How to compress a photo on a Xiaomi Redmi phone: all the ways from standard to professional

Photos on modern Xiaomi Redmi take up more and more space: photos from a camera at 48 MP or 108 MP easily weigh 10-20 MB each, which creates problems when sending to messengers (where the limits are 5-10 MB), uploading to the cloud or archiving. Fortunately, you can compress photos on Redmi directly on your phone — without a computer and complex programs.

In this article, we will analyze all the current methods: from built-in tools MIUI You will learn how to reduce the size of photos without visible loss of quality, which formats to choose for different tasks (.JPEG,.HEIF,.WebP), and how to automate the process for hundreds of images, and we will highlight the hidden settings of Xiaomi camera, which allow you to shoot in an optimized format initially.

1. Built-in tools MIUI: compression

The manufacturer put in the shell MIUI There are several ways to reduce the weight of the photo, they do not require additional software installation and work on all Redmi models (from Redmi 9 to Redmi Note 13 Pro).+). The main plus is preservation EXIF-Data (date information, camera model, shooting settings) that is often lost when using third-party services.

The fastest method is through the Xiaomi Gallery:

1. Open the Gallery app and select the photo you want (or several while holding your finger on the screen).
2. Click on the icon. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner → select Edit.
3. Go to the Tools tab (scissors icon) → Squeeze.
4. Select the compression level: 📱 Small size (~30% from the original, suitable for WhatsApp/Telegram). 🖼️ Average size (~50%, balance of quality and weight). 🎞️ Big size (~70%, Minimum loss for printing).

Save as a copy

The second option is via the Files menu:

1. Open the Files app (Folder icon).
2. Go to the Images section → Choose a photo → ⋮ → Squeeze.
3. The same compression options are available here, but with an additional slider for manual quality adjustment (10 to 100%).

⚠️ Note: When compressed through Gallery or Files, Xiaomi automatically converts.HEIC/.HEIF into.JPEG. If you need to keep the original format, use third-party apps (see section). 3).

2. Camera settings: how to take already compressed photos

The best way to save space is to set up the camera in advance so that it saves pictures in an optimized format, which is especially true for Redmi owners with cameras at 64 MP and higher (for example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro).+ or Redmi K50), where each image can take 15-25 MB.

Instructions for MIUI 13/14:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Touch the icons ⚙️ (gear) or swipe your finger up the screen to open the settings.
3. Go to the photo resolution section (or photo format on new models).
4. Choose one of the options: 📸 HEIF/HEIC — Modern format, compresses the photo into 2 more effectively JPEG without loss of quality, supported by all Redmi MIUI 12 newer. 🖼️ JPEG (High quality – classic format, but the weight of the photo will be more. 🔍 JPEG (Optimized – Automatically compresses images when saved (quality losses are minimal).

108 MP

Redmi Note 11 Pro+

Resolution 108MP

On/off.

12 MP

108 MP

4-5 times

If your model does not have an option HEIF, Check for updates MIUI In Settings → The phone. → System Update. The format is supported by all Redmi based on Android 10 and newer.

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To quickly switch between formats HEIF and JPEG, Add the camera widget to the main screen. Press it for a long time. → Widget settings → Enable the option Quick format switching (available on the MIUI 14).

3. Third-party applications: advanced compression settings

Xiaomi’s built-in tools are good for basic compression, but if you need to fine-tune the quality, change the resolution or process hundreds of photos at a time, third-party apps will be required. We tested 5 popular utilities and picked the best ones for Redmi.

Image Shrink – it supports the HEIF, It allows you to batch compress and has a Lossless mode (without loss:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and select a photo (or folder with a photo).
3. Set up the parameters: 📏 Permission: Reduce to 1920×1080 (Full HD) social-network. 🎯 Quality: Move the slider to the 80–85% (balance-sheet). 🔄 Format: Select WebP for maximum compression (supported) VK, Telegram, Google Photo).

Squeeze.

⚠️ Note: Apps like PicsArt or Snapseed compress photos when exported, but delete them EXIF-Data (including geotags and camera information) If critical, use Image Shrink or Lit Photo with Save Metadata enabled.

Select all photos in one folder|Check the vacant space (you need to). ~20% of the source volume)|Disable Battery Optimization for Compression Application|Make a backup copy of the originals-->

4. Compression via Google Photos: The Cloud Way

Google Photos automatically compresses uploaded images if you turn on the Save Space option, which is convenient for backup and synchronization between devices.

How to set up:

1. Install Google Photos from Play Market (if not already installed).
2. Open the app and click on the profile avatar → Settings Photo.
3. Select the download quality → Space savings (compression up to 16 MP for photo).
4. Return to the main menu, click on it. + → Download and select a photo.

5. Compression for specific tasks: social networks, messengers, mail

Each service has its own file size restrictions, and here's how to optimize photos for popular platforms:

For Instagram and VK Not only is it important to compress the photo, but also to trim it to the right proportions. Use the SquareDroid app (for square photos) or InShot app (for 9:16 stories).

If you need to send a few photos in the messenger, pack them in the ZIP-archive:

1. Open the files. → highlight the photo → ⋮ → Squeeze.
2. Choose the format ZIP (or RAR, if the recipient uses a PC).
3. The archive weighs 10-30% less than the sum of the original photos.

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For Telegram and VK It is better to use the WebP format - it compresses 2-3 times more efficiently. JPEG However, WhatsApp and Instagram do not support WebP when downloading via a mobile application (only via the web version).

Advanced methods: Terminal, ADB script

For advanced users who are ready to work with the command line, there are ways to compress photos without a graphical interface, which is true if you need to process thousands of photos or automate the process.

Method 1: via Termux (terminal emulator for Android)

1. Install Termux from F-Droid (the Play Market version is outdated).

Method 2: ADB (PC-based)

If the photos are stored on your phone, but you want to compress them using a script on your computer:

1. Connect Redmi to the PC by USB (Turn on Debugging. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press the assembly number → Come back to the extra. → For developers).
2. Install. ADB On PC and execute: Adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/./photos magick mogrify -quality 75%./photos/*.jpg
3. To return the photo to the phone: adb push./photos/ /sdcard/DCIM/Camera_compressed/

⚠️ Warning: Mogrify and magick commands rewrite the originals. Always back up the folder before executing scripts. Use the flag to compress safely. -path To save to the new directory: Magick convert input.jpg -quality 80% output.jpg

7.How to check the quality after compression

After reducing the weight of the photo, it is important to make sure that the quality loss is not critical.

Method 1: Visual inspection

• 🔍 Open the original and compressed photo in the Xiaomi Gallery.
• 🖼️ Increase both images by 200–300% and compare details (e.g., the texture of clothing or leaves on trees).
• 🎨 Pay attention to compression artifacts (blurred edges, "squares" on monochromatic areas).

Method 2: Analysis EXIF-data

Use the app. EXIF Viewer (available in Play Market) to compare:

• 📸 Permission (e.g. authorization, 4000×3000 vs 1920×1080).
• 🔢 Color depth (24 bits or 8 bits per channel).
• 📅 Shooting Date and Camera Model (must be saved if Image Shrink or built-in tools are used).

Method 3: Online services

Upload both photos to one of the services for comparison:

• 🌐 Squoosh (from Google) – shows the difference in quality and weight.
• 📊 ImageDiff – superimpose photos on each other and highlight the differences.

1. Open the gallery and select the first photo.
2. Swipe up from the bottom panel → Choose the Double Window Icon.
3. In the second window, open the compressed photo and switch between them with swipes.

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FAQ: Frequent questions about compression photos on Xiaomi Redmi