How to transfer photos from Huawei to Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions and life hacks

The transition from Huawei to Xiaomi is not only about changing the interface, but also about moving personal data. Photos tend to take up the lion’s share of memory, and losing them can be a tragedy. Fortunately, there are several reliable ways to transfer images between these two ecosystems, from classic wired methods to cloud services with automatic synchronization.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of photo transfer, taking into account the features of EMUI (Huawei firmware) and MIUI (Xiaomi firmware), you will learn which method is the fastest, which is the safest, and how to avoid typical errors, such as loss of quality or duplicate files, and we will pay special attention to transfer without a computer, since this option is most popular among users.

If you’ve tried to copy photos before but have problems (e.g. Xiaomi can’t see the DCIM folder or files won’t open), there’s a section at the end of this article that addresses the most common bugs, and we’ll compare the speed and convenience of each method in the table to help you choose the best option for your situation.

Preparation for the transfer: what to do before copying

Before you start the transfer, follow a few simple but important steps that will save time and prevent data loss.

Check the space available on Xiaomi. If the new phone has less memory than the amount of photos you can carry, some files may not be copied. You can find out the free space from the Settings → Memory menu. Optimal if you have at least 10-15% of the total volume.

Also sort the photos on Huawei:

• 📁 Remove duplicates (use Gallery → Albums → Duplicates app).
• 🗑️ Clear the cart (in EMUI deleted photos are stored there for 30 days).
• 🔍 Check hidden folders (e.g.,.thumbnails or Pictures/Screenshots) if you want to move them.

If you plan to use a wired method (via cable or OTG), make sure both phones are at least 50% charged. interruption of the process due to battery discharge can cause files to be damaged.

2. Method 1: Transfer over USB cable (the fastest method)

Using a USB Type-C cable, a USB Type-C (or adapter) is the most reliable and quickest way, especially if you need to transfer tens of gigabytes of photos. Transfer speeds can reach 480 Mbps (USB 2.0) or 5-10 Gbps (USB 3.0), depending on the ports of the phones.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Huawei to Xiaomi using a cable. If phones have different connectors (for example, Huawei P30 with USB-C and Redmi Note 8 with Micro-USB), use an adapter.
2. On Huawei, select File Transfer (or MTP) mode in the notification that appears.
3. On Xiaomi, open the Files by Google app or the standard MI File Manager.
4. Go to the HUAWEI section (or your model name) → Internal Storage → DCIM → Camera.
5. Select the desired photos (long press → tick) and click Copy.
6. Return to the Xiaomi root directory, go to Internal Storage → DCIM → Camera and click Insert.

Important: If the DCIM folder on Xiaomi is missing, create it manually – otherwise photos may not appear in the gallery.

Connect the cable to both phones

Select MTP mode on Huawei

Open a file manager on Xiaomi

Find the DCIM/Camera folder on Huawei

Copy files into a similar folder on Xiaomi-->

The transfer speed depends on the USB version:

• 🔌 USB 2.0 (up to 480 Mbit/s): ~10-15 MB/s (suitable for 100-200 photo).
• ⚡ USB 3.0/3.1 (up to 10 Gbps): ~50-100 MB/s (optimum for thousands of photos).

💡

If the phone is not detected, try another cable or enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 times click on version, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).

Method 2: Transfer through a memory card (without a computer)

If both phones have a microSD slot, this method will be the easiest, requiring no internet or extra devices, and speeds are limited only by the card class (optimally UHS-I U3 or higher).

How to transfer the photo:

1. Insert the memory card in Huawei.
2. Open the Gallery, select the necessary photos and click Export → on the memory card.
3. Wait for the copy to be completed (you can check in Files → Memory Map → DCIM).
4. Remove the card and paste it into Xiaomi.
5. On Xiaomi, open Files, go to Memory Map → DCIM, and copy files to internal memory (or leave them on the map).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Does not require a PC or internet connection.
• 🛡️ Minimum risk of data loss (photos remain on the map until successful copying).
• 📱 Works even on older models (e.g. Huawei P9 or Redmi 4A).

⚠️ Warning: If a memory card has been formatted in Huawei as an internal memory (Adoptable Storage feature), it can't be simply removed and pasted into another phone, in which case use the cable or cloud method.

4. Method 3: Cloud Services (Google Photos, Huawei Cloud, Mi Cloud)

Cloud storage is convenient if you have a stable Internet connection and don't have to carry hundreds of gigabytes, and the main advantage is automatic synchronization: photos will be available on any device.

Instructions for Google Photos (recommended option):

1. On Huawei, set up Google Photos (if deleted) and log in to your Google account.
2. In the application settings, enable Backup and Synchronization.
3. Choose quality (Original or High) and wait for the download.
4. On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and open Google Photos – all photos will be available for download.

If you are using Huawei Cloud:

• 📱 Upload your photo to the cloud on Huawei (Settings → Huawei ID → Cloud → Gallery).
• 🌐 Open cloud.huawei.com on Xiaomi via your browser and download the archive.

⚠️ Warning: When using Mi Cloud, photos in their original quality take up a lot of space. If you have a free rate (5GB), you better choose Google Photos or transfer files over cable.

5. Method 4: Wireless transmission (Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, Mi Mover)

If you don't have a cable or a memory card, you can use wireless technology, but there are limitations to every method.

• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct: High speed (up to 30MB/s), but requires support on both phones. Suitable for the Huawei Mate/P and Xiaomi 10/11/12 series.
• 🔵 Bluetooth: Low speed (1-2MB/s), only suitable for 10-20 photos.
• 🔄 Mi Mover (application from Xiaomi): automatically transfers photos, contacts and SMS, but does not work with all Huawei models.

How to transfer via Wi-Fi Direct:

1. On Huawei, open Settings → Wireless Networks → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. On Xiaomi, do the same and connect with Huawei.
3. In the Gallery on Huawei, select a photo, click Send → Wi-Fi Direct and select Xiaomi.

Mi Mover (for compatible models only):

1. Install Mi Mover on both phones from AppGallery (Huawei) and Google Play (Xiaomi).
2. On Xiaomi, choose I am a new user, on Huawei, I am an old user.
3. Scan the QR- code and select Photos to transfer.

Method 5: Transfer over a computer (for large volumes)

If you need to transfer tens of thousands of photos (like the Huawei P50 Pro to the Xiaomi 13 Ultra), your computer will be the most reliable intermediary, and this method is also useful if you want to sort or compress photos before copying.

Instructions for Windows/macOS:

1. Connect Huawei to your PC via cable and select File Transfer mode.
2. Copy the DCIM folder (or individual photos) to your computer’s hard drive.
3. Connect Xiaomi and transfer files to Internal Storage → DCIM → Camera.
4. (Optional) Use sorting software like FastStone Image Viewer or Adobe Lightroom.

Advantages of the method:

• 🖥️ You can edit the photo before transfer (remove duplicates, change format).
• 🔒 Minimum risk of data loss (files are stored on a PC until successful copying).
• 📂 Convenient for backup (you can create a.zip archive).

💡

Transferring over a computer is the only reliable way to reach more than 100GB. Cloud services and wireless methods are too slow or require a paid subscription.

7.Typical errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems, and here are the most common ways to correct them:

If the photos are damaged after transfer (not opened or displayed with artifacts), try:

• 🔄 Repeat copying (probably interrupted).
• 🛠️ Restore files with Recuva or DiskDigger (if deleted).
• 🖼️ Check format: Xiaomi may not support.HEIC (use a converter in.JPG).

8. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions