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

Moving from Xiaomi to iPhone is not just about changing the operating system, it’s also about moving personal data. Photos are often a major headache: hundreds or even thousands of images need to be moved without loss of quality, saving shoot dates and albums. The problem is compounded by the fact that Android and iOS use different media storage formats, and standard synchronization tools (like iTunes) are long outdated.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 current ways to transfer photos, from the fastest (but with limitations) to the versatile (suitable for large archives), how to get around common mistakes: why AirDrop doesn’t see Xiaomi, how to avoid compressing images when uploading to the cloud, and what to do if the iPhone does not have enough space for all images, all methods tested on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and iPhone 15 Pro models in 2026.

1. Cable Transfer (Lightning/USB-C → USB-A/C): The most reliable method

Using a physical connection remains the most stable way – especially if you want to flip tens of gigabytes of photos without risking quality loss, you will need an OTG cable (for older iPhones with Lightning) or a standard USB-C (for iPhone 15/16 and new Xiaomi).

Connect Xiaomi to your iPhone via cable, then on your iPhone, open the Files app (Overview tab). Your Xiaomi should show up as an external drive.

• 🔌 Check that Xiaomi has enabled File Transfer (in the notification when connecting the cable).
• 🔄 Restart both devices – sometimes iOS doesn’t recognize MTP-first-time connection.
• 🛠️ On Xiaomi, go to Settings → Additionally. → Developer and turn on Debugging by USB (if the option is available).

After connection:

1. In Files on iPhone, go to the DCIM → Camera folder on Xiaomi.
2. Select the photos you need (hold your finger on the file → Select).
3. Click Share and select Save Images.

Make sure the cable supports data transfer (not just charging)

Enable the File Transfer Mode on Xiaomi

Use the original Apple cable or a certified USB-C

Check the free space on the iPhone before copying-->

Critical detail: if there is not enough space on the iPhone, iOS will automatically interrupt the copy without warning - check the free space in advance in Settings → Main → iPhone Storage.

2. Wireless transfer via AirDrop: fast, but with nuances

AirDrop is Apple’s proprietary technology for sharing files between Apple devices, but Xiaomi (like any Android smartphone) does not directly support AirDrop, and there are two ways around this limitation:

• 🖥️ Through Mac: If you have an Apple computer, turn on AirDrop on your Mac and iPhone, then send photos from Xiaomi to your Mac. email/messenger, and with Mac – on the iPhone via AirDrop.
• 📱 Using analog apps, Snapdrop (browser-based) or LocalSend (open source), these services create a local network between devices.

Instructions for LocalSend:

1. Install LocalSend from the App Store (on iPhone) and Google Play (on Xiaomi).
2. Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
3. On Xiaomi, select photos → Share → LocalSend → select an iPhone from the list.
4. Confirm your iPhone.

Cable.

Through the Cloud (Google Photos, iCloud)

AirDrop or analogues

Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)

Another option-->

⚠️ Note: When transferred via LocalSend or Snapdrop, photos can be compressed if their size exceeds 50 MB. For original quality, use the.zip archive (create it on Xiaomi through any file manager).

3. Cloud services: Google Photos vs iCloud

Cloud storage is convenient for carrying large amounts of data, but each service has pitfalls.

Step-by-step instructions for Google Photos:

1. On Xiaomi, open Google Photos → Photos → Select the right pictures → Save to your device (if they are not already in the cloud).
2. Make sure all photos are uploaded to the cloud (Icon) ☁️ It should be green).
3. On your iPhone, install Google Photos, log in to the same account and wait for sync.
4. Select the photo → Exports → Save in Photo.

For iCloud:

1. On Xiaomi, upload a photo to iCloud via your browser (iCloud.com) or the iCloud app for Windows (if you have a PC).
2. On iPhone, enable photo sync in Settings → [Your name] → iCloud → Photos.

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If your photos are more than 5GB, use the temporary iCloud+ tariff (from 50GB for $0.99 per month), and you can cancel your subscription and vacate space after transferring.

4. Messengers and social networks: when speed is more important than quality

If you need to throw a few dozen photos and the quality is not critical, messengers are suitable.

• 📎 Telegram: supports files up to 2 GB, retains the original resolution (if sent as a file, not a photo).
• 💬 WhatsApp: compresses photos up to 16 MP, but convenient for fast transfer.
• 🌍 VK/OK: You can download an album and download it on your iPhone, but the quality is declining.

How to send via Telegram without loss of quality:

1. Create a chat with yourself (Saved Messages).
2. Click Paperclip → File and select photos.
3. On iPhone, download files from the chat and save them to Photos.

⚠️ Note: WhatsApp and Viber photos are compressed to 1920×1080 Use.zip archives or clouds to maintain quality.

5. Specialized applications for migration

For those who don’t want to mess with clouds or cables, there are apps designed specifically to move data between Android and iOS.

• 📱 Move to iOS (from Apple): transfers photos, contacts and messages, but only works when you initially set up your iPhone.
• 🔄 Copy My Data: a cross-platform solution for transferring photos, videos and contacts over Wi-Fi.
• 📂 Send Anywhere: generates 6-digit code for fast transfer of large files.

Instructions for Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both devices.
2. On Xiaomi, select a photo → Send → Generate code.
3. On iPhone, enter this code in the Receive field.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Move to iOS can freeze during the transfer stage if Xiaomi has enabled battery optimization for background processes. → Battery → Optimize the battery and select No restrictions for the application.

6. Transfer with the preservation of metadata (dates, geotags, albums)

By default, when copying photos through a cable or cloud, you lose:

• 📅 Shooting Dates (replaced on the date of transfer).
• 📍 Geoteges (coordinates of the shooting location).
• 📂 Albums and folders (all photos are merged into the Camera).

To save metadata:

1. Use Google Photos: It transfers dates and geotags when exported to iPhone.
2. For albums: on Xiaomi, create folders with the right names in DCIM and move the photo there before copying.
3. For advanced users: Use ExifTool (metadata utility) on your PC.

If the dates have already gone wrong, you can restore them through the Exif Metadata app (App Store) or the exif.tools service.

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For professional photographers: if you are RAW-files (with the extension.dng,.arw), use only cable or cloud without compression. Messengers and AirDrop analogues automatically convert RAW into JPEG.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions