How to reduce the size of photos Xiaomi: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a lack of internal memory. Modern cameras create high-resolution images that take up a significant amount of storage. If you have a model with 64 or 128 gigabytes of memory, it can fill up in a matter of weeks of active shooting. Compressing images becomes a necessary step to free up space.

There are many ways to do this, from built-in features to specialized applications. It is important to understand the difference between changing frame resolution and reducing quality (bitrate). Changing the format from RAW to JPEG allows you to reduce the weight of a file by 10-15 times without visible loss of detail for the average user. In this article, we will discuss all available optimization methods.

Before you start editing, you should evaluate the current state of the storage, which will help you understand how critical the situation is and what method to choose, sometimes just changing the camera settings to solve the problem automatically in the future.

Use of the built-in editor of the MIUI Gallery

The fastest way to change your image settings is to use the standard tools that you already have on your phone, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have a fairly functional editor that allows you to not only apply filters, but also change the physical dimensions of the file.

To start, open the image you want in the Gallery app. Click on the Change button (usually an icon with sliders or a magic wand). In the bottom menu, look for the "Tear and Turn" or "Tools" section, which is where the proportions and size features are hidden.

• 📐 Click on the framing icon and select standard proportions, such as 1:1 or 4:3, to remove the excess edges.
• 💾 Keep a copy so you don’t lose the original if the result doesn’t suit you.
• 🖼️ Use the “Resize” feature in the tool menu to lower pixel resolution.

It's worth noting that the built-in editor doesn't always show the exact weight of the file in megabytes before saving. You'll have to focus on visual quality and approximate resolution values. This is enough to quickly prepare the photo for sending in messengers.

⚠️ Note: When you save changes over the original file in some firmware versions, the original image can be irrevocably replaced. Always back up important images before batch editing.

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Before mass editing, create a separate folder called Processed to avoid confusing the originals and compressed versions of the files.

Set up camera settings to save space

The best way to reduce the size of a photo is to prevent the creation of files that are too heavy initially. Xiaomi cameras are often set to the highest quality by default, which is not always justified. By changing a few settings, you save gigabytes of space.

Go to the Camera app and click on the three bars in the top right corner. Select Settings. We're interested in Size and Quality. Here you can switch from high resolution to standard.

The key is to choose a compression format: the HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) format allows you to save images half the size of a JPEG at the same quality, but it is worth considering compatibility: older computers or some social networks may not open such files without converting.

Also check if you have Professional mode or RAW shooting. The files in this format contain raw data from the matrix and weigh a lot (from 20 to 50 MB).

If you switch to HEIF, but when you transfer files to your computer, they become heavy again, you may have an automatic conversion, check your USB file transfer settings, or use cloud services to sync in the original format.

Application of online services for compression

When you need to process a few photos quickly and without installing unnecessary software, online services come to the rescue, they work directly in the Chrome browser or MI Browser, which is convenient if you do not want to clog your phone's memory with additional applications.

Popular platforms like TinyPNG, CompressJPEG, or Squoosh use advanced compression algorithms to remove invisible noise and redundant metadata, significantly reducing the weight of the file, a process that takes seconds even when you're on the mobile Internet.

The algorithm is simple: open a website, upload a photo, wait for processing and download the result. Many services support batch download, which allows you to process a dozen images at once, and this is especially true when preparing materials for publication on a website or blog.

Special attention should be paid to EXIF metadata, which contains information about date, time, camera model and even geolocation. Online services often offer the option “Delete EXIF”, which further reduces the file size and increases your privacy.

Third-party applications for batch processing

If you need to reduce the size of hundreds of photos, online services will be uncomfortable, in which case you would better install a specialized application from Google Play, which allows you to set specific parameters: target size in kilobytes, percentage of quality or maximum resolution.

One of the most popular solutions is the Image Size or QReduce app, which gives you complete control over the process, so you can set a limit, like 200 KB, and the program will select the optimal compression parameters.

• 📱 QReduce: allows you to reduce the photo to a specific size in KB, which is useful for uploading documents to public services.
• 🖼️ Photo & Picture Resizer: has a convenient interface and sizes for social networks (Instagram, Facebook).
• ⚡ Batch Resize: Perfect for handling huge albums in the background.

When installing these apps, pay attention to the permissions you request. Often they require access to all files on your device. Try to choose software with a good reputation and a lot of reviews to avoid personal data leakage.

⚠️ Note: Some free versions of apps may add watermarks to photos or display aggressive ads.

Using Google Photos to Optimize

Google Photos is pre-installed on most Xiaomi smartphones and is a powerful library management tool that not only stores images in the cloud, but also manages their quality on the device.

Google Photos’ “Save Space” feature allows you to compress the originals that have already been uploaded to the cloud, and then the app will prompt you to delete local high-resolution copies, leaving only optimized versions, which frees up to 80% of the space in the phone’s memory.

To take advantage of this, open the app, click on the profile avatar, and select "Free space." The system will analyze the gallery and find files that are already in the cloud, you only have to confirm the removal of local copies.

It is important to distinguish between two quality modes in the Google Photo settings: “Original” and “Economic”. In the “Storage Saver” mode, photos are compressed to 15 MP, and videos to 1080p. This is almost invisible on the smartphone screen, but saves space in the cloud and on the device.

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Using the “Free Space” feature in Google Photos is the safest way to reduce the size of your photo, as the originals are pre-saved in the cloud.

Table of comparison of compression methods

To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you assess the pros and cons of each method depending on your situation.

As you can see from the table, online services or an in-built editor are better suited for one-time tasks, but if you plan to regularly face memory shortages, it is better to change the camera settings or use Google Photos.

Remember, compression is always a compromise, too much shrinking will lead to artifacts, squares, and blurring out small details, and try to find a balance that is just right for your purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)