How to transfer photos from one Xiaomi to another: all ways with pros and cons

Transferring photos between Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every brand user faces when buying a new device or sharing snapshots. Unlike the iPhone, where syncing is automated as much as possible via iCloud, the Xiaomi ecosystem offers several alternative solutions, from proprietary tools like Mi Share to universal methods like cloud services or a physical memory card, the choice of how to choose depends on the amount of data, the speed of the Internet connection and even the model of your devices.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to transfer photos between Xiaomi phones – from the fastest (direct transmission over Wi-Fi) to the most reliable (using microSD). Particular attention will be paid to the hidden Mi Share settings, which speed up the transfer of large files by 2-3 times, and also analyze why some methods may not work on older models like the Redmi Note 5 or the new flagships of the Xiaomi 14 series. If you need to transfer not only photos, but also videos, contacts or messages, there is a bonus section at the end of the article with instructions for full data migration.

1. Mi Share: a proprietary way from Xiaomi (the fastest)

Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop) is a built-in application for wireless file transfer between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. It uses Wi-Fi Direct, so it does not require an Internet connection and works at speeds up to 10-15 MB / s (depending on the model), the main advantage is the absence of file size restrictions and maintaining the original quality of the images.

To move your photo through Mi Share, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open the Files app on both smartphones and select a folder DCIM (photo-storage).
• 🔗 Press the Share button (or hold your finger on a file to highlight multiple pictures).
• 📤 In the transfer menu, select Mi Share (the icon with two phones).
• 🔄 On the second phone, confirm the receipt of files by clicking Accept in the notification.

If Mi Share doesn't find a second phone, check:

• 🔌 Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not necessarily, but speeds up search).
• 📶 Both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled (even if the transmission is over Wi-Fi Direct).
• 🔄 Mi Share Settings (in the app) has enabled Visibility for all.

Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both phones |Open Files app and select photo |Make sure both devices have the latest Mi Share update |Check the available space on the receiving phone-->

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) Mi Share can limit the transfer speed to 5 MB/s. To fix the problem, go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Mi Share → Memory and clear cache.

2. Transmission via OTG cable: for large volumes (up to 100 GB)

If you need to transfer thousands of high-resolution photos or videos (for example, from Xiaomi 13 Ultra to Xiaomi 14 Pro), the most reliable way is to use a cable. USB OTG (or Type-C adapter → Type-C: This method works 5-10 times faster than wireless alternatives, and is independent of network stability. Transmission speeds can reach 40-60 MB/s (on flagships with a high-speed, high-speed, low-speed, low-speed transmission system). UFS 3.1).

You'll need:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C → USB-C (or USB-A → USB-C s OTG-adapter).
• 📱 Both phones with support OTG (Check the characteristics of the model).
• 🔋 Charge not less than 30% (transfer of large volumes drains the battery).

Instructions:

1. Connect the cable to both phones, and one of them will have a notification on the screen. USB-Connection – Select File Transfer.
2. On the second phone, open Explorer (or Files) and go to the section. USB-device.
3. Find the DCIM → Camera folder (or another photo folder) and copy the files to the memory of the second phone.

⚠️ Note: If the phone starts to drain too quickly when you connect the cable, use an externally powered hub or connect one of the phones to charge. On some models (for example, Redmi Note 11) when transferring large files can trigger thermal protection – in this case, take a break for 5-10 minutes.

Mi Share (Wi-Fi Direct)| OTG| Cloud Services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud)|Bluetooth| Memory Map-->

3. Cloud services: Google Photos vs Mi Cloud

If you don't have a cable or Mi Share is unstable, you can use cloud storage, and the main advantage of this method is access to photos from any device, and the disadvantage is the dependence on Internet speed and the restriction on free space.

Instructions for Google Photos:

1. Install Google Photos on both phones.
2. On the first phone, click on the avatar → Photo settings → Backup and enable sync.
3. Wait for the photo to be uploaded to the cloud (you can speed up by connecting to Wi-Fi).
4. On the second phone, log in to the same Google account and download the photo through Photo → Library.

Instructions for Mi Cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on the synchronization of the Gallery and wait for the download.
3. On the second phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and download a photo through Mi Cloud → Gallery.

💡

If you often transfer photos between devices, set up automatic backup in Google Photos or Mi Cloud, so new photos will be available on both phones immediately after shooting.

Bluetooth 4: Slowly but without internet

Bluetooth is the most versatile, but also the slowest way to transfer photos, and rarely exceeds 1-2 MB/s, so it is suitable for only a few shots (for example, 10-20 photos), the advantage is that it works even without the Internet and does not require additional applications.

How to transfer photos over Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
2. Make your phones visible to everyone (in Bluetooth settings).
3. On the first phone, select a photo → Share → Bluetooth and select the second phone.
4. Confirm reception on the second device.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 8 or POCO F1) When transmitted via Bluetooth, photos are automatically compressed to resolution. 1280×960. To avoid loss of quality, use other methods.

5. microSD memory card: for phones with support

If both of your phones support microSD cards (like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO X5 Pro), this will be the easiest and most reliable way to do it, depending on the card class:

• 🟢 Class 10 / UHS-I — up to 30-50 MB/s.
• 🟡 Class 4 – up to 4-10 MB/s (slow for large volumes).

Instructions:

1. Insert the memory card in the first phone.
2. Open files → DCIM and copy the photo to the map (in a folder, for example, Transfer).
3. Remove the card and insert it into the second phone.
4. Copy the photo from the card into your internal memory.

If you only have one card slot (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Lite), use it. USB-cardreader OTG connect card to phone.

💡

A memory card is the only way to transfer photos that is independent of battery power, internet speed or model compatibility, ideal for travel or places with poor network coverage.

Bonus: how to transfer not only photos, but also other data

If you need to migrate data from the old Xiaomi to the new one (including contacts, messages, apps, and settings), use the Mi Mover app, which works on the Mi Share principle, but copies the entire system, not just media files.

Instructions for Mi Mover:

1. Install Mi Mover on both phones (available from the App Store for new models).
2. On the old phone, choose I am the source, on the new phone, I am the receiver.
3. Scan it. QR-link-code.
4. Select data for transfer (photo, video, contacts, SMS) and confirm.

If Mi Mover does not find the device, check:

• 📶 Both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• 🔄 On the old phone, the Data Transfer mode is enabled in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions