Transferring photos from Google Photos to a standard Xiaomi gallery may seem like a trivial task, but in practice, Redmi users face nuances, from the lack of original shooting dates to duplicate files. 4 working methods – from simple download through the application to automatic synchronization with saving EXIF-We will pay special attention to the Redmi Note models. 12 Pro+, Redmi 10C and other devices on MIUI 14/13, where the algorithms for working with media files differ from the “pure” Android.
Many people mistakenly believe that just click Save in Google Photos and the pictures will instantly appear in the gallery. Pictures/Google Photos, not the main directory DCIM/Camera. We will show you how to combine collections without loss of quality, avoid duplicates and even restore the original metadata (date, geotags). If you use Redmi with limited memory, a separate section is devoted to optimizing the space after transfer.
According to Xiaomi statistics, 68% of Redmi users in Russia actively use Google Photos for backup, but only 22% know how to correctly return pictures back to the gallery. ADB and third-party utilities.
Why are photos from Google Photos not displayed in the Xiaomi Gallery?
The main reason is the difference in the logic of the work MIUI Gallery and Google Photos, the first one scans only certain folders (e.g, DCIM Or Pictures, while the other one stores files in its cloud cache:
1. The default folders. Xiaomi gallery ignores directories like /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.google.android.apps.photos, where Google Photos stores downloaded copies, and even if you click Save, the files can be in Download or hidden folder.
2.Metadata: When downloaded through the Google Photos mobile app, it often resets the original shoot date, replacing it with a download date, which is critical for gallery sorting.
3. File format. MIUI It may not display.webp or.heic, which Google Photos uses to save space. Especially relevant for the Redmi Note 11 Pro and later, where storage optimization is enabled by default.
4.Cashing. Xiaomi Gallery does not update the media index instantly. After transferring files, it may take up to 5 minutes or a forced reboot of the application.
⚠️ Note: If you are using a double-redmi SIM-map and activated the function "Separation of applications" in Settings → Special features, Google Photos can save files to an isolated second profile storage. /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/com.google.android.apps.photos.
Method 1: Save through the Google Photos app (the easiest one)
This method is suitable for single photos or small albums, and it does not require additional software, but has a limit: a maximum of 500 files per operation.
1. Open the Google Photos app and select the photos you want (press your finger on the first, then tap on the rest).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Save to the device".
3. Wait until the download is complete. The files will appear in the folder:
/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Google Photos/To show them in the Xiaomi gallery:
- Open Files (standard MIUI manager)
- Go to Pictures. → Google Photos.
- Select files, click Move and specify the target folder — for example, DCIM/Camera.
Check the free space on the device (minimum 2)× photovolume)
Disable mobile data (to avoid wasting traffic)
Close all background applications to speed up loading
Make sure that the Google Photo settings include “Original Quality” (if quality preservation is important)-->
Date problem? If gallery photos are sorted by download date rather than shooting date, use ExifTool (available on Google Play) to recover metadata. Or use Method 3 from this article.
Method 2: Automatic sync via Google Drive (for large collections)
If you have hundreds or thousands of photos, manual saving is ineffective. + Google Drive: This method retains folder structure and metadata, but requires customization.
1. Open photos.google.com on your computer.
2. Select the photos you want (or the entire album) and click "More" → Export to Google Drive".
3. Google Drive will create a folder "Google Photos" with the original files.
4. Install the official Google Drive app on Redmi and download the entire folder:
- Open the file in Drive → press three dots → "Keep it offline".
- Or click on the folder. → "Download" (files will be saved in /storage/emulated/0/Download/Google Photo Photo).
Now transfer the files to the gallery:
Files → Download → Google Photo → Highlight everything → Move → DCIM/Camera| Advantages of the method | Deficiencies of the method |
|---|---|
| 📁 Keeps the structure of folders and albums | ⏳ Requires a computer for export |
| 📅 Keeps the originals EXIF-data | 📱 Takes up space in Google Drive (if the limit is filled) |
| 🔄 Suitable for mass transfer | 🔌 You need a stable internet connection |
⚠️ Attention: Redmi with MIUI 14 and later, when downloading through Google Drive, storage optimization may work. To avoid compressing files, go to Settings before downloading. → Warehouse → Make room → Disable "Optimization of media files".
Method 3: Using a file manager (for advanced users)
If you prefer manual control, this method will allow you to transfer photos with precise path and metadata settings. 9T and other models with support OTG or FTP-server.
You'll need:
- 📱 File Manager with access to root folders (e.g. Solid Explorer or Solid Explorer) FX File Explorer).
- 🔌 Cable USB OTG (If you are moving from a flash drive or other device).
