Use Xiaomi Share through the Xiaomi Interconnectivity app. On a supported Xiaomi phone running the required HyperOS 2 software, select the photos or files, tap Send, choose Xiaomi Share, select the iPhone, and accept on the iPhone. The iPhone must have Xiaomi Interconnectivity installed and open, Bluetooth enabled, and both phones should be connected to the same local-area network. The transfer is device-to-device rather than an upload to iCloud or another cloud service.
If Xiaomi Share is unavailable, use ShareMe for a local wireless attempt after checking compatibility, or use a USB-C/dual-connector flash drive as a software-independent bridge. The USB method is slower to set up but is usually the most dependable fallback for large batches or unsupported phone combinations.
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What you need before transferring
Prepare both phones before opening the sharing controls. Xiaomi’s current instructions require a supported Xiaomi handset upgraded to HyperOS 2 for the Xiaomi Share workflow. The iPhone needs Xiaomi Interconnectivity from the App Store. Turn on Bluetooth on the iPhone and place both devices on the same local-area network (LAN), normally the same Wi-Fi network.
- Supported Xiaomi software: update the phone and its Xiaomi Share components before trying to pair.
- iPhone app: install and open Xiaomi Interconnectivity; do not leave it only installed in the background.
- Connectivity: enable Bluetooth and connect both phones to the same LAN. A LAN does not have to provide internet access, but the network must allow the two devices to communicate locally.
- Power and storage: charge both phones and check that the destination has enough free space for the selected files.
- Screen state: keep both phones unlocked and leave the sharing screen in the foreground until the transfer finishes.
This is a local transfer. Xiaomi describes Xiaomi Share as using a point-to-point connection in which data is transmitted only between sender and receiver and is not uploaded to the cloud. You can therefore move files without iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox or mobile-data upload. The initial app installation and software updates may still require internet access, but the file transfer itself is designed for the local connection.
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Transfer photos and files from Xiaomi to iPhone with Xiaomi Share
This is the preferred route when the Xiaomi phone supports Xiaomi Share and meets the HyperOS 2 requirement.
1. Update and prepare the Xiaomi phone
- Open the Xiaomi phone’s system updater and install the available HyperOS update if the phone is not already on the required HyperOS 2 software.
- Make sure Xiaomi Share is available in the phone’s sharing sheet. Xiaomi warns that large differences between protocol or component versions can cause incompatibility, so update Xiaomi Share as well when an update is offered.
2. Install and open Xiaomi Interconnectivity on the iPhone
- Install Xiaomi Interconnectivity from the App Store.
- Open the app and leave it running while you start the transfer.
- Turn on Bluetooth in iPhone settings.
- Connect the iPhone and Xiaomi phone to the same LAN. If the Wi-Fi network has separate guest and main networks, put both phones on the same one.
3. Select the files on Xiaomi
- Open Gallery for photos and videos, or File Manager for documents, music and other files.
- Select one or more items.
- Tap Send or the share button, then choose Xiaomi Share from the available sharing methods.
- Wait for the iPhone to appear in the device list and tap its name.
4. Accept on the iPhone
Approve the incoming transfer in Xiaomi Interconnectivity. Keep both screens unlocked and do not force-close either app. Xiaomi specifically warns that locking a screen or closing the sharing interface can interrupt the transfer. When the completion message appears, open the destination app and verify a few files before deleting anything from the Xiaomi phone.
Transfer files from iPhone to Xiaomi
The reverse direction uses the same local connection but requires Xiaomi Share visibility to be enabled on the Xiaomi phone first.
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1. Make the Xiaomi phone discoverable
- Open Xiaomi Share settings on the Xiaomi phone.
- Set visibility to From anyone (for 10 mins). The ten-minute window limits how long other devices can discover the phone.
2. Choose the file on the iPhone
- Open Xiaomi Interconnectivity on the iPhone.
- Enter Xiaomi Share inside the app.
- Select the photo, video or document you want to send.
- Choose the visible Xiaomi device.
