How to transfer photos from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: full ways

Changing your smartphone is always an exciting process, especially when you need to move a huge library of personal images to a new device. Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem are in a great position, because manufacturers have provided many built-in tools for data migration. You do not need to search for third-party applications or connect your phone to your computer to move archives between devices of the same brand.

There are several effective methods, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of information transmitted and the speed of the Internet connection. We will consider the standard features of the MIUI and HyperOS system, as well as proven third-party solutions. The right choice of method will help to maintain the original quality of images without compression, which is critical for professional photographers.

In this guide, we will take a detailed look at the algorithms for each method, learn how to use the Mi Share feature for instant transfer, how to set up cloud storage, and what nuances are involved in cable transmission, which will help you avoid common mistakes and save time when you first set up a new gadget.

Use the Mi Share function for fast transfer

The most modern and convenient way to share media between Xiaomi devices is Mi Share technology.This tool works on a similar principle to Apple’s AirDrop, using a combination of Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth for device discovery and high-speed data transfer. The transmission speed can reach 20-30 MB/s, which is much faster than the classic Bluetooth.

To get started, activate the function on both smartphones: Go into the notification curtain and find the Mi Share icon, or go to settings via the Settings path → Connections and Sharing → Mi Share. Make sure that both devices have wireless modules on, as the system uses them to create a direct communication channel without the router.

💡

For maximum transfer speed, make sure that both smartphones are no more than 1-2 meters apart and the device screens are turned on.

The file transfer process is intuitive and takes seconds even for large data packets. You have to open the gallery on your old phone, highlight the necessary images and click the "Send" button. The name of the new Xiaomi smartphone will appear on the list of available devices - tap it, and a confirmation request will appear on the receiving side.

• 📸 Instant transmission RAW-files without loss of quality and metadata.
• 🔋 Minimum energy consumption compared to Internet transmission.
• 🛡️ Secure connection as files are transferred directly between devices.
• ⚡ Ability to transmit video 4K Weight over 1 GB in a couple of minutes.

⚠️ Warning: If you don't see the device in the list of available, check if one of the smartphones is enabled in the "Invisibility" mode in the Mi Share settings. MIUI Both devices are not very different from each other.

Transfer data through Mi Mover when changing device

When it comes to migrating to a new phone, including not only photos but also contacts, messages and app settings, Mi Mover is an indispensable tool. It is an official Xiaomi app that is often pre-installed, but can be downloaded from the GetApps store if necessary. It creates a local Wi-Fi network between two data copying devices.

Run the app on both smartphones. On the new device, select Recipient, and on the old one, Sender. QR-The code that you need to scan with a new phone to establish a connection, which is ideal if you just bought a device and want to clone the environment of an old phone.

Unlike cloud-based methods, Mi Mover does not require an internet connection or consume mobile traffic.All data is transmitted over a direct channel, which guarantees privacy. After scanning the code, you will be asked to select data categories to transfer - be sure to tick "Images" or "Gallery" to move all albums.

It is important to note that the process can take considerable time if your gallery volume exceeds 50-100 GB. Interrupting the process is not critical, but may require a repeat procedure for some files.

• 🔄 Transfers folder and album structure just like on an old device.
• 📱 It works even if the new phone has not yet set up a Mi Account.
• 🚀 Supports data transfer from Android to other manufacturers to Xiaomi.
• 📂 Stores shooting dates and geolocation tags of photos.

⚠️ Warning: Do not unlock smartphone screens or open other apps while Mi Mover is running, as this may cause connection to break and transmission to stop.

Synchronization through the cloud service Xiaomi Cloud

Cloud sync is the most reliable way to keep your photos safe in the long run. Xiaomi Cloud (or Mi Cloud) allows you to automatically upload your images to an online storage facility, where they will instantly appear on any device authorized under your account, creating a single data ecosystem.

To activate the function, go to your phone settings, select your Mi Account, and find the Cloud section, where you need to activate the Gallery Sync switch. The system will prompt you to select the download quality: Original will take up more space but save all the details, and Optimized will save space in the cloud.

After you turn on sync on your old phone, wait until the download is complete (you can check the status in the web version of the i.mi.com cloud). Then log in to your account on the new device, and photos will automatically upload to the gallery as you access Wi-Fi.

This method requires a stable network connection, preferably broadband. When using mobile traffic, make sure that the synchronization settings allow data to be transmitted over the cellular network, otherwise the process may queue up before connecting to Wi-Fi.

• ☁️ Automatic backup of new images in real time.
• 🔒 Ability to remotely access photos through the browser from any PC.
• ♻️ Clean Local allows you to delete photos from your phone, leaving them in the cloud.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The possibility of creating family albums with shared access for family members.

Transfer of photo via USB cable via computer

A classic method that works with very large amounts of data, like transferring a few hundred gigabytes of video, connecting smartphones to a PC allows you to control the copying process and structure files manually, and you'll need a USB Type-C cable and a Windows or macOS computer.

Connect the first Xiaomi phone to your computer with a cable. On the smartphone screen, you will request USB mode — select File Transfer (MTP). After that, the device will appear in My Computer as an external drive. Find the DCIM → Camera folder, which is where the images from the main camera are stored.

Copy the folders you need to get to your computer's hard drive. When you've finished copying, turn off the first phone and connect the second one. Copy files from your computer to a similar directory on the new device. The system automatically indexes the new files, and they'll show up in the gallery.

⚠️ Note: When using macOS, you may need to install an additional Android File Transfer driver or OpenMTP driver, as Windows supports the protocol. MTP And macOS doesn't.

Alternative methods: Bluetooth and third-party applications

If you have nothing but smartphones on hand and Mi Share doesn't work for some reason, you can always use standard Bluetooth. It's the slowest method, suitable exclusively for transferring multiple photos. The transfer speed rarely exceeds 1-2 MB/s, so sending videos or hundreds of photos in this way is not advisable.

File sharing apps like Send Anywhere or SHAREit are also popular, and they work in a similar way to Mi Share, creating a Wi-Fi hotspot, but using third-party software requires installing apps on both devices and can be accompanied by ads, which annoys many users.

To transfer 10-20 photos one-time over Bluetooth, pair devices. Turn on Bluetooth in the notification curtain, find the device in the list and confirm the code. Then in the gallery, select a photo, click Share and select Bluetooth. This method is good for its versatility — it works even on very old Xiaomi models.

• 📉 Bluetooth is only suitable for small data volumes due to low speeds.
• 📲 Third-party apps may request unnecessary permissions to access contacts.
• 🔌 Cable connection remains most stable for terabyte backup.
• 🌐 Wi-Fi Direct (based on Mi Share) works faster than most third-party counterparts.

Frequent problems and their solution

Despite the fact that processes are fine, users may encounter difficulties, often the problem lies in energy saving: MIUI aggressively kills background processes, which can interrupt the transfer of a large file, and there may be conflict versions of the software if one phone is running an ancient MIUI 10 and the other is running a fresh HyperOS.

If the transmission is 99 percent down, try turning off the screens of both devices or keeping them on. Sometimes it helps to reboot the communication modules: turn on the air mode for 10 seconds and turn it off. Check if the storage on the receiving device is full - a lack of even 100 MB can stop the whole process.

💡

The most common mistake is trying to transfer files over Mi Share when Bluetooth is turned off on one of the devices. Bluetooth is mandatory to detect a device, even if the transfer is over Wi-Fi.

In rare cases, files can be corrupted during transfer. Always check the integrity of the archives after transfer. If the photo opens as "file corrupted" or has a gray square instead of the image, then the bits failed when writing, in which case repeat the procedure for the specific file.