How to transfer a photo from phone to phone Xiaomi: all ways 2026

Why sharing photos between Xiaomi requires a special approach

Transferring photos between smartphones of the same brand seems a trivial task – until you encounter the nuances of the Xiaomi ecosystem. Unlike universal solutions like AirDrop for Apple, it is a combination of proprietary technologies (Mi Share, Quick Share), standard protocols (Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi Direct) and cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Photos), each method has limitations: from speed to compatibility with different versions MIUI.

If you are trying to flip pictures from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra or vice versa – with the help of the Redmi Note 12. POCO F5 on the old Mi 9T, It's important to consider not only the generation of devices, but also the firmware version. For example, Mi Share (formerly Xiaomi Share) has undergone a dramatic change in the way the device is designed. MIUI 14, and HyperOS (2026) introduced a new Quick Share protocol that is compatible with Samsung and Google devices, and in this article we will analyze all the current methods, from the fastest to the most reliable, taking into account the features of each model.

We pay special attention to hidden settings MIUI, which speed up the transfer by 2-3 times (for example, turning on Turbo Transfer mode in Mi Share), and also bypass the typical errors that cause files to "hang" during the sending stage.+ Photos in original resolution or transfer RAW-Photos from Xiaomi 13 Pro, here you will find the best solution.

1. Mi Share (Quick Share) – a proprietary method for Xiaomi

Mi Share (renamed Quick Share to HyperOS) is Xiaomi’s proprietary technology, similar to AirDrop or Nearby Share.It uses a combination of Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth. LE To create a direct connection between devices, which provides speeds of up to 10-15 MB/s (in theory). MIUI and smartphone models.

To use Mi Share, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open the Gallery on the sending device, select photos and click Share → Mi Share (or Quick Share) in HyperOS).
• 🔍 On the receiving phone, activate Mi Share via the notification panel (swipe down) → Share icon).
• 🔗 Wait for the devices to detect each other and confirm the connection on both screens.
• ⚡ It's gonna start. MIUI 14+ You can speed up the process by enabling Turbo Transfer in the Mi Share settings (Settings) → Connections and sharing → Mi Share → Additionally).

Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on both phones

Update MIUI to the latest version

Turn off the power saving mode

Make sure there is enough memory on the receiving phone-->

Important: If Mi Share doesn't find the device, check:

• 🔄 Version compatibility MIUI. For example, Redmi 10s MIUI 12 may not see Xiaomi 13 on MIUI 14.
• 📶 Interference on Wi-Fi (switch to mobile data or disconnect other devices from the network).
• 🔋 Battery level – at less than 15% Mi Share automatically limits speed.

⚠️ Note: If the transmission is interrupted by 99%, try turning off Adaptive Brightness in the screen settings. MIUI 13–14, related to energy optimization.

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If Mi Share is slow, restart both phones before transfer and turn on Developer Mode → Debugging by USB → Turn off background restriction. This temporarily disables background optimization. MIUI.

2. Bluetooth transmission: when justified

Bluetooth is often considered an outdated method, but in some cases it turns out to be the only working solution.

• 📵 No access to Wi-Fi or mobile internet.
• 🔋 Battery charge below 20% (Bluetooth consumes less power than Wi-Fi Direct).
• 📱 One of the devices is working on MIUI 10 or older (where Mi Share is missing).

For Bluetooth transmission:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings → Bluetooth).
2. On the sending device, select a photo in the Gallery, click Share → Bluetooth.
3. Select the receiving phone from the list of associated devices.
4. Confirm the file on the second phone.

The transmission speed over Bluetooth 5.0-5.3 (in Xiaomi Bluetooth 5.2 is used in most models) is 1-2 MB / s. This is 5-10 times slower than the Mi Share, but more reliable in low signal conditions. The main drawback is the file size limit: maximum 50 MB per transmission (in the case of a small signal). MIUI This is strictly prescribed in the system settings).

⚠️ Attention: In transmission RAW-files (for example, with Xiaomi 13 Pro) via Bluetooth they are automatically converted to JPEG To avoid this, use an archiver (e.g., ZArchiver) for packaging. RAW into ZIP before shipment.

Mi Share (Quick Share)

Bluetooth

Cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud)

USB OTG cable

Another way.-->

3.Using cloud services: Mi Cloud vs Google Photos

Cloud services are convenient when you need to transfer a large number of photos (for example, 100 photos).+ Xiaomi offers two main options: the Mi Cloud proprietary cloud and the integrated Google Photos.

Mi Cloud: Advantages and Limitations

Mi Cloud automatically syncs with Xiaomi account and offers 5GB of free storage (expands to 200GB for a fee).

1. Upload photos to Mi Cloud via Gallery (Select) → Share. → Mi Cloud).
2. On the second phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and download files from the cloud (Mi Cloud). → Albums).

Advantages:

• 🔒 Automatic backup (can be configured in Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backup).
• 📤 There is no limit to file size (unlike Bluetooth).

Disadvantages:

• 🐢 Slow download/downloading on poor internet (speed depends on your rate).
• 📥 Photos are compressed when the free storage limit is exceeded.

Google Photos: A Universal Solution

Google Photos is integrated into MIUI And it offers 15GB of free storage (together with Google Drive:

1. Install Google Photos (if not pre-installed).
2. Upload the photo to the cloud through the app.
3. On the second phone, log in to the same Google account and download the files.