3. Accept and locate the file
Accept the request on the Xiaomi phone and leave both devices unlocked until the progress indicator completes. Xiaomi’s FAQ says received items are stored at File Manager > Download > MiShare. Open that folder to confirm the files arrived before moving or renaming them.
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What Xiaomi Share can and cannot send
Xiaomi states that Xiaomi Share supports photos, documents, videos and music. It does not state a file-count or file-size limit, but the company notes that large transfers are more likely to be interrupted. Send a smaller batch when a very large selection repeatedly fails. Private albums and notes are excluded from the stated Xiaomi Share support, so export those items to a normal, shareable location first if the phone permits it.
The method preserves the original files on the sending phone: sharing creates a copy on the destination rather than removing the source. Check the destination and its available storage before selecting an entire camera library.
Using ShareMe when Xiaomi Share is unavailable
ShareMe is Xiaomi’s separate offline transfer app. Its documented workflow uses local Wi-Fi or a phone-created hotspot rather than an internet upload.
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ShareMe send-and-receive workflow
- Install and open ShareMe on both devices that support the app.
- On the destination, tap Receive. ShareMe displays a QR code for the connection, or it may show a discovered device.
- On the sending phone, scan the destination QR code or select the discovered device.
- Select the files and start sending.
- Keep the apps open until ShareMe reports completion, then check the destination folder.
ShareMe’s FAQ says it can transfer almost all file types without an internet connection and also documents a computer FTP mode. It makes a qualitative claim that ShareMe can be “almost 200 times faster than Bluetooth,” but Xiaomi supplies no test conditions or publication date for that figure, so treat it as a vendor claim rather than a general speed benchmark.
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For an iPhone specifically, use Xiaomi Share through Xiaomi Interconnectivity first. Xiaomi’s ShareMe documentation describes the offline workflow but does not provide a complete Android-to-iPhone compatibility matrix. If the iPhone does not appear or the app cannot establish a session, do not assume the failure is a configuration mistake; switch to Xiaomi Share or the USB method instead.
Offline USB drive method
An external drive is the practical fallback when the phones cannot discover each other, when a network blocks local traffic, or when you are moving a large archive. Apple documents a two-step, cloud-free process: copy files from the first device to an external USB drive, disconnect it, connect it to the destination device, and copy the files there.
Choose the physical bridge
A USB-C flash drive works directly with iPhones that have a USB-C port and with compatible Xiaomi phones. A dual-connector drive can provide USB-C for one phone and a different connector for another. Older iPhones may need an Apple-compatible adapter for the drive; Apple notes that an adapter may be required depending on the iPhone model and accessory.
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Copy from Xiaomi to the drive
- Connect the flash drive to the Xiaomi phone. Use the supplied adapter if the drive’s connector does not match.
- Open File Manager, select the files and choose Copy or Move to the external drive.
- Wait for the copy to finish, then eject or safely disconnect the drive.
Copy from the drive to iPhone
- Connect the drive to the iPhone, using an adapter when required.
- Open Apple’s Files app or another app that supports external storage.
- Open the drive in the Browse view, select the files and choose Copy to an iPhone folder or a compatible destination app.
- Verify that the files open correctly before deleting the temporary copies from the drive or Xiaomi phone.
The USB route does not depend on Xiaomi Share, Xiaomi Interconnectivity, Bluetooth discovery or a shared Wi-Fi network. Its trade-off is the extra copy step and the need for a compatible connector, adapter and sufficient drive capacity.