- 💻 Computer (optional, for mass processing).
Steps:
- Connect Redmi to the PC via USB (Select "File Transfer" mode in the notification curtain).
- On your computer, open the device folder and go to: Internal Memory → DCIM → Camera
- Copy photos from Google Photos (for example, from the Pictures/Google Photos in DCIM/Camera.
- If you want to save dates, use the Bulk Rename Utility (Windows) or exiftool command (Linux/macOS) metadata editing.
On Redmi with MIUI 13 and older when copying through MTP (USB-connection) there may be a "File corrupted" error. To avoid this, turn off the "Debugging" option in the developer settings before penos. MTP (Media Transfer Protocol)".
How to restore the original dates of the photos?
Method 4: Sync with Mi Cloud (alternative to Google Photos)
If you want to completely abandon Google Photos, consider Mi Cloud, a cloud storage from Xiaomi. MIUI automatically syncs photos without loss of quality (up to 5 GB free).
1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Activate "Gallery Synchronization" and select "Original Quality".
3. upload photos from Google Photos to your computer (via Google Takeout).
4. Put them in a folder. DCIM/Camera Redmi – they will automatically download to Mi Cloud and will be available in the gallery.
Advantages:
- 🔄 Automatic synchronization between Xiaomi devices.
- 📱 Optimized for MIUI (No problem with.heic display).
- 🔒 Data is stored on Xiaomi servers (for some users, this is a plus in terms of privacy).
⚠️ Note: When you first turn on Mi Cloud on Redmi MIUI 14, you may have a request to back up All Data, cancel it if you want to sync only photos, otherwise the system will copy the contacts as well, SMS and settings that will take up extra space.
Save through the Google Photos app
Synchronization through Google Drive
Manual transfer through file manager
Use of Mi Cloud
Another option-->
Optimizing the location after transferring photos
After transferring hundreds of photos to Redmi with 64 or 128 GB of memory, you may experience a space shortage.
1. Remove duplicates:
- Use the Files by Google app (Cleanup tab" → "Duplicate").
- Or manually check the folders:
/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/
/storage/emulated/0/DCIM/
/storage/emulated/0/Download/2. Clear the Google Photos cache:
- Go to Settings. → Annexes → Google Photo → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
- On Redmi, the cache can take up to 1-2 GB.
3. Compress the photos (unless the quality is critical):
- In the gallery. MIUI highlight the pictures → "More" → "Squeeze".
Use Photo & Picture Resizer (Play Market) for batch compression.
4.Transfer the photos to SD-card (if supported):
- Put the memory card in Redmi.
- In the file manager, select a folder DCIM/Camera → "Move it" → choose SD-map.
| Action. | Saving space (roughly) | Implementation time |
|---|---|---|
| Removal of duplicates | 500MB - 2GB | 5-10 minutes |
| Cleaning up Google's cache Photo | 1-2 GB | 2 minutes. |
| Compression of photos (up to 80% quality) | 30-50% of the initial volume | Depends on the amount. |
| Transfer to SD-map | Up to 100% (if the card is empty) | 10.30 minutes |
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If photos in the Xiaomi gallery are displayed blurry after transfer, check the screen settings: go to Settings → Display. → Colors and contrast, and turn off the "Adaptive Brightness" option, which sometimes automatically reduces the clarity of previews.
Problem Solving: Frequent Errors and Corrections
Even after successful transfer, Redmi users are plagued with bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
Problem 1: The photos are not displayed in the gallery.
- 🔄 Reboot the device – it will reset the media index MIUI.
- 📂 Check if the photo folder is hidden. In the file manager, tap three dots. → "Show hidden files".
- 🛠️ Update the Gallery app in the Play Market.
Problem 2: The dates of the photos are confused.
- 📅 Use Exif Editor (Play Market) to fix the problem manually.
- 🖥️ On PC, use ExifTool (the team below will restore the shooting date from metadata): exiftool "-FileModifyDate
Problem 3: Photographs take up too much space.
- 🗜️ Turn it on in the gallery. MIUI The option "Show miniatures" (saves up to 30% of space).
- 🔍 Check the file format:.heic weighs less than.jpg, but may not open on older devices.
Problem 4: When translating through USB photos damaged.
- 🔌 Try another cable or port. USB 3.0.
- 📥 Turn off in the developer settings "Debugging" MTP".
- 💾 Transfer files to archive (.zip) and then unpack to Redmi.
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If, after all the manipulations, the photos still don't show up in the gallery, check if access to the storage for the Gallery app is disabled. → Annexes → gallery → Permissions and enable "Storage" and "Media and Files".