Important nuance: in MIUI 14+ Google Photos saves the photo in a compressed format ("High Quality") by default. To transfer the originals, select Settings before downloading. → Backup → Quality. → Original.

4. Cable transmission: USB OTG and adapters

If wireless methods do not work (for example, due to version incompatibility) MIUI), The most reliable way is to connect physically through USB OTG. This method guarantees 100% lossless data transfer and works even on devices with damaged Wi-Fi or Bluetooth modules.

You'll need:

• 🔌 USB OTG-cable (Type-C) → Type-C or Micro-USB → Type-C, depending on the model).
• 📱 File Manager (pre-installed Files or Solid Explorer application).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect. USB OTG-cable.
2. Connect the second phone to the cable. There's a notification on the screen. USB-Connection – select File Transfer (or MTP).
3. Open the File Manager on the receiving phone, go to the section USB-device.
4. Copy photos from the folder DCIM → Camera (or other folder with a photo) in the internal memory of the second phone.

Transmission speed through USB 3.1 (Xiaomi 12/13/14 reaches 40–60 MB/s, that in 3–4 It's faster than the Mi Share. USB 2.0 (Like Redmi. 9) speed-limited 5–10 MB/s.

⚠️ Note: When connecting through OTG on some models (POCO X3, Redmi Note 11) may experience a "Device not recognized" error, in which case restart both phones and reconnect by pre-enabled Settings. → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.

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USB OTG — The only method that works on phones with a damaged module Wi-Fi/Bluetooth or outdated firmware (for example, MIUI 9 below).

5. Transfer via messengers: Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber

If you don't have a cable and wireless methods don't work, you can use instant messengers, which are suitable for sending a small number of photos (up to 20-30 pieces), because there are limitations in file size and quality.

Comparison of messengers for the transfer of photos:

Recommendations for the use of messengers:

• 📎 In Telegram, send a photo as a file (click the clip icon). → File) to avoid compression.
• 🔄 In WhatsApp, use the Document function (attachment) → Document) to reduce compression.
• 📂 To transfer several photos, archive them in ZIP (via Xiaomi Files → Choose. → Squeeze).

The main disadvantage of this method is the limitation on the number of files, for example, WhatsApp can not send more than 30 photos at a time, and Viber – more than 10.

Alternative methods: FTP-server, local area network, NFC

For advanced users, there are less obvious but effective ways to transfer photos between Xiaomi smartphones.

FTP-server through the application "Files"

V MIUI It's built-in. FTP-It's a server that allows you to access your phone files over a local area network, and it's useful if both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

How to set up:

1. Open the Files app on the source phone.
2. Go to section. FTP (Network or Remote Access tab).
3. Press Launch. FTP-server and write down the address (for example, ftp://192.168.1.100:2221).
4. On the second phone, connect to this address through any FTP-client (e.g. Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).

Transmission speed through FTP It depends on the speed of your local network and can reach 20-30 MB / s (when connected to a router according to the Wi-Fi 6 standard).

Local networking through applications like “LocalSend”

LocalSend is an open application for transferring files over a local network without cloud services, it works on the principle of AirDrop, but cross-platform (including Xiaomi, Samsung, Windows).

Advantages:

• 🌐 It works without the Internet (local network only).
• 🔒 There are no restrictions on file sizes.
• 📱 Supports all versions MIUI hyperos.

NFC: fast transmission for close-up devices

Module NFC All Xiaomi flagships (starting with Mi) 8) and many models Redmi/POCO. It allows you to transfer small files (up to) 10 MB) almost instantaneously but requires devices to touch each other.

How to use:

• 📱 Turn it on. NFC on both phones (Settings) → Connections and sharing → NFC).
• 🔗 Open photos in the gallery, choose to share → Android Beam (or NFC).
• 🤝 Put the phones back to each other.

NFC It's easy to transmit 1-2 photos, but it's useless for large volumes (POCO X3, Redmi Note 10 Android Beam is disabled by default – it must be activated in the settings NFC.

Standby methods: SD-map, QR-code

If none of these things work, there are backup options that require additional devices or actions, but they guarantee results.

Transfer through SD-map

If your phones have a microSD slot (like the Redmi Note 11, POCO M5), You can use the memory card as an intermediary:

1. Copy the photo on SD-Card through File Manager.
2. Remove the card and insert it into the second phone.
3. Copy the files back into internal memory.

Advantage: no quality loss and size constraints. Disadvantage: not all Xiaomi models support SD-The cards (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) are not available).

Using the computer as an intermediary

If you have a PC or laptop, you can transfer a photo through it:

1. Connect the first phone to your computer in File Transfer mode (MTP).
2. Copy the photo to a folder on your PC.
3. Connect the second phone and transfer the files to it.

Use it to speed up the process. USB 3.0 and file manager with multithreaded copying support (e.g. TeraCopy).

QR-photo-link codes

If photos are already uploaded to the cloud (Mi Cloud, Google Photos), you can generate a photo. QR-code:

1. Open a photo in the cloud and choose Share → Reference.
2. Copy the link and generate it. QR-code through an application like QR Code Generator.
3. Scan the code with the second phone and download the photo.

This method is convenient if the devices are in different places, but requires a stable Internet connection.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos to Xiaomi