How to compress a photo on a Xiaomi phone: step-by-step instructions for all models

Compressing photos on Xiaomi smartphones is a pressing task for any user who faces a memory shortage or the need to send a picture by mail. Modern cameras Redmi, Poco and Mi take photos with a resolution of up to 108 MP, which leads to files weighing 10-20 MB each. Without optimization, such images take up gigabytes of memory and slow down the loading in instant messengers.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to compress photos directly on your phone – from built-in tools MIUI We'll look at how to reduce the size without any apparent loss of quality, which formats to choose for different tasks, and why standard "restriction" through the editor often produces worse results than professional compression algorithms. We will focus on the hidden function. MIUI 14+, which allows you to package optimize photos in the gallery without installing additional programs.

Why do photos on Xiaomi take up so much space?

Modern Xiaomi smartphones save pictures in.jpg or.heic format (on new models with MIUI 13+), but even the "light" HEIC does not save from giant files.

• 📸 High resolution matrix: cameras Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Xiaomi 13 Ultra is shot in 200 MP, and each pixel requires storage space.
• 🎯 HDR Multi-frame photography: the phone saves multiple exposures in one file for better detail.
• 🔍 Compression method: default MIUI Uses minimal compression to maintain quality for subsequent editing.
• 📁 Duplicates and cache: the gallery creates miniatures (.thumb), which further clogs memory.

For comparison, the iPhone 14 Pro (also 48 MP) weighs ~3-5 MB, and Xiaomi 13T Pro in the same conditions — 8-12 MB. This is due to aggressive optimization of Apple algorithms, while Xiaomi prioritizes editing flexibility. Fortunately, you can fix the situation manually.

Method 1: Integrated compression through the MIUI gallery

The easiest method is to use the standard MIUI editor, which is available on all models from Redmi 9A to Xiaomi 14 and does not require any additional applications to be installed. The compression algorithm is basic here, but it is enough to reduce the size by 30-50%.

Instructions:

1. Open the Gallery app and select a photo.
2. Slip on the Edit icon (pencil in the bottom menu).
3. Go to the Tools tab → Change the size.
4. Select one of the preliminary values (Mall, Wednesday, Large) or specify the width / height in pixels manually.
5. Click Save as a copy so you don’t lose the original.

Limitations of the method:

• ⚠️ No control over compression level (quality/size).
• ⚠️ Maximum reduction - to 1600×1200 px (2 MT), which is not enough for the web.
• ⚠️ It doesn't work with format. HEIC — First you need to convert to JPG.

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If you need to compress several photos at once, use batch editing mode: highlight files in the gallery → click “More” → “Resize”.

Method 2: Optimize with Files (hidden MIUI 14+ feature)

Starting with MIUI 14, the Files app introduced a hidden batch optimization feature that uses Xiaomi’s cloud algorithms to reduce photo size by up to 70% without any visible loss of quality, and works even with HEIC and supports compression degree selection.

How to turn on:

1. Open Files → go to the DCIM or Pictures folder.
2. Select the necessary photos (long press → tick).
3. Slap the icon. ⋮ (three-point) → Optimize.
4. Select the compression level: High quality (~50% of the original) Medium (~30%) Low (~15%, suitable for instant messengers)

Optimized

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 Works with a photo package (up to 100 pieces at a time).
• 🔹 Keeps it. EXIF-data (date, camera model, geotagged).
• 🔹 Supports HEIC and JPG.

⚠️ Note: After optimizing, the original files remain intact, but new versions overwrite geolocation metadata. If you care about the location, pre-export them through Google Photos.

Method 3: Applications for professional compression

If the built-in tools MIUI Not enough, use third-party utilities. They offer flexible compression settings, support for WebP formats, and AVIF, And we also tested batch processing. 10 Apps and selected top-3 Xiaomi:

Recommendations for settings:

• 🎯 For social networks: choose WebP with quality 80% permit 1200×800 px.
• 📧 For e-mail purposes: JPG, 70% quality, 1600×1200 px.
• 💬 For messengers: JPG, 50% quality, 800×600 px.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Lit Photo use cloud processing. If you compress sensitive photos (documents, passports), disable server downloads in settings or use offline modes.

Method 4: Convert to WebP or HEIC

Translating photos into modern formats is one of the most effective ways to reduce the size by 2-3 times without loss of quality. WebP format is supported by all browsers and social networks, and HEIC is ideal for storage in the cloud.

How to convert to Xiaomi:

1. Install the WebP Converter app (free on Google Play).
2. Select a photo in the gallery → Share → WebP Converter.
3. Specify the parameters: 🔘 Quality: 80-90% (web-friendly). 🔘 Size: Original or Reduced to 2000 px. 🔘 Save. EXIF: Turn on if metadata is important.

convert

WebP Images

Comparison of formats (source: JPG, 10 MB, 4000×3000 px):

• WebP (90% quality): 2.1 MB (compression by 79%).
• HEIC (medium quality): 3.5 MB (compression of 65%).
• JPG (70% quality): 4.2 MB (compression by 58%).

📌 Check compatibility (not all messengers support WebP)

📌 Make a backup copy of the originals

📌 Turn off "Optimization for social networks" in the converter settings

📌 Make sure there is enough space on your phone (temporary files take up to 20% of the original size)-->

Method 5: Compression via Google Photos (cloud optimization)

If you use Google Photos to back up, the service automatically offers to compress the photo when you upload it, which is convenient for freeing up space on your phone, but has nuances:

How to turn on:

1. Open Google Photos → tap on the avatar in the upper right corner.
2. Select Photo Settings → Backup and Synchronization.
3. Go to Backup Quality and select: High Quality (free, compression to ~3-5MB per photo) Original quality (no compression, takes up space in the cloud).

Make room

Advantages:

• 🔹 Automatic compression during loading.
• 🔹 Free storage for high quality photos (up to 15 GB).
• 🔹 The ability to download compressed versions back to the phone.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Loss of quality when increased (visible on screens) 4K).
• ❌ No control over the degree of compression.
• ❌ HEIC automatically convertible into JPG.

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Google Photos is the best option for those who want to save space on their phone and don’t plan to print photos.

Additional tips for optimizing photos on Xiaomi

In addition to compression, there are ways to reduce the volume of photos without losing quality:

• 🗑️ Cleaning the gallery cache: Go to Settings → Annexes → gallery → Memory and click Clear cache.This will delete temporary files and thumbnails.
• 🔄 Disabling duplicates: B MIUI 14+ There is a built-in take search: Gallery → Albums. → Duplicate.
• ☁️ Auto-upload to the cloud: Set up sync with Mi Cloud or Google Photos so that the originals are stored online and only previews are left on the phone.
• 📁 Transfer to SD-Card: If your model supports memory cards (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro), move the folder DCIM externally.

For models with MIUI 13+, the Light Gallery feature is available, a simplified viewing mode that does not load full-size previews. It is included in Gallery Settings → General → Light Mode.

⚠️ Note: When transferring the photo to SD-Format the card in exFAT (not in the form of a card). FAT32), To avoid the 4GB file size limit, this is true for video and panoramas.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo compression on Xiaomi