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Method comparison
| Method | Directness | Software and version requirements | Network or connector | Batch guidance | Cloud upload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Share | One phone-to-phone transfer | Supported Xiaomi phone on required HyperOS 2 software; Xiaomi Interconnectivity on iPhone | Bluetooth enabled; both phones generally on the same LAN | No Xiaomi file-count or size restriction is stated; large files are more likely to interrupt | No; Xiaomi describes a point-to-point transfer |
| ShareMe | One phone-to-phone transfer after pairing | ShareMe on both devices; iPhone compatibility is not fully specified in the cited documentation | Local Wi-Fi or hotspot; QR-code or discovered-device pairing | No universal limit is stated; use smaller batches after failures | No internet connection is required for the documented workflow |
| USB flash drive | Two-stage copy through removable storage | Files app or another external-drive-capable app; adapter may be needed on some iPhones | USB-C or dual-connector drive and any required adapter | Limited by free space, drive capacity and copy stability | No |
Troubleshooting Xiaomi Share
The iPhone does not appear
- Confirm Xiaomi Interconnectivity is installed, open and currently displaying its Xiaomi Share area.
- Turn on Bluetooth on the iPhone.
- Check that both phones are on the same LAN, not merely that each has Wi-Fi enabled. Move the iPhone off a guest network if the Xiaomi phone is on the main network.
- Set Xiaomi Share visibility to From anyone (for 10 mins) when sending to Xiaomi, then retry discovery.
- Update HyperOS, Xiaomi Share and Xiaomi Interconnectivity. Xiaomi reports that protocol versions that are too far apart can be incompatible.
The transfer starts and then stops
- Unlock both screens and keep the sharing interfaces in the foreground.
- Send fewer files, especially when the failed selection contains very large videos or archives. Xiaomi says large files are more likely to interrupt and that one corrupted file can stop progress.
- Retry without the suspected file, then send it separately after the rest completes.
- Check free storage on the destination phone.
Wi-Fi is connected but local transfer fails
Some enterprise or managed networks isolate wireless clients even though they provide internet access. Move both phones to a simple home network or use a personal hotspot if the local transfer method supports it. Avoid congested networks where possible, and keep the phones near the access point during a large transfer.
ShareMe was interrupted
Use ShareMe’s Connect again option, stabilize the hotspot and restart the app if necessary. If repeated attempts fail, restart one or both phones. Because Xiaomi does not publish a complete ShareMe Android-to-iPhone support matrix in the cited documentation, switch to Xiaomi Share or a USB drive instead of repeatedly retrying an unsupported pairing.
The USB drive is not visible on iPhone
Disconnect and reconnect the drive, check the adapter and open Files > Browse to look for the drive under available locations. If the iPhone model uses a connector different from the drive, use the appropriate adapter. A drive that works on Xiaomi but not iPhone may need a different connector or a compatible powered adapter; the Apple guide specifically warns that an adapter may be necessary for some models.
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For a normal photo transfer
Use Xiaomi Share. It is the most direct supported path, requires no removable storage and keeps the transfer local.
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For a Xiaomi phone that lacks the required software
Try ShareMe only after confirming that the iPhone can run the app and that the two devices can form its local connection. If discovery or compatibility is uncertain, use a USB-C or dual-connector flash drive.
For a very large archive
A USB drive avoids keeping a wireless sharing screen active for the entire operation and is independent of Wi-Fi isolation. If you use Xiaomi Share instead, split the archive into smaller batches and leave both screens unlocked.
For a network you do not control
Prefer the USB method. Enterprise networks can prevent local device-to-device communication even when both phones show a Wi-Fi connection.
Privacy and data-safety checks
- Use Xiaomi Share visibility set to From anyone (for 10 mins) only for the time needed to receive a file, then return it to a more restrictive setting if available.
- Accept requests only when the displayed device is the intended phone.
- Do not erase originals until you have opened representative photos, videos and documents on the destination.
- For a shared or borrowed USB drive, remove temporary copies after verifying the destination and avoid leaving personal files on the drive.
- Remember that private albums and notes are not included in Xiaomi’s stated Xiaomi Share support; handle them through an export or a different supported method.
For most supported Xiaomi and iPhone combinations, Xiaomi Share is the answer to “how do I transfer files offline?” Install Xiaomi Interconnectivity, enable Bluetooth, put both phones on the same LAN, send through Xiaomi Share and keep the screens unlocked. ShareMe is a secondary local option with less clearly documented iPhone compatibility, while an external USB drive provides the dependable physical fallback when software or network conditions get in the way.
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