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The best method depends on what “sync” means to you. For a new iPhone that is still on its setup screens, Apple’s Move to iOS transfers camera photos, videos and albums from a Xiaomi phone. For an iPhone that is already set up, use a computer or move an existing Google Photos library to iCloud Photos. If you want the same library available on both phones over time, sign in to Google Photos with the same account on each device.
These methods are not interchangeable. Move to iOS is a one-time setup transfer, Google Photos provides cross-platform cloud access, and Google’s transfer tool makes a copy into Apple’s photo service. Choose the route below before you start so you do not erase a configured iPhone unnecessarily or lose album organization.
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Choose the right method first
| Your situation | Best route | What you get | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone is new and still in setup | Move to iOS | Direct Android-to-iPhone transfer of supported photos, videos and albums | Apple requires an erase and restart if setup has already been completed |
| iPhone is already configured and photos are stored locally on Xiaomi | Computer-mediated transfer | A local copy imported into the iPhone Photos app | Requires a computer and manual file handling |
| Photos are already in Google Photos and you want access on both phones | Google Photos on both devices | One cloud library visible after signing in to the same Google account | Photos remain in Google’s service rather than automatically becoming an iCloud Photos library |
| Photos are in Google Photos and you want them in iCloud Photos | Google Takeout transfer to Apple | A cloud-to-cloud copy into iCloud Photos | Can take hours or days; some formats and album features are handled differently |
| You are considering Xiaomi Cloud Gallery | Do not use it as a current route | None; the Gallery cloud-sync service was terminated | The Xiaomi migration window was a historical 2022–2023 process |
Before choosing, answer three questions: where are the original files now, is the iPhone already set up, and do you need a one-time copy or continuing access? Also check destination storage and whether preserving albums, motion effects or RAW files matters.
Prepare both phones and protect the originals
Check where the originals live
On the Xiaomi phone, open the Gallery and Google Photos apps separately. A photo visible in Gallery may be stored locally in the phone’s storage, while Google Photos may show a cloud copy that is no longer on the device. In local storage, camera images are commonly under the DCIM folder, although Xiaomi’s folder names can vary for screenshots, downloads and messaging apps.
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If Google Photos shows “Backed up” for an item, the cloud route may be simpler than copying every local file. Do not delete anything from the Xiaomi phone until you have opened representative photos and videos on the destination and confirmed that the required dates and folders are present.
Check storage before moving anything
- For Move to iOS, the iPhone must have enough free space for the selected data. An undersized destination can produce an incomplete transfer.
- For a computer transfer, make sure the computer has room for the temporary photo folder as well as the iPhone’s available storage.
- For Google Photos to iCloud Photos, check both your iCloud storage and Google Photos account status. Apple requires iCloud Photos and iCloud Drive to be enabled for the import.
- Google’s storage rules and plan allowances can change. Check the current account limits instead of relying on historical Xiaomi migration notices.
Charge, update and connect carefully
Charge both phones or keep them connected to power during a large transfer. Keep them close together for a wireless Move to iOS transfer. If you use a cable, it must support data, not only charging. A USB-C connection can be faster, but compatibility depends on the exact Xiaomi model, iPhone model, ports and cable. Apple also documents wireless transfer, so a cable is optional.
Method 1: Move photos while the iPhone is still being set up
Move to iOS is Apple’s documented Android-to-iPhone setup route. It is the most direct choice when the iPhone is new or has not yet reached the Home Screen.
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If you already completed iPhone setup, Apple says you must erase the iPhone and start the setup process again to use Move to iOS. Erasing removes the iPhone’s current content, so do not choose this route merely for convenience. If you want to keep the existing iPhone configuration, use the computer or cloud methods later in this guide.
Wireless Move to iOS steps
- Turn on the iPhone and proceed through setup until the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen.
- Tap From Android. The iPhone displays a temporary code.
- On the Xiaomi phone, install and open Apple’s Move to iOS app.
- Accept the prompts, enter the code shown on the iPhone and join the temporary Wi-Fi network created for the transfer.
- When the content list appears on the Xiaomi phone, select the photo and video categories you want. Apple lists camera photos and videos and photo albums among the transferable items.
- Leave both phones near each other and connected to power. Keep Move to iOS open on the Xiaomi phone and do not answer calls, switch apps or use either device until the iPhone’s loading bar finishes.
- Complete the remaining iPhone setup. Open Photos and check several recent and older images, videos, album names and dates.
Using a USB-C cable
Apple says a USB-C cable can connect a compatible Android phone directly to an iPhone and may make the transfer faster. Verify that both models support the connection and that the cable carries data. A cable supplied for charging only, an unsuitable adapter or a damaged connector can prevent the phones from communicating. If the wired connection fails, disconnect it and use the wireless process rather than assuming the Xiaomi model is unsupported.
If Move to iOS stalls or stops
- Restart both phones and begin the transfer again.
- Turn off cellular data on the Xiaomi phone before retrying. Apple also advises disabling Android features that automatically switch between Wi-Fi networks or mobile data.
- Keep Move to iOS on screen; taking a call or changing apps can interrupt the session.
- Reduce the selection if the iPhone does not have enough free storage. A transfer that appears to finish can still be incomplete when the destination is too small.
- Check that the temporary Wi-Fi connection remains active and that both phones stay powered.
Method 2: Transfer local Xiaomi photos through a computer
Use this method when the iPhone is already set up and the originals are on the Xiaomi phone. It creates a local copy on a computer and then syncs that folder to the iPhone.
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Copy the files from Xiaomi to the computer
- Unlock the Xiaomi phone and connect it to the computer with a data-capable USB cable.
- On the Xiaomi USB notification, choose the file-transfer or MTP option rather than charge-only mode.
- Open the phone’s storage. Apple says photos are usually found in the
DCIMfolder. Also check folders for screenshots, downloads, messaging apps or camera applications if those images matter. - Copy the required folders to a clearly named folder on the computer. Copy rather than move so the Xiaomi originals remain available until verification.
- Open a sample of the copied files on the computer. Confirm that large videos play and that the folder contains the expected date range.
Import the folder to the iPhone
The synchronization tool depends on the computer’s operating system:
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|---|---|---|
| Mac running macOS Catalina or later | Finder | Connect the iPhone, select it in Finder, open the Photos section, choose the folder or Photos library to sync, apply the selection and allow the sync to finish. |
| Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier | iTunes | Connect the iPhone in iTunes, open its Photos syncing settings, select the copied folder or photo library and apply the sync. |
| Windows PC | Apple Devices | Connect the iPhone, select it in Apple Devices, choose the photo-syncing option and point it to the folder containing the copied files. |
On a Mac, Apple also documents importing the Android files into Photos or using Image Capture before syncing. After the process finishes, open the iPhone Photos app and check the imported dates, file counts and videos. Keep the computer copy until you are certain the iPhone contains everything you need.
What this method does not preserve automatically
A file copy preserves the image files, but it does not necessarily recreate Xiaomi Gallery’s private albums, app-specific organization or every edit history. Folder names can be used to organize the computer library before syncing, but the iPhone may display the result according to its own Photos organization. Treat the computer folder as the authoritative backup until the iPhone library has been checked.
Method 3: Keep one cloud library available on both phones with Google Photos
If your goal is ongoing access rather than moving everything into Apple Photos, Google Photos is the simplest cross-platform arrangement. Install or open Google Photos on both phones and sign in with the same Google account. On Xiaomi, confirm that the required folders are included in Backup and that the status shows the photos have finished uploading. On iPhone, allow Google Photos to load the account’s library and grant only the device permissions you are comfortable using.
How this arrangement behaves
The photos remain in Google Photos and can be viewed or downloaded from either phone. New Xiaomi photos appear on the iPhone after they finish backing up, and photos uploaded from the iPhone become available on Xiaomi after synchronization. This is cloud access, not a direct phone-to-phone cable link, so the timing depends on the upload, network connection and account state.
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When Google Photos is preferable
- You switch between Android and iOS and want the same library without erasing either phone.
- You have more photos than the iPhone can hold locally.
- You do not need the items to appear in iCloud Photos for Apple’s built-in Photos workflows.
- You want to preserve cloud access while deciding later which files to download to the iPhone.
Method 4: Copy a Google Photos library into iCloud Photos
Use Apple’s Google-to-iCloud transfer when your Xiaomi photos are already in Google Photos and you want a copy in Apple’s Photos ecosystem. This is a cloud-to-cloud operation; the Xiaomi and iPhone do not need to stay connected by cable.
Requirements and account restrictions
- Enable iCloud Photos and iCloud Drive on the Apple Account receiving the transfer.
- Make sure the iCloud account has enough storage for the incoming library.
- The transfer is unavailable for child accounts and Managed Apple Accounts.
- Apple says the transfer cannot run while Advanced Data Protection for iCloud is enabled.
Start the transfer
- Open Apple’s data-transfer service and choose the option to transfer a copy of data from Google Photos.
- Sign in to the Google account that contains the photos.
- Select Apple – iCloud Photos as the destination.
- Authorize the Apple Account and confirm the iCloud Photos transfer.
- Wait for processing. Apple says completion can take several hours to a few days, depending on library size.
- Open Photos on the iPhone after Apple reports completion. Look for the imported items and compare a sample of dates, videos and file types.
The source photos are not deleted from Google Photos. You can continue using Google Photos while the iCloud copy is processed or keep it as a second library after verification.
Formats, metadata and files that are handled differently
Apple says the service can transfer JPEG, HEIC, PNG, GIF, TIFF, BMP and most MP4 and MOV files. Resolution is retained at the level made available by Google for export. Associated metadata such as filename, description, file type and location can transfer with supported items.
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Where imported albums appear
Imported items are placed in an album named Import from Google, dated to the transfer. Apple says missing items may instead be in an Import from Google folder in iCloud Drive. The service is a copy operation, so it should not be expected to reproduce every Google Photos album, face grouping or editing feature as a native iCloud Photos structure.
Why Xiaomi Cloud is not the answer now
Xiaomi’s Gallery cloud-sync service is no longer a current migration option. Xiaomi’s transition announcement says Gallery cloud sync was fully terminated in phase two on August 1, 2023, after country-specific transition dates. The related transfer-to-Google-Photos and download windows also followed a 2023 schedule.
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The historical migration notice warned that items moved to Google Photos would no longer retain the original Xiaomi Gallery album structure, including private albums. Treat that information as a record of an ended service, not a promise that Xiaomi Cloud can recover photos today. It cannot restore a cloud copy that was deleted after the service ended.
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Why Mi Mover is the wrong direction
Xiaomi’s Mi Mover documentation covers migration from Android phones and iPhones to a new Xiaomi phone. It does not establish a Xiaomi-to-iPhone transfer route. Do not select Mi Mover for this task simply because both devices are mobile phones; use Move to iOS, a computer, Google Photos or the Google-to-iCloud transfer according to your situation.
Albums, edits and special photos: set expectations
Album structure
Direct setup transfer can bring supported photo albums across, but cloud migrations do not promise identical organization. Xiaomi’s former Gallery-to-Google process did not preserve its original album structure. Google-to-iCloud imports use an “Import from Google” album and may put unsupported items in iCloud Drive. If album organization is business-critical, export and preserve the original folders on a computer before importing.
RAW, Motion Photos and Live Photos
Do not assume that a Xiaomi motion image becomes an Apple Live Photo. Apple specifically distinguishes Motion Photos, Live Photos, Memories and RAW files in the Google-to-iCloud process. Confirm how each camera format appears after transfer and retain the original Xiaomi or Google copy for formats that matter to you.
Metadata and resolution
For Google-to-iCloud transfers, Apple says supported metadata such as filenames, descriptions, file type and location can accompany the files, and the available export resolution is retained. A computer copy may preserve file metadata, but an app’s album labels or edit history may not survive as a separate structure. Verify a representative sample rather than relying only on the final item count.
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Verify the result before deleting anything
- Compare the number of photos and videos in the source and destination, allowing for unsupported files or duplicates.
- Open images from the oldest, newest and several middle dates.
- Play long and short videos, including any recorded in an uncommon format.
- Check screenshots, downloads and messaging folders if they were part of the intended transfer.
- Search for RAW files and motion formats separately.
- Inspect albums and the “Import from Google” album or folder where applicable.
- Confirm that the iPhone has completed indexing and that thumbnails are not merely placeholders.
- Keep the Xiaomi phone, Google Photos library or computer backup untouched until these checks pass.
Common problems and targeted fixes
The iPhone has no space
Free storage on the iPhone before using Move to iOS or a local sync. If the library is larger than the iPhone, use Google Photos for ongoing access or transfer only selected folders through a computer. For Google-to-iCloud, free iCloud space instead; iPhone local storage and iCloud storage are separate limits.
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Only some photos appear
Check whether the missing items were local-only, stored in a Xiaomi folder excluded from Google Photos backup, or placed in iCloud Drive because their format could not enter iCloud Photos. On a computer, revisit DCIM and the other source folders rather than assuming every Gallery view represents one physical directory.
Transfer keeps pausing
For Move to iOS, restart both phones, disable Xiaomi cellular data and automatic network-switching features, keep the app in the foreground and retry on power. For cloud transfers, use a stable connection and wait for the service’s processing window; a large library can take days rather than minutes.
The albums are missing
This is usually an organization difference, not proof that every file was lost. Check the iPhone’s general library, the “Import from Google” album and iCloud Drive. The former Xiaomi Cloud migration did not preserve original Gallery albums, including private albums, so identical album reconstruction may require manual organization.
The same library does not show on both phones
Verify that Google Photos is using the same Google account on Xiaomi and iPhone, then check backup status on the source phone. If your objective is an iCloud Photos library, sign-in alone is not enough; use Apple’s Google-to-iCloud transfer and wait for its completion.
Best choice by priority
| Priority | Choose | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest official setup migration | Move to iOS | Designed for a new iPhone and includes camera photos, videos and albums. |
| Keep the configured iPhone unchanged | Computer transfer or cloud transfer | Neither requires erasing the iPhone. |
| Use the same library on Android and iOS | Google Photos with one account | Works across both platforms without converting the entire library. |
| Use Apple Photos and iCloud as the destination | Google Takeout to iCloud Photos | Creates an Apple-hosted copy while leaving Google Photos originals intact. |
| Preserve a careful folder-based archive | Computer copy first | Lets you retain source folders and make a backup before importing. |
In short, use Move to iOS only during initial iPhone setup, use a computer for local files when setup is complete, and use Google Photos for continuing cross-platform access. If the destination must be iCloud Photos, transfer the Google Photos library through Apple’s Google-to-iCloud process and verify unsupported formats and album placement before removing any original.
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