Replacing a smartphone is always stressful, not so much with getting used to a new interface, but with the need to transfer a huge amount of personal data. Photos and videos take up the lion’s share of the memory of the modern user, and losing even part of the archive can be a real tragedy. Fortunately, Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers many built-in tools to avoid long searches for third-party applications or using the computer as an intermediary.
In this article, we will take a look at all the current ways to transfer media between devices of the same brand, learn how to use Mi Share for instant transfer, why Bluetooth is better not to use for large volumes, and how to properly configure synchronization through the cloud.
Whether you’re changing the old Redmi Note to the new flagship Xiaomi 14 or just want to make room on the main device, the methods offered guarantee the safety of your data. It’s important to understand that each method has its own characteristics of speed and quality of transfer, which we will talk about later.
Use the Mi Share function for fast transfer
The most efficient and modern way to share files within the ecosystem is Mi Share technology. It is analogous to Apple AirDrop, but running on Android and optimized specifically for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. The main advantage of the method is that the transfer is over Wi-Fi Direct, which provides high speed and does not require an Internet connection or mobile traffic consumption.
To get started, you need to activate the function on both devices, which can be done through the control center (notification curtain) or through the settings menu. Make sure that both smartphones have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modules on, since the first is used to detect the device, and the second is used for direct data transfer.
⚠️ Warning: If you don’t see the recipient’s device in the list of available, check that the screen on the receiving phone is turned on and the Mi Share settings have “Visible to all” or “Visible to 10 minutes” visibility mode".
The transfer process is intuitive: you pick up photos in a gallery, click send, and select a target device, and it can be as fast as tens of megabytes per second, allowing you to flip gigabytes of photos in minutes, while maintaining the original image quality completely, without any compression.
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For maximum speed, keep the devices no more than 2-3 meters apart and avoid thick metal obstacles between them.
Importantly, Mi Share works more consistently if both devices have a current Mi Service framework installed. In some cases, especially on global firmware, it may be necessary to update this system component through the GetApps app store.
Mi Mover: Integrated data transfer
When it comes to migrating from your old smartphone to your new one, the best solution is the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most Xiaomi and Redmi devices, but if it's not available, it can be easily found in the Tools folder or downloaded from the store, and is designed for those who want to share not only photos, but contacts, call history and system settings.
When you run an app, you have to choose the role of the device: "Sender" (old phone) or "Receiver" (new phone). Once the device is selected, they will find each other, and you will need to confirm the connection. Unlike Mi Share, it creates a temporary secure network through which data flows.
☑️ Preparation for transfer via Mi Mover
In the data selection menu, be sure to tick the category "Images" or "Gallery." You can select specific albums or specify the transfer of all photos. The compression algorithm in Mi Mover works efficiently, speeding up the process without visible loss of quality to the human eye, although technically it can be easy optimization of metadata.
Special attention should be paid to the stability of the connection. If during the transmission one of the screens goes out or switches to energy saving mode, the process may be interrupted, so it is recommended to turn off the screen autolock during the transfer of large volumes of data (more than 10 GB).
What to do if the Mi Mover is frozen?
Sync with Xiaomi Cloud and Google Photos
Cloud technology makes it easy to forget about wires and direct connection of devices. Xiaomi Cloud is deeply integrated into the shell of MIUI and HyperOS, providing a convenient way to back up the gallery. To activate, go to the settings of the Mi Account, select "Sync with Xiaomi Cloud" and activate the item "Gallery".
The main advantage of this method is automation. Once you take a photo on an old device and connect to Wi-Fi, it will fly to the cloud. On a new phone, you just log into the same Mi Account, and the photos will appear in the gallery. However, it is worth remembering the limits: only 5 GB is available for free, which can be a little too small for a photo archive.
| Method | Speed. | Internet dependency | Quality preservation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Share | Tall. | No. | 100% (Original) |
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No. | 100% (Original) |
| Xiaomi Cloud | Medium | Yeah (Wi-Fi) | Depends on the tariff. |
| Bluetooth | Low. | No. | 100% (Original) |
The alternative is Google Photos, which offers "Saving Space" (compression) or "Original Quality" (takes up space in your Google Drive), and if you use this app, just wait for sync on your old phone and log in to your account on a new one.
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Cloud synchronization is ideal for background work, but local methods like Mi Mover are better for transferring hundreds of gigabytes at a time.
Transmission via Bluetooth and wired connection
Although Bluetooth is considered an outdated method for transferring large files, it remains a universal “go-ahead” when you need to transfer a couple of photos quickly and without setting up networks. In the standard Xiaomi gallery, you need to select a photo, click “Send” and choose Bluetooth.
Bluetooth transmission speeds are extremely low (about 2-3 MB/minute), so it is not practical to transfer videos or albums of hundreds of photos in this way, but for documents or screenshots, this is a workable option that does not require Internet access.
⚠️ Note: When transmitting over Bluetooth, files may be compressed by the system if you send them as "Image" rather than "File." Always check the sending settings if it is important to save metadata (EXIF).
More reliable, but requiring equipment method - use USB-If you connect both phones to your computer, you can use it as a file manager" (MTP) On smartphones, copy the folder. DCIM/Camera From the old device to the hard drive of the PC and then transfer to the new one.
There are also USB Type-C to Type-C cables that allow you to connect two smartphones directly, in which case Android will suggest you choose a data mode, which is one of the fastest ways, comparable in speed to Mi Share, but it requires a special cable.
Quality issues and HEIC formats
Modern Xiaomi smartphones often use HEIC compression format to save space when shooting in high resolution. When transferring to older devices or computers, you can have problems with displaying such files. When using Mi Share and Mi Mover, the conversion is automatic or the files are transferred in a native format that new phones read without problems.
If you use third-party messengers (like Telegram or Viber) to transfer photos, remember that they compress images very much. To maintain quality, you need to send the photos as a "File", but this is less convenient and does not preserve the structure of the albums.
In the camera settings, you can force the switch to JPG if you plan to send photos frequently to devices that do not support modern codecs, which will increase the amount of space you occupy, but will ensure maximum compatibility.
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Check the settings of the Smart Gallery. Sometimes it can hide duplicates or screenshots when synchronized, so check the completeness of the transferred archive.