How to transfer photos from Viber to Xiaomi Gallery: all working methods

Transferring photos from Viber to the standard Xiaomi gallery seems like an easy task, but in practice users face unexpected difficulties. MIUI, Smartphone model (Redmi Note) 12, POCO X5, Mi 11) And the way that you set up the messenger, it can be very different. Viber/Media, Somewhere you need to manually copy through the file manager, and in this article we will discuss all the current methods, from basic to little-known, including solving problems with the lack of access to folders.

Xiaomi is a company that actively modifies the standard behavior of Android. MIUI 14+ By default, you can turn off hidden messenger folders in the gallery, and in some firmware, Viber doesn't ask for permission to save files at all, which causes users to lose access to media. We tested all methods on Android devices. 11-14 And we've only put together working solutions -- no outdated tips like, "Reinstall the app".

Why Viber photos aren’t displayed in Xiaomi Gallery

The problem is usually one of three, and each one needs to be solved, and to start with the most common one, Viber saves media files to its folder by default, but it's not. MIUI It's not a bug, it's a feature, and Xiaomi is trying to reduce visual clutter. Viber/Media exists, but is not indexed by the system gallery.

The second reason is that there are no permissions: After Android updates (especially with version 13), apps need explicit confirmation of storage access, and Viber may not ask permission to write files unless you have never saved media manually. A third, more rare situation is in some regional firmware MIUI Automatic saving of media from instant messengers is disabled at the request of local privacy laws.

• 📁 Hidden folder: Viber/Media exists but is not displayed in the gallery due to settings MIUI.
• 🔒 Lack of permissions: The app cannot write files to storage without explicit confirmation.
• 🌍 Regional restrictions: In firmware for some countries (e.g. EU) automatic saving is disabled.
• 📱 Cache Error: A damaged gallery cache or Viber can block new files from being displayed.

Before proceeding to the instructions, check the basics:

1. Open Viber, go to any chat with photos.
2. Click on the image, then three dots in the upper right corner.
3. If the option to Save to the Gallery is active, the problem is in the settings MIUI, Not in the messenger.

Method 1: Enabling the display of hidden folders in MIUI

The easiest solution is to get the Xiaomi gallery to show the folder Viber/Media. You don't have to install third-party file managers or manually transfer files. You just have to change one setting in the settings.

This is the same as MIUI 12-15 (including HyperOS).

1. Open the Gallery app (flower icon).
2. Swipe down three horizontal lines (or swipe right to open the side menu).
3. Select the albums. → All albums.
4. In the upper right corner, click on the icon. ⚙️ Settings.
5. Activate the Show Hidden Albums (or Show Hidden Folders in Older Versions) switch.
6. Go back to the album list and find the Viber folder – now it should be displayed.

Update the Gallery app on Google Play

Check the available space on the device (minimum 500 MB)

Close all background applications

Reboot your smartphone before setting up-->

If the Viber folder never came up, try updating the gallery cache:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Gallery, select the Warehouse.
3. Click Clear Cache (not data!).
4. Restart the app.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14+ for Chinese regions (firmware marked with a note) CN) The hidden folder option may not be available. In this case, use the manually copied method 3.

Method 2: Automatically save photos in Viber settings

If you want all incoming photos to be automatically saved to the gallery, set it up right in the messenger. MIUI, but requires confirmation of permits.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Viber, tap on the icon. ⋮ → Settings (or swipe right for the menu).
2. Go to Media and Files (older versions – Chat Settings).
3. Activate the option to save incoming files to the gallery.
4. Go back to the basic settings and select Permissions.
5. Make sure it's on: 📂 Storage (permission to write files) 📷 Photo and video (media access)

Viber

If the option to Save to the Gallery is not available or is inactive:

1. Check if the beta version of Viber is installed (it may have limited functionality).
2. Update the app to the latest stable version.
3. For corporate accounts, contact the administrator – they may limit media retention through security policies.

💡

If you don’t see any photos after you turn on auto-save, try sending a test image to yourself in Viber – sometimes the first manual saving is the trigger.

Method 3: Manual transfer through file manager

When automatic methods don't work, the classic way is to copy files manually, a universal method that works even on custom firmware or restricted devices like corporate phones.

You will need any file manager. We recommend using the built-in Files from Xiaomi or Solid Explorer (for advanced features).

