Stock Android needs this nifty Xiaomi file-sharing feature

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Stock Android needs this nifty Xiaomi file-sharing feature





Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority



Opinion post by
Hadlee Simons




MIUI has been around for ages ?? it was actually Xiaomi?s first product back in 2011. Over the years, the Android skin has been the first or among the first to adopt now-popular features such as scrolling screenshots, dual apps, and per-app volume controls.

However, there?s one under-the-radar MIUI feature that I?ve recently become a fan of, and that?s the integrated FTP functionality.

Read more: A look at all the major Android skins

How FTP sharing works and where it shines



FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, and it?s a long-running standard for transferring files over a network between two devices. One device acts as an FTP server while another can browse the contents of said server/device. For example, you could have a PC running as an FTP server and access its files over the network with a phone or another PC.

The kicker is that many Android smartphones don?t have native FTP server functionality ? but Xiaomi?s file manager for both smartphones and tablets is the exception here. The integrated file manager has an FTP feature conveniently stowed away in the side menu. Once you?ve enabled it on your phone, you simply type in the given address in your computer?s file manager and you?re up and running. No additional apps needed.

File management: The best file explorer apps on Android

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