Switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting process, which is often overshadowed by one main problem: how to get your memories from an old device? Thousands of photos and hours of video take up gigabytes of memory, and simply “flip” them over Bluetooth is not always quickly or impossible due to the limitations of the file format.
Fortunately, the Android ecosystem offers a variety of flexible tools for data migration, and Xiaomi owners are in a particularly advantageous position thanks to pre-installed system utilities. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the current methods of copying a media library, from cloud services to direct cable, so you can choose the most convenient for your situation.
Whether you have an old phone, Samsung, Huawei or a budget Realme, the algorithms will be similar, but they have important nuances. We will look not only at the standard tools, but also at third-party solutions that can come in handy in unusual cases when standard protocols fail.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most effective and native way for Xiaomi app owners is to use the Mi Mover app, which is designed specifically for seamless transition between devices and allows you to transfer not only photos, but also contacts, messages and even placement of icons on the desktop. The main advantage of the method is the creation of a direct Wi-Fi channel between devices, which provides transfer speeds that are much higher than Bluetooth.
The process starts with installing the app on both smartphones, and on the new Xiaomi, it is often already built into the system and is located in the Tools folder or available through Settings. → The phone. → On an older device, if it’s not Xiaomi, the app will have to be downloaded from Google Play or scanned. QR-The code that will appear on the screen of the new phone, and after launch, you need to select the role of the device: "I send" on the old gadget and "I receive" on the new one.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure both devices are on GPS and geolocation is allowed for the app, as Android requires it to run Wi-Fi Direct, even if you don’t use maps.
When the devices find each other, the old phone will have a list of data categories on its screen. You need to select the Images or Gallery section. The key is that Mi Mover may not see hidden albums or folders of system applications (such as WhatsApp screenshots) unless you give full permission to access all files in the Android settings. After selecting the files, a transfer will begin, the progress of which is displayed in real time.
It is worth noting that when you transfer a large amount of data (more than 50 GB), the process can take a considerable time, and the screens of the devices should not go out. Mi Mover automatically recreates the folder structure on the new device, which allows you to find photos in the same albums as before. If the transfer is interrupted, the application will prompt you to continue from the stop, which saves you from having to start all over again.
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M i Mover is Xiaomi’s native tool that delivers the highest speed and keeps the folder structure better than any other.
Sync through Google Photos and Cloud Services
If you can’t establish a direct connection between your phones or want to back up, cloud computing is the perfect solution. Google Photos is pre-installed on most Android devices and offers free storage in compressed format (Saving Space) or in original quality (within the Google One quota), a technique that’s good because it doesn’t require both phones to be physically present at the same time.
To implement this method on an old phone, you need to open the Google Photos app, click on the profile avatar and activate the option “Setting up the boot”. It is important to check that the download is via Wi-Fi, if the mobile tariff is not unlimited, to avoid unexpected costs. Once all photos are uploaded to the cloud (backup status is completed), you can move to a new device.
On the new Xiaomi, you just need to log in to the same Google account. Your photos will appear in the gallery automatically. However, to take up space in the phone's memory, not just in the cloud, you need to download them. In the Google Photos app on the new device, select the desired pictures, click on three dots in the corner and select Save on the device. You can also use the Free Space feature on the old phone to delete the originals that have already been uploaded to the cloud.
What to do if the photos are not synchronized?
An alternative is the Mi Cloud, which is deeply integrated into the MIUI or HyperOS shell. If you plan to actively use the Xiaomi ecosystem, it makes sense to enable Gallery synchronization in the Mi Account settings, which will allow you to see photos on the Xiaomi Pad tablet or even on the brand’s Smart TV without unnecessary action.
Local transmission via Bluetooth and Nearby Share
When you don’t have a Wi-Fi router at hand and the amount of data you transmit is small (for example, you need to throw a couple of dozen better pictures), you can use short-range wireless technologies. Classic Bluetooth works on all devices, but its speed is extremely low (about 1-2 Mb / s), which makes it almost impossible to transfer video to 4K due to the risk of connection breakage.
A more modern and faster alternative is Nearby Share, which is now the standard for Android. It uses a combination of Bluetooth to detect devices and Wi-Fi Direct to transfer files, which gives high speed. On an old phone, highlight photos in the gallery, click Share and select the Quick Connection icon (or Nearby Share).The new Xiaomi should have a screen on and an unlocked interface.
