Why Xiaomi owners need to be able to combine photos
Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are famous for their feature-rich cameras, but even with perfect snapshots, they sometimes need to be combined.Maybe you want to create a collage for Instagram, combine a two-frame panorama, or just save gallery space. Unlike the iPhone, which often requires third-party apps, MIUI offers built-in tools - but they're hidden deep in the menu.
In this article, we will analyze 5 proven methods of gluing photos: from standard Xiaomi functions to professional applications. We will pay special attention to preserving image quality when combining – this is critical for high-resolution models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro).+). Also compare methods on speed, convenience and supported formats (JPEG, PNG, HEIC).
If you have tried to combine photos through the gallery → Edit but don't find the right option -- don't be surprised. MIUI 14/15 The algorithm has changed, and now the path looks different. Next, we'll show you the latest screenshots and step-by-step actions for Android phones. 13/14.
Method 1: Built-in MIUI Gallery Editor (without applications)
The fastest method is to use the standard Xiaomi editor, but it doesn't work on all models. For example, on the POCO F5 and Redmi K60, the feature is available, but on the budget Redmi A2 it may not be.
- Open the Gallery app (flower icon).
- Select the first photo and click Edit (pencil icon).
- Tap it on three points. ⋮ in the upper right corner and look for the item Collage or Combine.
If there is no option, your firmware does not support this function, in which case you can move to method 2. If there is an option, follow the next steps:
- 📌 Select the second photo from the gallery (you can have several for the collage at once).
- 🎨 Set up the location: Horizontal, Vertical or Grid.
- ✂️ Cut the edges if needed with the Cadration tool.
- 💾 Save the result in format JPEG (by default or PNG (lossless).
Select the main photo|Check availability of item "Collection"|Prepare a second image in the same folder|Make sure you have enough space on your phone.-->
⚠️ Note: When saved through the built-in editor MIUI Sometimes you reset your metadata (date of shooting, geotagged) and if it's important, use method 3 or 4.
Method 2: Google’s Photos app (for all Xiaomi apps)
If the standard Xiaomi editor doesn’t fit, install the official Google Photos app. It’s pre-installed on many models (like the Xiaomi 12T), but budget phones may not. Download it from the Play Market:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.photosInstructions for association:
- Open Google Photos and select the first photo.
- Slip on Edit (slider icon).
- Go to the Tools tab → Collage.
- Add a second photo and select a layout (up to 9 photos in one collage).
Advantages of this method:
- 🔍 Automatic border alignment (useful for panoramas).
- 🌐 Sync with the cloud (photos won’t be lost when you reset your phone).
- 📱 It works even on older models (Redmi). 9A, POCO M3).
gallery MIUI|Google Photo|Third-party editors|I don't edit the photo.-->
| Criteria | MIUI Gallery | Google Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Support for formats | JPEG, PNG | JPEG, PNG, HEIC, WebP |
| Max, permission. | Limited to 12 MP | Up to 50 MP (depending on model) |
| Metadata preservation | Partial loss | Completely preserved |
| Cloud synchronization | No. | Yeah (when setting up) |
Method 3: Professional applications (for complex collages)
If you need to not just glue two photos together, but create a multi-layer collage with effects, use specialized editors.
- 🎨 PicsArt – more than 100 collage templates, support for layers and masks.
- ✨ PhotoGrid is a simple interface optimized for weak phones (Redmi) 8A).
- 🖼️ Canva – Professional layouts, but requires registration.
- 🔧 Snapseed (from Google) – for precise cropping and stitching panoramas.
Let’s look at the PicsArt example:
- Download the application and open it.
- Press + → Collage.
- Select the layout (for example, 2 photos horizontally).
- Upload images and edit boundaries with the Frame tool.
- Add text, stickers or filters if necessary.
How to keep the collage in maximum quality?
⚠️ Warning: Free versions of apps like PicsArt add watermarks, so you'll have to buy a premium subscription or use Snapseed, which is completely free, to remove them.
Method 4: Online Services (if you don’t want to install apps)
If you don't have enough space on your phone or you're afraid of viruses, use online editors that work right in your browser (like Mi Browser or Chrome).
- 🌐 Fotor (fotor.com) – support for layers and templates.
- 🖼️ PhotoJoiner (photojoiner.net) – specializes in panoramas.
- 🎨 Canva Web (canva.com) – Professional Web Designs.
Step-by-step instructions for Fotor:
- Open the site in the browser and select Create a collage.
- Download two photos from your phone (click Download).
- Select a template (for example, 2 photos next to each other).
- Adjust the distance between the photo slider Intermediate.
- Download the result in PNG format (without loss of quality).
The advantages of online services:
- 💻 Don't take up space on the phone.
- 🔄 They work on even weaker models (Redmi). 7A, POCO C31).
- 🛡️ Security: Files are deleted from the server after 1-2 hours.
💡
Before uploading a photo to the online service, turn off geotags! To do this, select a photo in the MIUI Gallery → Details → Delete location data.
Method 5: Manually combine through Developer Mode (for advanced)
This is a method that works for those who like experimentation, and it allows you to combine photos at the system level, but it requires you to activate the developer mode and work with ADB. It's not recommended for beginners!
Step-by-step:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version and tap 7 times on the build number.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
- Connect your phone to your PC and use the command: adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/photo1.jpg adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/photo2.jpg
- Combine photos on PC using Photoshop or GIMP, Then reboot back: adb push merged_photo.jpg /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/
⚠️ Attention: When used incorrectly ADB You can damage your system files. Before you experiment, back up your system files through Settings. → Memory. → Backup.
💡
Developer mode gives access to hidden features, but activation can cause camera failures on some models (for example, Xiaomi 11T Pro).
Comparison of methods: which one to choose?
To make it easier for you to decide, we will bring all methods into one table, taking into account the speed, quality and complexity:
| Method | Speed. | Quality. | Difficulty | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI Gallery | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ (compression JPEG) | ⭐ | Quick integration without installing applications |
| Google Photo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (stores metadata) | ⭐ | Cloud Storage and Synchronization |
| PicsArt/Snapseed | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (layering) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Complex collages with effects |
| Online services | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PNG lossless) | ⭐⭐ | If there's no room on the phone |
| ADB + PC | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (maximum quality) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | For experienced users |
For most tasks, Google Photos or the built-in MIUI Gallery will suffice. If you need professional quality, choose Snapseed or online services.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When combining photos on Xiaomi, users often face some problems.
- 🔴 Photos are saved in low quality: In the editor settings, select the maximum quality or save in the PNG.
- 🔴 Cannot find the function "Collection": Update MIUI Up to the latest version or use Google Photos.
- 🔴 The app flies out when combining: Clear the Gallery cache in Settings → Annexes → gallery → Memory.
- 🔴 Photos flip when glued: Before combining, check the orientation in the Gallery → Edit → Turn.
If you blurred the photo after you combine it, it's likely that the original images were of different resolution, so to avoid that, cut them to the same size in any editor.