How to transfer photos from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: all ways with detailed instructions

Transferring photos between Xiaomi smartphones only seems to be a simple task – in practice, users face slowing down Bluetooth transmission, sync errors through Mi Cloud or problems with recognizing devices over Wi-Fi Direct. If you need to transfer hundreds of images from the Redmi Note 12 to the POCO X5 or transfer the photo archive from the old Mi 11 to the new Xiaomi 14, it is important to choose a method that will preserve the quality of images and do not take hours of time.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Proven ways to transfer photos between Xiaomi devices – from the classic cable USB-C to little-known features like Xiaomi Quick Transfer (which works in the 3 You'll find out which method is best for you. 10 photo and which one for 10 000, How to avoid loss of quality in compression and what to do if smartphones "can't see" each other. MIUI 14/15 newer versions.

1. USB-C Cable Transfer: The Fastest and Most Reliable Way

Cable use USB-C → USB-C (or USB-A → USB-C With an adapter, it remains the most stable method of transmitting large volumes of photos, with speeds of 40-60 MB/s (versus 5-10 MB/s over Wi-Fi), and the risk of connection failure is minimal, which is ideal if you need to transfer photos in the original resolution (for example, for example, the photo is not easily accessible, RAW-Photos from Xiaomi 13 Ultra) or archives with a volume of 5 GB.

The transmission will require:

• ⚡ Cable USB-C (Preferably original or certified USB 3.2 Gen 1 for maximum speed).
• 📱 Two Xiaomi smartphones with unlocked screens.
• 🔌 adapter OTG (If one of the devices has a micro-USB connector).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the cable to both smartphones, and the screen will show a notification "USB for file transfer" — tap it.
2. Select File Transfer (MTP) mode on both devices.
3. Open Explorer on your smartphone, from which you transfer the photo, find the DCIM → Camera folder.
4. Select the necessary files, click "Copy", then go to the "Inner memory" section of the second smartphone and paste the photo.

Cable supports data transfer (not just charging)|

Both smartphones have MTP| enabled

Battery charge above 30% (to avoid shutdown)|

The destination folder on the second smartphone has enough space-->

⚠️ Note: If when connecting the cable, the smartphone starts charging, but does not appear as a drive - check the settings for developers (turn on "Debugging by" USB" And reset the device. On some models, POCO You need to allow access to the Settings menu → Additionally. → USB-configuration.

2. Wi-Fi Direct transmission: no cables or clouds

Wi-Fi Direct allows you to transfer photos at speeds up to 20-30 MB / s without connecting to a router. This method is convenient if you do not have a cable, but there is a stable connection between devices.

How to turn on Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi:

1. Open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. Activate the function on both smartphones.
3. On the first device (where to transfer the photo) select the second from the list of available.
4. Confirm the connection on both screens (entry may be required) PIN-code).

For the photo:

• 📂 Open the Gallery, select the desired pictures and click "Send".
• 🔄 In the list of options, select "Wi-Fi Direct" and specify the target device.
• ✅ Wait for the transfer to be completed (notification will appear on the screen).

Cable |

Wi-Fi Direct |

Through the Cloud (Mi Cloud, Google Photos)|

Bluetooth |

Another option-->

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with MIUI 13 and older, Wi-Fi Direct may conflict with Mi Share (the built-in file sharing utility).If devices can't find each other, turn off Mi Share in Connection and Sharing settings.

Xiaomi (Mi Share) Quick Transfer: An Alternative to AirDrop

Mi Share (formerly Xiaomi Quick Share) is Xiaomi’s proprietary technology for instant file sharing between the brand’s devices, which works on the P2P Wi-Fi protocol and achieves speeds of up to 40 MB/s (speedier than AirDrop by 20–30%), the main advantage is the automatic detection of nearby Xiaomi devices without manual connection.

How to use Mi Share:

1. Activate Mi Share on both smartphones: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Mi Share.
2. On the sender device, open the Gallery, select a photo and click "Send → Mi Share".
3. Select the target device from the list (it should be displayed automatically).
4. Confirm receipt on the second smartphone.

💡

If Mi Share doesn’t find the second device, check if it’s Bluetooth enabled – it’s used for the initial handshake before being transferred over Wi-Fi.

The limitations of Mi Share:

• 🚫 It only works between Xiaomi devices, POCO Redmi (does not support other brands).
• 📶 Requires Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled (even without a network connection).
• 🔋 Strongly drains the battery when transferring large files (more than 1 GB).

4. Cloud services: Mi Cloud vs Google Photos

Moving photos through the cloud is convenient if the devices are in different places or you do not have physical access to them. Xiaomi offers two main options: the branded Mi Cloud and universal Google Photos. The first is integrated into MIUI and gives 5 GB for free, the second offers 15 GB (but compression after the quota is exhausted).

Comparison of services:

Step-by-step instructions for Mi Cloud:

1. On the sender smartphone, open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on the synchronization of the "Gallery" and wait for the photo to be uploaded.
3. On the second device, log in to the same Xiaomi account and download a photo through Mi Cloud → Gallery.

⚠️ Note: When using Google Photos in the “High Quality” mode, photos with a resolution above 16 MP will be automatically compressed to 16 MP, and videos will be compressed to up to 16 MP. 1080p. To avoid quality loss, choose the “Original Quality” option (but it is in your quota).

5. MicroSD Memory Card: for large archives

If you have a microSD card (UHS-I U3 is recommended for write speed), it can be used as an intermediate drive, which is suitable for transferring tens of thousands of photos (for example, when replacing a smartphone), or if both devices do not support modern transmission protocols (for example, the old Redmi 4X or Mi A1) models.

How to transfer a photo through a memory card:

1. Insert the card into the sender smartphone.
2. Open Explorer, find the photo folder (DCIM → Camera) and copy them to the map.
3. Remove the card, paste it into the second smartphone and copy the photo to internal memory.

Advantages of the method:

• 💾 There are no limits on the size of the card (except for the size of the card).
• ⚡ Copy speed depends only on the class of the card (up to 90 MB / s for the card). UHS-II).
• 🔒 Photos remain in original quality without compression.

Disadvantages:

• 🛑 Physical access to both devices is required.
• 💳 You need a memory card (if you don’t have one, you’ll have to buy one).
• ⚠️ Risk of file damage when retrieving a card during recording.

💡

The memory card is the only way to transfer photos that is independent of Internet speed, protocol compatibility or battery power, ideal for “field” conditions (for example, on a trip without Wi-Fi access).

6.Bluetooth: When there are no other options

Bluetooth is the slowest and most inconvenient way, but it helps if you don't have a cable, Wi-Fi is off and the cloud is not available. Transfer speeds rarely exceed 1-2 MB/s, and even then, provided that the devices are within a radius of 10 meters. Use it only for transferring 1-2 photos or small archives (up to 50 MB).

How to transfer photos over Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both smartphones (Settings → Connection and Sharing → Bluetooth).
2. Make the devices visible to everyone (the “Visibility” option).
3. On the sender smartphone, open the Gallery, select a photo and select "Send → Bluetooth".
4. Confirm reception on the second device.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+ When transmitting over Bluetooth, photos are automatically compressed to resolution. 2048×1536 pixels (about pixels) 3 If you care about original quality, use other methods.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even with proven methods, users face problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods work, try:

• 🔄 Reboot both smartphones.
• 📱 Update MIUI Up to the latest version (older versions have file transfer bugs).
• 🛠️ Reset network settings (Settings) → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting network settings).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions