How to transfer photos from Xiaomi to iPhone: all working ways of 2026

The transition from Xiaomi to iPhone 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 real tragedy. Fortunately, there are several proven ways to transfer images from Redmi, POCO or any other Xiaomi smartphone to an iPhone — from classic cable to cloud services and wireless technology.

In this article, we will look at all the current 2026 methods, including their pros and cons, as well as the typical errors that can occur in the process. It is important to consider that Apple and Xiaomi use different file systems (APFS vs ext4/F2FS), so direct data exchange is not always possible without intermediaries.

1. Transfer photos via cable (Lightning/USB-C → USB-A/Type-C)

The most reliable, but often ignored, way is to use a physical connection, which requires a cable with Lightning/USB-C connectors (for iPhone) and USB-A/Type-C (for Xiaomi). If you have modern models (for example, the iPhone 15 or Xiaomi 13 Ultra), likely both devices support USB-C, which makes it easier to do.

Algorithm of action:

• 🔌 Connect Xiaomi to iPhone via cable (maybe you will need an adapter if the connectors don’t match).
• 📱 On Xiaomi in the notification panel, select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
• 🖥️ On iPhone, open the Files app and go to Review → [The name of your Xiaomi].
• 📁 Find the file. DCIM → Camera (or another place where photos are stored) and copy files to your iPhone memory.

⚠️ Note: If the iPhone does not see Xiaomi as a removable drive, check:

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (especially with the MIUI 14+) regime MTP It can be blocked by default. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Developer → Configuration USB by default and select File Transfer.

Advantages of the method: maximum transfer speed (up to 40 MB / s with USB 3.0) and no dependence on the Internet.

2. Use of cloud services (Google Photos, iCloud, Mi Cloud)

Cloud storage is a universal way that doesn't require any additional devices, and let's look at three popular options:

Step-by-step instructions for Google Photos (the most versatile option):

1. 📱 Install Google Photos on Xiaomi.
2. 🔄 Enable autoboot: Settings → Backup and synchronization.
3. ☁️ Wait for the download to be completed (can be accelerated via Wi-Fi).
4. 📲 On your iPhone, install Google Photos and log in to the same account.
5. ⬇️ Select a photo and click Save on the device.

⚠️ Note: If you have thousands of photos, it can take hours to download.To save space in the cloud, turn on the High Quality option (compression) in the Google Photo settings before syncing.

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Before mass uploading to the cloud, sort your photos on Xiaomi by folder (e.g., “Vacation 2023”, “Family”), which will make it easier to search on your iPhone after the transfer.

3. Wireless transmission via AirDrop (Mac only)

If you have a MacBook or an iMac, you can use AirDrop, Apple’s wireless technology, which is suitable for a small number of photos (up to 50-100 pieces), as it requires manual confirmation of each file.

Instructions:

• 🖥️ On Mac, open the Finder → AirDrop and enable visibility for Everything.
• 📱 On Xiaomi, select a photo in the gallery, click Share → Bluetooth (or other way to send files).
• 🔍 Your Mac should appear in the list of devices.
• ✅ Confirm your Mac files, then drag them to the Photo folder or send them via AirDrop to your iPhone.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi does not support AirDrop directly, so the Mac acts as an intermediary.The transfer speed depends on the Bluetooth version (on Xiaomi). 12T Pro and newer Bluetooth 5.3, which speeds up the process).

4. Applications for file transfer (SHAREit, Send Anywhere, Xender)

Specialized applications for file sharing between platforms often save when standard methods don't work.-3 decision:

1. Send Anywhere (Recommended!)

• ✅ No registration required.
• ✅ Speed up to 10 MB/s over Wi-Fi Direct.
• ✅ Supports folders and large files (up to 10 GB at a time).

How to use:

1. Install Send Anywhere on Xiaomi and iPhone.
2. On Xiaomi, select a photo and click Send.
3. 6-digit code is generated or QR-code.
4. On the iPhone, enter the code or scan the QR - the transfer will begin.

2.SHAREit (popular but with advertising)

3. Xender (good for larger files, but slower)

⚠️ Note: When using Wi-Fi Direct (as in these applications), turn off mobile Internet on both devices to avoid network conflict. Also watch for battery power - intensive data transfer can drain the smartphone for a long time. 10-15 minute.

Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (or use Wi-Fi Direct)

Close the background apps (especially instant messengers and games)

Check the space on your iPhone (photos take up a lot of memory)

Turn it off. VPN (It can block the local connection)-->

5. Computer Transfer (Windows/macOS)

If you have a PC or a laptop, you can use it as an intermediate storage device, which is a method that can transfer all data (not just photos), including videos, documents and music.

Instructions for Windows:

1. 🔌 Connect Xiaomi to your PC via cable and select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
2. 📂 Open this computer and copy the photo from the folder DCIM on disk C: or desktop.
3. 🔌 Disable Xiaomi and connect your iPhone.
4. 📱 On iPhone, confirm trust in your computer (if you request it).
5. 🖱️ In Explorer, open the folder with photos, highlight them and drag them to the Internal Storage window. → DCIM Your iPhone (if you use iTunes or Finder on macOS).

MacOS will require additional software, such as Android File Transfer, as the Mac does not support MTP out of the box.

⚠️ Note: When copying through iTunes/Finder Photos may not show up in the iPhone gallery right away. Restart your device or open the Photos app to initiate scanning of new files.

6. Alternative methods: mail, messengers, external drive

If none of the above methods are suitable, consider these options:

• 📧 Email: Send photos to your own mail (e.g. Gmail or Mail.ru) and download them to your iPhone. 10-20 Photos, as most services limit the size of investments (up to the 25 MB).
• 💬 Messengers: Telegram (without file size restrictions), WhatsApp (up to 2 GB per file) or Viber. minus - quality compression in some applications.
• 💾 External drive: Use a flash drive with a connector USB-C/Lightning (So, for example, SanDisk iXpand, copy a photo from Xiaomi onto a flash drive, then plug it into your iPhone.
• 🖥️ Network storage (NAS): If you have a home server or NAS (For example, Synology, upload the photo there and then download it to your iPhone.

⚠️ Note: When using messengers photos in the format HEIC (iPhone standard may not display correctly on Xiaomi. To avoid problems, convert your photos to Xiaomi before sending them. JPEG via the Gallery app on iPhone.

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For mass transfer (thousands of photos), the optimal cloud services or cable. For single images - messengers or AirDrop (via Mac).

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos from Xiaomi to iPhone