How to transfer photos from Google Photos to Xiaomi phone: all ways with explanations

Transferring photos from Google Photos to Xiaomi’s smartphone is a challenge that millions of users face, and the reasons range from wanting to free up cloud storage to having backups on the device. However, not everyone knows that the process can be radically different depending on the model of the phone, the version of the phone. MIUI and even the settings of Google account.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to transfer photos, from standard synchronization to manual copying via PC, you will learn how to avoid typical errors (for example, duplicate files or loss of quality), what settings are set up. MIUI It affects the speed of uploading, and why sometimes photos don't show up in the gallery even after a successful transfer. MIUI 14+ We have prepared separate recommendations – in new versions of firmware, the algorithm for working with cloud services has changed.

If you’ve used an iPhone or other brands’ smartphones before, note that Xiaomi has some nuances about folder rights and media caching, and we’ll take a closer look at them so you don’t waste time on pointless attempts.

1. Method: Automatic synchronization through the Google Photos app

The most obvious method is to use the built-in sync feature in the official Google Photos app, which is suitable for most Xiaomi models (from the Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra), but requires the right permissions setup and a stable Internet connection.

To enable automatic loading:

• 📱 Open the Google Photos app and log in to your account.
• 👤 Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner → Settings Photo → Backup and synchronization.
• 🔄 Switch the slider to the "On" position and select the load quality (Original or High).
• 📁 Specify folders for synchronization (all media files are selected by default).

On Xiaomi MIUI 13/14 When you activate the sync, you may notice that you need to give the application access to All files, and that's a mandatory step, because without it, the photos will not be uploaded to the device:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Google Photo → Permits.
2. Select Files and Media → Allow access to all files.
3. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

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If, after enabling sync, photos do not appear in the gallery, restart the Google Photos app and check the folder. Download/Google Photos via any file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager).

The download speed depends on the number of files and the speed of the Internet. For example, to transfer 1000 photos in original quality at a Wi-Fi speed of 50 Mbps, it takes about 15-20 minutes.

• 🔋 Battery level (at <15% MIUI Limits background processes).
• 📶 Connection stability (switch from mobile internet to Wi-Fi).
• 🗑️ Free space on the device (minimum 10% of the volume of files transferred is required).

2. Method: Manual download via the web version of Google Photos

If automatic sync is not working (for example, due to Google account limitations or errors in your Google account) MIUI), You can download photos from a browser. This method is universal and is suitable even for devices with a computer. MIUI 12 and below, where there is no separate Google Photos app.

Instructions:

1. Open a browser (recommended by Google Chrome or Mi Browser) and go to photos.google.com.
2. Sign up under your Google account.
3. Select the necessary photos (to highlight several files, press your finger on one of them and swipe on the rest).
4. Click on the icon «⋮» (three points) in upper right corner → Download.
5. After downloading, the files will be saved in the Download folder (or Downloads on Russian firmware).

Please note the limitations:

• 🚫 You can download no more than 500 photos at a time (if the limit is exceeded, the service will offer to create a new photo). ZIP-archive).
• 📦 Archives weighing more than 2 GB are not loaded – they will have to be broken into pieces.
• 🔄 If the download is interrupted, start again: Google Photos does not support restarting the download.

To speed up the process, use the traffic saving mode in the browser (in Chrome: ⋮ → Settings → Light Mode: This will reduce the quality of the preview, but will not affect the final files.

3. Method: Transfer over Google Drive (for large archives)

If you need to transfer tens of thousands of photos (for example, a full backup for several years), it is more convenient to use Google Drive. This method allows you to download files in packs of 50 GB at a time and is suitable for devices with limited disk space (you can first download to a PC and then transfer to Xiaomi).

Algorithm of action:

1. On PC, open Google Drive and log in.
2. In the left menu, select Google Photos. → Check the required albums or folders.
3. Right-hand press. → The service will automatically create ZIP-archive.
4. After completing the archiving, download the file to the PC.
5. Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode in the Notification Curtain).
6. Copy the archive into the Download folder on your phone and unpack it with Mi File Manager or RAR.

Important: When unpacking large archives (more than 10 GB) on smartphones with 6-8 GB of RAM, you may experience a “Not enough memory” error, in which case use a PC to unpack or break the archive into parts of 5-7 GB.

Advantages of the method:

• 🗃️ The ability to download all photos at once (as opposed to the 500-file limit in the web version).
• 🔒 The original folder structure and file names are saved.
• 🖥️ You can use a PC for intermediate storage if there is little space on the phone.

