How to quickly transfer photos from one Xiaomi phone to another: all working ways

Transferring photos between Xiaomi smartphones may seem like a trivial task, but in practice users face nuances from file size restrictions to compatibility issues between models. For example, owners of the Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5 often complain that standard Bluetooth transmits images in compressed quality, and Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop) works unstable on firmware below MIUI 14. In this article, we will examine 5 proven ways to transfer photos, including little-known chips like transferring over the Local Area Network without the Internet.

We will focus on hidden MIUI settings that speed up transfer by 2-3 times, such as activating Turbo-sending mode in Mi Share or using the FTP protocol through the built-in file manager. We will also compare the speed of methods in the table and warn against typical errors that cause files to lose original resolution or metadata (shoot date, geotags).

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

Mi Share is a proprietary solution from Xiaomi, optimized for transferring files between the brand’s devices. Unlike Bluetooth, it uses Wi-Fi Direct, which theoretically should provide speeds of up to 10-15 MB / s. However, in practice, users of POCO F4 and Xiaomi 13T note drawdowns of up to 2-5 MB / s when transferring packets over 500 photos.

To avoid hanging, before sending:

• 📱 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (in Settings) → The phone. → Update the system. In firmware older MIUI 12.5 Mi Share can't see devices.
• 🔋 Charge both phones at least 30%. When charged low, the system automatically limits the transfer rate.
• 📶 Disable mobile data on both devices – this will prevent conflicts with Wi-Fi Direct.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Mi Share.
2. Click Send on the original phone and select photos.
3. On the target phone, tap Accept in the notification.
4. Confirm the conjugation of QR-code PIN (will automatically appear).

Shut down. VPN both phones|Make sure there is enough memory on the target device|Activate "No Limits" mode in the battery settings for Mi Share|Check that both phones are connected to the same network (if using Local Area Network mode")-->

⚠️ Warning: If Mi Share is stuck in the "Device Search" phase, restart both phones and try again. POCO M5 redmi 10C Helps reset network settings in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

2. OTG or USB-C cable transmission for large volumes

The OTG (or USB-C-to-USB-C) method is relevant if you want to transfer 10+ GB of photos without loss of quality. For example, when migrating from Xiaomi Mi 11 to Xiaomi 13 Ultra. Speeds reach 40-60 MB / s (depending on the USB version), but requires:

• 🔌 Supported cable OTG (For older models of the Redmi type 9A).
• 📁 File Manager with access to root folders (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
• 🔄 Mode of file transfer (MTP) source-phone.

How to connect:

1. Connect the phones with a cable. On the screen of the source device, select File Transfer (MTP).
2. Open the file manager on the target phone and go to the section USB-device.
3. Copy photos from the DCIM/Camera or Pictures folder.

Mi Share (Wi-Fi Direct)|Cable OTG/USB-C|Bluetooth|Cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud)|Other-->

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi 12S Ultra and POCO F5 when connected USB-C You may need to unblock the debugging USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (7 times to tap) → Additionally. → For developers.

3. Cloud services: Mi Cloud vs Google Photos

Cloud solutions are convenient for backup, but have nuances:

• 🌥️ Mi Cloud (5GB free) retains original quality, but only syncs folder DCIM To download photos from other folders, you have to manually move them.

How to transfer via Mi Cloud:

1. On the source phone: Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud → Gallery → turn on sync.
2. On the target phone, log in to the same Mi Account and wait for the photo to be uploaded to the Gallery → Albums → Mi Cloud.

Limitations:

• ⏳ Synchronization of 1 GB photo takes ~10-15 minutes at 50 Mbps Internet speed.
• 🚫 Photos with geotags may not sync due to Mi Cloud privacy policy.

4. Local area network (FTP or SMB) – without Internet

A method for advanced users that allows you to transfer files at a speed of 20-30 MB / s over a local network, suitable if both phones are connected to the same router. FTP-server in Mi File Manager:

Instructions:

1. Open Mi File Manager on the original phone.
2. Go to the Network → FTP and click Start the server.
3. Copy the address of the species ftp://192.168.x.x:2221.
4. On the target phone, type this address in the address bar of any file manager (e.g. ES Explorer).

Advantages:

• 📥 No volume limit.
• 🔒 Metadata retained (EXIF).
• 📡 It works even when the mobile Internet is disconnected.

💡

If FTP-server does not start, check that the phone is enabled developer mode and activated the option "Local network" in Settings → Connection and sharing → Local area network.

5 Third-Party Apps: Snapdrop, Send Anywhere, Xender

If standard methods don't work, use third-party utilities, such as:

• 🌍 Snapdrop (https://snapdrop.net) — transfer via browser without installing applications. 10 MB/s, but requires a connection to a single Wi-Fi network.

How to use Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On the original device, select a photo and click Send.
3. Generate a code or QR and scan it on the target phone.

💡

Send Anywhere is the only app on the list that works consistently on Xiaomi with MIUI 12-14 firmware without crashes.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even when following the instructions, users encounter common errors:

1. Mi Share doesn't see the device:

• 🔄 Reboot both phones.
• 📡 Enable Visibility for Everyone in Wi-Fi Direct Settings.
• 🛠️ Update Mi Share via Google Play (sometimes the App Store version is outdated).

Photos are transmitted in low quality:

• 📸 In Mi Share, select Original Quality before sending.
• 🚫 Avoid Bluetooth – it always compresses images.

3. FTP-server offline:

• 🔋 Connect your phone to charge — MIUI blocks background processes at low charge.
• 📵 Turn off the power saving mode for Mi File Manager.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions