How to Transfer Photos from Xiaomi to Another: All the Working Techniques of 2026

Porting photos between Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task, as long as you do not face restrictions on speed, compatibility or quality preservation. Even devices of the same brand can have problems, from the lack of support for Mi Share on older models to errors when connecting via USB-OTG. In this article, we will discuss 7 current ways of transferring photos – from standard to little-known, taking into account the nuances for different versions of MIUI.

We will pay special attention to the methods that preserve EXIF-Data (geotags, date, camera model) – often reset by cloud services and instant messengers, and how to avoid common mistakes, such as why the Redmi Note 12 doesn’t see Poco X5 via Bluetooth, or how to circumvent the limitation on the size of the file in Telegram.

If you need to transfer not only photos, but also videos, contacts or applications, there is a list at the end of the article. FAQ-The box answers these questions. All the instructions are tested on the MIUI 14/15 and relevant to models from Redmi 9A Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Mi Share - a proprietary way from Xiaomi (the fastest)

Mi Share (formerly Xiaomi Quick Share) is an analogue of AirDrop for Xiaomi ecosystem, which works without the Internet and retains the original quality of files. Transfer speeds reach 10-15 MB / s (depending on the model), which is 3-5 times faster than Bluetooth.

To use the Mi Share, both smartphones must:

• 📱 Have a version MIUI 12 or newer (on MIUI 11 and older working through Xiaomi Share with restrictions).
• 🔄 Be enabled with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (even if you are not connected to the network).
• 📁 Be at a distance of not more than 5 meters from each other.

Instructions:

1. Open the Gallery on the original phone, highlight the photo and click Share → Mi Share.
2. On the target device, confirm receipt of files in the notification.
3. Wait for the transfer to be completed (progress is displayed on both screens).

Bluetooth enabled on both devices |

MIUI version no lower than 12|

Power saving mode is off |

Files are less than 1 GB (Mi Share Limitation)-->

⚠️ Note: On some models (Poco) F3, Redmi K40) Mi Share may not work due to regional restrictions.Solution: change region in settings to India (Settings) → Additionally. → Region).

2. Transmission via OTG cable (reliable but requires an adapter)

If you don't have Wi-Fi or Mi Share is buggy, USB-OTG is a reliable way to transfer without losing quality.

• 🔌 OTG-Adapter (Type-C or Micro-USB depending on the model).
• 📁 Cable to connect the second smartphone (or card reader for microSD).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect. OTG-Adapter to the target phone (where you copy the photo).
2. Connect the second smartphone with a cable (it will be determined as a cable). USB-accumulator).
3. On the source phone, unlock the screen and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
4. Open Explorer on the target device, find the DCIM → Camera folder, and copy the files.

Important: on smartphones with Micro-USB (Redmi 9A, 8A), OTG works only with a Micro-USB → USB-A adapter, but the transfer speed does not exceed 5 MB / s.

💡

If the phone doesn’t see the second smartphone through OTG, try restarting both devices or using a different cable. Sometimes it helps to turn on the developer mode and activate the USB debugging option.

3. Bluetooth - universal, but slow

Bluetooth is the most compatible method, but only suitable for transferring a small number of photos (up to 50 pieces), the speed rarely exceeds 1-2 MB / s, and on older models (Redmi 5/6) errors can occur when transferring files weighing more than 10 MB.

How to transfer the photo:

1. On the original phone, open the Gallery, highlight the photo and click Share → Bluetooth.
2. Select the target device from the list (it should be visible and paired).
3. Confirm the receipt of files on the second phone.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14+ When transmitted via Bluetooth, photos are automatically compressed to resolution. 1920×1080. To avoid quality loss, use an archiver (such as ZArchiver) and send ZIP-file.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ It works on all Xiaomi models (including Redmi). 4X older).
• ✅ No need for internet or additional accessories.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Slow speed (10 photo = ~2-3 minute).
• ❌ File size limit (max. 50 MB per transfer).

Mi Share|

Bluetooth|

OTG| cable

Cloud services |

Other-->

4. Cloud services: Google Photos vs Mi Cloud

Cloud storage is convenient for backup, but has nuances when migrating between Xiaomi:

• 🌥️ Google Photos compresses photos for free storage (resolution is reduced to 16 MP).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud retains original quality, but is limited to 5GB of free space.
• 📤 Yandex Disk or Mega will be suitable for large archives (up to 20 GB free).

Instructions for Mi Cloud:

1. On the original phone, close Mi Cloud in Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Sync.
2. Select Gallery → Sync (photos uploaded to the cloud).
3. On the second phone, log in to the same Mi Account and download the photo through Mi Cloud → Gallery.

Comparison of services:

5. Transfer via instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)

Messengers are convenient for transferring a small number of photos, but have strict restrictions:

• 📎 Telegram: maximum 2 GB per file (without compression).
• 💬 WhatsApp: compressing photos to 1600×1200 (Even in "Documents").
• 📱 Viber: Limiting 200MB per file.

How to move without loss:

1. In Telegram, send the photo as a file (not as an image).
2. On WhatsApp, use the Document function (but the quality will still get worse).
3. For large archives, create a secret chat in Telegram (files are not saved on servers).

Warning: when transmitting via messengers are lost EXIF-If it's critical, use Mi Share or OTG.

6. Computer Transfer (for large archives)

If you need to transfer thousands of photos (for example, when changing your phone), the easiest way to use a PC or laptop is to:

1. Connect the original Xiaomi to your computer via USB and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the DCIM folder (or selected photos) to your hard drive.
3. Connect the second Xiaomi and transfer the files back to DCIM → Camera.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ All metadata is stored (including: EXIF and Live Photos).
• ✅ You can sort the photo before transfer (by date, size, etc.).
• ✅ Speed is limited only by possibilities. USB 3.0 (up to 100 MB/s).

💡

Use FastStone Image Viewer (Windows) or XnView MP (macOS/Linux) to rename and sort photos before transfer, and this will help you avoid duplicates in the gallery of your new smartphone.

7.Use of microSD memory card (for slot models)

If both phones support microSD (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or Poco X5 Pro), the transfer takes minutes:

1. Insert the memory card into the original phone.
2. Copy the photo to a folder on the map (for example, SDCard → Photos).
3. Transfer the card to your new phone and import the photo through the Gallery.

Important nuances:

• 🔄 ExFAT cards (over 32 GB) may not be readable on older models (Redmi 5 and earlier).
• 📛 Format the map in FAT32, If you plan to use it on different devices.
• ⚠️ Do not remove the card while copying – it can damage the file system.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 11T, 12 Pro) microSD slot combined with second-hand slot SIM-Before transferring, make sure you have a spare SIM or adapter for nanoSIM → microSD.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos to Xiaomi