region of the account.
• 🔧 Flexible access rights settings.

Disadvantages:

• 🛠️ Requires technical skills to set up.
• 📶 Devices must be on the same local network.

Method 2: Re-binding through resetting

If the device does not support transfer of ownership, but you want to give it to another user:

1. Reset the device to factory settings (usually the button on the case is clamped for 5-10 seconds).
2. Delete your device from your Mi Home account via Settings → Remove the device.
3. New owner adds device as new by adding device → Select a category → Follow the instructions.

⚠️ Warning: Once reset, all device settings will be lost, for example, a robot vacuum cleaner will have to re-create a map of the room, and a smart socket will have to adjust the schedule.

Method 3: Use of alternative applications

Some Xiaomi devices can be controlled through third-party apps that don’t have regional restrictions:

• 💡 Yeelight - for smart lamps.
• 🏠 Aqara Home – for Aqara sensors and actuators.
• 🤖 Mi Robot – for robot vacuum cleaners (only for control, without transfer of ownership).

An example for Yeelight:

1. Install the Yeelight app.
2. Add the lamp through Add the device → Searching the web.
3. In the lamp menu, select Sharing and enter another user's email.

💡

Alternative apps (Yeelight, Aqara Home) often bypass regional Mi Home restrictions, but not all devices are supported.

How to check who is transferring your device to?

If you share a device but don’t remember who it is, or want to revoke access, do the following:

1. Open Mi Home and select the device you want.
2. Go to Settings. → Shared Users (or Shared Users).
3. You will see a list of users with an indication of the access level (Management or View).
4. To delete the user, click on his email and select Delete.

Please note:

• 📌 You can’t delete a user who has been given full ownership – the device is no longer yours.
• 🔄 After deleting the user, he will lose access to the device in his account.

Security in Transferring Xiaomi Devices

Smart device handovers are not only a convenience, but also a potential risk, and here's what to look out for:

• 🔐 Don't give the cameras to strangers, and even if you only give them the right to view, an attacker can access your local network.
• 🏠 If only viewing is enough (for example, for a temperature sensor), do not give full control.
• 🔄 Check the list regularly. Delete users who no longer need access.
• 📡 Change your Wi-Fi password after handing over your device to a stranger (such as when selling) to prevent unauthorized access to your network.

Particular care should be taken with devices that have access to personal data:

• 🎥 IP-Cameras – can stream videos from your home.
• 🔊 Smart speakers – have access to a microphone.
• 🚪 Smart locks – control physical access to the room.

⚠️ Note: If you're handing over a robot vacuum cleaner with a stored map of the room, the new owner will be able to see the layout of your home. → Map. → Reset the card.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Sharing Xiaomi Devices