How to send a photo from the phone Xiaomi: all ways from A to Z

Sending photos from Xiaomi phone is a challenge that every user faces. Whether you want to share fresh snapshots with friends, save a backup in the cloud or send documents to work, the process should be fast and intuitive. However, even in a simple operation, there are nuances, from the limitations on the size of files in messengers to the features of transferring over Bluetooth on different versions of MIUI.

In this article, we will examine all the current ways of sending photos, from the classic (via WhatsApp or Telegram) to the less obvious (for example, transferring to a computer via FTP or through Xiaomi Cloud). Particular attention will be paid to the typical mistakes: why photos are compressed when sending, how to avoid loss of quality and what to do if the phone does not see other devices via Wi-Fi Direct. The instructions are universal and suitable for all models, from the budget Redmi 10A to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Sending via instant messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber

The most popular way to use instant messengers is to use two key things: image compression and file size restrictions, for example, WhatsApp reduces photo resolution to 1280×960 by default, and Telegram allows you to send originals, but only in Save Messages or chat rooms without restrictions.

To send a photo through the messenger:

• 📱 Open the Xiaomi gallery and select the photo you want (or a few while holding your finger on the screen).
• 🔗 Click the “Share” button (arrow icon up) and select the messenger.
• ⚙️ In Telegram, before sending, click on the clip icon → «File" to send the original without compression.
• 📊 In WhatsApp, use the Document function to send without loss of quality (in the Share menu, select File instead of Image»).

Important: in group chat Viber, the maximum size of one file is 200 MB, and in WhatsApp - 100 MB. If the photo weighs more, you will have to use a cloud or archiver.

2. Bluetooth transmission: when appropriate

Bluetooth is a convenient way to transfer photos over short distances (up to 10 meters), but it has limitations: low speed (up to 2 MB / s on Bluetooth 5.0) and the risk of connection breakdown.

Instructions for Xiaomi:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices: swipe down from the top edge of the screen and tap the Bluetooth icon.
2. On the receiving phone, click “Device Search” and confirm pairing.
3. In the Xiaomi gallery, select a photo → Share → Bluetooth → Select a device.
4. On the receiving phone, confirm the receipt of the file.

Turn Bluetooth on both devices |

Make sure devices see each other |

Disable power saving mode on Xiaomi|

Check the free space on the receiving device-->

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO X3 Pro) when transferring large files (>50 MB) may cause a "failed to send" error, in which case break the album into pieces or use Wi-Fi Direct.

3.Sending through Xiaomi Cloud: Backup and Sharing

Xiaomi Cloud is a built-in cloud storage that allows you not only to reserve photos, but also share them via a link. The advantage is that the original quality is preserved, and you can access files from any device.

How to send photos through the cloud:

• 🌥️ Upload photos to Xiaomi Cloud: Open the gallery → select the pictures → «Share» → «Xiaomi Cloud» → «Download».
• 🔗 After downloading, click on three dots next to the album. → «Share» → «Reference».
• 📤 Copy the link and send it to the recipient (available within 7 days).

⚠️ Note: If you delete a photo from the Xiaomi Gallery, it will automatically disappear from the Xiaomi Cloud if backup is not enabled. To avoid data loss, activate the “Outload” option in the cloud settings: Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud → gallery.

4. Transfer to the computer: USB, FTP and Mi Drop

To transfer a large number of photos to a PC or Mac is most convenient to use USB-cable, but there are alternatives: Mi Drop (built-in Wi-Fi transmission software) or FTP-server (for advanced users).

Method 1: Through USB (MTP-regime)

• 🔌 Connect your phone to your computer with a cable (preferably original).
• 📱 On Xiaomi, select the file transfer mode» (MTP) plug-in.
• 🖥️ On the PC, open "This computer» → Find the Xiaomi device → Go to the file. DCIM → Camera.
• 📤 Copy the photo to a hard disk.

Method 2: Wi-Fi via Mi Drop

If you don’t have a cable, use Mi Drop:

1. Open the Mi Drop app (pre-installed on all Xiaomi apps).
2. Click "Send" → Select a photo → "Next".
3. Connect to the phone access point from your computer (password will appear in Mi Drop).
4. On PC, open your browser and enter the address specified in the application (for example, 192.168.43.1:8080).

5. Emailing: When it is relevant

Email is suitable for sending photos to official authorities (for example, scans of documents) or when the recipient does not use instant messengers, the main plus is reliability, minus the restrictions on attachments (usually 25 MB per letter).

How to send a photo by email from Xiaomi:

• 📧 Open the Mail app (or Gmail).
• 🖊️ Press "Write» → Provide the recipient’s address and subject matter.
• 📎 Click on the paper clip icon → «Put the file in» → select a photo from the gallery.
• ✉️ If the photo is large, archive it in advance (use it). RAR or ZIP via file manager).

⚠️ Note: Some email services (e.g. Mail.ru) automatically reduce the resolution of attached images. To avoid this, archive the photo before sending or use cloud links (e.g. from Google Drive).

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If you need to send a lot of photos by email, use WeTransfer (up to 2 GB free), upload the archive to the site, get a link and paste it into the email.

Alternative methods: NFC, QR-code and AirDroid

For advanced users, there are less obvious but effective methods:

NFC (for phones with support)

Suitable for transferring 1-2 photos at a distance of up to 5 cm Both devices must support NFC and have the Android Beam feature enabled (on older versions of MIUI).

QR-code (through Mi Drop or third-party applications)

Generate. QR-photo-code:

1. Open Mi Drop. → Choose a photo → «QR-code».
2. Scan the code with another phone (camera or Google Lens).

AirDroid (for transfer to PC)

The AirDroid app allows you to manage Xiaomi files from your computer through a browser, and the advantage is that you don’t need a cable, and the transfer speed is faster than Bluetooth.

7.Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

Even in a simple photo-sending operation, Xiaomi users face challenges.

• 🚫 «Failed to send" in messengers - check the Internet connection and application permissions (in Settings → Annexes → [messenger] → Permits must be accessed to the storage facility).
• 🔄 Photo sent in low quality – in WhatsApp use the option “Document”, in Telegram – “File».
• 📡 Bluetooth does not find the device - turn off the power saving mode (Settings) → Battery → Power saving mode) and restart both devices.
• 🔌 The computer does not see Xiaomi USB — Try another cable or turn on “Debugging by” USB» (see spoiler above).

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If the photo is not sent in any way, check if the phone is occupied with memory. Xiaomi for stable system functions (including file sharing) must be free at least 10% of the total storage.

On Xiaomi models with MIUI 14 firmware and later, when transferring photos via Wi-Fi Direct, the accelerated mode (up to 10 MB / s) automatically turns on if both devices support Wi-Fi 6. This is 2-3 times faster than on older versions of the software.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions