How to transfer data from Xiaomi phone to your computer via USB: the complete guide

Transfer photos, videos or documents from Xiaomi to your computer USB-The cable seems like a simple task, until you run into the typical problems: the phone is not detected, files are not displayed or the system requires drivers. In this article, we will analyze all the nuances of the process, from choosing the right connection mode to solving common errors. We will pay special attention to the specifics of the firmware MIUI, which often blocks data transmission by default.

It’s important to understand that modern Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and flagship series) use MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) to share files. However, even with the right connection, users face limitations — such as the inability to edit system folders or hidden files.

If you previously tried to connect Xiaomi to a PC and received an error “Device not recognized” or “Driver not installed”, in the article you will find the latest solutions for Windows. 10/11 We will also consider alternative methods of transmission – via Wi-Fi Direct and cloud services, if USB-connection is not available for some reason.

1. Preparing Xiaomi phone for data transfer

Before you connect Xiaomi to your computer, you have to configure the smartphone itself, and many users miss this step, which causes problems for the Later.

• 🔧 Unlock the screen: USB-If the screen is locked with a password or fingerprint, unlock it in advance.
• 📱 Open the notification curtain: After connecting the cable in the curtain, a notification “Charge through” will appear USB» — press it.
• 🔄 Select Transfer Mode: In the Connection Menu, select File Transfer (MTP). Alternative modes (only charging or PTP) Not suitable for data exchange.
• 🔒 Allow access to files: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) Additional confirmation of permission to access memory is required.

On devices with MIUI 14 and later, the path to USB settings may be different. If there is no file transfer option in the notification curtain, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → USB and select the manual mode. Also make sure that the USB debugging function is disabled - it may conflict with MTP.

⚠️ Note: If you connect Xiaomi to your computer for the first time, the system may request driver installation. On Windows, this usually happens automatically, but older versions of the OS (such as Windows 7) may require manual installation of the Mi package. PC Suite.

Unlock the phone screen|Connect the original USB-cable|Select the "File Transfer" mode (MTP)"|Check the connection in Device Manager (for Windows)|Deactivate "Debugging by" USB" (if not used)-->

2. Set up a computer to recognize Xiaomi

Even if the phone is configured correctly, the computer may not recognize it due to the lack of drivers or conflicts with other devices.

On Windows 10/11:

1. Connect Xiaomi to the USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0 - usually blue).
2. Open Device Manager (click Win + X → select the appropriate item).
3. Find your Xiaomi Portable Devices or Other Devices in the list. If there is an exclamation point nearby, right-click and select Update Driver.
4. Select Auto Search. If that doesn't work, download drivers from Xiaomi's official website or use Mi PC Suite.

On macOS:

• 🍎 Install Android File Transfer (official software from Google) – without it, the Mac will not be able to recognize Xiaomi as a drive.
• 🔌 Connect your phone and wait until the program starts. If the Android File Transfer doesn't open automatically, run it manually.
• 📁 Note: you can't edit Xiaomi system files on macOS, only user data.

⚠️ Note: If you use Linux, you can use Xiaomi to work with you. MTP You may need to install mtp-tools and gvfs-mtp. In the terminal, execute: sudo apt install mtp-tools gvfs-mtp After the restart, the phone should be defined as a media device.

Windows 10/11|macOS|Linux|Another.-->

3. Step-by-step instruction: transfer files from Xiaomi to PC

When the phone and the computer are set up, you can start transferring data. Let's look at the process with Windows 11:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC with the original cable (preferably from the kit).Using uncertified cables can cause slow transmission or connection breakage.
2. Unlock the screen and in the notification curtain click on the Charge notification via USB.

On Xiaomi models with MIUI 13 and later, the path to some folders (such as DCIM/Camera or Downloads) may be hidden due to privacy policy.To see all files, turn on the display of hidden elements in Windows Explorer settings or use the file manager on your phone (such as Files by Google) to pre-transfer data to an accessible folder.

To speed up the transfer of large files (e.g., 4K video):

• 🚀 Use the port. USB 3.0 (blue connector) on PC.
• 📥 Archiving files before transfer (e.g., in the ZIP), if there are many.
• 🔌 Turn off the others. USB-devices (flash drives, external drives) to avoid conflicts.

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If the transfer is interrupted on large files, try breaking them into pieces using an archiver (for example, WinRAR with the option “Separate into volumes”).

