How to transfer photos from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: all ways with pros and cons

Transferring photos between smartphones of the same brand seems to be an easy task, but in practice, Xiaomi users face nuances, from the slow speed of Bluetooth to the limitations of cloud services.If you need to transfer pictures from the Redmi Note 12 to the POCO X5 or share an archive of photos between the Mi 11 and Redmi 10C, it is important to choose a method that combines speed, security and convenience.

In this article, we will analyze 5 proven ways to transfer photos between Xiaomi devices – from the proprietary Mi Share solution (formerly Xiaomi Quick Share) to universal methods like cable. OTG You'll find out which option is suitable for 100 transmission.+ Photos in original quality without loss EXIF-We'll also compare the speed of transmission and tell you how to avoid common errors, such as connection failure when large amounts of data are involved.

1. Mi Share (Xiaomi Quick Share) - a proprietary way without the Internet

Mi Share (renamed Quick Share in new MIUI versions) is a built-in file sharing solution between Xiaomi, POCO and Redmi devices, which works on the principle of Wi-Fi Direct, that is, creates a local network between smartphones, which provides high transfer speeds (up to 10-15 MB / s) and does not require an Internet connection.

To use Mi Share, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open the Files app on both devices.
• 🔍 Select the photos you want to convey (hold your finger on the first picture, then mark the rest).
• 📤 Press Share. → Mi Share (or Quick Share).
• 🔄 On the second phone, confirm receipt of files in the notification.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ High speed – faster than Bluetooth 5-10 times.
• 🔒 No loss of quality – photos are transmitted in original resolution.
• 🌐 It works without internet – suitable for places with poor coverage.

⚠️ Note: If on one of the devices MIUI The version below 12 may require firmware updates, and Mi Share does not support transferring files larger than 2GB at a time.

2. Bluetooth: universal, but slow

Bluetooth is a classic data exchange method that works on all smartphones, including older Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi 4X or Mi A1). However, it has a significant disadvantage: the transfer speed rarely exceeds 1-2 MB / s, and when sending dozens of photos, the process can take hours.

How to transfer photos via Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
2. On the sender phone, select photos in the gallery, click Share → Bluetooth.
3. Select the target device from the list and confirm pairing.
4. On the receiving phone, accept the incoming file in the notification.

When to use Bluetooth:

• 📱 To transfer 1-5 photos of small size.
• 🔋 If both devices are running out of battery (the method is less energy-consuming than Wi-Fi Direct).
• 🛠️ On very old models of Xiaomi (up to) MIUI 9) where there is no Mi Share.

⚠️ Note: When transmitted via Bluetooth, photos can be compressed to resolution 1280×960, If the option Optimize for sending is not disabled in the settings.

OTG Cable: Maximum Speed and Reliability

If you need to transfer hundreds of photos or videos in original quality, the OTG (On-The-Go) cable is the fastest and most reliable way, with copy speeds of 40-60 MB/s (depending on the USB version), and the risk of data loss is minimal, and is suitable for OTG-enabled devices (virtually all Xiaomi after 2016).

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (Type-C → Type-C or Type-C → Micro-USB, depending on the port of the device).
• 📁 Flash drive or second smartphone in mode USB-storage.

Instructions:

1. Connect the OTG cable to the sender phone.
2. Connect a flash drive or a second smartphone (in Settings → Additional → USB Mode, select File Transfer).
3. Open the Files app, highlight photos and copy them to an external drive.
4. Unplug the cable and connect it to the receiver phone, then transfer the files to the device’s memory.

Connect the OTG cable to the sender phone |

Select "File Transfer" mode on the second device |

Check the free space on the flash drive / phone |

Disable battery optimization for the Files app-->

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Maximum speed: 3-5 times faster than Mi Share.
• 🔄 There are no restrictions on file sizes.
• 🛡️ 100% data safety – no transmission failures.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO M3) work OTG You need to include an option in Settings → Connections → OTG. Avoid cheap cables, too, as they may not support high speeds. USB 3.0.

