How to send all photos from one Xiaomi phone to another: the complete guide

Transferring photos between Xiaomi smartphones can seem like a trivial task, until you encounter hundreds of gigabytes of memories scattered around the gallery. Mistakes in choosing the method of transfer are costly, from loss of image quality to hours of waiting for synchronization. This article will not just list the ways, but will help you choose the best option based on the volume of data, Internet speed and device models (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra).

We tested 7 methods, from MIUI branded tools to workarounds for older devices where Mi Share is unstable, and focused on the hidden limitations of Xiaomi Cloud: why free pricing cuts off photo resolution and how to get around it. At the end of the article, we've got a table comparing methods for speed, security and convenience, which will save you hours of trial and error.

1. Mi Share: a corporate way without the Internet

Mi Share (formerly Xiaomi Quick Share) is a built-in solution for transferring files between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices over Wi-Fi Direct protocol. The method does not require a connection to the network, retains original photo quality and works even on devices with MIUI 12 and older. However, there are nuances: transfer speeds decrease with a large amount of data (over 10 GB), and on some models (Redmi 9A, POCO M3) the function may be absent due to hardware limitations.

To avoid errors, follow the algorithm:

• 📱 On the sending phone: Open the Gallery → Select the photo → Share. → Mi Share.
• 🔍 On the receiving phone: turn on Mi Share in the notification curtain or through Settings → Connection and sharing → Mi Share.
• 🔗 Pair: Select the device from the list and confirm the code on both screens.
• ⚡ Transfer: Do not lock the screen or switch to other apps – this interrupts the process.

Transfer speed depends on the generation of Wi-Fi module: on Xiaomi 13 Pro (Wi-Fi 6E) 5 GB of photos will be transmitted in ~15 minutes, and on Redmi 8 (Wi-Fi 4) - up to 40 minutes. If the process is frozen by 99%, try turning off the power saving for the Mi Share application in the battery settings.

Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices

Charge your phone at least 50%

Disable VPN and energy saving modes

Make sure there is enough memory on the receiving phone-->

⚠️ Note: If Mi Share does not find the second device, check that both phones have Detection Mode enabled in Mi Share settings, MIUI Global 14.0.3) This option is hidden – you need to activate it via Settings → Additionally. → Laboratory.

2. Xiaomi Cloud: Cloud portability with limitations

Xiaomi Cloud offers synchronization of photos between devices, but with strict limits: free tariff gives only 5 GB of storage, and if you exceed the limit, photos are compressed to a resolution of 2048×2048 (even if the original is 48 MP), This method is suitable for transferring a small number of pictures (up to 1-2 GB) or if you already have a premium tariff (from 100 GB).

Instructions for setting:

1. On the sending phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery → Enable synchronization.
2. Wait until the download is complete (time depends on the speed of the Internet).
3. On the receiving phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and enable gallery sync.
4. The photos will appear in the Mi Cloud folder in the standard gallery.

Important point: if you use Chinese firmware (MIUI China), access to Xiaomi Cloud can be restricted without a VPN. Also note that when you delete photos from your phone, they are automatically deleted from the cloud (unless the Save Original option is disabled).

Up to 1GB

1-5 GB

5-20 GB

More than 20GB-->

3.Google Photos: Universal, but not always free

Google Photos is an alternative to Xiaomi Cloud with more generous terms: 15 GB (shared storage of Google account) is free. The main advantage is automatic synchronization and the ability to choose the download quality: Original (quoted) or High quality (free, but compressed to 16 MP).

How to transfer the photo:

• 📲 Install Google Photos on both phones and sign in to one account.
• 🔄 On the sending phone: Photo → Settings → Backup and synchronization → Turn on.
• ⏳ Wait for the download to be completed (in the Library menu) → Utilities. → Status of backups).
• 📥 On the receiving phone, open Google Photos and download the desired albums through Photos. → Select → Save it to the device.

