Transferring photos between smartphones of different brands is a challenge that one in five users face when changing devices. If you switch from Samsung Galaxy to Xiaomi Redmi/POCO, classic methods like Samsung Smart Switch will not work here: the application does not support devices of other manufacturers. Fortunately, there are at least 7 alternative ways to transfer photos, each of which is suitable for different situations, from the lack of Internet to the need to preserve the original quality of images.
In this article, we will examine all the current methods, from the fastest (direct cable USB-C to USB-C) to universal (cloud services like Google Photos). Particular attention will be paid to the hidden restrictions of Xiaomi on the reception of files over Bluetooth (spoiler: without additional settings, transfer can break on files more than 10 MB), and you will find a comparative table of transfer speed and step-by-step instructions with screenshots for each method.
1. Direct transmission via cable (fastest method)
Cable use USB-C to USB-C (adapter USB-A to USB-C For older Samsung models, this is the best option for speed and reliability. 40-60 MB/s (against) 2-5 MB/s over Wi-Fi, and the risk of loss of quality is reduced to zero (MTP).
Detailed instructions:
- Connect the cable to both phones. On Samsung, select File Transfer Mode (usually a notification appears after you connect).
- On Xiaomi, open Settings → About Phone, tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode. Then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on Debugging over USB.
- The computer (if you use it as an intermediary) will open two devices in this computer. Copy the photo from the DCIM folder on Samsung to a similar folder on Xiaomi.
Cable supports data transfer (not just charging)|
Xiaomi has MTP enabled (in the notification curtain)|
Samsung unlocked screen (otherwise file access is closed)|
Free space on Xiaomi exceeds the size of the transferred photos-->
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12) are connected to the first device. USB You may need to confirm permission to access the data. If the notification does not appear, check the Security section. → Permit management.
2. Transfer via Google Photos (comfortable for large volume)
Google Photos is the best choice if you want to transfer thousands of photos without loss of quality (assuming you have enough space in the cloud). The service automatically syncs the images with Samsung, and then allows you to download them to Xiaomi in the original resolution.
How it works:
- 📱 Install Google Photos on both phones (unless set by default).
- 🔄 On Samsung, turn on autoboot: Settings → Backup and synchronization.
- ☁️ Wait for the download to be completed (progress is displayed in notifications).
- 📥 On Xiaomi, open Google Photos, select a photo → Save it to the device.
| Method | Speed. | Limitations | Keeps quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB-C cable | 40-60 MB/s | We need a cable/adapter. | Yes. |
| Google Photo | Depends on the Internet. | 15GB limit (free) | Yeah (when setting up) |
| Bluetooth | 1-2 MB/s | 10 MB limit per file (Xiaomi) | Yes. |
| Mi Mover | 10-15 MB/s | Only when you first turn on Xiaomi | Yes. |
⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi photos are saved in low quality, check the settings of Google Photos: Settings → Backup → The quality of the download should be original.
3.Use Mi Mover (only for new Xiaomi)
Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s default app that allows you to transfer not only photos, but also contacts, messages, apps, but only works in the first 3 days after Xiaomi activates (later the function is blocked).
Step-by-step:
- On Xiaomi, open Mi Mover (you will find it in the Tools folder).
- Select I am a sender on Samsung and I am a receiver on Xiaomi.
- Scan it. QR-code from the screen Xiaomi on Samsung.
- Select Photos and Videos → Start the transmission.
What if the Mi Mover doesn’t see Samsung?
4. Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct transmission
Bluetooth is the most versatile, but also the slowest way. Xiaomi has a default file transfer limit of more than 10 MB, so for high-resolution photos (for example, with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra), this method is not suitable.
Instructions for circumventing the restriction:
- 🔧 On Xiaomi, open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
- 📱 Connect to Samsung and confirm the pairing.
- 🔄 On Samsung, select a photo. → Share. → Bluetooth.
- ⚙️ If the file is larger than 10 MB, Xiaomi will receive a notification File too large.
⚠️ Note: When transmitting over Bluetooth geotagged and EXIF-Data (camera information, settings) can be lost. If it's critical, use a cable or cloud.
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To speed up Bluetooth transmission, archive photos to ZIP before sending them, which will reduce file size and bypass Xiaomi’s restriction.
5. Cloud services: Mi Cloud, Yandex Drive, Dropbox
If Google Photos for some reason is not suitable, you can use alternative cloud services. For example, Xiaomi's Mi Cloud gives 5 GB for free, and Yandex Drive - 10 GB. The main plus: photos are synchronized in the background without loading the phone.
Comparison of services:
| Service | Free seat | Max. File size. | Keeps EXIF. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Cloud | 5GB | 20MB | Yes. |
| Yandex Disc. | 10GB | 50MB | Yes. |
| Dropbox | 2GB | Not limited. | Yes. |
Instructions for Mi Cloud:
- On Samsung, upload your photos via i.mi.com (or install the Mi Cloud app from APKMirror, as Google Play doesn’t have one).
- On Xiaomi, open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Photo and enable synchronization.
6. Applications for file transfer (ShareIt, Xender, Snapdrop)
Specialized applications like ShareIt or Xender use direct Wi-Fi connection (without the Internet), which speeds up the transfer to 10-20 MB / s.
- 🚫 ShareIt displays ads and collects data (based on Kaspersky 2022 research).
- 🔒 Xender requires permission to access files and contacts.
- 📡 Snapdrop (web version) only works on one Wi-Fi network.
Recommendation: If you want to share a photo once, use Snapdrop (open snapdrop.net on both phones). LocalSend, an open source, is better for sharing regularly.
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Applications like ShareIt are convenient for one-time transfer, but are not suitable for continuous use due to security risks and advertising.
7. Transmission via computer (for backup)
If you have a computer (Windows, Mac, even Linux), you can use it as an intermediary, which is the most reliable way to back up photos before transferring them, and is suitable for Samsung DeX owners or those who want to sort photos before transferring them.
Step-by-step algorithm:
- Connect Samsung to your computer and copy the photo to your folder (for example, D:\Samsung_Photos).
- Connect Xiaomi and move the photo to the DCIM → Camera folder.
- (Optional) Use programs like FastStone Image Viewer to batch-rename or convert formats.
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+ When connecting to the PC, you may need to unlock USB-Debugging (see section 1). If the folder DCIM not displayed - check if it is hidden in the conductor settings.