4. Cloud services: Mi Cloud, Google Photos and others

If you have stable Wi-Fi or unlimited mobile Internet, cloud services will be a convenient way to transfer photos. Xiaomi offers its own Mi Cloud service, but there are alternatives: Google Photos, Yandex Drive or Telegram (as cloud storage).

Comparison of cloud services for Xiaomi:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud: 🔹 5 GB free (expands to 10 GB when you link your account). 🔹 Automatic synchronization of photos from the gallery. 🔹 Available only on Xiaomi devices.
• 📷 Google Photo: 🔹 15GB free (shared with Google Drive). 🔹 Compression of photos when choosing the option High quality. 🔹 Cross-platform (access from any device).
• 💬 Telegram: 🔹 Unlimited storage for files up to 2 GB. 🔹 Preserve. EXIF-data (meta-information photo). 🔹 You can create a secret chat for privacy.

How to transfer photos via Mi Cloud:

1. On the sender phone, open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on the gallery sync.
3. Wait for the photos to be uploaded to the cloud.
4. On the second phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and download files from Mi Cloud → Gallery.

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If photos are not synced with Mi Cloud, check if Wi-Fi-only download is enabled in the cloud settings. There may be additional costs when transferring over the mobile Internet.

5. Messengers: Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber

Sending photos via instant messengers is the easiest way to transfer multiple images quickly and without unnecessary manipulation, but there are limitations to this method:

• 📉 Image compression (in WhatsApp and Viber photos are reduced to 1600×1200).
• 🚫 Size limit (in WhatsApp – up to 100 MB per file).
• 🔒 Privacy – files are stored on messenger servers.

Which messenger to choose for the transfer of photos?

• 📌 Telegram: 🔹 Supports files up to 2GB. 🔹 No compression when sending through the file (not as a photo). 🔹 You can create a secret chat for encrypted transmission.
• 💬 WhatsApp: 🔹 Convenient for sending 1-3 photos quickly. 🔹 Strong compression (quality worsens). 🔹 Limitation of 100 MB per document.

Instructions for Telegram:

1. Open a chat with yourself (Saved Messages) or with the recipient.
2. Click Paperclip → File and select photos.
3. Send the files, then download them on the second phone.

Alternative methods: FTP-server, NFC, SD-map

If standard methods do not work, you can use less common, but effective ways:

• 🌐 FTP-server: 🔹 Use applications like this. FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer to create local FTP-server. 🔹 Speed depends on the Wi-Fi network (up to 20-30 MB / s). 🔹 Suitable for transferring large archives.
• 📱 NFC: 🔹 It works only at close range (up to 10 cm). 🔹 Not all Xiaomi models are supported (for example, there is in Mi 11, but not in Redmi). 9A). 🔹 The speed is extremely low – only suitable for 1-2 photos.
• 💾 SD-map: 🔹 Transfer the photos to a microSD, then paste them into another phone. 🔹 Suitable for memory card-enabled devices (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro). 🔹 Risk of damage to the card with frequent retrieval.

How to set up FTP-server:

1. Install the FX File Explorer app from Google Play.
2. Open the side menu. → Remote access → FTP-server.
3. Click Launch and write down the server address (e.g. ftp://192.168.1.10:2221).
4. On the second phone, connect to this address through any file manager (enter the login / password from the FTP-server).

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FTP-The best choice for transferring large amounts of data (10)+ GB) over the LAN, the key is to make sure that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on the number of photos, file size and Internet availability.

• 📸 1-5 photos → Mi Share or messenger (Telegram).
• 📂 10–100 photos → Mi Share or cable OTG.
• 💾 100+ photo → OTG or FTP-server.
• ☁️ I need a backup. → Mi Cloud or Google Photo.
• 📶 No Internet. → Mi Share, Bluetooth or OTG.

If it is important to keep EXIF-data (date, location and camera settings), avoid instant messengers and Bluetooth — they often delete metadata, OTG or FTP.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos to Xiaomi