How to change the format of photos on the phone Xiaomi: 5 ways for any model

Xiaomi smartphones allow you to save photos in different formats – from the standard JPEG modern HEIF professionally RAW. But not all users know how to switch between them: some face the problem of format incompatibility when transferring files to a PC, others want to save space on the disk, others need photos of the highest quality for further processing.

In this article, we will analyze all the available ways to change the format of photos on Xiaomi – from basic camera settings to hidden features. MIUI You'll learn what formats are supported on your model, how to enable them, and when it's really necessary, and we'll also tell you why sometimes changing the format through the gallery can lead to loss of image quality, and how to avoid this.

What photo formats support Xiaomi smartphones

Xiaomi’s current phones (starting with the Redmi Note 8 Pro and Mi 9) support at least 3 major photo formats:

• 📷 JPEG — universal format with a good balance of quality and file size, suitable for social networks and fast transfer.
• 🖼️ HEIF/HEIC — Apple’s modern format, which, with the same quality, is 2 It's less space, but it might not open on older devices.
• 📊 RAW (DNG) —"It's a raw format for professional processing, it saves the maximum amount of data from the matrix, but the files weigh. 10-50 MB.

The flagship models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, 14 Pro) also have a format available. JPEG XL — improved JPEG And some of the Leica cameras have a branded.dng format with extended dynamic range.

⚠️ Note: On budget models (Redmi) 9A, Poco M3) format HEIF It can be disabled by default because of a weak processor, and turning it on can slow down the shooting.

Method 1: Change the format through camera settings

The easiest way is to change the format directly in the Camera app, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones with a shell. MIUI 12 and newer. Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the standard Camera app.
2. Touch the icons ⚙️ Settings (or swipe up/down on the screen, depending on the model).
3. Select the photo format or the photo quality.
4. From the available options, select the desired: High (HEIF), Standard (JPEG) or RAW+JPEG.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Pro) the path may be slightly different:

Camera → ⚙️ → Additional settings → Save format → HEIF/JPEG/RAW

Check the free space on the phone (RAW borrower ~50MB in the photo)

Connect the phone to charge (long shooting in the RAW discharge)

Make sure the format you choose is supported by your model

Backup important photos (you can reset settings when you switch first)-->

If the camera settings do not include the photo format, it means that your model supports only the photo format. JPEG. In this case, you will have to use alternative methods (see section pro-third-party applications).

JPEG (universal)

HEIF (saves space)

RAW (processing)

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Method 2: Convert through the Xiaomi Gallery

If you have already taken photos in the same format, but want to convert them, you can use the built-in gallery. MIUI. This method is suitable for conversion HEIF → JPEG downsize RAW file.

Instructions:

1. Open the Gallery app and select the photo you want.
2. Press. ⋮ → Exports or Share.
3. In the export menu, select Save as JPEG (spring-in HEIF) or reduce the size (for the purpose of RAW).
4. Specify the folder to save and confirm the action.

⚠️ Attention: Gallery conversions degrade image quality because recompression is used. For critical photos, it is better to use specialized converters (see next section).

In the models with MIUI 14 and newer feature package exports:

Gallery → Select some photos → ⋮ → Package export → JPEG/HEIF

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If the photos are not bright after conversion, try to turn on the "Autoimprovement" option before exporting, which partially compensates for compression losses.

Method 3: Third-party applications for conversion

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t suit you, you can use third-party apps that offer more formats, better conversion quality, and additional features (such as batch processing).

Top.-3 applications for changing the format of the photo:

• 📱 HEIF Converter – specializes in conversion HEIC/HEIF into JPEG/PNG No loss, the free version is limited. 10 day-time.
• 🖼️ RAW Power - a professional converter for RAW-Xiaomi.dng files allow you to adjust white balance and exposure before export.
• 🔄 Photo & Picture Resizer is a versatile tool for changing formats, size and quality.

Example of conversion through HEIF Converter:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and select a photo in format. HEIC.
3. Press Convert and select the target format (JPEG or PNG).
4. Customize the quality (recommended) 90-100% minimally).
5. Save the result to a new folder.

Method 4: Change the format through MIUI Hidden Settings

On Xiaomi smartphones there are hidden settings MIUI, This is a method that allows you to include additional photo formats that are not available in the standard menu.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the item Enable MIUI Hidden Settings and activate it.
4. Now in the camera settings will appear a new section Experimental Features, where you can choose the formats JPEG XL or AVIF (If supported by your model).

⚠️ Attention: Incorporation of experimental formats (AVIF, JPEG XL) This can cause unstable camera performance on some models.

Xiaomi. 13/14 The series through hidden settings can also be enabled saving RAW for all camera modules (main, wide-angle and telephoto), and not just for the main, as in standard settings.

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Hidden settings MIUI Allows you to unlock formats that the manufacturer has disabled by default due to possible bugs or unoptimized firmware.

Method 5: Use ADB forcing a change of format

For advanced users who want to fully control photo formats, there is a way to ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This allows you to force any supported format, even if it doesn’t appear in the menu.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB on your PC (download Google’s Platform Tools).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and allow debugging. USB: Settings → For developers → Debugging by USB
3. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices (should display your phone serial number).
5. Use the command to change the format (example for the HEIF): adb shell settings put global camera_heif_enabled 1 For RAW: adb shell settings put global camera_raw_enabled 1
6. Reboot the phone.

List of the main ADB-commands for photo format:

• 📌 Turn on HEIF: adb shell settings put global camera_heif_enabled 1
• 📌 Shut down. HEIF: adb shell settings put global camera_heif_enabled 0
• 📌 Turn on RAW: adb shell settings put global camera_raw_enabled 1
• 📌 Establish quality JPEG (0-100): adb shell settings put global camera_jpeg_quality 95

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can cause a camera crash or other system errors.Before experimenting, back up your data via Settings → System system → Backup.

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If the format hasn’t changed after ADB-command, try resetting the camera settings to the standard: → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data.

What format to choose: comparison and recommendations

The format depends on your tasks. Here are some brief recommendations:

• 📱 For social media (Instagram, VK, Telegram: Use it JPEG quality 80-90%. These platforms still clamping photos, so high quality source does not make sense.
• 💾 To save space: switch to the HEIF. On a phone with a 108MP camera, this will save up to 50% of the space. just make sure your PC supports this format (Windows 10)+ macOS).
• 🎨 For professional processing: film in RAW (or RAW+JPEG), If you're planning to edit a photo in Lightroom or Photoshop, remember one. RAW-Xiaomi 13 Ultra file can weigh up to 80MB.
• 🌐 For websites: Convert photos to WEBP — It gives you a better compression than JPEG, Use Google's Squoosh app for this.

If you often share photos with friends or colleagues who use older devices, it’s best to stay on top of them. JPEG. Format HEIF It may not open on Windows 7 or Android 8 or below.

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On Xiaomi smartphones with 200 MP cameras (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) shoot RAW borrower ~120MB per photo. Make sure there's enough room on your phone before the session.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you change your photo format on Xiaomi, users often encounter errors, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

If after changing the format, the camera began to issue an error "Can not save the photo", try:

1. Clear the camera cache: Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage → Clear the cache.
2. Reboot the phone.
3. Reset the camera settings to standard (on the menu) ⚙️ → Reset the settings).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions