Changing the operating system from Android to iOS is always stressful for the user, associated primarily with the loss of the familiar environment and accumulated data. The most painful issue is the transfer of the personal media library: thousands of photos and videos that have been accumulated in the memory of the old Xiaomi smartphone for years. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to perform data migration as painlessly as possible, using both Apple’s regular tools and third-party solutions.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current methods that allow you to quickly and safely transfer photos from shaomi to iPhone. You will learn about the nuances of the Move to iOS application, the features of synchronization through cloud storage and methods of direct transfer of files over Wi-Fi. The choice of the specific method will depend on whether your new iPhone is already configured or you are just getting ready to activate it.
Preparation of devices for data transfer
Before you start the transfer process, you need to make sure that both devices are ready to interact. On a Xiaomi smartphone, you should check the availability of free space and the relevance of the Android version, as older versions of the OS may not support the necessary communication protocols. It is also critical to connect to a stable Wi-Fi network, since transferring a large amount of graphics data can take a considerable time and require traffic.
On the iPhone side, it depends on the stage of its setup, and if the device has just been dropped out of the box or has been dropped to factory settings, you are in the ideal position to use the native migration method, and if the phone is already in use and has data that cannot be deleted, you will have to resort to cloud services or third-party rollover applications.
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Before starting the transfer, make sure that both devices have at least 60% battery charge or connect them to power supplies to avoid a sudden shutdown.
Be sure to check that both devices have Bluetooth and geolocation enabled, as some transmission protocols use these modules to find devices and establish a secure communication channel. Ignoring these requirements can lead to connection errors at the most inopportune time.
Use of the Move app to iOS
The most reliable and official way to do this is to use Move to iOS, which allows you to flip not only photos, but also contacts, messages, and even settings for certain apps, and it’s important to understand that this method only works when you first set up your iPhone, when the welcome screen suggests you reconfigure the device or restore it from a copy.
The process begins with installing the app on Xiaomi’s smartphone through the Google Play store. After running the program on Android and selecting the item “Data Transfer from Android” on the iPhone, the devices will form a direct Wi-Fi connection. You will need to enter the digital code displayed on the screen of the “Apple” gadget in the corresponding field on the shaomi.
☑️ Check before launching Move to iOS
When choosing the type of data to transfer, be sure to tick the item "Photographs". The system will automatically create an album on the iPhone and start downloading. The speed of the process depends on the number of files and the quality of the wireless signal. Interrupting the process at this stage may lead to the need to start over, since progress is usually not saved.
⚠️ Note: While working Move to iOS, do not switch to other apps on Xiaomi and do not block the screen, as this can break the Wi-Fi network created between devices.
Transfer via Google and iCloud cloud services
If the initial setup of the iPhone is already complete, the best solution is to use cloud technology. Xiaomi users often already have a configured sync with Google Photos. This is the easiest way: all you have to do is make sure that all photos from the phone are uploaded to the Google cloud.
Then you download the Google Photos app from the App Store and log in to the same account, all your photos will be instantly available in the gallery, and you can use the export function to physically move files to the iPhone memory (to the Photo app) or simply leave them in the cloud, saving space on the device.
The alternative is to use iCloud via a browser, where you can upload photos from your shaomi to iCloud.com via your computer or browser on your phone, a method that is more time-consuming because it requires manual file selection, but allows you to put the images directly into your native iOS gallery without installing additional software.
Compression nuances in the clouds
Third-party applications for file transfer
When clouds are unavailable or the Internet connection is unstable, applications that create a local network for data transfer come to the rescue, and the leader in this niche is Send Anywhere, which allows you to transfer photos from Xiaomi to an iPhone without registering or linking to accounts. The principle of operation is based on the generation of a six-digit key or QR-code.
Another popular tool is SHAREit, or its analogues, which delivers high speeds through Wi-Fi Direct, and the process is this: you install the app on both devices, you select files on Xiaomi, you scan it. QR-iPhone code and starts downloading instantly.
- 📲 Send Anywhere: Perfect for one-time transfers of large amounts of data without setting up accounts.
- 🚀 SHAREit: Shows high speed, but often contains intrusive ads in the free version.
- ☁️ Xender: a good alternative with support for cross-platform transmission and built-in player.
The main advantage of such methods is independence from the speed of the Internet channel, since data is transmitted directly between devices, but it is worth remembering the security: transfer files only on trusted networks to eliminate the risk of data interception.
Import via computer and iTunes
A classic method that is not lost on relevance, especially when working with huge archives of photos weighing tens of gigabytes. To do this, you will need a computer (Windows or Mac) and a USB cable. First connect Xiaomi to a PC in file transfer mode (MTP) and copy the DCIM folder to the hard drive.
Then connect your iPhone to your computer. If you're using Windows, you'll need iTunes. In the device management section, select Photos, enable sync, and specify the folder where your xiaomi photos were previously copied, and the import process will begin after you apply the settings.
On macOS (starting with Catalina), iTunes is eliminated and file management is done via Finder. The logic of the action remains the same: the choice of device, the Photos tab, the choice of source folder and the Sync button, which ensures that all metadata (date, shooting time, geolocation) is stored in the correct Apple format.
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Using a cable and a computer is the only way to guarantee the original quality and quality of the computer. EXIF-Data from mass transfer of thousands of photos without compression.
Comparison of methods and selection of optimal
To make it easier for you to decide on the method, we have prepared a summary table that compares the main characteristics of each method, which will help you to weigh the pros and cons depending on your specific situation and technical capabilities.
| Method | Speed. | Do I need the Internet? | Quality preservation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move to iOS | Tall. | No (local Wi-Fi) | Original |
| Google Photo | Depends on the channel. | Yes. | Perhaps compression |
| Send Anywhere | Very high. | No. | Original |
| iTunes / Finder | Maximum | No. | Original + EXIF |
If you just bought an iPhone, you should definitely use Move to iOS, which is the most integrated tool in the system, and for users who are already actively using the new phone, cloud services or rollover apps are the best choice. Leave the computer method for cases when you need to transfer the archive of more volume 50-100 GB.
Remember, after you transfer photos to your iPhone, they can be processed for a while by the system to create previews and index. This is normal iOS behavior, and in a few hours the gallery will start working normally.