- 📱 Make sure that both devices have Bluetooth and Geolocation enabled.
- 👁️ The visibility of the device must be set to All or Contact mode».
- 🔋 Battery charge should be above 20% as the process is energy intensive.
Using this method, folder structure is often lost: all photos can fall into one shared Downloads or Bluetooth folder on a new device, requiring manual sorting, which is a significant disadvantage when moving an entire gallery.
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If the device search doesn’t start, try turning off and on the screen on both smartphones, and reboot the Bluetooth module in the settings.
Wired connection through USB-cable
The most reliable, if less technological, way is to use a computer as an intermediate, and this is indispensable if you need to move hundreds of gigabytes of data, because it doesn't depend on the stability of the wireless signal or the speed of the router. USB-cable (preferably original or high-quality analogue) and computer with Windows or macOS operating system.
Connect your old phone to your PC. You'll see a request for USB mode on your smartphone screen, select File Transfer (MTP). The computer will identify the device as an external drive. Open the explorer, find the DCIM → Camera folder (there's photos from the camera) and copy its contents to your computer's hard drive. Don't forget to also check Pictures, Screenshots and Download folders if there are important images.
Then disable the old phone and plug in the new Xiaomi. Select file transfer mode again. Open the internal memory of the new device and paste the copied folders into the root or in the corresponding directories (e.g. DCIM). Android will automatically index the new files and they will appear in the gallery.
⚠️ Note: When copying large amounts of data through USB avoid using USB-hubs without power, as a lack of voltage can cause file system damage or file corrosion.
The good thing about this method is that it copies bit-to-bit files, storing metadata (EXIFs) like shooting date, geolocation, and camera settings. No quality compression occurs.
Comparison of data transfer methods
To make it easier for you to choose the best way, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you evaluate the pros and cons of each method depending on your priorities: speed, quality or convenience.
| Method | Speed. | Preserving folder structure | Internet dependency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | High (up to 40 Mb/s) | Complete. | No (local Wi-Fi) |
| Google Photo | Medium (depending on channel) | Partial (albums) | Yes (required) |
| USB + PC | Very high. | Complete (manual) | No. |
| Bluetooth | Low (< 1 Mb/s) | No (all in one pile) | No. |
As you can see from the table, Mi Mover wins in terms of a combination of factors for Xiaomi users. However, if you do not have the ability to install the application on an old phone (for example, it is too old or it has a specific build of Android), the PC option becomes the leader in reliability.
Problem Solving and File Formatting
During the transfer process, users often find that some image formats do not open on a new device. This is especially true when switching from older Android or iOS devices (through an intermediary), where HEIC formats or specific video codecs can be used. Xiaomi with a MIUI 12/13/14 shell and HyperOS usually have built-in codecs, but in rare cases, conversion may be required.
If you see files after transferring, but they don't appear in the gallery, there may be a.nomedia file in the photo folder. This hidden file tells Android to ignore the media content in this directory. To fix this, you need to use a file manager (for example, Explorer from Xiaomi or Total Commander), enable the display of hidden files and delete.nomedia in the problematic folder.
☑️ Checklist of successful transfer
Another common problem is broken thumbnails, and if you see gray squares instead of a photo, but when you open the image, it's loaded, and if you open it, you've damaged the gallery cache, and if you clean the Gallery app's cache in your phone settings, you'll solve that problem in a couple of seconds by re-generate the preview.
Organization of space after migration
Once all the photos have been successfully transferred to the new Xiaomi, it’s time to clean up. Duplicates are a common occurrence, especially if you’ve used multiple backup methods. The built-in cleaning tool in the Security app or Explorer will help you find similar images and screenshots that can be safely deleted.
Also worth paying attention to is the customization of "Favorites." Google Photos and Xiaomi Gallery have a feature to add to your favorites. Go through key albums and mark the most important footage - this will create quick access to them without having to search in the total mass of thousands of images. Regular cleaning of the gallery from unnecessary screenshots and memes prolongs life of your storage and keeps the gallery app running smoothly.
Remember that photo albums are not just archives, but digital memory, and organizing them right after you move to a new phone will save you hours of time in the future when you need to quickly find a particular frame.