How to transfer photos from your old phone to your new Xiaomi: a detailed guide to comparing all the ways

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but transferring data, especially photos, can be a real headache. Even if both devices run on Android, the process is not always intuitive: somewhere you need a stable Internet connection, somewhere you need special cables, and in some cases you have to face restrictions on the amount of files transferred.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer photos between Xiaomi phones – from the Mi Mover brand solution to universal methods like cloud services or a physical memory card. You will learn which option is the fastest, which is suitable for transferring large amounts of data (for example, 50).+ GB), and what will help if you do not have access to Wi-Fi, and we will also reveal the hidden nuances of transfer through the Internet? USB-cables that are not written about in the official instructions, and explain why sometimes photos lose quality when transmitted over Bluetooth.

Whether you’re upgrading from Redmi Note 8 to Xiaomi 14 or switching from a different brand to POCO X6 Pro, here’s the best solution. And if you need to migrate not only photos, but contacts, messages or apps, there’s a bonus section at the end of this article with tips for comprehensive data portability.

1.Mi Mover – Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for fast transfer

Mi Mover is an integrated application on Xiaomi smartphones, specifically designed to migrate data between devices of the same brand, and works on the principle of point-to-point via Wi-Fi Direct, which allows you to transfer files without an Internet connection and without limits on volume (unlike cloud services).

The main advantages of the method:

Transfer speeds up to 10-15 MB/s (depending on the phone model).

The original quality of the photos is preserved (without compression).

Not only photos are transferred, but also videos, contacts, messages, notes.

No additional accessories (cables, memory cards) are required.

However, there are limitations:

Both phones must be from Xiaomi (or POCO/Redmi).

The old phone should have a version of MIUI 9 or newer (on newer models, this is not a problem).

If the new phone already has data, it will have to be erased before transferring (or backing up).

• 📱 Step 1. On the new Xiaomi phone, select Data Portability when you first turn on (or find the Mi Mover app in the menu).
• 🔄 Step 2. On your old phone, open Mi Mover (if not, install it from Google Play) and select "I am the sender".
• 📶 Step 3: Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi Direct network (password will appear on the screen of the new phone).
• 📂 Step 4: On your old phone, select data categories to transfer (tag "Gallery") and click "Send".

⚠️ Note: If the new phone has already installed apps (such as Google Photos or WhatsApp), after transferring through Mi Mover, they can be duplicated. Before starting the process, it is recommended to reset the new device to factory settings through Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.

Charging the battery of both phones > 50%|Both devices are connected to charging (recommended)|There is plenty of free space on the new phone.|Stable Wi-Fi Direct connection (without interference)-->

2. Memory card transfer: reliable, but not always convenient

Using a microSD card is one of the most versatile ways that works even if you have different brands of phones or don't have access to the Internet.

Not all Xiaomi models support memory cards (e.g., Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5 Pro are devoid of slot).

Copy speed depends on the class of the card (for a large amount of photos, you need a UHS-I U3 class or higher).

With frequent retrieval of the card, there is a risk of damage to contacts.

If these restrictions do not scare you, follow the instructions:

1. Preparation of the card: Insert the microSD in the old phone, format it (if necessary) through Settings → Storage → Memory Map → Format.
2. Photo Copying: Open the Gallery app, highlight the photos you want, click Share → Save to a memory card. Alternatively, you can use a file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager) and manually copy the DCIM/Camera folder.
3. Transfer to a new phone: Remove the card, paste it into the new Xiaomi, open the file manager, and copy the files to internal memory (DCIM folder).

⚠️ Note: If you copy photos from a memory card to a new phone through a file manager, avoid dragging folders directly into the root directory of internal memory. This can lead to read errors. Always place files in standard folders like DCIM or Pictures.

Less than 5GB|5-20GB|20-50GB|Over 50GB|Not know-->

3. Cloud services: Google Photos vs Mi Cloud

Cloud storage is the most versatile method that works on any device, including iPhones or computers, but it has two key drawbacks: a capacity limit (free rates usually give 5-15 GB) and a dependence on Internet speed (with a slow connection, downloading 10 GB of photos can take hours).

Compare two popular services for Xiaomi users:

• ☁️ Google Photos: - Free: unlimited storage of photos in "high quality" (compression up to 16 MP) or 15 GB in original quality. - Automatic synchronization: photos are uploaded in the background. - Access from any device. - Minus: if you exceed the limit of 15 GB, payment is required.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: - Free of charge: 5 GB (can be extended to 100 GB for a fee. - Integration with MIUI: Automatically reserves photos and contacts. - Quick synchronization between Xiaomi devices. - Minus: less cross-platform (difficult to download photos on the other side of the phone).-Xiaomi device).

