How to quickly and safely transfer photos from Xiaomi to your computer: all the ways of 2026

Transferring photos from Xiaomi smartphone to computer is a task that every user faces. Whether you back up your images with Redmi Note 12, free up memory on POCO X5 or just want to edit your photos on the big screen, there are many options for transferring data. However, not all of them are equally convenient: somewhere you need a cable, somewhere stable Internet, and some methods can even damage files if used improperly.

In this article, we will discuss 7 current ways to transfer photos from Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO PC-based 10/11 Or macOS. You'll know which method is the fastest, which method is the most reliable, and which one is the best if you don't have it on hand. USB-We'll focus on the hidden settings. MIUI, Blocking the default file transfer and how to get around it without risking data.

Transfer through USB-cable: the classic method with pitfalls

Connecting your smartphone to your computer via cable is the most obvious way, but it doesn't always work out of the box, because MIUI (Xiaomi firmware) can by default block access to files via MTP (Mass Transfer Protocol), and if your PC doesn't see your phone as a removable drive, the problem is right here.

To avoid mistakes, follow the checklist:

Unlock the phone screen (PIN/pattern lock)

Use the original Xiaomi cable (cheap analogues may not transmit data)

Connect the cable to USB 3.0 port (blue) on your PC for maximum speed

Open the notification curtain on your phone and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.

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If the DCIM folder does not appear after connecting to Windows Explorer or Finder (macOS), follow the following steps:

1. On the phone go to Settings → Connection and sharing → USB-connection.
2. Select File Transfer (MTP). If this option is missing, upgrade MIUI to the latest version.
3. On a Windows PC, check if Xiaomi drivers are installed. If necessary, download them from the official website.

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If the computer can’t see the phone, try connecting it to another. USB-port or reboot both devices, and that's how the problem is solved in 30 percent of cases.

The speed of transfer via USB depends on the port version:

⚠️ Warning: Never remove the cable while transferring files! This can cause photos to be damaged (black thumbnails or opening errors). Always use Safe Device Removal in Windows tray.

2 Wireless Wi-Fi transmission: When the cable is not at hand

If you don't. USB-If you want to send a photo wirelessly, you can use a local Wi-Fi network. MIUI Or third-party applications. Let's look at both.

Method 1: Built-in file transfer (MIUI 12+)

Since MIUI 12, Xiaomi has built-in wireless transmission utility that works without installing additional programs, but requires both devices to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

1. On the phone, open the Files app (yellow folder icon).
2. Select the photos you want to share and click Share.
3. In the list of options, select Transfer Files (phone and computer icon).
4. On PC, open your browser and enter the address that will appear on your phone screen (e.g. http://192.168.1.100:1234).
5. Confirm the transfer on your phone and wait for the process to be completed.

Method 2: Send Anywhere (for large volumes)

If the built-in feature is unstable or you need to transfer hundreds of photos, use the Send Anywhere app.It supports transferring files up to 10GB at a time and does not require registration.

• 📱 Install Send Anywhere on your phone and desktop version on PC.
• 🔗 On your phone, select a photo, click Send and generate a 6-digit key.
• 💻 On PC, enter this key in the program - the transfer will begin automatically.
• ⚡ Speed depends on the router: on Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) — up to 50 MB/s, on Wi-Fi 6 – up to 100 MB/s.

Built-in MIUI function

Send Anywhere

Google Photos/Cloud

Another option

I don't use wireless transmission.-->

⚠️ Note: When transferring large files over Wi-Fi (e.g. photos in format) RAW video 4K) The router can automatically slow down if other devices (smart TVs, laptops) are connected to the network.

3. Cloud services: automation and backup

Cloud storage is ideal if you need to not only transfer photos to your PC, but also back them up. Xiaomi is closely integrated with Google Photos and Mi Cloud, but there are alternatives like Yandex Drive or Dropbox.

Comparison of cloud services for Xiaomi

To set up automatic uploading of photos in Google Photos:

1. Install the Google Photos app.
2. Open it and log in to your Google account.
3. Go to Settings → Backup and Synchronization.
4. Turn on the switch and select the download quality: High quality (free, unlimited) – photos are compressed to 16 MP. Original quality – without compression, but takes up space in the cloud.

Once set up, all new photos will automatically be uploaded to the cloud to download to your PC:

1. Open photos.google.com in your browser.
2. Select the desired photos and click Download (cloud icon with a down arrow).
3. Files will be uploaded to ZIP-Use WinRAR to speed up the process or 7-Zip.

Instructions for setting:

1. Install and open WiFi FTP Server on your phone.
2. Press Start – the application will generate an address to connect (e.g. ftp://192.168.1.100:2221).
3. On your PC, open FileZilla and type: Host: 192.168.1.100 (your IP). Port: 2221 (default). Username: anonymous (or enter yours if set up in the app). Password: leave blank.

Connect, and on the right side of the window, you'll see the folder structure of your phone. Go to /storage/emulated/0/DCIM to access your photo.

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FTP-Connectivity allows you to transfer files at up to 80-90% of your Wi-Fi’s top speed, which is faster than standard transfer over the Internet. MTP down USB 2.0.

⚠️ Attention: Do not use FTP To transfer sensitive photos to public networks (cafes, airports) Data is transmitted without encryption! For security, turn on the option LAN only in the settings FTP-server.

5.Using a memory card: the good old way

If your Xiaomi supports microSD cards (like the Redmi Note 11 or POCO M4 Pro), you can transfer the photo to it and then paste the card into your computer through a card reader, a method that is suitable for transferring large amounts of data without risking quality loss.

How to do this:

1. Insert the memory card into the phone (if it is not already installed).
2. Open the Files app and go to Categories → Images.
3. Select the desired photos, click Copy or Cut.
4. Go to the memory card folder (usually) /storage/XXXX-XXXX/DCIM) And put the files in.
5. Remove the card from your phone and paste it into the PC card reader.

6. Transmission via messengers: fast but inconvenient

If you need to transfer multiple photos urgently, you can use messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp, which is suitable for single files, but is not suitable for mass transfer due to limitations on the size and compression of images.

Comparison of messengers for the transfer of photos

How to transfer photos without loss of quality in Telegram:

1. Open a chat with yourself (Saved Messages) or a friend.
2. Click on the clip (Attach File) and select File (not "Photos"!).
3. Select the right photos and send them.
4. On PC, open the web version of Telegram and download files.

⚠️ Note: When sending photos as “images” (not a file), Telegram compresses them until permission is granted. 1280×1280 weight ~100–300 KB: To maintain the original quality, always use the option "File».

7 Specialized programs: for professionals

If you regularly work with large volumes of photos (for example, shooting in RAW or processing video), standard methods can be too slow.

• 🖥️ Syncios manages media files, contacts and messages. Supports Xiaomi, Samsung, iPhone.
• 📁 Mobikin Assistant - backup of photos, videos and music. There is a function to restore deleted files.
• 🔄 Coolmuster Android Assistant – transfer files in one click, support HEIC (iPhone photo).

An example of working with Syncios:

1. Download and install the program on PC.
2. Connect your phone via USB (in MTP mode).
3. In the main window of the program, select the Photos section.
4. Mark the desired files and click Export → specify the folder on the PC.

Advantages of specialized programs:

• 🔍 Viewing photos in the gallery directly on the PC without copying.
• 📊 Packet processing (rename, format conversion).
• 🔄 Synchronization on both sides (from PC to phone).

Disadvantages:

• 💰 Most of the programs are paid (free versions have restrictions).
• 🐢 Some utilities are slowing down when working with large libraries (10 000)+ photo).

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos from Xiaomi to PC