How to Open a Xiaomi Device on Your Computer: All Ways to Connect and Control

Xiaomi devices — whether Redmi/POCO smartphones, Pad tablets or Mi TVs — often require a computer connection to transfer files, debug or manage. However, it is not always clear how to properly open a device to interact with a PC: Windows does not see the device, then requests drivers, then blocks access due to security settings. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of connecting, including hidden functions and bypassing typical errors.

The main problem of users is the lack of a universal solution. For example, to transfer photos from a smartphone Xiaomi 13 Pro will be enough standard MTP-and to debug applications through ADB You'll need to unlock the developer options and install special drivers, and we structured the instructions by device type and connection purpose so you can quickly find the method you want.

1. Connecting a Xiaomi smartphone or tablet to a PC via USB

The most common way is to connect via a USB-Type C cable (or Micro-USB for older models), but there are nuances: Xiaomi defaults to blocking access to the file system because of the MIUI security policy. To make the computer see the device as a removable disk, you need to manually select the data mode.

Instructions for MIUI 14 and newer:

• 🔌 Connect your smartphone to your PC with the original cable (cheap analogues may not support data transfer).
• 📱 On the phone screen will appear a notification "Charging through" USB" — tap him.
• 🔄 Select the "File Transfer" mode" (MTP). If there is no such item, turn on the debugging of USB (see next section).
• 🖥️ On PC, open "This Computer" - the device should appear as a media device (Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or similar).

If the computer can't see the phone:

• 🔄 Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0 blue).
• 🔧 Install Mi drivers PC Suite (Official Software from Xiaomi for Windows).
• 📵 Turn off Debugging by USB" Developer’s settings, if it was previously included.

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If Windows gives an error "Device not recognized", try connecting your smartphone to another PC or laptop, often because of corrupted USB ports or driver conflicts.

2. Unlock debugging over USB and developer mode

Advanced functions (install custom firmware, work with ADB, root access) require you to turn on developer mode and debugging over USB, a process hidden in MIUI to protect against accidental changes.

How to activate:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row (you will be notified "You became a developer!").
3. Return to the main settings menu and a new section for developers will appear.
4. Turn on the switches: 🔧 "Debugging by USB" 🔓 "Unlocking OEM" (necessary to unlock the loader)

Connect the device to the PC and confirm the debugging permission in the window that appears.

⚠️ Attention: Enactment of "Unlocking" OEM" Resets all data on the device the first time you activate.

Enable the developer mode (7 taps according to version) MIUI)|Activate "Debugging by" USB" customized|Connect the original cable USB|Allow debugging on the smartphone screen|Install ADB-PC drivers-->

3.Manage Xiaomi from a computer via Mi PC Suite

The official Mi PC Suite software not only allows you to transfer files, but also manage your smartphone from your PC: install applications, make backups, update firmware. The program supports all devices on MIUI, including POCO and Black Shark.

How to use:

• 📥 Download Mi. PC Suite from the official website (versions for Windows and macOS).
• 🔌 Connect your smartphone to your PC in mode MTP (see section 1).
• 🖥️ Start the program - the device is determined automatically.
• 📁 Main functions: 📂 Viewing and copying files (photos, videos, music). 📱 Installation/removal of applications (.apk). 🔄 Backup and recovery of data. 🔧 Update of firmware (if a new version is available).

Programme limitations:

• ❌ No root access support.
• ❌ Does not work with locked bootloaders (requires unlocking through Mi Unlock Tool).
• ❌ Interface in Chinese/English (Russian localization is not available).

File Transfer | Application Installation | Backup | Firmware Update | Never used-->

4. Xiaomi wireless connection to PC (Wi-Fi, Miracast, AirDroid)

If the cable is not available or damaged, you can connect to Xiaomi by air, depending on the device model and the purpose:

The most universal way — FTP-server MIUI:

1. Open Settings → Connection and Sharing → FTP.
2. Activate the switch and write down the address of the view ftp://192.168.x.x:xxxx.
3. On PC, open "Conductor" → enter the address in the address bar → enter the login / password (by default - anonymous without a password).

To control the screen of your smartphone from a PC, use Scrcpy:

scrcpy --bit-rate 8M --max-size 1024

This command runs a screen broadcast with a resolution of 1024p and a bitrate of 8 Mbps (optimum for most Wi-Fi networks).

5. Connecting Xiaomi Mi TV to your computer

Xiaomi Mi TVs TV (series A2, P1, Q2 There are several ways to interact with the PC, from simply transferring files to using TV as a monitor. MTP-The system must be used for alternative protocols.

Connection methods:

• 📂 DLNA/UPnP: To transfer media files (video, photo, music) over the local network. → Network → Sharing media files.
• 🖥️ Miracast/WiDi: Wireless PC screen broadcast on TV (supported by Windows) 10/11). On TV, select Source. → Wireless display.
• 🔌 HDMI: Physical connection of PC to TV via cable (maximum quality) 4K@60Hz).
• 📁 Samba Server: Access to TV files as a network drive (requires activation in Settings) → Network → Samba).

⚠️ Note: When connecting through HDMI on some Mi models TV (Like Mi. TV 4S 55) may not sound. Solution: in PC audio settings, select HDMI-audio as a default output device.

6. ADB-Teams for Extended Management of Xiaomi

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool allows you to execute low-level commands on Xiaomi devices directly from your computer.This is useful for automatic backup, installing system applications, or bypassing MIUI restrictions.

Baseline teams:

Adb devices # Checking connected devices


adb pull /sdcard/DCIM. # Copying photos on PC




adb install app.apk # Install APK- file




adb shell pm list packages # List of all installed applications




adb reboot recovery # Reboot to recovery mode

Example: How to remove a pre-installed application (e.g., Mi Browser):

adb shell


pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser

⚠️ Warning: Removing system applications may result in device failure or update errors MIUI. Before experimenting, back up with adb backup.

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ADB-teams require an unlocked bootloader on most Xiaomi devices. Without this, many system operations will be blocked.

7. Solving typical connection problems

Even with the right settings, Xiaomi’s PC connection can be accompanied by errors.

If the device is defined as a "Memory" but the files are not displayed:

• 🔍 Check if files are hidden in the Windows Explorer settings.
• 📁 Try opening your device through another file manager (e.g. Total Commander).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and computer.

FAQ: Frequent questions