Instructions for Google Photos:

1. On your old phone, set up Google Photos (if not), log in to your account.
2. Enable backup: Settings → Backup and synchronization.
3. Wait until the download is complete (you can track the progress in notifications).
4. On the new phone, log in to the same Google account and wait for sync.

Instructions for Mi Cloud:

1. On the old phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery → Sync.
2. On the new phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and enable gallery sync.
3. Photos will appear in the folder Mi Cloud in the Gallery app.

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If you have slow internet, compress your photos through the Google Photos app before uploading to the cloud (the “Free Space” option) to reduce the amount of data without critical quality loss.

4. Transfer of USB-Cable: Why it doesn’t always work

Connecting phones through USB-cable seems like the most logical solution, but in practice, users often face problems: the phone is not defined as a drive, drivers are not installed, or copy speed is obscenely low.

You'll need:

- Cable USB-C — USB-C (or USB-A — USB-C s OTG-Adapter if the new phone does not have a port USB-C).

On the old phone must be enabled File Transfer (MTP).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your new phone using a cable.
2. On the old phone, in the notification curtain, select File Transfer mode (if a request appears).
3. On a new phone, open a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) and find the connected device in the Devices section.
4. Copy the DCIM folder (or sample photos) into the internal memory of the new phone.

Typical problems and solutions:

• 🔌 Phone not detected: Try another cable (cheap cables often don't support data transfer) and check if developer mode and debugging are enabled. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🐢 Slow speed: Use a cable with support USB 3.0 (usually blue) and connect to the port USB 3.0 on your computer (if you copy via PC).
• 🚫 No option "File Transfer": Update MIUI Up to the latest version or reset the settings USB (Settings → Connected devices → Resetting settings USB).

5. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct: When there are no other options

If you don’t have a cable, a memory card, and the Internet is too slow for the cloud, you’ll have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct, which is suitable for transferring a small number of photos (up to 1-2 GB), since the speed is usually less than 1-3 MB / s, and the connection can be interrupted.

Bluetooth:

• ⚡ On both phones, turn on Bluetooth and make them visible.
• 📱 On the old phone, select a photo in the gallery, click "Share" → "Bluetooth" → Choose a new phone.
• 🔄 Confirm acceptance on the new device.

Wi-Fi Direct: (faster than Bluetooth, but less stable)

• 📶 Enable Wi-Fi Direct on both phones (Settings) → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct).
• 🔗 Connect devices to each other (no password required).
• 📂 Use the file manager to transfer folders (for example, through the “Send” option in Mi File Manager).

⚠️ Note: When transmitted via Bluetooth, photos are automatically compressed to resolution 1600×1200 pixels, even if the originals were in 4K. If the original size is important, use Wi-Fi Direct or another method.

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Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct are only suitable for emergencies, and for more than 50 photos, you better choose another way, otherwise the process will take hours.

6 Computer Transfer: Reliable but Time-consuming

Using a PC or laptop as an intermediate is one of the most reliable ways, especially if you need to transfer not only photos, but also other data (music, documents), the disadvantage of the method is the need for additional device and time to copy.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC via USB, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Open the phone folder in the conductor (This computer → [phone name]).
3. Copy the DCIM (or Pictures) folder to your desktop.
4. Turn off the old phone, plug in a new one, and paste the copied files into internal memory.

Tips for speeding up the process:

• 🖥️ Use the port. USB 3.0 (usually marked in blue) and quality cable.
• 🗃️ If there are many photos, archive them in ZIP before copying (saving time).
• 🔍 Check files for viruses before transferring (for example, via Windows Defender).

MacOS requires Android File Transfer (official software from Google) as macOS does not support MTP "It's out of the box. You can download it from the website. android.com/filetransfer.

7. Bonus: how to transfer not only photos, but also other data

If you’re setting up the new Xiaomi from scratch, you’ll probably need to migrate not only photos, but also:

• 📞 Contact: Sync through Google Account or Mi Cloud.
• 💬 Messages: Use Mi Mover or app SMS Backup & Restore.
• 🎵 Music and video: Transfer through a memory card or USB-cable.
• 🎮 Game saves: For cloud-enabled games (such as Genshin Impact), link your account. For local saves, use Mi Mover or manual folder copying Android/data.
• 🔑 Passwords: Export from Google Password Manager or Mi Browser.

For complex transfer, we recommend using Mi Mover (if both phones are Xiaomi) or Google One (if you need to transfer data to a device of another brand).

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If you’re migrating data from your iPhone to Xiaomi, use the Move to iOS app (but only for contacts and messages). For photos, it’s easier to upload it to Google Photos from your iPhone and then download it to Xiaomi.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos to Xiaomi