How to transfer photos from one Xiaomi to another: all the ways of 2026

Transferring photos between Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every second owner of the brand’s devices faces. Whether you bought a new Redmi Note 13 Pro+, want to share vacation shots with a friend on the POCO X6 or just free up memory on the old Mi 11, there are more than a dozen file transfer options today. But not all of them are equally convenient: somewhere quality is lost, somewhere speed leaves much to be desired, and some methods even require additional devices.

In this article, we will discuss 7 working ways to transfer photos between Xiaomi smartphones, from built-in features like Mi Share to universal solutions like cloud services, focus on speed, data quality and security, and you will learn which method to choose depending on the size of files and model of your device.

1. Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop) – a proprietary way from Xiaomi

Mi Share is a built-in file sharing application between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices that works without the Internet using Wi-Fi Direct technology. The main advantage of the method is the transfer speed of up to 20 MB / s (4-5 times faster than Bluetooth) and the absence of restrictions on file size.

To use Mi Share, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open the Files app on both smartphones.
• 🔍 Select the photos you want to send (you can highlight a few files or a folder as a whole).
• 📤 Press the share button. → Mi Share.
• 🔄 On the second phone, confirm the receipt of files in the notification.

If one device does not have Files (e.g. older models), it can be downloaded from Google Play or Mi App Store. Importantly, both phones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network or be in Wi-Fi Direct coverage (up to 10 meters).

Make sure that both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.

Update the Files app to the latest version

Turn off the power saving mode (it can interrupt the transmission)

Check that there is enough free space on the receiving device.-->

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or Redmi K50) Mi Share can be called Quick Transfer or Nearby Share. If you can't find an app, try searching through the search bar in the menu.

Bluetooth Transmission: Slow but Reliable

Bluetooth is a universal file sharing method that works even on the oldest Xiaomi models (up to the Redmi 4A), but it has two serious drawbacks: low speed (about 1-2 MB / s) and a file size limit (usually up to 50-100 MB per send).

How to transfer photos over Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (swipe down → Bluetooth icon).
2. On the sending device, open the Gallery, select a photo and click Share → Bluetooth.
3. Select a smartphone from the list (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro).
4. On the second phone, confirm the receipt of the file in the notification.

If there are many photos, it is better to archive them in.zip before sending them. To do this, select the photos in the Gallery → More → Compress (or use an application like RAR).

Mi Share (Wi-Fi Direct)

Bluetooth

Cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud)

OTG cable or adapter

Another way.-->

3. Cloud services: Google Photos, Mi Cloud and Yandex.Disk

If you need to transfer a large number of photos (for example, the entire gallery from Xiaomi 13 Ultra to the new Xiaomi 14), cloud services will be the best solution.

The most popular options are:

• 📷 Google Photos: Freely stores photos in "high quality" (compression up to 16 MP) or in original resolution (paid after 15 GB.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Embedded cloud from Xiaomi with 5 GB of free space. Suitable for fast synchronization between devices of the same account.
• 💾 Yandex.Disk: Gives 10 GB for free and supports automatic photo uploading.

Instructions for Google Photos:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On the sending device, enable Autoboot and synchronization in the settings.
3. Wait for the photo to be uploaded to the cloud.
4. On the second phone, log in to the same Google account and download the photo through the app.

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If you are transferring photos through Mi Cloud, check that both phones are using the same Mi Account. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account.

OTG Cable or Adapter: for large data volumes

If you need to transfer tens of gigabytes of photos (for example, from Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro to Xiaomi 13T Pro), the fastest way is to use an OTG cable (or USB-C to USB-C adapter).

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C — USB-C (adapter + cable).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g., embedded Files or Solid Explorer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect both phones with a cable. A notification will appear on the screen. USB-connection.
2. On the receiving device, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Open the file manager on the sending phone, find the DCIM → Camera folder (or another one where the photos are stored).
4. Copy the files and paste them into a folder on the second phone.

⚠️ Note: When connecting through OTG Do not remove the cable during transmission, this can damage files. If the phone starts to warm, pause for 1-2 minutes.

5. Transmission via computer (PC or laptop)

If you have a computer on hand, you can use it as a middleman to transfer photos, which is useful if you want to sort pictures, edit them, or back up before the penos.

How to transfer photos via PC:

1. Connect the first Xiaomi to your computer via a USB cable.
2. On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Open this folder → [Your Phone Name] → Internal Storage → DCIM.
4. Copy the photos to your desktop or in a separate folder.
5. Disable the first phone, connect the second and move the files back.

To speed up the process, you can use programs like Xiaomi PC Suite (the official software for managing Xiaomi devices from a computer) or AirDroid (for wireless transmission).

6.Social networks and instant messengers: fast, but with losses

If you need to transfer several photos urgently, you can use messengers or social networks. However, note that most platforms compress images (for example, WhatsApp reduces the resolution to 1600×1200 pixels, and Telegram – to 4096×4096, but only in Files).

The best options for transmission without strong compression:

• 📎 Telegram: Send photos as a file (without compression, but limit is 2 GB per file).
• 💬 Viber: In the chat settings, enable the option to Send photos in original quality.
• 📧 Email: Attach a photo to the email (Gmail supports attachments up to 25 MB).

For transmission via Telegram:

1. Open a chat with yourself (Saved Messages).
2. Click on the paperclip → File and select photos.
3. On the second phone, download files from the chat.

7.NFC and other alternative methods

If your smartphones support NFC (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi K60), you can try transferring photos via Android Beam. However, this method only works for single files and has a size limit (usually up to 10 MB).

How to transfer photos via NFC:

1. Enable NFC and Android Beam in the settings (Connections → NFC).
2. Open the photo in the gallery.
3. Attach the phones to each other with the back covers (the NFC antenna is usually located at the top).
4. Wait for the beep and confirm the transmission.

Other non-standard methods:

• 🔄 FTP-server: using applications of the type FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer can be created locally. FTP-server and download photos over Wi-Fi.
• 📡 Local area network: Apps like Send Anywhere or Snapdrop allow you to transfer files through your browser without registering.

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Two methods are optimal for transferring a large number of photos (more than 10 GB): OTG cable (maximum speed) or cloud (if there is time and a stable Internet).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the transfer of photos between Xiaomi