The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, especially when it comes to keeping personal photos safe. Even if both devices are from the same manufacturer, users often face the question: which transfer method to choose so as not to lose the quality of images, how to avoid synchronization errors, and why some methods work faster than others?
In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to transfer photos between Xiaomi phones, from standard MIUI features to little-known life hacks. You’ll learn how to transfer photos without loss of quality, what tools to use for large amounts of data, and what to do if standard methods do not work.
Whether you want to migrate a few pictures or a gallery over the years, you'll find the best solution here, and if you want to save not only photos, but also videos, contacts or messages, there's a bonus section at the end of this article with instructions for full data migration.
1. Mi Share (Mi Drop) - built-in file transfer tool
Mi Share (formerly known as Mi Drop) is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for wireless file transfer between MIUI-based devices, which requires no internet connection, runs over a local Wi-Fi Direct network, and supports up to 10GB of file transfer in a single session.
To use the Mi Share, both phones must be connected to the same network (or create it yourself) and have Bluetooth enabled. The transfer speed depends on the device model: on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with Wi-Fi 6E, it can reach 50-70 MB / s, while on the budget Redmi - about 10-20 MB / s.
Instructions for use:
- Open the Files app on both phones.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Mi Share.
- On the old phone, click Send, on the new one, Receive.
- Select photos and confirm the transmission.
⚠️
Note: If the transmission is interrupted, check if Power Saving Mode or Battery Optimization for Files is blocking the transmission. Disable these settings in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.
Turn off the power saving mode
Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on both devices
Close background applications that consume traffic
Check the free space on the receiving device-->
Mi Share is ideal for transferring small photo packets (up to 500-1000 images). For large archives, it is better to use other methods - read about them below.
2. Transmission via OTG cable: maximum speed and reliability
If you need to transfer thousands of high-resolution photos or videos, the fastest way is to use an OTG (On-The-Go) cable, which guarantees transfer speeds of up to 100-150MB/s (on USB 3.0 devices) and is independent of Wi-Fi stability.
You'll need:
- 🔌 Cable OTG (Type-C → Type-C or Type-C → MicroUSB, depending on your phone ports).
- 📁 File Manager (embedded Files from Xiaomi or third-party, such as Solid Explorer).
- 🔋 Charging – Long-term transfer of large files drains the battery.
Step-by-step:
- Connect the OTG cable to the new phone (receiving files).
- Connect your old phone to the OTG cable. On the screen of the old device, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
- Open the file manager on your new phone in the section USB-The storage folder will appear DCIM photo-in.
- Copy the required folders (Camera, Screenshots, etc.) into internal memory or on the computer. SD-mapping.
Important: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. POCO F5), you may need to unlock access in the developer settings when you first connect via OTG (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then in Additional settings → For developers, enable USB debugging).
💡
If it's cable OTG It doesn't recognize, try reconnecting it or using a different port. On some Xiaomi phones, the bottom port is the one that's not on the phone. USB-port OTG, And the sideways, no.
| Method of transmission | Speed. | Max. Volume. | Internet is required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Share | 10-70 MB/s | 10GB | No. | ⭐ |
| OTG cable | 50-150 MB/s | Not limited. | No. | ⭐⭐ |
| Google Photo | Depends on the Internet. | 15GB (free) | Yes. | ⭐⭐ |
| Xiaomi Cloud | Depends on the Internet. | 5-10 GB (free) | Yes. | ⭐ |
3. Cloud services: Google Photos vs Xiaomi Cloud
If you don’t have an OTG cable on hand or want to back up your photos, cloud services are a great option. Consider two of Xiaomi’s most popular owners: Google Photos and Xiaomi Cloud.
Google Photos offers 15GB of free storage (common with other Google services) and automatically syncs photos in original quality (if you choose the option High quality, files are compressed, but without visible loss of detail).
How to transfer photos via Google Photos:
- 📱 Install Google Photos on both phones.
- 🔄 On your old phone, enable Backup and Sync in the app settings.
- ☁️ Wait for the download to be completed (time depends on internet speed).
- 📲 On your new phone, log in to the same Google account and wait for sync.
Xiaomi Cloud is a proprietary cloud from Xiaomi that offers 5 GB for free (for Mi Account users older than 3 months - up to 10 GB), and its plus is deep integration with MIUI: photos are automatically sorted by albums, and backups are created in the background.
- ❌ Limited space (maximum 10 GB free).
- ❌ Slow download/downloading with weak internet.
- ❌ There is no web version to view photos from PC (only through the application).
⚠️
Note: When using Xiaomi Cloud, photos in their original quality take up more space than optimized ones. If you have compression enabled, some of the details may be lost. Check the settings in Mi Cloud → Photos → Download quality.
Google Photo
Xiaomi Cloud
Yandex.Disk.
iCloud
Other-->
4. Computer Transmission: Reliable and Unlimited
If you have a computer or laptop on hand, transferring photos through it is one of the most reliable ways, and it is suitable for full migration of data, including hidden folders (for example,.thumbnails or Pictures/Screenshots), which are not always copied through the cloud.
You'll need:
- 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
- 🔌 Cable USB (Best Original from Xiaomi for stable transfer).
- 📁 File Manager (e.g. Explorer in Windows or Finder on Mac).
Step-by-step:
- Connect your old phone to your computer and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
- Open the DCIM folder on your phone and copy all the folders you need (Camera, Screenshots, etc.) to your computer.
- Turn off the old phone and connect the new one.
- Move the copied folders to the appropriate directories on the new device.
🔹 Tip for macOS: If Finder can't see Xiaomi's phone, install the Android File Transfer app (official software from Google). on some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) You may need to include a debugging USB developer-setting.
⚠️
Warning: When copying via computer, avoid using Quick formatting flash drives or external drives to which you temporarily save photos. This can lead to data loss. Always use Secure Device Removal.
How to speed up transmission via computer?
5. Bluetooth and NFC: When there are no other ways
If you don’t have access to Wi-Fi, OTG cable or computer, you can use Bluetooth or NFC, which is suitable for transferring a small number of photos (up to 10-20 pieces), as the speed is limited:
- 📶 Bluetooth: Speed — 1-3 MB/s: Maximum file size – usually up to 50 MB (depending on the model).
- 📱 NFC: It only works to transfer links to files (for example, via Android Beam), not the photos themselves. 1-2 snapshot.
How to transfer photos via Bluetooth:
- Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings → Bluetooth).
- Connect the devices (click on the name of the second phone in the list of available).
- Open the gallery, select a photo → Share → Bluetooth.
- Select the target device and confirm the transmission.
⚠️
Note: When transmitted via Bluetooth, photos can be compressed to a resolution of 1280×960 pixels (even if the original is in 4K).
🔹 Alternative: If NFC It does not work on your Xiaomi model (for example, on your own phone). POCO M5 Try Mi Share – it uses Wi-Fi Direct, which is faster than Bluetooth. 10-20 once.
Third-party applications: when standard methods are insufficient
If the built-in MIUI tools don't suit you, you can use third-party apps, which often offer additional features such as lossless compression, encryption, or LAN transmission without the Internet.
Top.-3 Photo transfer applications between Xiaomi:
- 📲 Send Anywhere – transfer without limitation on file size, support for cross-platform (iOS, Android, PC) Up to 50 MB / s when connected to a single Wi-Fi network.
- 🔗 Snapdrop is a web service (no installation required) that runs through a browser. Perfect if you can't install apps.
- 📁 Feem – creates a local network for transferring files at speeds up to 30 MB / s.
How to use Send Anywhere:
- Install the app on both phones.
- On the old phone, select a photo and click Send.
- 6-digit code is generated or QR-code.
- On the new phone, enter the code or scan the QR and the transfer will begin.
⚠️
Note: Some apps (such as SHAREit) may contain ads or request unnecessary permissions. Check Google Play reviews and privacy settings before installing.
💡
The app side is convenient for transfer between different brands (for example, Xiaomi → Samsung), but for phones of the same brand it is better to use built-in MIUI tools – they are optimized and do not require additional permissions.
7. Transfer of hidden and system photos
Besides the usual files. DCIM/Camera, Xiaomi phone can store hidden photos:
- 🔍.thumbnails – miniatures for quick downloading of the gallery.
- 📂 Pictures/Screenshots — Screenshots and saved images from messengers.
- 🔒 MIUI/Extra — backups of wallpaper, avatars and other system files.
To move them, follow the following steps:
- Connect your phone to your computer in MTP mode.
- Enable the display of hidden files: In Windows: View → Hidden Items. On Mac: Finder → CMD + Shift + keyboard shortcut..
Copy the folders you need to your computer, then transfer them to a new phone.
🔹 Important: Don't copy the folder MIUI whole, it can cause conflicts in the new firmware, MIUI/Extra/Wallpapers).
⚠️
Note: If you use a Private Album in the Xiaomi Gallery, export it separately: open the album → click on three dots → Export. These photos are not copied by standard methods!