How to transfer photos to the new Xiaomi phone: the full guide

Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting process, but it is often overshadowed by the need to transfer data. The most valuable asset for most users is a media library consisting of thousands of images and videos. Modern Redmi and Poco devices have powerful cameras that create large files, so standard copying methods can be time-consuming or require a special approach.

There are several effective ways to migrate content, each with its own advantages depending on the original device: you can use the proprietary Mi Mover app, cloud services, direct cable connection or third-party utilities, and the choice of the specific method depends on whether you are switching from Android, iOS or perhaps from a button machine.

In this guide, we will take a look at each algorithm in detail, focusing on the nuances that are often overlooked, how to save image metadata, avoid duplicates, and what to do if the process is interrupted halfway.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most efficient and native solution for the Xiaomi ecosystem is the built-in Mi Mover utility, which is designed specifically for seamless transition between devices running MIUI or HyperOS. The main advantage of the method is to create a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, which allows you to transfer data at high speed without spending mobile traffic.

The process starts with installing the app on both devices if it is not in the standard Tools folder. After launch, you need to select the role of each gadget: “Sender” (old phone) and “Receiver” (new Xiaomi). QR-code that must be scanned by the camera of the old device to establish a secure connection.

⚠️ Warning: Make sure both smartphones are connected to a power source or have a charge of more than 50%, as the intense operation of the Wi-Fi module during the transfer of large amounts of data can quickly drain the battery.

Once the devices are paired, the user sees a detailed data selection menu, where you can filter content, leaving only images and videos, so as not to overload memory with unnecessary system files, and the application automatically detects all folders with media files, including screenshots, downloads and snapshots from instant messengers.

• 📱 Supports the transfer of contacts, messages, call logs and system settings along with photos.
• 🚀 The transmission speed reaches 20-40 MB/s, which is much faster than Bluetooth or cloud synchronization.
• 🔒 Data is transmitted over a local channel and not sent to third-party servers, ensuring confidentiality.

It is important to note that when transferring high-resolution video files, the process can take considerable time. Interruption of transmission is not always critical: Mi Mover can resume downloading from the stop, but it is better not to switch to other heavy tasks during the migration.

Sync through Google Photos and Cloud Services

For users who value automation and backup on the Internet, Google Photos is the ideal option. This method does not require both devices at hand at the same time. Just upload all the pictures from the old phone to the cloud, and on the new Xiaomi just log in to your account.

The main setting you need to set before syncing is the load quality. The service offers two options: Express (compression of photos to save space) and Original quality (full preservation of details, which takes place in your Google Drive).

On Xiaomi’s new smartphone, the recovery process will take time depending on the speed of the Internet connection. It is recommended to connect to a stable Wi-Fi network, since mobile Internet can be unstable when loading gigabytes of data. In the application settings, you can set the download only through Wi-Fi, so as not to exhaust the tariff plan.

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Use the “Free Space” feature in Google Photos only after making sure that all the images are fully uploaded to the cloud and displayed in the new phone’s gallery.

The alternative is clouds from Yandex, Dropbox or OneDrive, which also have Android apps, which are similar to installing on an old device, uploading the background, then logging in to a new one, but the built-in integration of Google services into the Android operating system makes this the most native and less error-prone way.

Transferring data from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi

The transition from the Apple ecosystem to Android used to be a lot of difficulties, but now Xiaomi offers a debugged tool for this procedure. the Move to iOS app works in the opposite direction, so iPhone owners should use either Mi Mover (the iOS version) or Google services.

When using Mi Mover on iPhone, you need to download the corresponding application from the App Store. Once you start and select the Sender mode, the device will create a Wi-Fi hotspot. On Xiaomi, you need to select the Recipient and connect to this network. The interface on iOS can be slightly reduced compared to the Android version, but the basic functionality of transferring photos and contacts works stably.

⚠️ Attention: On iOS devices, the system may restrict the background operation of applications. Do not lock the iPhone screen during transmission, keep the screen on and the application active so that the process is not interrupted by the energy saving system.

Another reliable way is to use iCloud. If your photos are synced with iCloud, you just need to open your browser on a new Xiaomi phone, go to iCloud.com, log in to your Apple ID and download the necessary files. Although less convenient than direct transfer, this method guarantees that you can get the original files in their original HEIC or JPEG format.

The format of the photos should be considered. iPhones are often shot in HEIC format, which may not open in some simple galleries without converting. MIUI and HyperOS are usually able to work with this format, but when transmitted through some third-party programs, conversion to a universal JPG may be required.

Direct copying through USB-cable

The oldest, but one of the most reliable, method is to use the personal computer as an intermediate buffer, which is indispensable when you need to transfer terabytes of data, and wireless methods are too slow or unstable, you need a USB Type-C or Micro-USB cable and access to the PC file system.

Connect your old phone to your computer and select the USB File Transfer (MTP) mode from the notification menu. The screen will open a Explorer window where you need to find the DCIM → Camera folder. This is where all the pictures taken on the camera are stored. Copy this folder to your computer's hard drive.

Then plug in a new Xiaomi phone.Android folder structure is standard, so you can just drag and drop the copied files to a similar DCIM directory on the new device.The system will automatically index the files and they will appear in the gallery.

• 💾 Perfect for transfer. RAW-file-and-video 4K/8K, heavy-weight.
• 🔌 It does not depend on the speed of the Wi-Fi router and the quality of the wireless module of the smartphone.
• 🗂 Allows you to audit files and remove debris before downloading to a new phone.

It is important to properly extract devices. Once you have finished copying files to your new phone, use the Safe Retrieval feature in your computer operating system to prevent possible file system damage or loss of data if the recording caching has not yet been completed.

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Using a PC is the only way to securely transfer files without compression and with the full folder structure, which is important for archives.

Solving Common Problems in Transfer

Even with the best tools, there can be disruptions. Often users are faced with a situation where the process freezes by 99% or some files are corrupted. One common reason is aggressive battery optimization in MIUI, which kills the background transfer process if the screen goes out.

If the transfer is interrupted, don't panic. In most cases, Mi Mover and other smart utilities save progress. Try to delete temporary files created during the failed attempt and start the process again, selecting only those categories that were not transferred.

Another problem is the lack of space. Always check the space available on the target device before migrating. If you're carrying 100GB of photos and only 90GB is free, you'll inevitably end up with an error, in which case you can temporarily disable the synchronization of the system folders or move some of the archive later.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the copying process by pulling the cable or forcibly closing applications if there is a progress indicator on the screen.This can lead to “broken” files that cannot be opened.

To diagnose problems, you can use the built-in Security app on Xiaomi, which allows you to check memory for errors and clear the cache that may have accumulated as a result of failed attempts to install applications or transfer data.

Gallery organization and cleaning after transfer

Once the migration is completed successfully, it’s time to clean up the mess, and when you transfer from different devices, duplicates often form: the same photos can be in the Camera, WhatsApp Images and Download folder. Xiaomi Gallery has a built-in tool for finding and removing duplicates, which saves space significantly.

To access this tool, go to the Gallery app, click on the Albums tab and search for Deleted or search for Duplicates, and the system will analyze the hash amounts of files and suggest removing copies, leaving the originals in the best quality.

You can also set up automatic sorting, so you can hide system folders in the gallery settings that don't hold value to the user (like app icon folders or temporary browser files), which will make viewing your personal collection more enjoyable and structured.

Keep in mind that you have regular backups. Now that all your memories are on your new device, set up automatic sync with Google Photos or Xiaomi Cloud, which will keep you from losing data in the event of a phone loss or breakage in the future.