Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where the device’s memory is overflowing, and the lion’s share of it is media files. Modern cameras flagship and mid-budget models of the brand, such as the Redmi Note series or Xiaomi Mi, can create images of incredible quality, but it costs megabytes of free space. One high-resolution shot can take from 5 to 15 MB, and when shooting in RAW or using high-resolution modes, the file weight reaches 25-50 MB.
However, it is not always necessary to store the original photos in the maximum quality, especially if you plan to send a picture via a messenger or upload to the site. There are many ways to optimize images directly on the device without using a computer. Compression and changing the resolution allow you to reduce the amount of space taken up by ten times without visible loss of quality to the human eye. In this article, we will discuss all available methods, from built-in system functions to the use of specialized software.
Effective gallery management is a key skill for any Android user. Understanding how JPEG works and how it differs from PNG will help you make the right decisions about which files to store in the original and which can be safely optimized. We will look not only at software techniques, but also at the camera settings that will help prevent memory overflow in the future.
Use of built-in tools of the MIUI Gallery
The MIUI shell and its successor HyperOS have a powerful enough built-in editor that allows you to perform basic operations to reduce the weight of the file. You do not need to download third-party applications if you just need to reduce the size of the image a little before sending. Open the desired image in the standard gallery and click on the "Change" button or select the pencil icon. In the bottom menu, tools for framing and resizing are often hidden, although their location may differ from one firmware version to another.
The main method available out of the box without installing additional software is to change resolution (crop) or convert when you send. When you share a photo through the system menu, the system often suggests choosing the quality of the file being transferred. However, for deeper compression, it is better to use the “Create a copy” function with modified parameters, if your version of the shell supports it. In some updates, Xiaomi has added the ability to save a copy with a lower bitrate.
It should be noted that standard tools do not always give flexibility in choosing the degree of compression. They either leave the file as it is or compress it to a minimum, which may not be acceptable. Therefore, for serious work with the weight of files, it is recommended to use more advanced built-in functions or third-party utilities. However, gallery capabilities are often enough to quickly prepare an avatar or illustration for a document.
⚠️ Warning: When editing in a standard gallery, always save the changes as a new copy of the file so as not to lose the original quality. irrevocable compression may make it impossible to restore details in the future.
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Use Xiaomi Cloud or Google Photos in Save Space mode to automatically compress the originals once they are downloaded, freeing up the phone’s local memory.
Specialized applications for photo compression
If built-in features aren't enough, Google Play apps come to the rescue. There are many free tools that are designed to reduce the weight of images. One of the most popular and functional is Lit Photo or QReduce, which allows you to not only compress files, but also process entire photo packages at the same time, which is critical when cleaning memory.
The process of working in such applications is usually intuitive. You choose an image from a gallery, and the application offers two ways: reduce the resolution (for example, from 4000x3000 to 1920x1080) or reduce the quality of JPEG (quality parameter from 100% to 10%). Compression algorithms in good applications work smarter than standard ones, removing excess metadata and optimizing the color table without visible artifacts.
Consider the main advantages of using specialized software:
- 📉 The ability to fine-tune the target file size (e.g., compress to strictly 200 KB).
- 🖼️ Preserving image proportions during automatic resizing.
- ⚡ Packaging hundreds of photos in one click, saving hours of time.
- 🔍 Preview of the “Before” and “After” results to assess the quality loss.
It's important to understand the difference between quality loss and size reduction. When compressed, you can have what's called "artifacts" -- square blocks or blurring at the edges of objects. A good app will allow you to find a balance when the file weight has decreased by 5 times and the visual image has remained acceptable. For social networks like Instagram or VK, high quality of the original is often not required, since the platforms themselves recompress when downloading.
Changing camera settings to save space
The most effective way to combat memory shortages is to prevent the creation of huge files. Xiaomi’s camera is often set to the highest quality by default, which is not always justified. Go to the camera settings (the gear icon or three stripes in the corner) and pay attention to the Size or Aspect Ratio option. Switching from 4:3 (full sensor) to 16:9 will already reduce the number of pixels a little, although it will trim the frame.
A more radical but effective method is to turn off high-resolution mode. If you have a smartphone with a 64, 108 or 200 MP camera, the usual method is to use pixel binning technology (combining neighboring pixels), and photos weigh about 3-5 MB. But if the mode is on "64 MP" or "Hi-Res", the weight of one frame can reach 20-30 MB. For everyday shooting, this mode is redundant.
It is also worth checking the save format settings. Some models allow you to switch between HEIF (or HEIC) and JPEG formats. HEIF format provides better quality with a smaller file size (about 2 times smaller than JPEG at the same quality). If your goal is to save space, enable HEIF support in the camera settings, but remember that on very old computers without codecs, these photos may not open.
☑️ Optimizing camera settings
⚠️ Attention: Format HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format may not be compatible with some older versions of Windows or third-party editing apps. Use it if you plan to view photos only on modern devices.
Comparison of compression methods: table
To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have prepared a comparative table of different approaches to reducing the weight of photos on Xiaomi devices.
| Method | Quality. | Degree of compression | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in editor | High. | Low (only crop) | Minimum |
| Compressor applications | Flexible. | Very high. | Medium |
| Sending via Telegram | Average. | Tall. | Minimum |
| Changing camera settings | Depends on the settings. | Medium (prevention) | Low. |
| Online services | High. | Tall. | Demands the Internet. |
And you can see from the table that the best way to do this is to use embedded tools or messengers, and if you're trying to free up a few gigabytes of memory that you've accumulated over the years, you can't do without installing specialized compressor applications, and they give you the best control over the outcome.
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For mass memory cleaning, the most effective combination: shutdown RAW-mode in camera settings and use of packet compression of old photos through a third-party application.
Using online services without installing applications
If you don't want to clog up your phone's memory with extra software, you can use online tools. Chromium-based browsers, which are on all Xiaomi smartphones, do a great job with modern web services. Sites like CompressJPEG, ILoveIMG or TinyPNG allow you to upload a photo, process it on the server and download it back in an optimized form.
The main advantage of this method is that you don't have to install anything, you just open the site, you drag and drop a photo (or you pick it from a gallery), and you wait for the result. The algorithms of these services often use advanced compression techniques that are even better than simple mobile applications, they can remove noises that are invisible to the eye and optimize the color palette.
However, the online method has a significant disadvantage – the need for an Internet connection. If you have limited traffic or a bad signal, it can take a long time to download heavy originals. In addition, uploading personal photos to third-party servers, you theoretically risk privacy, although most reputable services claim to automatically delete files after an hour.
Working with RAW format and professional shooting
Special attention should be paid to users who take pictures in RAW format. On Xiaomi smartphones, this format is available in professional camera mode or through third-party applications like Manual Camera. RAW files contain raw data from the matrix and weigh a lot - from 25 to 50 MB or more. You can not directly compress them without losing the meaning of the format, since they are designed for subsequent deep processing.
If your goal is simply to reduce the weight of such a photo to be stored or sent, it must be converted to a new photo. JPEG or TIFF. This can be done directly on the phone, using converter applications or built-in functions of some galleries, which when exported from the Internet. RAW They make a copy in a compressed format. RAW-The file can be deleted if you do not plan a professional retouch.
For those who are serious about mobile photography, the following strategy is recommended: RAW + JPEG. In this mode, the camera saves two files. JPEG-The version can be used immediately for social networks and fast sending, it takes up little space. RAW-It's just for the best frames that you're going to be processing, so you don't waste your memory on raw files of mediocre images.