How to transfer a photo from your old phone to the new Xiaomi: all the working ways

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a joyful event, but many people face the challenge of how to transfer precious photos from an old device, especially if we are talking about hundreds or thousands of images accumulated over the years. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways from simple (through the cloud) to advanced (direct transmission over Wi-Fi), and also tell you how to avoid typical errors when transferring.

It's important to understand that the choice of method depends on several factors: data volume, computer availability, Internet speed, and even the model of your old phone. For example, for Samsung devices or iPhones, some tools will work, and for older Android smartphones, others, we will look at options for all cases, including a unique way using the proprietary Mi Mover application, which works even without access to the Internet.

If you're afraid of losing data or you're not sure about your technical skills, don't worry. Each method is accompanied by detailed screenshots (in text format) and explanations. FAQ answering the most common questions, such as: "Can I transfer a photo from a broken screen?" or "How to recover accidentally deleted files after transferring a photo from a broken screen?".

Preparation for transfer: what to do before the start

Before you start transferring photos, follow a few mandatory steps that will save time and prevent data loss.

First, check the vacant space on the new Xiaomi. go to Settings → Memory and make sure you have enough space for all the photos. If there is not enough space, delete unnecessary files or transfer them to a memory card (if the slot is supported). POCO X5 There is usually a "Clean Up" option on the same menu, which will help free up a few gigabytes.

Second, back up your old phone, and even if you're planning on using the cloud, a local copy on your computer or external drive is insurance.

• 📱 Connect your old phone to your PC via USB and copy the folder. DCIM (It's a photo stored on a hard drive.
• ☁️ Upload photos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud (if you have a Xiaomi account).
• 💾 Use apps like Files by Google to create an archive right on your phone.

⚠️ Note: If your old phone has encryption enabled (like Samsung with Knox), some portability methods may not work, and then use only the official methods, such as Smart Switch (for Samsung) or cloud services.

Finally, get cables and adapters ready for direct transmission. USB-C You might need to. OTG-iPhone models will require a Lightning-to-USB or Lightning-to-USB-C adapter, depending on the port on your Xiaomi.

2. Method 1: Transfer via Mi Mover (official Xiaomi app)

Mi Mover is a proprietary tool from Xiaomi, which allows you to transfer data (including photos, contacts and messages) directly between two smartphones over Wi-Fi. The main advantage is that you do not need the Internet or a computer, and the transfer speed is 2-3 times faster than through the cloud.

Instructions:

1. Download Mi Mover on both phones from Google Play (or the App Store if the old phone is an iPhone). On new Xiaomi, the app can be pre-installed.
2. Open the app on both devices. On the old phone, select "I am the sender" and on the new phone, "I am the recipient."
3. Click "Next" and scan. QR-The code from the screen of the new phone is old (or enter) PIN-manually).
4. Select "Photos and Videos" from the data list to transfer, and you can also migrate contacts, messages, and apps (but it will take longer).
5. Confirm the transmission on both devices and wait until it's done. Don't leave the app or lock the screens!

The speed of transfer depends on the model of the phone. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro and Redmi Note 11 1000 photos (about 2 GB) are transferred in 5-7 minutes. 4A process can take up to 20 minutes.

⚠️ Note: If your old phone is running Android 5.0 or lower, the Mi Mover may not work.

Install Mi Mover on both phones|Charge both devices at least 50 times%|Connect to a single Wi-Fi network (not necessarily, but speeds up the connection)|Make room for the new Xiaomi-->

3. Method 2: Transfer through Google Photos (the most universal method)

Google Photos is a cloud-based service that automatically backs up all your photos and videos, and its main advantage is cross-platform: you can transfer your photos from your iPhone, Android or even cameras to the new Xiaomi without unnecessary manipulation.

How it works:

1. On your old phone, set up Google Photos (if not already installed) and log in to your Google account.
2. Enable backup: Open the application → tap on the avatar → "Photo settings" → "Backup and sync. Activate the switch and select High Quality (free but compressed) or Original Quality (counted for Google Drive size).

Wait for the download to be completed (it can take anywhere from a few minutes to hours, depending on the volume and speed of the Internet).

Xiaomi

Google

Google Photo

If you want to save your photos not only in the cloud, but also in your phone’s memory:

1. Open Google Photos on the new Xiaomi.
2. Select the desired pictures (or click on three dots) → "Highlight everything").
3. Press three points. → "Save it to the device. Photos will appear in the folder. DCIM/Google Photo Photo.

