# Pixel Gallery vs Xiaomi Gallery

Canonical: https://pixel-gallery.app/android/compare/xiaomi-gallery

Last updated: November 9, 2026

**Verdict:** Pick Pixel Gallery if you want the same smart gallery on every phone, no account and documented on-device processing. Keep Xiaomi Gallery if you use its generative editing on a supported HyperOS device.

Xiaomi Gallery ships with HyperOS on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones, with AI search on select models. Pixel Gallery offers on-device faces, search and cleanup on any Android phone.

## Feature comparison

| Capability | Pixel Gallery | Xiaomi Gallery |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Photos stay on the phone | Yes (Pixel Gallery never uploads your photos or videos.) | Partly (Local gallery; Xiaomi Cloud gallery sync ended outside mainland China in 2022, China status not confirmed) |
| Works without an account | Yes | Partly (Core gallery needs no sign-in; the private album asks for a Mi account on first use.) |
| On-device smart search | Yes (SigLIP2 model, ~375 MB optional download.) | Partly (AI Gallery Search on select models, languages and regions; on-device processing not officially documented) |
| Face grouping | Yes (Runs on the phone.) | Yes (Face recognition in AI album search; where it runs is not documented) |
| Duplicate and similar cleanup | Yes | Partly (Duplicate photo cleanup is offered by Xiaomi's Cleaner/Security app; a Gallery-native tool is not officially documented) |
| Encrypted metadata database | Yes | Not documented |
| No ads | Yes | Not documented (Not verified for Gallery; HyperOS shows ads in several other system apps) |
| No subscription | Yes (Free, plus an optional one-time Premium purchase.) | Yes (Free, preinstalled on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones) |
| Cloud backup | No (Pixel Gallery has no cloud. Backup is up to you.) | Partly (Xiaomi Cloud gallery sync discontinued outside mainland China in 2022) |
| Open source | No | No |
| Runs on any Android phone | Yes | No (Only on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones.) |
| Same AI features on every device | Partly (Gemini Nano captions only on supported devices; other AI runs everywhere.) | No (Varies by model, language and region.) |
| Password-protected private album | Partly (Blurs items behind a biometric lock; files are not encrypted.) | Yes |
| Generative AI editing | No | Yes (AI Erase and expansion on supported HyperOS devices.) |
| Updates from Google Play | Yes | No |

## Is Pixel Gallery a good Xiaomi Gallery alternative?

Yes, especially if you want the same features on any phone. Xiaomi Gallery's AI search depends on the model, language and region, and Xiaomi does not document where it runs. Pixel Gallery runs face grouping, semantic search and cleanup on the phone and never uploads your photos or videos.

## What does Xiaomi Gallery do better?

- **Preinstalled.** Nothing to set up on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones.
- **Generative editing.** AI Erase and image expansion on supported devices.
- **Private album.** A password-protected album for hidden photos.

## What does Pixel Gallery do better?

- **Any phone.** Same features on every brand with Android 13 or newer.
- **Documented privacy.** No upload, no account, an encrypted metadata database, no ads.
- **Cleanup in the gallery.** Duplicates, similar shots and low-quality photos with swipe review.
- **More to explore.** Stories, places and statistics.

## Who should pick which?

Pick Pixel Gallery if privacy, consistency or a future brand switch matter to you. Keep Xiaomi Gallery if its generative editor is what you use most; the two can live side by side.

## How to switch from Xiaomi Gallery

Install Pixel Gallery, allow photo access and set it as the default gallery in HyperOS settings. Photos in Xiaomi's private album stay there until you move them out.

## Questions

**What is the best gallery app to replace Xiaomi Gallery?**
If you want AI features without accounts, Pixel Gallery does faces, semantic search and cleanup on the phone. If you want something minimal and open source, Fossify Gallery or Aves.

**How do I back up Xiaomi Gallery now that Xiaomi Cloud sync ended?**
Xiaomi ended Gallery sync outside mainland China in 2022. Use a separate backup app or service; Pixel Gallery has no cloud backup either.

**Does Xiaomi Gallery AI search work offline?**
Xiaomi does not document where AI Gallery Search runs. Pixel Gallery computes its search on the phone.

## Sources

- [Xiaomi HyperOS (AI Gallery Search availability footnote)](https://www.mi.com/global/hyperos), accessed November 8, 2026
- [Xiaomi support: How to use AI album search (POCO F6)](https://www.mi.com/global/support/faq/details/KA-367221/), accessed November 8, 2026
- [Xiaomi support: How to find pictures in private album](https://www.mi.com/global/support/faq/details/KA-492674/), accessed November 8, 2026
- [Xiaomi Cloud: termination of Gallery sync notice](https://i.mi.com/announcement/stop_service), accessed November 8, 2026
- [Xataka Android: HyperOS Gallery app adds AI expand and erase](https://www.xatakandroid.com/foto-y-video/app-galeria-hyperos-se-actualiza-a-grande-funciones-ia-puedes-expandir-tus-fotos-borrar-objetos), accessed November 8, 2026
- [Notebookcheck: How to turn off ads on Xiaomi phones (2026)](https://www.notebookcheck.net/How-to-turn-off-ads-on-Xiaomi-phones-quickly.1227806.0.html), accessed November 8, 2026