Make sure there is enough space for your PC to archive.|Check the Internet speed (minimum 10 Mbit / s)|Use the original. USB-cable|Turn off the “Charge Only” mode in the notification curtain|Close the background apps on your phone to speed up copying-->

4. Method: Use of the Google Files app (for MIUI 14+)

In the firmware MIUI 14 and newer (e.g. on Xiaomi) 13T, Redmi K60) Improved integration with Google services, including the Files by Google app, allows you to download photos directly from the cloud without any additional settings.

How it works:

1. Install Files by Google from the Play Market.
2. Open it and go to the Cloud tab.
3. Select Google Photos → log in.
4. Mark the desired files and click Save on the device.
5. Please specify the folder to save (recommended) DCIM/GooglePhotos for automatic display in the gallery).

Features of the method:

• ⚡ Faster than standard synchronization by 20-30% due to optimization in the MIUI 14.
• 📂 Automatically creates a separate folder so as not to mix photos with other files.
• 🔄 Supports background loading (you can close the application).

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Google Files is the only official way to transfer photos to Xiaomi MIUI 14+, which does not require manual file access rights.

If after downloading photos are not displayed in the gallery, update the media base:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Gallery → Storage → Clear cache

5. Method: Transfer over PC with Mi PC Suite (for older models)

For devices on MIUI 10-12 (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi) 9T) or if you have problems with Google services, you can use the proprietary utility Mi PC Suite: It allows you to manage files on your phone through your computer, including uploading photos from cloud storage.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Mi PC Suite on PC.
2. Connect Xiaomi through USB, Selecting File Transfer Mode (MTP).
3. In the utility go to the Files tab → Imports.
4. Select the source of Google Photos (you will need authorization in the browser).
5. Mark the desired albums or folders and confirm the download.

Advantages of Mi PC Suite:

• 🔌 It works even on phones with an unlocked bootloader or custom firmware.
• 📥 Supports batch loading without limiting the number of files.
• 🛠️ Built-in tools for repairing damaged photos.

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If Mi PC Suite does not recognize the phone, update drivers through Device Manager (Portable Devices section), or use the original USB-kit-line.

Disadvantages:

• 🐢 Slower than direct download via Google Photos (speed is limited by Xiaomi’s proprietary protocol).
• 🖥️ Requires installation of additional software on PC.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you migrate photos from Google Photos to Xiaomi, users often face preventable problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

⚠️ Note: If photos are displayed in a gallery without thumbnails (gray icons) after transfer, this means that the files are corrupted. Try downloading them again or use Mi File Manager to check the integrity of the file.

Error 1: Photos are not uploaded due to Google account restrictions.

Reasons:

• 🔒 Two-factor authentication (2FA) block access to third-party applications.
• 📅 The account belongs to the organization (enterprise Google Workspace with restrictions).
• 🚫 Exceeded the limit on the number of downloads (for example, when downloading more than 10,000 photos per day).

Solution: temporarily shut down 2FA, Use a personal Google account or break down the download into 2,000-3,000 photos.

Mistake 2: There is not enough space on the phone.

MIUI It reserves up to 5-7 GB of system partition that doesn't show up as free space:

• 🧹 Remove the app cache through Settings → Warehouse → Clean up.
• 🗑️ Transfer the rarely used files to SD-card (if supported).
• ☁️ Temporarily upload your photos to another cloud service (like Yandex Drive) and then download them to your phone.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi phones with a hybrid slot under the SIM+microSD (e.g. Redmi) 9A) The memory card is disabled when the second SIM. Before transferring the photo, remove the second SIM Or use an adapter for a microSD.

Error 3: Photos are uploaded but not displayed in the gallery.

This is because Xiaomi only scans media files in certain folders (DCIM, Pictures). Solutions:

• 📁 Move the photo to the folder DCIM/Camera Mi File Manager via Mi File Manager.
• 🔄 Restart the Gallery app or restart the phone.
• 🛠️ Manually update the media base through Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the data (photos will not be deleted).

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The choice of transfer method depends on the number of photos, Xiaomi model and available tools. Below are recommendations for different scenarios:

For most users, a combination of methods is optimal:

1. Sync your latest photos (over the past year) through the Google Photos app.
2. Download old archives via Google Drive to your PC and then transfer them to your phone.
3. Use Files by Google to access the cloud directly from your phone.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions