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

Why transferring photos between Android smartphones of different brands can cause difficulties

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not only about changing the ecosystem, but also about moving personal data. Photos tend to take up the lion’s share of memory, and losing them can be a tragedy. However, even between two Android devices, the transfer process is not always intuitive. It’s all about proprietary shells: One UI from Samsung and MIUI from Xiaomi have different approaches to managing files, cloud services and even data protocols.

For example, Samsung is actively promoting its Samsung Cloud and Smart Switch service, while Xiaomi is betting on Mi Cloud and Explorer built-in tools. In addition, some Xiaomi models (especially the budget Redmi series) may have restrictions on connecting over OTG or USB-C, which makes it difficult to share files directly. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to transfer photos, from the simplest to the most reliable, taking into account the nuances of both brands.

It's important to understand that the choice of method depends not only on the number of photos, but also on their resolution. For example, transferring 500 photos in RAW format (each 20-30 MB) over Bluetooth will take several hours and discharge both phones, whereas the cloud service will cope with the task in 10-15 minutes with good Internet.

Method 1: Direct transmission via cable (USB OTG or Type-C)

The most reliable and quickest method is using a USB Type-C → USB Type-C cable (or an OTG adapter if one of the devices has a microUSB connector), which does not require Internet access, does not compress photos and even works with corrupted files.

🔌 Xiaomi may need to enable file transfer mode (MTP) manually.
📱 Some Samsung models (e.g. Galaxy) S22 Ultra) block access to the folder DCIM screenless.
⚡ When transferring a large volume (more than 10 GB), the cable must support the transmission of the cable. USB 3.0, otherwise it will take hours.

Step-by-step:

Connect both phones with a cable. On Xiaomi, in the notification curtain, select File Transfer (or File Manager).
On Samsung, unlock the screen and confirm access (can you request to Allow Data Access?).
Open Explorer on Xiaomi, go to the section USB-device → Internal Storage → DCIM → Camera.
Select the photos you want (long tap → tick) and click Copy, then select the destination folder on Xiaomi (e.g., Internal Memory → Pictures).

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi doesn’t see Samsung after connecting, check if Samsung has Charging Only activated, and try rebooting both devices or using a different cable, which is cheap. OTG-Adapters often do not support data transmission.

The cable supports data transfer (not just charging)

Xiaomi has MTP mode enabled (in the notification curtain)

Samsung unlocks screen and allows access to files

Free space on Xiaomi exceeds the volume of photos transferred-->

If you don’t have a cable, you can use wireless technology. Xiaomi offers a branded service Mi Share (formerly Xiaomi Share), which works on the Wi-Fi Direct protocol. This method is faster than Bluetooth, but has a limit on file size (usually up to 1 GB per transfer).

How it works:

On Xiaomi, open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Mi Share.
On Samsung, activate Wi-Fi Direct in Wi-Fi settings or through the Quick Settings Panel.
On Xiaomi, select Send, then search your Samsung device list and connect (coding confirmation may be required on both phones).
Select photos in the Xiaomi Gallery (or via Explorer) and click Send → Mi Share.

The transmission speed depends on the phone model:

Xiaomi model	Max, speed Mi Share.	Transfer time of 1 GB
Redmi Note 12 Pro+	~15 MB/s	1-2 minutes
Xiaomi 13 Ultra	~25MB/s	40-50 seconds.
POCO X5	~8MB/s	2-3 minutes

⚠️ Warning: If the transmission is interrupted, check if the phones are overheating – Xiaomi can automatically turn off Wi-Fi Direct at temperatures above 45°C. Also make sure both devices have power saving disabled for the Mi Share app.

Cable.|Through the Cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud)|Po Po Po Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Direct|Through the computer|Another way.-->

Method 3: Cloud Services – Google Photos vs Mi Cloud

Cloud storage is convenient because it allows you to transfer photos without connecting devices directly, but there are nuances with quality and speed.

Option A: Google Photos (without loss of quality)

Google Photos offers unlimited storage for compressed photo format (up to 16 MP) or 15 GB for original quality.

On Samsung, set up Google Photos and log in to your account.
Enable Backup and Synchronization in the application settings.
Wait for the photo to be uploaded (time depends on internet speed).
On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and download photos through Google Photos.

Option B: Mi Cloud (Xiaomi ecosystem only)

Mi Cloud gives 5GB for free, but it's only integrated with Xiaomi devices.

On Samsung, upload photos to any cloud (e.g. Yandex Drive or Mail.ru Cloud).
On Xiaomi, download files from the cloud, then open Settings → Mi Cloud → Gallery and enable synchronization.

Comparison of services:

Parameter	Google Photo	Mi Cloud
Free seat	15 GB (original quality)	5GB
Compression photo	Yes (when choosing "High Quality")	No.
Loading speed	Depends on the Internet.	Slower (servers in China)

💡

If you are porting your photos in their original quality, pre-check the available space in the cloud. Google Photos allows you to use the "Free Space" feature on Samsung after download to delete local copies and save memory.

Method 4: Transmission via computer (Windows/Mac)

If you have a laptop or a PC, you can use it as a middleman, which is a technique that can transfer a lot of data (e.g., 50+GB) and allow you to sort photos before you copy them.

Instructions for Windows:

Connect Samsung to your computer via cable and select File Transfer mode.
Open This Computer → Find a Samsung device and go to the DCIM → Camera folder.
Copy photos to your computer’s hard drive (for example, in a folder). D:\Temp\Samsung_Photos).
Disable Samsung, connect Xiaomi and move files to the Pictures or DCIM folder.

For Mac, you will need to install Android File Transfer (official software from Google).

🖥️ FAT32 The USB flash drive does not support files larger than 4 GB – if you transfer video or RAW, format the drive in exFAT.
🔒 Mac may need to allow access to files in System settings → Confidentiality.

What to do if your computer can’t see Xiaomi? 1. Check the cable – some USB-The cables are for charging only. 2. Update the drivers MTP on PC (via Device Manager). 3. On Xiaomi, go to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and enable debugging by USB (If you have an option available. 4. Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0, blue).--> Method 5

Bluetooth -- when there's no other Bluetooth -- is the slowest, but most versatile way. 10-20 Photos if other methods are not available. Xiaomi and Samsung use different versions of the protocol: 📶 Samsung (starting with the Galaxy) S10) Bluetooth supports 5.0+, which speeds up the transmission to 2 MB/s. 📱 Xiaomi (Redmi Note Series) 11 and newer) also equipped with Bluetooth 5.2, How to transfer photos: Turn on Bluetooth on both phones and pair them (confirmation code usually) 0000 or 1234). On Samsung, open the Gallery, highlight a photo and click Share → Bluetooth. Select your Xiaomi from the list and confirm acceptance on it. ⚠️ Note: When transmitted via Bluetooth, photos are automatically compressed to resolution ~1600×1200 If you care about original quality, use other ways. Also watch the battery charge - long-term transmission over Bluetooth greatly drains the battery. 6: If standard methods don’t work, you can use third-party applications. They often offer higher speeds and additional features (for example, transfer without file size restrictions). Send Anywhere creates a temporary Wi-Fi network between devices. 10-15 MB/s: How to use: Install Send Anywhere on both phones. On Samsung, select Send → Photo and generate 6-On Xiaomi, type this key in the Get section. Xender Xender works on the same principle, but has a simpler interface. Supports folder transfer in its entirety. Minus advertising in the free version. Application comparison: Max App. Speed Limitation on Send Anywhere Advertising ~15 MB/s No Minimum Xender ~10 MB/s No Frequent ShareMe (from Xiaomi) ~8 MB/s Up 1 GB No Frequent errors and how to avoid them Even when following instructions, users face problems. Here are the most common ones and how to solve them: 🚫 "Xiaomi doesn’t see Samsung on cable" → Check if Samsung has Charging Only on, and try another cable (preferably original). ❌ "The photos are not copied, writes 'File damaged'" → This could be due to file system errors. Connect Samsung to your PC and run disk check (chkdsk) /f command-line). 🔄 "Wi-Fi Direct transmission is terminated" → Turn off power saving mode for Mi Share app in Xiaomi battery settings. ☁️ "Google Photos does not upload photos" → Check if Samsung is running Traffic Savings for Background Processes. If none of these methods worked, try the following algorithm: Copy photos from Samsung to a microSD card (if there is a slot). Insert the card into Xiaomi and import files through Explorer. If there is no card slot on Xiaomi, use the card reader and computer as an intermediary. FAQ: Answers to popular questions Can you transfer photos from Samsung to Xiaomi without loss of quality? Yes, if you use direct cable transmission, computer or cloud with original quality (for example, Google Photos with the option "Original quality"). Bluetooth and some applications (for example, Xender) compress photos. Why Xiaomi does not see the data transfer on the DCIM screen? Samsung Security Settings (check Settings) → Biometrics and safety → Other security parameters → Installation from unknown sources.Solution: connect Samsung to your PC and check if the folder is visible DCIM If so, the problem is with the Xiaomi settings. How long will it take to move? 1000 photo (size) 5 MB each)? Time depends on method: Cable USB 3.0: ~5-10 minute (5 GB of data. Wi-Fi Direct (Mi Share): ~15-20 minute, Bluetooth: ~1.5-2 (not recommended) Google Photos (download) + downloading): ~20-40 Can I transfer photos from an old Samsung (2015 Yes, but remember: Old Samsung models (e.g. Galaxy) S6) may not support USB-C — You will need a microUSB adapter → USB-C. Android. 5.0 Wi-Fi Direct may not work with the new Xiaomi.Recommended method: computer or microSD card. What if photos don't open to Xiaomi after transfer? Possible reasons and solutions: Damaged files: Try opening them on Samsung or PC. If they don't, restore them from backup. Incompatible format: Xiaomi may not support.HEIC (iPhone format). Use a converter (e.g. HEIC to JPG in Play Market). File system error: Connect Xiaomi to your PC and start checking the drive.