Connecting a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone to a personal computer is often necessary not only to transfer photos, but also to perform complex operations such as unlocking the bootloader, installing custom firmware or debugging applications. However, users often face a situation where the computer sees the device only as a drive or completely ignores its presence in the system, this is due to the lack of specific ADB and Fastboot drivers, which are not installed automatically in the Windows base kit.
Without properly working drivers, you can’t use professional software like Mi Flash Tool or Mi Unlock, making it impossible to restore the system after a failed update or password reset. In this article, we’ll discuss all the nuances of installing the necessary components for various versions of the Windows operating system, and also look at how to manually update drivers through Device Manager.
The process may seem complicated to a beginner, but following the algorithm of actions ensures a successful connection. We will touch on the activation of hidden modes of operation of a smartphone, such as USB Debugging, and explain why a standard charging cable may not be suitable for data transfer.
Preparing a smartphone and computer for connection
Before you start installing the software, you have to prepare the gadget itself. Most modern Xiaomi models are default in “Charge Only” mode, which blocks data exchange. You will need to activate the hidden developer menu. To do this, go to the phone settings, select “About Phone” and quickly click. 7-10 once on the field "Version" MIUI» or "Version" OS», until a successful activation is reported.
Once you activate the developer menu, go back to the main settings menu and find the "Additional" or "Extended Settings" section, and find the "Developers" item on the menu, and you should find the "Debug USB" switch and activate it, and the system will warn you of the risks, but it is necessary to work correctly with the computer.
☑️ Pre-installing check
Cheap cables that come with some budget accessories often have only two power veins and do not support data transfer. Use the original cable or certified analogue with the label (data transfer). It is also recommended to check the USB port on the computer, connecting another device to it to exclude hardware malfunctions of the motherboard.
Download and install official Xiaomi drivers
The official driver package is distributed by Xiaomi as part of the Mi PC Suite tool, which unfortunately has limited support for modern models, but contains basic drivers. A more reliable way is to download the universal Xiaomi USB Driver package from proven resources or use the Mi Flash Tool installer, which automatically installs the necessary components of ADB and Fastboot.
The process of installing a standard package is as follows: after downloading the archive, it must be unpacked into a separate folder. Run the setup.exe executable on behalf of the administrator. The installer wizard will prompt you to select components; make sure that items related to ADB Interface and MTP Protocol are marked. Once the installation is complete, the computer will require a restart.
Where to look for drivers if the official website is not working?
There is also a command line installation method for advanced users, but it requires having the basic Android platform tools already installed.If you plan to do firmware regularly, it makes sense to install Google's Platform Tools package, which is a reference for the entire Android ecosystem.
Manual installation via Windows Device Manager
Often, drivers are installed, but the system cannot automatically match them to the connected device, in which case user intervention is required through Device Manager. Connect the phone to the PC in Fastboot mode (clamping the volume button when turned on) or in boot mode (Vol Down + Power).
Right-click on an unknown device and select “Update Driver.” In the window that opens, select “Search for drivers on this computer” and then “Select a driver from the list of available drivers on your computer.” If there is no suitable option in the list, click “Install from disk” and specify the path to the folder where the Xiaomi drivers were unpacked.
| Type of device | Name in dispatch. | Required driver | Mode of work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphone (regular) | Android Phone / MTP | MTP USB Device | Included |
| Debugging mode | Android Composite ADB Interface | Google USB Driver / Xiaomi ADB | USB debugging |
| Fastboot mode | Android Bootloader Interface | Qualcomm/MTK Bootloader | Vol Down + Power |
| EDL mode (9008) | Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 | Qualcomm USB Driver | Special combination |
It's important to correctly identify the device, for example, for Qualcomm processors in deep firmware mode (EDL) You need a separate QDLoader driver that is not included in the standard package. ADB. If you see a device with an identifier QUSB_BULK, You need a Qualcomm driver urgently, otherwise firmware through Mi Flash will not be possible.
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Use it. USB-Ports 2.0 for older devices. When you connect very old Xiaomi models to ports USB 3.0 (blue) can cause driver conflicts. Try switching the cable to the port. USB 2.0 (black) for stabilizing the compound.
Solving problems with ADB and Fastboot drivers
The most common problem is the Code 10 or Code 43 error in Device Manager, which means that the device cannot start. Often the problem lies in the digital signature of drivers, especially on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The system blocks the installation of unverified drivers, which include some modified versions for Xiaomi.
To solve this problem, you need to temporarily disable driver signature verification. Restart your computer by holding the Shift key and selecting Reboot. Go to Search and troubleshoot -> Additional settings -> Boot options and press F7. After booting, try reinstalling the driver.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling driver signature verification reduces system security. After successful driver installation, Xiaomi is strongly advised to restart the computer as normal to activate protection again.
Another common error is the version conflict: If you have previously installed drivers from other Android manufacturers (Samsung, Huawei), they can intercept the device. In Device Manager, find all devices called Android, delete them with the tick "Delete driver programs for this device" and try to install the Xiaomi driver again.
Using drivers for unlocking and firmware
Successful driver installation gives access to the main modification tool, the Mi Unlock Tool. This utility requires Fastboot drivers to communicate with the phone bootloader. Without the correct Android Bootloader Interface driver, the program will endlessly search for the device or give a connection error.
For the Unlock Bootloader process, the phone is switched to Fastboot mode, and the utility checks the status of the Mi Account. Here it is critical that the device manager defines the phone as Android Bootloader Interface, not as an unknown device. If the driver is correctly installed, the connection indicator will light up in the program window, and the Unlock button will become active.
When you flash it over Mi Flash, the requirements are even stricter. COM and USB-If the drivers are ADB or EDL (No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, no. No, no. No, no. No, no. No, no. No, no. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. MTK USB Port, which often has to be installed manually through the "Action» -> «Install an Older Driver».
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The correct operation of Mi Unlock and Mi Flash depends on the correct installation of Fastboot and ADB drivers by 90%.