1. Open the file manager and go to internal memory. → Viber → Media → Viber Images.
2. Select the necessary photos (long press → tick).
3. Click Copy (or Cut if you want to delete the originals).
4. Go to the folder where you want to store photos, for example: 📂 DCIM → Camera (standard folder for photos) 📂 Pictures → Viber (Create a New Folder)

Insert

gallery

If the Viber folder is not visible in the file manager:

1. Make sure that the hidden files are displayed (⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files).
2. Check if you have a password set for the folder (in some versions, Viber encrypts media).
3. Use a Root Explorer (only for advanced root-right users).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with Android 11+ and MIUI 12.5+ When copying through some file managers (e.g, ES Explorer may be an error: permission is denied. In this case, use the built-in File Manager or Solid Explorer.

Method 4: Save through the cloud (Google Photos or Mi Cloud)

If you want to transfer photos to a gallery and back them up, use cloud services, which is useful if you're planning to reset your phone or upgrade to a new device, and we'll look at two options: Google Photos and Mi Cloud.

Option 1: Google Photos (recommended for sync with other devices):

1. Install Google Photos from the Play Market if you don’t have one.
2. Open Viber, find a photo and save it to the gallery (long tap) → Save).
3. Open Google Photos and wait for sync to complete (the cloud icon at the top should turn green).
4. The photos are now available in the Gallery → Albums. → Google Photo.

Option 2: Mi Cloud (only for Xiaomi devices):

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on the synchronization of the Gallery (if disabled).
3. Save photos from Viber to a standard folder DCIM/Camera (Method 3).
4. Wait until the cloud load is complete (progress is displayed in Mi Cloud) → gallery).
5. Now photos are available on any Xiaomi device linked to your account.

An important nuance: when using Mi Cloud, photos may not be displayed in the gallery if:

• 📶 Mobile network sync is disabled (wi-fi only).
• 🔄 Xiaomi account settings disabled the option to Show cloud files in the gallery.
• 📥 Mi Cloud folder is hidden in the gallery settings (see Method 1).

Method 5: Using a PC for mass transfer

If you need to transfer hundreds of photos (for example, an archive of correspondence), it is more convenient to do it through a computer, which is also suitable if the phone is not enough space or the Xiaomi gallery constantly crashes.

Instructions for Windows/macOS:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB-cable (use the original cable for a stable connection).
2. On your phone, select File Transfer (or MTP) mode in the connection notification.
3. On PC, open This Computer (Windows) or Android File Transfer (macOS).
4. Go to the Inner Memory → Viber → Media → Viber Images.
5. Copy the necessary files to the desktop or in a separate folder.
6. Go back to the root directory of the phone and go to the DCIM → Camera.
7. Insert the copied photos.
8. Securely remove the device and update the gallery on your phone.

If the Viber folder is not displayed on the PC:

• 🔌 Check if the phone is unlocked when connected (on some firmware) MIUI Blocks access to files on a locked screen).
• 🔄 Reconnect the cable or try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0).
• 📋 Install Xiaomi drivers for PC (download from the official website).

💡

When you copy through a PC, photos will retain the original resolution and metadata (date of shooting, geotags), whereas when you save via Viber, metadata can be lost.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ Android 13+ When you first connect to your PC, you may need to confirm access to files directly on your phone screen. If the notification does not appear, check Settings. → Connected devices.

Solving problems: photos are not displayed or damaged

Sometimes, even after a successful transfer, photos don't show up in the gallery or open with artifacts. Here are some of the problems and solutions.

• 🖼️ Photos not displayed in gallery: Update gallery cache: Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache. Restart the phone, sometimes the background media scan will freeze. Check if the folder is hidden in.nomedia (remove the.nomedia file from the Viber folder if you have one).
• 🔄 Photos open in low resolution: Viber defaults to download the preview. To get the original, click on the photo in the chat. → ⋮ → If the original is not available, ask the sender to send the photo as a file (not as an image).
• 🚫 File corrupted error: Try opening a photo via Google Photos or QuickPic – sometimes a problem in the gallery codec MIUI. Copy the file on PC and open it through Paint or Photoshop to recover.

If the photos are saved in.webp format (not.jpg) and the gallery does not recognize them:

1. Install the WebP Converter app from the Play Market.
2. Convert files to JPG/PNG right on the phone.
3. Or use a PC: Open.webp in Chrome, right-click → Save how → JPEG.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos from Viber