How to reduce the size of the photo on the Xiaomi phone: a step-by-step guide

Photos on modern Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi series) are taking up more space — cameras with a resolution of 48 MP, 64 MP and even 200 MP create files weighing 10-20 MB each. This quickly clogs the device’s memory, makes sending messengers difficult and slows down the loading on social networks. Fortunately, you can reduce the size of the photo on Xiaomi directly on the phone — without a computer and complex programs.

In this article, you will find 7 proven ways, from built-in MIUI tools to specialized applications with advanced settings, we will discuss how to compress photos without loss of quality (with saving EXIF metadata), optimize them for Instagram, VK or Telegram, and reduce weight with a package - for example, before sending an email.

1. Built-in compression in the Xiaomi Gallery (without installing apps)

The fastest way is to use the tools of the standard MIUI gallery. They are available on all models, starting with the Redmi Note 7 (2019) and later, including flagships like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. The compression algorithm here is optimized for the Xiaomi ecosystem, so the result is often better than that of third-party utilities.

How it works:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app** (icon with multicolored squares).
• 🖼️ Choose a photo (or several by holding your finger on the screen).
• 🔧 Press More. → Compress (in some versions) MIUI The item is called Optimization).

All photos selected (package processing saves time)|

Is there enough space in the memory (compressed copy is created additionally)|

Is Traffic Savings mode disabled in settings (can block the process)|

Sync with Mi Cloud is suspended (to avoid downloading originals)-->

Advantages of the method: does not require the Internet, saves EXIF-data (date of shooting, camera model), supports formats JPEG and HEIF. But it is not suitable for RAW (.dng – these files will have to be converted separately.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 and newer default compression applies algorithm AI-Optimization, which can distort the colors of high-detailed photos (such as sunsets or night shots).If critical, choose High-quality or use third-party apps.

2. Optimization for social networks: Instagram, VK, Telegram

Each social network has its own photo size limits, and uploading originals from Xiaomi is a waste of traffic. For example, Instagram automatically compresses images to 1080×1350 pixels, and VK compresses images to 2048px on the larger side. To avoid double compression (and loss of quality), it is better to prepare the photo in advance.

Instructions for Instagram:

1. Open the photo in the gallery, click Edit.
2. Choose to Cut and set the ratio 4:5 (for fasting) or 9:16 (for storis).
3. Return to the edit menu, click More → Compress and select Medium Quality.
4. Export your photos to your Instagram folder (not to be confused with the originals).

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If you upload photos to Instagram often, create an album for Insta in the gallery** and set up automatic compression when you add files to it. To do this, go to Gallery Settings → Automatic Actions → Create a rule.

Telegram and WhatsApp just need to compress the photo to 1200–1600px Use the Photo & Picture Resizer app (available on Google Play), where you can set the exact size in pixels:

3. Packet compression: how to reduce the size of 100+ photos at a time

If you need to compress tens or hundreds of photos — for example, before archiving or sending them by mail — it takes hours to manually process each file, and batch compression with applications like Photo Compress or Batch Image Resizer will help.

Step-by-step instructions for Photo Compress (free version with watermarks, but no restrictions on the number of photos):

1. Download the app from Google Play (ranked 4.7+).
2. In the compression settings, select: Quality: 70-80% (optimum for archives); Size: Limit weight (e.g., up to 500 KB per photo); Format: JPEG (or WEBP for even less weight).

Squeeze.

Xiaomi

Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

For advanced users, Batch Image Resizer is suitable for:

• 🔄 Automatic file renaming (for example, by date).
• 📂 Creation ZIP-photo-archive.
• 🖼️ Conversion to WEBP (weight 30% less than that of JPEG equally).

⚠️ Attention: When batch compression, always check the first 2-3 photos for artifacts (blurring, pixelation). Some apps aggressively compress faces in portraits, which spoils the pictures. If you notice it, reduce the compression ratio to 85-90%.

The built-in gallery Xiaomi|

Photo Compress|

Batch Image Resizer|

Other appendix |

I'm not squeezing the photo.-->

4. Compression without loss of quality: save EXIF and parts

If it is important to keep the metadata (EXIF: date, camera model, GPS-coordinates) and minimal quality loss, standard methods will not work:

The most reliable way is to use Termux and jpegoptim, which will compress photos by 20-40% without visible artifacts.

pkg update && pkg upgrade


pkg install jpegoptim




jpegoptim --max=85 -p /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/photo.jpg

Where:

• --max=85 — Quality (the higher the compression is).
• -p - Preservation of EXIF.
• /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/photo.jpg – the path to the photo (replace it with your own).

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Compression via jpegoptim in Termux is the only way to reduce the weight of photos on Xiaomi without losing EXIF and with a precise quality setting. Suitable for professional photographers who shoot on Xiaomi 12S Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro+ in RAW+JPEG format.

For those who don't want to mess with the command line, Exif Eraser & Image Optimizer (available on Google Play) is a good app.

• 📊 Consolidate the photo with preservation EXIF.
• 🧹 Remove unnecessary metadata (e.g, GPS, unless you want to disclose the location).
• 🔄 Package processing with quality setting for each file.

5.Compression RAW-photo (DNG) Xiaomi

If you’re shooting in RAW (.dng) format on the Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi K60 Pro or other models with an advanced camera, standard compression methods won’t work.DNG files weigh 20 to 50 MB each and need to be converted to JPEG or HEIF while reducing size.

RAW compression methods:

1. Through the Xiaomi Gallery: Open RAW-Photo in the gallery. Click More. → Export how JPEG. Choose quality 80–90% permit 1920×1080 (Full HD).

Lightroom Mobile (free of charge):

For messengers:

• 💬 Telegram: Click on the photo before sending → Select a photo (compress to) ~5 MB) or File (without compression).
• 📱 WhatsApp: Go to Settings → Warehouse → Photo quality. Select Auto (compression to) ~300 KB) or Best quality (~2 MBB).

7. Alternative methods: cloud services and PCs

If the phone does not have enough power to compress (for example, on budget models like Redmi A1), you can use cloud services or transfer photos to your computer.

Cloud services for compression:

• 🌐 TinyJPG (tinyjpg.com): Compresses up to 70-80% of the original without any visible loss of quality. Maximum file size: 5MB (for larger photos use TinyPNG). EXIF, but GPS-coordinates.
• 🌐 ImageOptim (imageoptim.com): Optimize JPEG, PNG and GIF. Supports packet download (up to 50 photos at a time).

PC compression:

• 💻 FastStone Photo Resizer (Windows): Supports batch processing with customization DPI, size and quality. It can convert. HEIC (photo from iPhone JPEG.

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Cloud services are convenient, but do not use them for sensitive photos (passports, tickets, screenshots of correspondence). Even if the service promises to delete files after processing, they can be temporarily stored on servers.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo compression on Xiaomi