Please note: if you choose High Quality, photos with a resolution above 16 MP will be reduced and RAW-files are converted into JPEG. For Xiaomi. 12S Ultra or Xiaomi 13 Pro with 50 cameras+ MP is critical. Also note that the video in 4K It takes up a lot of space in the cloud, and it’s better to transfer it in other ways.

💡

If you only need to transfer selected photos, create a shared album in Google Photos and invite your second account, so you save space in the main storage.

OTG Cable + Adapter: The Fastest Method for Large Volumes

For transferring tens of gigabytes of photos (for example, from Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra to Xiaomi 14), the USB OTG cable remains the most reliable solution, copy speeds up to 100 MB / s (using USB 3.0), and the risk of data loss is minimal.

• 🔌 adapter OTG (for example, Xiaomi USB-C to USB-A OTG).
• 💾 Flash drive (if the transmission is through the drive) or cable USB-C → USB-C (direct-connect).
• 📂 File Manager (built-in in the MIUI Or Solid Explorer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect. OTG-receiver.
2. Connect the phones with a cable or insert a flash drive into the adapter.
3. On the sending phone, open File Manager → Internal Memory → DCIM → Camera.
4. Select the folders with the photo, click Copy and select the connected device as the target.

The advantage of this method is that you can selectively copy folders, verify file integrity, and pause transmissions.

⚠️ Note: When connecting phones directly (Xiaomi to Xiaomi via cable) on some models (Redmi Note 9 Pro, POCO X3) You may not be able to identify the storage, in which case, use the flash drive as an intermediary, or turn on Developer Mode and activate Debugging by USB.

5. Local area network (FTP/HTTP-server: for advanced users

If Mi Share is not working and the cable is not available, you can deploy it on one of the phones. FTP-This method requires minimal technical skills, but provides high speed (up to 30-70 MB / s on the local network).

Instructions for Xiaomi:

• 📡 Install the app FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer.
• 🌐 Turn it on. FTP-server in the application settings (usually in the Network section) → Launch. FTP-server).
• 📱 On the second phone, connect to the same Wi-Fi network and enter the browser address of the view ftp://192.168.x.x:port (data will be displayed in the server application).
• 📥 Download the necessary folders with photos.

To speed up the process:

• 🔌 Use Wi-Fi 5 GHz (less interference).
• 🔒 Turn off energy saving for the server application.
• 📂 Archive the photo in ZIP before transfer (reduce the number of files).

6 Computer Transmission: Reliable, but Long

If you have Windows, Mac or even Linux on hand, your computer can be a medium for transferring photos.

• 🖥️ You need to sort the photo before transferring it.
• 🔄 Requires a backup copy on the hard disk.
• 📊 Data volume exceeds 50 GB (for such cases, clouds are inconvenient).

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect the sending phone to your computer via USB and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy DCIM and Pictures folders to your hard drive.
3. Connect the receiving phone and transfer the files back.

Speed depends on the interface: USB 3.0 gives up to 100-150 MB / s, and USB 2.0 - no more than 30 MB / s. Mac may require installation of Android File Transfer, and Linux - mounting the device through mtp-tools.

💡

Use a computer if you want to not only transfer but also edit your photos (for example, remove duplicates through Duplicate Cleaner or convert RAW to JPEG).

7.Alternative apps: Send Anywhere, Snapdrop and more

If standard methods don’t work (for example, Xiaomi with custom firmware), you should pay attention to third-party applications. We tested 5 popular services and highlighted the best ones:

For use with Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On the sending phone, select a photo and generate a 6-digit code.
3. On the receiving phone, enter this code - the transfer will begin automatically.

Snapdrop is convenient because it does not require installation: just open snapdrop.net on both phones in the same Wi-Fi. However, the speed is limited by network bandwidth.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To avoid wasting time on experiments, use our selection table:

If you are still in doubt, answer two questions:

1. How many photos do you need to move? Up to 5 GB, Mi Share or the cloud will do; over 20 GB, cable or FTP only.
2. Should you keep the original quality?If yes, avoid Xiaomi Cloud at free fare and High quality in Google Photos.

FAQ: Frequent questions