4. Solving common connection errors

Even with the right setup, Xiaomi users often encounter errors, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Mistake: "USB-device not identified"

Reasons:

• 🔌 Faulty cable or port.
• 🖥️ Driver conflict on PC.
• 📱 Debugging mode is on. USB (designer).

Decisions:

1. Try a different cable and port (preferably USB 2.0 if 3.0 is not working).
2. Turn off USB debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
3. In Device Manager, remove all devices called Xiaomi or MTP, then reconnect the phone.

Error: Files are not copied or copied with errors

Reasons:

• 📂 Files protected DRM (For example, screenshots from some applications).
• 🛡️ Antivirus blocking access.
• 🗃️ Destination folder on PC protected from recording.

Decisions:

• 🔓 Try copying files to another folder on your PC (for example, to your desktop).
• 🛡️ Temporarily disable the antivirus (such as Avast or Kaspersky).
• 📱 Move files from protected folders on your phone (for example, WhatsApp/Media) download.

5. Alternative methods of data transfer without USB

If USB connectivity is not available for some reason, you can use wireless methods, which are inferior in speed, but convenient for transferring small files.

Wi-Fi transmission (Mi Drop or local area network)

For this method, both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network:

1. On Xiaomi, open the Mi Drop app (pre-installed on most models).
2. Select files to transfer and click Send.
3. On PC, open your browser and go to the address that will appear on your phone screen (e.g. http://192.168.1.100:1234).
4. Download files through the web interface.

The speed of transfer depends on the quality of the Wi-Fi network. For large files (>1 GB), it is better to use USB.

Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)

Suitable for transferring files to any device:

• 📁 Upload files to Google Drive or Mi Cloud via the app on Xiaomi.
• 💻 On PC, open the web version of the service and download files.
• ⚠️ Please note that free accounts have a volume limit (15 GB for Google Drive).

FTP-server

For advanced users:

1. Install an FTP Server application on Xiaomi (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Launch it. FTP-server and write down the address (for example, ftp://192.168.1.100:2221).
3. On PC, connect to this address via FileZilla or Explorer (enter the address in the address bar).

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USB remains the most reliable and fastest way to transfer data, but for small files it is more convenient to use Wi-Fi or cloud services.

6. Security in data transmission

Moving files from Xiaomi to your PC may be associated with risks of data leakage or virus infection.

• 🔒 Don’t connect Xiaomi to public computers (such as Internet cafes) and use cloud services or your own device.
• 🔄 Turn off File Transfer after completion - left on mode MTP It can be used for unauthorized access.

If you share sensitive data (such as document scans), consider the following:

• 🔐 Encrypt files before transferring using 7-Zip WinRAR (set a password to the archive).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Black Shark or Black Shark) POCO F4 GT) Secure Transfer is enabled, which blocks copying of certain types of files (e.g. screenshots of banking applications). To disable this restriction, go to Settings → Confidentiality → Special permits → Protecting Content and Deactivating Option.

7. Optimization of the transmission process for large data volumes

If you need to move tens of gigabytes of data (like a backup or video collection), standard MTP mode can run slowly.

• 🚀 Use the cable. USB 3.1 Type-C – it provides speeds up to 10 Gbps (theoretically). USB-IF.
• 📦 Archive data before transfer, for example, a folder with 1000 photos can be packaged into a file. ZIP or RAR — This will reduce the number of I/O operations.
• 🔌 Connect Xiaomi to the rear USB-system unit ports – they usually have more stable power supply than the front ones.
• 🛠️ Turn off file indexing on your PC during transfer (in Windows, this can be done in disk properties).

For professional work with large amounts of data (e.g. video editing), consider using OTG-external-adapter SSD-accumulator:

1. Connect to Xiaomi OTG-adapter with USB-C support.
2. Connect an external drive (such as the Samsung T7).
3. Copy files to the disk via the file manager, then connect the disk to the PC.

This method allows you to bypass the limitations of MTP and achieve a transfer speed of up to 500 MB / s (using NVMe SSD).

On Xiaomi models with UFS 3.1 support (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), internal memory reading speeds can reach 2,000 MB/s, but when transferring via USB 2.0, it is limited to 40 MB/s. Always use USB 3.0 and original cables for maximum speed.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer from Xiaomi to PC