Instructions for Android → Xiaomi:

1. Connect your old phone to your new Xiaomi via cable. On the screen of your old device, select File Transfer Mode (or "MTP").
2. On the new Xiaomi, open Explorer (or Files) and find the connected phone in the Devices section.
3. Go to the folder. DCIM → Camera (or Pictures if the photos are stored there).
4. Select the files you want and click Copy, then select a folder on your new phone (e.g., Internal Memory). → DCIM).

For the iPhone. → Xiaomi:

1. Connect your iPhone to Xiaomi via the Lightning-to-USB-C adapter.
2. The iPhone will be asked to “Trust this device?”
3. On Xiaomi, open the Explorer and find the Internal Storage folder. → DCIM.
4. Please note that the iPhone may block access to some folders, in which case use iTunes on your computer.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO F4) When connecting an iPhone, you may need to turn on “Developer Mode” and allow “Debugging by” USB" In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times).

5. Method 4: Transfer over a computer (most reliable)

Using a PC or laptop is one of the most reliable ways, especially if you have a large amount of photos (10).+ It is suitable for any combination of phones, including iPhones. → Xiaomi or Android → Xiaomi.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer through USB-On Android, select File Transfer Mode, on iPhone, unlock the screen and confirm trust.
2. On your computer, open "This Computer" (Windows) or "Finder" (Mac) and find the connected phone.
3. Go to the folder with the photo: For Android: Internal memory → DCIM → Camera (or Pictures). For iPhone: Use iTunes or Explorer (the folder will only appear after you have confirmed your trust).

Copy all the necessary files to your computer (for example, in a folder on your desktop).

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Internal memory. → DCIM

If you have a Mac, you may need to install Android File Transfer (the official software from Google) to work with Android phones. android.com/filetransfer.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 Maximum transmission speed (limited only) USB-port).
• 🔹 Ability to sort photos before perenosom (remove duplicates, rename files).
• 🔹 It works even with damaged phones (if they are defined as a drive).

💡

Use a computer if you want to transfer not only photos, but also other data (music, documents), this is the most versatile way, independent of the model of the phone.

Method 5: Wireless transmission through applications (ShareIt, Xender)

If you don't have cables or a computer, you can use third-party wireless applications, the most popular ones being ShareIt, Xender, and Send Anywhere, which are all based on direct Wi-Fi connections between phones.

Instructions on the example of Xender:

1. Install Xender on both phones from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Open the app on both devices. On the old phone, click "Send" and on the new phone, "Get."
3. On the old phone, select a photo to transfer and click "Next".
4. The application generates QR-Scan it with your new phone.
5. Confirm transmission on both devices. The speed depends on the model of the phone, but usually 5-10 MB / s.

Comparison of popular applications:

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. ShareIt) may request access to contacts, messages and geolocation. Waive unnecessary permissions - storage is sufficient to transfer photos.

7. Method 6: Transfer over Mi Cloud (if you have a Xiaomi account)

Mi Cloud is a cloud storage from Xiaomi that offers 5GB for free (with the option to expand to 200GB for a fee).

How to transfer the photo:

1. On your old phone (Xiaomi) go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on "Sync Gallery" and wait for the photo to be uploaded to the cloud.
3. On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same Xiaomi account and enable gallery sync in the Mi Cloud.
4. The photos will appear in the standard Gallery app in the Mi Cloud folder.

If the old phone is not Xiaomi:

1. Install the Mi Cloud app from Google Play.
2. Log in to your Xiaomi account and manually upload your photo through Backup.
3. On the new Xiaomi, sync your data.

Limitations:

• 📉 Free rate – only 5 GB (may not be enough for a large archive).
• ⏳ Download speed depends on the Internet (on slow speed). 3G 1GB transfer will take ~30 minutes).
• 🔒 Photos are stored in compressed format (quality is slightly degraded).

8. Method 7: Transfer from a broken or broken phone

If the screen of an old phone is broken or it doesn't turn on, but it reacts to the connection to the computer, the chances of saving the photo are still there.

Option 1: Connecting to a PC

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
2. If the screen is not working, but the phone is defined as a drive, use it. ADB (Debugging tool: Adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ C:\Photos\ (where C:\Photos\ — computer-folder).
3. If ADB It doesn’t work, try programs like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver (paid, but there are trial versions).

Option 2: Removal of the memory card

• If the photos were stored on a microSD, remove the card and paste it into the new Xiaomi card reader.
• If the card is not readable, try connecting it to your computer via an adapter and using recovery software (Recuva, PhotoRec).

Option 3: Contacting the service centre

If the phone is physically damaged (for example, after falling into the water), but the data is critical, contact the service. wizards can extract the memory chip and read the data directly, the cost of such a service is from 3000 to 10 000 rubles, depending on the model.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t try to disassemble your phone yourself, as this can lead to irretrievable data loss, especially for iPhones with soldered memory.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions