Modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are equipped with high-resolution cameras, so that the user gallery quickly acquires thousands of pictures and videos in 4K. Sooner or later, each owner faces the question of how to effectively free up the internal storage of the device, saving valuable frames on a more powerful medium. File transfer between a mobile device and a desktop PC or laptop is a basic, but sometimes requiring attention procedure that can be performed in several ways.
Depending on the amount of data, whether you have a cable or a stable Wi-Fi connection, you can choose the most convenient method of synchronization. Some methods are ideal for quickly transferring a couple of images, others for creating full backups of a gallery weighing tens of gigabytes. In this article, we will discuss all the current options, from classic USB to cloud technologies, and answer frequent questions.
Classical method: Connecting through USB-cable
The most reliable and quick way to transfer a large amount of data is to use a standard data transfer system. USB-This is a cable that comes with a smartphone, and it doesn't require an Internet connection, and it provides the highest transmission speed, which is critical when you're working with heavy videos. To start, simply connect the smartphone to the computer, after which a system notification about the charging mode will appear on the device screen.
You need to click on this notification and select USB mode. By default, the phone often goes into Charge Only mode, which hides its file system from the computer. Select File Transfer (MTP) or Photo Transfer (PTP) option so that the PC recognizes the device as an external drive.
Once you select the mode, open "My Computer" on Windows or "Finder" on macOS. Your device will appear in the disk list. Go to Internal Sharing → DCIM → Camera, where all the pictures taken on the main camera are stored. From here you can copy files to the hard drive with the usual drag and drop.
☑️ Connection check USB
It is worth considering that when using a cable, the copy speed depends on the quality of the cord itself and the version of the USB port. Using the original Xiaomi cable guarantees the stability of the connection and the absence of errors when interrupting the transfer.
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Use USB 3.0 ports (blue) on the back of the system unit for maximum speed copying of large files.
Wireless transmission via Mi Share and Explorer
If the cable is lost or far away, wireless technology comes to the rescue. The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS feature Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop), which allows you to transfer files to Windows computers without installing third-party software, if the PC supports the Wireless Display standard or has an appropriate application.
A more general-purpose method is to use the embedded system application Explorer with remote control. Open the application, select the Computer tab, and click Start. FTP-the address to be entered in the address bar of any browser or conductor on a computer located on the same Wi-Fi network.
This method is convenient because it requires no drivers and works on any operating system, including Linux and macOS. You get full access to the file system of the smartphone directly from the desktop of the PC. Transfer speed is limited only by the bandwidth of your router.
- 📡 Open the “Conductor” application on your smartphone.
- 🖥️ Select "Remote management" or "Access from PC».
- 🔗 Enter the displayed address (for example, ftp://192.168.1.5:2121) to the address bar of the folder on Windows.
- 📂 Copy the necessary photos into any folder on the hard disk.
Why is the FTP connection not working?
Use of cloud services and synchronization
For those who prefer automation, cloud storage is the ideal solution. Xiaomi Cloud (Mi Cloud) allows you to set up automatic upload of photos to the cloud when you connect to Wi-Fi. However, the amount of free storage is limited, so for large archives this method may require a subscription.
The alternative is third-party services such as Google Photos, Yandex.Disk or Dropbox. By installing the application on your smartphone and enabling autoload, you guarantee the safety of data even if you lose your device. On your computer, you just need to open the browser or desktop version of the application to access all the pictures.
The good thing about this method is that it creates an extra copy of the data, protecting you from technical failures. However, the speed of downloading and downloading depends on your ISP's rate, and you need a stable channel to sync hundreds of high-quality photos every day.
⚠️ Note: When using public Wi-Fi networks to upload your data to the cloud, it is recommended to synchronize large amounts of personal photos only through trusted home networks or using mobile Internet with encryption.
Third-party data applications
The mobile app market offers a variety of file transfer solutions that are often faster and more convenient than standard tools, and the leader in this niche is already Send Anywhere, which allows you to transfer files between any device through the generation of 6-digit code.
Another popular option is Portal by Pushbullet. You don't have to register or install the app on your PC. QR-It's a code from the camera on the service's website, and you can drag and drop files right in the browser.
Also worth mentioning is AirDroid, which turns a smartphone into a full-fledged remote terminal. You can not only download photos through the web interface, but also manage contacts, SMS and notifications. The free version has limits on traffic, but for periodic use they are enough.
Comparison of transmission methods: characteristics table
To make it easier for you to choose the best way to respond to a particular situation, we have prepared a comparative table that will help you assess the pros and cons of each method, depending on your current conditions and tasks.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB-cable | Tall. | No. | Low. |
| Mi Share / FTP | Medium | No (needs Wi-Fi) | Medium |
| The cloud (Cloud) | Depends on the network. | Yes. | Low. |
| Send Anywhere | Tall. | Yeah (for starters) | Low. |
As you can see from the table, cable remains the king of speed and reliability, while wireless methods benefit in convenience and no need to search for physical connectors. For a regular backup, you better set up the cloud, and for a one-time transfer of video to 4K, you can take a cable.
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For transferring files larger than 10 GB, always use USB-cable to avoid connection breakdown and loss of time to reload.
Solution: Computer can't see phone
One of the most common problems with USB connection is when the computer makes a sound of the device's connection, but the photo folders don't appear. Most often it's in USB mode. Check the notification curtain on the phone and make sure that you select MTP mode, not Charge only.
If the mode is right, but the response is not, the problem may lie in the cable itself. Cheap cables are often just for charging and have no data lines. Try replacing the cord with an original or quality, supported counterpart.
In rare cases, drivers are required. Xiaomi devices usually only need to install Mi PC Suite or just wait a few minutes for Windows to find the necessary components in the update center, and it also helps to include USB debugging in the Developer menu, although this is usually redundant for simple photo transfer.
⚠️ Note: If the phone is only charged when connected and does not respond to clicks in the mode selection menu USB, Maybe the charging socket is clogged with dust or damaged.
Sometimes antivirus software on your computer will block new devices, try temporarily disabling the protection or adding the device to exceptions to check if the software is the cause of the problem.
Organization of photo archive after transfer
Once you have successfully transferred the photos to your computer, it is important to organize them correctly so as not to drown in the chaos of files. DCIM It often contains hundreds of files with obscure names. IMG_20231025_143022.jpg. It is recommended to sort them by folder: “Family”, “Work”, “Travels” or by year.
Use the operating system's capabilities to batch-rename or tag. Windows can select groups of photos and tag them, which will make it easier to search in the future. Also remember to back up on your computer using external hard drives or other hard drives. NAS-system.
Cleaning your smartphone gallery regularly is a good habit, checking once a month to see which photos are already saved on your PC and removing them from your phone, making room for new photos, to avoid having “memory filled” at the most inopportune moment.