You took a great photo on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro, but it takes 10+ MB, and you need to send it by mail or upload to the social network? The problem is familiar to every owner of smartphones with cameras 108 or 200 MP. In this article, we will analyze all the ways of flattening photos – from standard MIUI functions to hidden features and third-party applications that will maintain a balance between weight and quality.
Xiaomi’s image compression has nuances: for example, in new HyperOS models, optimization algorithms work differently than in older versions of MIUI 12. We tested all methods on current firmware (2023-2026) and identified those that give maximum weight reduction with minimal loss of parts.
Why are Xiaomi photos so “heavy”?
Modern Xiaomi smartphones (e.g., Xiaomi) 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro+) save pictures in.jpg format with resolution up to 12000×9000 Even with standard camera settings, a single photo can weigh 15–25 MB: Here are the main reasons:
- 📸 High resolution matrix: 108-200 MP cameras keep megapixels in reserve, even if you don’t plan to print a picture on a billboard.
- 🎯 HDR Computational photography: Xiaomi processes multiple frames simultaneously, storing additional data in metainformation.
- 🔍 Minimum compression by default: The camera settings often have the “Maximum Quality” option that disables automatic compression.
- 📁 Format HEIF/HEIC: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) Photos are saved to.heic, which weighs less than.jpg, but not all services support it.
Interesting fact: if you take a photo in Pro or RAW mode, the weight of one frame can reach 50-80 MB. Such files contain raw data from the sensor and are designed for professional post-processing in Lightroom or Photoshop.
Method 1: Built-in compression in the Xiaomi gallery (without applications)
The fastest method is to use MIUI tools. They are available on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with a firmware version at least MIUI 10. The compression algorithm here is optimized for the ecosystem, so quality losses are minimal.
How to flatten a photo through a standard gallery:
- Open the Gallery app and select the photo you want.
- Slip the "Edit" icon** (pencil in the bottom menu).
- Go to the Tools tab → Squeeze.
- Select the compression level: “Small size”** (up to 500 KB) for avatars and thumbnails. “Mediocre size”** (1-3 MB) is optimal for social networks. “Large size”** (5-8 MB) – if you need to save details.
Save as a copy
Important: In the newer versions of MIUI 14+ and HyperOS, the compression option can be hidden behind the button More (three dots) → Compress the image. If it is not, update the Gallery app via Google Play.
☑️ Preparation for compression in the Xiaomi gallery
Method 2: Sending via “Quick Send” (automatic compression)
The MIUI Quick Send (formerly Mi Drop) feature automatically reduces the weight of a photo when it is transmitted over Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth, a method that is convenient if you want to quickly share pictures with another Xiaomi device.
How Automatic Compression Works:
| Transmission method | Max. weight photo after compression | Loss of quality | Speed. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Direct | ~3-5MB | Minimum | ⚡ Quickly. |
| Bluetooth | ~1-2 MB | Notable in the big details | 🐢 Slowly. |
| QR-code (through "Quick Sending») | ~2MB | Average. | ⚡ Instantly. |
Instructions:
- Open the photo in the gallery → Share → Quick sending.
- Choose a recipient (another Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO).
- Confirm transmission. The system will automatically compress the photo to the optimal size.
⚠️ Note: If you are sending photos to a non-Xiaomi device (such as an iPhone or Samsung), the compression will be more aggressive – up to 1-1.5 MB with noticeable artifacts).
Method 3: Manually change resolution before shooting
If you know in advance that the photo will go to the messenger or social network, it is easier to shoot immediately in lower resolution, which will save space on the phone and eliminate the need to compress the later.
How to change the camera resolution on Xiaomi:
- Open the Camera app.
- Touch the icons ⚙️ Settings (cogs).
- Go to the photo resolution.
- Choose the appropriate option: 12 MP (4:3) - optimal for social networks (4000×3000, weight ~3-5 MB). 9 MP (16:9) - for storis and wide formats (4000×2250, weight ~2-4 MB). 48/64/108 MP - only if you need parts for printing or framing.
On models with a 200 MP camera (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the option “Pixel Binning” can be in the settings. If you turn it on, 4 pixels are combined into 1, reducing the resolution to 12.5 MP without loss of quality.
What is Pixel Binning and why is it needed?
Method 4: Third-party applications for advanced compression
If embedded tools MIUI We've tested it, we've tested it. 10 popular utilities and chose the top-3 Xiaomi:
| Annex | Max. Compression. | Support for formats | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo Compress 2.0 | 90% | JPG, PNG, HEIC, WEBP | Packet compression, DPI setting |
| Lit Photo | 80% | JPG, PNG | AI optimization for social networks |
| Resizer & Compressor | 70% | JPG, PNG, WEBP | Change of permit, pruning |
Step-by-step instructions for Photo Compress 2.0 (recommended for Xiaomi):
- Install the app from Google Play.
- Open it and select a photo from the gallery.
- Set up the parameters: 📏 Permission: Reduce to 1920×1080 social-network. 🗜️ Quality: Put the slider on 70–80% (balance-sheet). 🔄 Format: select JPG for maximum compatibility.
Squeeze.
⚠️ Note: Apps like Lit Photo use cloud processing, which may not be safe for sensitive photos. If photos contain personal data, compress them offline (for example, through Photo Compress 2.0 in Without Internet mode).
💡
Before mass compression, back up your originals in Google Photos or on a memory card. Open Gallery → Albums → Highlight Photos → More → Export and select your destination folder in MIUI.
Method 5: Convert to WEBP or HEIC (maximum compression)
The WEBP and HEIC formats allow you to reduce the weight of photos by 30-50% without any visible loss of quality, but not all services support them (for example, VKontakte automatically converts WEBP to JPG).
How to convert photos to Xiaomi:
- 📱 Squish: Install Squish from Google Play. Select a photo and tap Convert to WEBP. Customize the quality (recommended 80%).
Google Photo
- Upload the photo to Google Photos.
- In the account settings, select Quality → Save space.
- Download the photo back – it will be in WEBP.
Comparison of formats for 4000×3000 (12 MP) photos:
| Format | Average weight | Compatibility | Quality loss |
|--------|------------|---------------|------------------|
| JPG | 4-to-6 MB | ✅ All right. | Average. |
| WEBP | 2-3 MB | ⚠️ Not all social media. | Minimum |
| HEIC | 1.5–2.5 MB | ❌ Only Apple/iOS | Low. |
💡
The WEBP format is ideal for websites and Telegram, but not printable. HEIC is more economical, but it only supports Apple devices and newer versions of Windows 11.
What NOT to do when compressing photos on Xiaomi
Some of the "tips" on the Internet can not only ruin the quality of the pictures, but also harm the phone.
- 🚫 Use online services without checking: Sites like TinyPNG or CompressJPEG can store your photos on their servers. If the images contain personal data (passports, tickets), compress them only offline.
- 🚫 Multiple compression of one photo: Each recompression JPG It's a loss-related loss, and it's best to compress it once with the best settings.
- 🚫 Shut down. HDR Before shooting: Some people advise to turn off HDR, It's a lot less weight, but it causes a loss in the dynamic range (shadow/light). HDR-snapshot.
- 🚫 Install applications from unverified sources: APK-"Supercompression" files are often found with viruses or spyware. Download utilities only from Google Play.