How to transfer files from Xiaomi phone to computer via USB: all ways and solutions to problems

Transfer data from Xiaomi phone to computer via USB-The cable seems like a simple task, until you have the typical problems: the PC can't see the device, the files aren't copied, or the smartphone is constantly asking for permission. MIUI, phone model and even type USB-In this article, we will discuss all working methods of transmission, including hidden settings that the manufacturer does not advertise.

Xiaomi devices are flexible but sometimes redundant. For example, newer versions of MIUI 14/15 may have Charge Only enabled by default, and file transfer options are hidden in additional settings. In addition, Windows does not always automatically install drivers for Xiaomi, which leads to connection errors. We will show you how to get around these restrictions and configure the connection in 2-3 minutes.

Why can’t your computer see your Xiaomi phone through USB?

If nothing happens after you connect the cable, it's not always the phone's fault, and 60 percent of the time, one of three things is the problem.

• 🔌 Faulty cable or port: Use the original Xiaomi cable (or certified) USB-C) Check the port on your computer, some of them USB 3.0 ports (blue) can conflict with mobile devices.
• 🤖 Incorrect Connection Mode: Xiaomi's default is often "Charge" rather than "File Transfer"; this is set up in the notification curtain.
• 🖥️ Lack of drivers: Windows 10/11 It is usually installed automatically, but for older versions (e.g. Redmi Note). 5) You may need to install manually through Device Manager.

Less obvious reasons:

• 🔒 Lockdown MIUI: in the security settings (Settings) → Special opportunities → For developers, access to the USB.
• 📱 Damaged firmware: if the phone was previously flashed by unofficial firmware, USB-The modem may not work properly.
• 🛡️ Antivirus or firewall: Software like Kaspersky or Avast sometimes blocks mobile devices as “suspicious".

Preparing Xiaomi phone for data transfer

Before connecting, follow 3 mandatory steps to avoid errors:

1. Unlock the screen: Xiaomi won't display a file access request if the phone is locked.Use a PIN, fingerprint or Face ID.
2. Activate Developer Mode (optional): If you plan to transfer files frequently, turn on USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional settings → For developers.
3. Check the USB settings: the notification curtain will appear in the “USB for file transfer” option after connecting the cable – select it.

For models on MIUI 14+ (e.g. Xiaomi 13 or POCO F5), the path to USB settings may be different:

Settings → Connections and Sharing → USB

Enable debugging over USB (for experienced users)

Unlock the phone screen

Use the original USB-C cable

Select the "File Transfer" mode in the notification curtain

Check for drivers on PC (via Device Manager)

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⚠️ Note: If you connect Xiaomi to your computer for the first time, Windows may request permission to install the driver MTP (Never select the option “Install driver manually” from unverified sources, which can lead to system conflicts.

How to transfer files from Xiaomi to PC via USB

There are 4 main methods, each of which is suitable for different scenarios:

For most users, the MTP mode is optimal. It supports the transfer of any files (except system) and works without additional settings.

1. Connect the phone to the PC.
2. In the Xiaomi notification curtain, click on the notification “Charge via USB”.
3. Select File Transfer (MTP).
4. Open this computer - the phone will appear as a removable disk.

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If Windows doesn’t see the phone in MTP mode, try switching to PTP and then back to MTP. This resets the connection and often resolves the problem.

Solving problems with connecting Xiaomi to PC

If the computer still does not recognize the device, perform a diagnostic using this algorithm:

1. Check the cable: try another cable (preferably the original Xiaomi) cheap cables often don't support data transfer, only charging.
2. Update drivers: Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager). Find a device with a yellow exclamation mark (usually under "Portable Devices" or "Other Devices"). Right-click → Update driver → Automatic search.
3. Reset USB Settings: Settings → System → Settings Reset → USB Settings Reset This option is available on MIUI 12+ and resets all previous connections.
4. Check the USB port on your PC: connect your phone to another port (preferably USB 2.0, black) and some USB 3.0 ports (blue) may not work properly with MTP.

For POCO and Redmi models based on MIUI 13+, disabling MIUI Optimization can help:

Settings → Special. features → Optimization of MIUI → Disable

⚠️ Note: If you use MacOS, you will need to install Android File Transfer (the official software from Google) to transfer files. Without it, Xiaomi will not show up in the Finder, even if the cable and settings are correct.

Transfer of files via ADB: for experienced users

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., custom firmware), you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires pre-configuration, but provides maximum speed and access to system files.

Instructions:

1. Turn on USB debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times Press → For Developers → Debugging by USB).
2. Download ADB Tools and unpack it on PC.
3. Connect the phone to your computer and in the command line (on behalf of the administrator) perform: adb devices If the device is displayed - the connection is successful.
4. To copy a file from your phone to your PC: adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/photo.jpg C:\Photos\ Where /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/photo.jpg is the path to the file on your phone and C:\Photos\ is the folder on your PC.

Advantages of ADB:

• ⚡ Speed: up 50-80 MB/s (in) 2-3 faster MTP).
• 🔓 Access to system files: you can copy data from /data or /system (Root rights are required).
• 🤖 Automation: You can write scripts for mass file transfer.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB on phones with a locked bootloader (Xiaomi blocks it by default) can cause a data reset.Before experimenting, make a backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.

Alternative methods of transfer without USB

If you cannot connect via cable (for example, a broken port), use wireless methods:

• 🌐 Mi Drop: The app is pre-installed on all Xiaomi. It works on Wi-Fi Direct, up to 20MB/s. How to use: Open Mi Drop on your phone. Select files and click "Send". On PC, open your browser and go to the address that will appear on your phone screen (e.g. 192.168.1.100:8080).

Cloud services

• Mi Cloud: 5GB free, integration with MIUI
• Google Drive: 15GB, easy to use for documents.
• Telegram: Send files to your Save Messages (limit 2 GB per file).

FTP-server (for large files)

FX File Explorer

Solid Explorer

FileZilla

Conductor

ftp://IP-telephone

Important: when transferring over Wi-Fi, the speed depends on the router standard. At 5 GHz (Wi-Fi 6), it can reach 30-50 MB / s, which is comparable to USB 3.0. At 2.4 GHz, it is no more than 5-10 MB / s.

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For transferring files larger than 10 GB, it is better to use USB or FTP. Cloud services and instant messengers have limitations on file size and download speed.

How to speed up file transfer from Xiaomi to PC?

The speed of USB transmission depends on several factors, and here's how to maximize it:

• 🔌 Use it. USB 3.0: Connect your phone to the blue port on your PC (USB 3.0) and use a supported cable USB 3.1 Gen 1 (usually marked with a symbol "SS").
• 📁 Archive files: before transfer, pack folders into ZIP/RAR. One large file is copied faster than thousands of small ones.
• 🔄 Disable the antivirus: programs like Avast or 360 Total Security scans every file transferred, slowing down the process. 2-3 once.
• 📵 Put your phone in airplane mode: this will turn off background processes that can be used USB-linkage.