Transferring photos between smartphones to Android is a challenge that every Xiaomi user faces when buying a new device or sharing snapshots. Despite the apparent simplicity, the process can be complicated by manufacturers’ limitations, OS versions or lack of cable at hand. In this article, we will examine all the current ways of transferring photos, from Xiaomi branded solutions to universal methods that work on any device.
We'll focus on speed, data security, and nuances that are often overlooked in standard instructions, such as why you use Mi Share on devices with a mobile device. MIUI 14+ The transmission speed drops by 30 percent when the power saving mode is on, and how to fix it.+ Which one is for single photos and which one is for single photos.
If you’re looking for a way to transfer photos from Samsung, Honor or another brand to Xiaomi Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 Xiaomi 13T — Here you will find proven solutions. All instructions are relevant to the MIUI 13/14/15 Android 12-14.
1. Mi Share - a proprietary way from Xiaomi
Mi Share (formerly Xiaomi Quick Share) is a proprietary wireless file transfer technology optimized for Xiaomi, POCO and Redmi devices, which works on the Wi-Fi Direct protocol, which provides speeds of up to 10-15 MB / s (under ideal conditions), the main advantage is the lack of need for the Internet or additional applications.
To use Mi Share, follow the following steps:
Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices|
Open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Mi Share|
Make sure both smartphones are enabled with "Visibility for All" mode |
Check the battery (minimum 20% on both devices)-->
On the sender device:
- Select a photo in the gallery (Photo → Select → Send).
- In the list of transfer options, tap Mi Share.
- Wait for the recipient’s name to appear on the list and confirm the shipment.
The receiver will receive a notification of the incoming file. Importantly, if the transfer is interrupted, check if Power Saving Mode is blocking background activity. To do this, go to Settings → Battery → Energy Saving Mode → Applications and add Mi Share to the exceptions.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ transferring large numbers of files (>50 There may be a "Lack of memory" error. Solution: break files into batches by batch. 30-40 or use an alternative method.
2. Bluetooth transmission: when justified
Bluetooth is a versatile, but not the fastest way. The average speed of transferring photos over Bluetooth 5.0 (available in all Xiaomi after 2019) is 1-2 MB / s. This means that one photo weighing 5 MB will be transmitted for about 3-5 seconds.
How to transfer photos via Bluetooth:
- Activate Bluetooth on both devices (Settings → Bluetooth).
- On the sender device, select a photo → Share → Bluetooth.
- Select the recipient name from the list of associated devices.
- Confirm reception on the second smartphone.
To speed up the process, you can use the Quick Transfer function (available in MIUI 12+):
- 🔹 Open the Settings. → Connection and sharing → Quick transmission.
- 🔹 Turn on the option and select Contacts Only or Everyone".
- 🔹 When transferring photos, the system will automatically select the optimal protocol (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct).
Bluetooth|
Mi Share / Quick Share|
USB| cable
Cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud)|
Another way.-->
⚠️ Note: When transmitting via Bluetooth, do not close the gallery on the sender device until the process is complete. MIUI This can lead to connection breakdown and data loss.
3.Using USB OTG cable: maximum speed
Transferring photos via a USB OTG cable (or standard USB-C) is the fastest method, especially for large amounts of data.
- 🔹 USB 2.0 (before 480 Mbit/s) — ~30-50 MB/s.
- 🔹 USB 3.0+ (before 5 Gbps) — ~100-200 MB/s (available on Xiaomi) 12/13 series, POCO F4/F5).
The transmission will require:
- 🔹 Cable USB-C → USB-C (If both devices are modern).
- 🔹 adapter USB OTG (If one of the devices has a micro USB).
- 🔹 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
Step-by-step:
- Connect your smartphones with a cable. There's a notification on the screen "USB-connection".
- Select the File Transfer Mode (MTP).
- Open the file manager on the receiving device.
- Go to section. USB-device → DCIM → Camera (or other folder with a photo).
- Copy the files into the desired directory.
💡
If the smartphone does not recognize the connected device, try restarting both devices or using a different cable. 20% In some cases, the problem is related to a malfunction USB-Ports (especially on older Redmi models) 4/5).
| Method of transmission | Speed. | Limitations | Better for you. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Share | 10-15 MB/s | Xiaomi/POCO/Redmi only, limit the number of files | Transfer 10-50 photos between devices of the same brand |
| Bluetooth | 1-2 MB/s | Slowly, cliffs at large volume | Single photos (1-5 pcs.) |
| USB-cable | 30-200 MB/s | You need a cable/adapter, physical access to your devices | Mass transmission (100+ photos, video) |
| Google Photo | Depends on the Internet. | Quality (compression) restriction, synchronization is required | Backup and access from multiple devices |
4. Cloud services: Google Photos vs Mi Cloud
Cloud storage is convenient if you want to transfer photos without physical contact of devices or save a backup.
Google Photos:
- 🔹 Free Storage: 15 GB (shared with Gmail and Drive).
- 🔹 Automatic synchronization: photos are uploaded in original quality (before the limit is filled) or in "high quality" (compression up to 16 MP).
- 🔹 How to transfer: Install Google Photos on both devices. → Select → Save to Google Photos. Recipient: Google Photos → Photo Photo → Download.
Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi owners):
- 🔹 Free Storage: 5GB (expands to 100GB for 199) ₽/month).
- 🔹 Integration with MIUI: Photos are synced automatically when you turn on the option in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → gallery.
- 🔹 Limitation: download is only possible from Xiaomi devices (other Android devices will have to use the web version).
How to get around the Mi Cloud limit of 5 GB?
⚠️ Note: When uploading to Google Photos in High Quality mode, photos with a resolution above 16 MP will be automatically compressed. To maintain the original quality, use the option "Original Quality" (requires payment if you exceed 15 GB).
5. File Transfer Applications: Mi Share Alternatives
If Mi Share doesn’t work or you need to transfer a photo to another brand’s device, use third-party apps.
1. Snapdrop (web service):
- 🔹 Works through the browser: snapdrop.net.
- 🔹 Speed: up to 10 MB/s (depending on Wi-Fi).
- 🔹 Pros: no need to install applications, cross-platform.
2. Send Anywhere:
- 🔹 Speed: up to 20 MB/s.
- 🔹 Feature: generation of 6-digit code for receiving files.
- 🔹 Cons: File size limit (up to 10 GB in the free version).
3. Xender:
- 🔹 Popular in Asia, optimized for Xiaomi.
- 🔹 Creates a local Wi-Fi network for transmission.
- 🔹 Warning: Contains advertising, may request unnecessary permissions.