How to transfer photos from one Xiaomi to another: all ways with pros and cons

Transferring photos between Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task — until you face restrictions on speed, compatibility or data volume. In 2026, users have at least 5 working ways to transfer pictures: from classic Bluetooth to the Mi Share protocol (formerly Mi Drop). But which one to choose if you need to transfer 200 photos in 2 minutes? or if one of the phones is broken Wi-Fi module?

In this article, we analyze all current methods, taking into account the nuances: from the hidden limitations of Mi Account on the amount of cloud storage to tricks with the help of the Internet. USB-We tested each method on Redmi Note 12 Pro models.+ Xiaomi 13T, And we'll also explore why sometimes smartphones don't see each other through Settings. → Connection and Sharing and How to Fix It.

1. Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop) – a proprietary way from Xiaomi

Mi Share is a proprietary file transfer protocol optimized for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. It works through a direct Wi-Fi hotspot (without an internet connection) and provides speeds of up to 10-15 MB/s – 3-5 times faster than Bluetooth. The main advantage is that there are no file size restrictions, and the process is not reset when you lock the screen.

To take advantage of Mi Share:

• 📱 Open the Files app on both smartphones.
• 🔍 Select photos, click Share. → Mi Share.
• 🔄 On the second phone, confirm receipt in the notification.
• ⚡ Wait for completion – status is displayed in real time.

However, there are pitfalls:

The transmission speed depends on the model:

💡

If Mi Share is 99% frozen, don’t interrupt the process! Wait 2-3 minutes: the system can process EXIF metadata from photos for longer (especially if they are taken on professional cameras).

2. Transmission via USB cable (OTG) - for large volumes

If you need to transfer thousands of photos (for example, an archive from a vacation), USB-cable is the most reliable option, speeds up to 40-60 MB/s (when used) USB 3.0) and the risk of data loss is minimal:

• 🔌 OTG-Adapter (if one of the phones connector) USB-C, And on the other, Micro-USB).
• 📁 Access to memory (allow in the notification when connected).
• 🔋 Charge both devices >30% (Share large files drains the battery).

Step-by-step:

Connect your phones with cable (use if necessary) OTG-adapter)

On the receiver phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification

Open Files → Device on the source phone

Copy photos to DCIM or Pictures folder on second phone

Securely remove the device through the icon USB notification-bar-->

An important nuance: on phones with MIUI 14+, you may need to confirm trust in the device when you first connect through Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Special Permits.

3. Bluetooth - Slowly but without internet

Bluetooth is the most versatile but slow method (speeds 1-3 MB/s) and should only be used to transfer 1-2 photos or if other methods are not available (for example, on older Redmi 4X models), the advantage is that it works without Wi-Fi and cables, even with low battery power.

How to transmit the photo:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings → Connection and Sharing → Bluetooth).
2. Make the devices visible (click Device Search).
3. Confirm the pairing (code must match).
4. Select a photo in the gallery, click Share → Bluetooth and select the second phone.

💡

Bluetooth 5.0 (starting with the Xiaomi Mi 9) supports speeds of up to 2MB/s, but in practice it rarely exceeds 1.5MB/s due to limitations of the file sharing protocol (OBEX).

Mistakes and solutions:

• ❌ "Failed to send the file" → Reboot Bluetooth on both devices or reduce the packet size (send 1-2 photos at a time).
• ❌ "No device found" → Make sure the distance between the phones < 10 meters and no interference (e.g. operating microwaves).

4. Cloud services: Mi Cloud vs Google Photos

Cloud storage is convenient for backing up and transferring photos from a distance. Xiaomi offers its own Mi Cloud service (5 GB for free), and Google Photos gives 15 GB, but compression of images. Which one to choose?

Instructions for Mi Cloud:

1. Sign in with one Mi Account on both phones.
2. On the source phone: Gallery → Select a photo → Share → Mi Cloud → Download.
3. On the receiver phone: Mi Cloud → Photo → Download.

1. Internet availability (Wi-Fi or mobile data).

2. whether Autoboot is enabled in the Mi Cloud settings.

3. Whether there is enough space in the cloud (remove unnecessary backups in Mi Cloud) → Storage management).-->

Google Photos is suitable if:

• 🌍 You need to transfer the photo to the phone from another OS (for example, iPhone).
• 📊 It is important to save the edit history (Google Photos remembers the changes).
• 🔍 It is convenient to search for photos by objects (for example, "dog" or "sea").

5. Wi-Fi Direct is an alternative to Mi Share

Wi-Fi Direct is a direct connection technology for devices without a router. It works on all Xiaomi with MIUI 9+ and can be useful if Mi Share for some reason does not work. Transfer speeds are comparable to Mi Share (8-12 MB/s), but the setup is more difficult.

How to turn on:

1. Activate Wi-Fi Direct on both phones: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. On the receiver phone, click Create a Group.
3. On the source phone, select the group you created and connect.
4. Open the gallery, select a photo and send it via Wi-Fi Direct (the option will appear in the Share menu).

💡

Wi-Fi Direct consumes more battery than Mi Share, because it creates a full access point. Use it only when you are fully charged or connected.

Challenges and solutions:

• ❌ "Couldn't connect" → Restart Wi-Fi on both devices or change the channel in the router settings (if it causes interference).
• ❌ "File not sent" → Check if the transmission is blocked by an antivirus (e.g. Avast or 360 Security).

Transmission via computer (intermediate storage)

If none of these things work, like a broken Wi-Fi module on your phone, you can use your computer as an intermediary, which is reliable, but requires an extra device, suitable for transferring raw files (.ARW,.DNG) or large archives.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your first phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Copy photos into a folder on your computer (for example, C:\Temp\Xiaomi_Photos).
3. Turn off the first phone, connect the second.
4. Move the files back to the folder DCIM\Camera or Pictures.

Process optimization:

• 🖥️ Use Total Commander or Far Manager for batch copying (accelerates work with large volumes).
• 🔗 If there are many photos, archive them in.ZIP directly on the phone (File app) → Choose. → Squeeze).
• 🛡️ Before the shutdown USB Always use Secure Device Removal (otherwise you risk losing data).

Comparison of all methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on three factors: speed, convenience and volume of data. Below is a summary table with recommendations:

💡

For 100-500 photos, Mi Share is optimal — USB-If you want to send a photo to a phone of another brand – Google Photos or Bluetooth for 1-2 files).

FAQ: Frequent questions