Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, often overshadowed by the need to transfer huge amounts of personal data. Especially acute is the issue of preserving film, where memories are stored for many years of using the device. Many users are afraid of losing the quality of images or getting confused in the technical nuances of the transition from the shell of EMUI to MIUI. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to solve this problem quickly and without loss.
In this article, we will discuss all the current methods to safely and quickly transfer photos from a Huawei phone to a Xiaomi device. You will learn about built-in tools, cloud services and methods of transfer over the computer. We will look at the pros and cons of each method so that you can choose the most suitable for your situation.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most effective and recommended method by the manufacturer is to use a specialized application Mi Mover. This tool was developed by Xiaomi engineers specifically for migrating data from old Android smartphones, iPhones and other devices to new models of the line of Redmi and Mi. The program automatically creates a local Wi-Fi network between devices, which ensures high transfer speeds without using Internet traffic.
The process starts with installing the app on both smartphones. On a Xiaomi device, it is often pre-installed in the Tools folder, and on Huawei, it must be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the official website. Once launched, you need to select the role of each device: on the old phone, specify "I send" and on the new one, "I receive."
Scanning. QR-The code that will appear on the Xiaomi screen will instantly connect the gadgets. The interface of the old phone will display a list of data categories available for transfer. You need to find the "Images" or "Photos" section and tick it against it.
It is worth noting that Mi Mover transfers not only the files themselves, but also the structure of the folders, which allows you to keep order in the gallery, and once you confirm the selection, you will begin the copying process, which can speed up to tens of megabytes per second depending on the power of the Wi-Fi modules.
⚠️ Warning: Do not unlock smartphone screens during the active transmission phase, as some Huawei models may go into power saving mode and break the connection.
☑️ Preparation for transfer via Mi Mover
Transfer via Google Photos and Cloud Storage
If you have stable Wi-Fi access, cloud services are one of the most convenient ways to sync your library. Google Photos is the default service installed on most Android devices and offers unlimited storage (in quality saving mode) or 15 GB in original resolution.
To implement this method on the old Huawei, you need to open the Google Photos app, log in to your account and enable the autoload and sync function. Once all the photos are uploaded to the cloud, just log in to the same account on the new Xiaomi. All the pictures will automatically appear in the gallery as soon as the device connects to the Internet.
The alternative is the Huawei Cloud, but accessing it on Xiaomi will require installing a separate app or using a web version, which is less convenient.
It is important to consider that downloading in original quality can quickly consume the storage quota. If you have more than 15 GB of photos, you will either have to buy additional space or use the "Saving space" mode, which slightly compresses images.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Direct Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct connection
When you don't have a computer and you don't want to install additional apps, you can use the built-in wireless features, Bluetooth technology is present in every smartphone and allows you to transfer files without an Internet connection, but this method is only suitable for carrying a small number of photos because of the low data rate.
To send a photo via Bluetooth to Huawei, select the desired images in the gallery, click the "Share" button and select Bluetooth. On the receiving Xiaomi, you need to turn on the visibility of the device and confirm the pairing request. The process can take a long time for even several dozen pictures.
A more advanced option is to use Wi-Fi Direct technology or a built-in file manager. Many modern Android shells allow you to transfer files “over the air” through the Share menu using protocols like Nearby Share (the equivalent of Google’s AirDrop).
This is a good way to be versatile, but it requires that both devices be in close proximity to each other, and the stability of the connection can be fluctuate depending on the interference in the air.
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To speed up your search for devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct, try temporarily switching both phones to flight mode, then turning on only wireless modules. This will reset network settings and update the list of available devices.
Using the computer as an intermediate
The classic method that never fails is using a personal computer or laptop as an intermediary, which gives you complete control over the process and allows you to immediately sort photos into folders, removing unnecessary debris before downloading to a new phone. You'll need it. USB-cable and access to the file system of both devices.
First, connect Huawei to your computer with a cable. On your smartphone screen, you'll see a request for a connection mode — select File Transfer (MTP). Open My Computer, find a Huawei device, and copy the DCIM/Camera folder to your PC's hard drive.
Once you have finished copying, turn off your old phone and plug in Xiaomi. Also select file transfer mode. Copy previously saved photos from your computer to the appropriate folder on the new device.
The advantage of the method is that you can check the integrity of files, and you can open random pictures on your computer to make sure they are not corrupted before you delete them from your old device.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No. | Low. |
| Google Photo | Medium | Yes. | Low. |
| Bluetooth | Low. | No. | Medium |
| Computer | Tall. | No. | Medium |
Transfer over a microSD memory card
If both smartphones support microSD cards, this method could be the easiest physical way to transfer data, you’ll only need a card of the right size and possibly an adapter to read cards if new Xiaomi models don’t have a microSD slot (check your model’s specifications).
Insert a memory card into Huawei and, through the file manager, copy all the photos from internal memory to external storage. Usually, the photos are stored along the path Internal memory → DCIM → Camera. Once you complete the copy, safely remove the card.
Install the card in Xiaomi. The system will automatically detect new media files and prompt them to add to the gallery. If that doesn't happen, use the file manager to force scanning or simply copy the files from the card to the internal memory of the new phone.
The good thing about this method is that it doesn't depend on the speed of the Internet or the battery charging (except when you copy it), and the memory card acts as a physical medium, ensuring that the data is safe.
⚠️ Warning: Before removing the memory card, be sure to use the "Disable" or "Safe Retrieval" command in the settings, otherwise the files may become corrupted or unreadable.
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A memory card is the only way to transfer terabytes of data without using wires, cloud or complex network settings, but it requires a slot in both devices.
Solving and formatting files
Sometimes users find that the photos are not displayed in the gallery or have strange names, this may be due to the peculiarities of indexing media files in the MIUI shell or the format of the source files (for example, HEIC instead of JPG).
If you have been moving photos in HEIC format (standard for iPhone and some Huawei settings), Xiaomi gallery may not see them without installing codecs, in which case it is better to use converters or galleries from Google Photos that support this format out of the box.
To make hidden folders visible, create a file in the root of internal memory or in the photo folder called.nomedia (if you want to hide it) or delete it (if you want to show it), MIUI also has a Hidden Album feature, which may have accidentally entered the images.
In case the date is lost after the date transfer, this is due to the lack of EXIF metadata when copying through some messengers or clouds with compression.Using Mi Mover or cable saves the original metadata, including date, time and geolocation.