Transfer files from Xiaomi phone to computer via USB: the full guide 2026

Why USB is the most reliable way

In the era of cloud storage and wireless technology, USB cable is still the most stable and fastest way to transfer files between Xiaomi and your computer. Despite the advent of Mi Share, Google Drive or Bluetooth, physical connectivity guarantees maximum speed (up to 480 Mbps for USB 2.0 and 5-10 Gbps for USB 3.0) and no restrictions on file sizes. This is especially critical for owners of flagship Xiaomi 13/14 or Redmi Note 12, who shoot video in 4K or 8K – trying to download such a file via Wi-Fi Direct can take hours.

However, many users face typical problems: the computer does not see the phone, there is an error. MTP-The device is not recognized, or the folders appear blank. MIUI, In this article, we will discuss all the nuances from basic connection to solving rare errors, including features for the development of the system. POCO and old models on MIUI 12 and below.

Before you go to the instructions, make sure you have:

• 🔌 USB-Type-C (or Micro-USB for older models) with data support. Charging cables without data will not work!
• 💻 Computer running Windows 7/10/11, macOS or Linux (the latter will require additional drivers).
• 📱 Smartphone Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO with an unlocked screen (on a locked device) USB-The connection may not work).

Step 1: Choosing the Right Connection Mode on Xiaomi

By default, Xiaomi smartphones connect to a PC in Charge Only mode, which blocks access to files. To transfer data, you need to manually switch to the MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) protocol. Here's how to do this:

1. Connect your phone to your computer using a cable. The Xiaomi screen will display a USB Charge notification.
2. Deploy the notification bar and tap the Charge message via USB (or USB to transfer files on newer versions of MIUI).
3. In the window that opens, select File Transfer (MTP). Some models (POCO F5, Redmi K60) may require additional screen unlock confirmation.

If the MTP item is not on the list, it means:

• 🔧 Developer mode is disabled on your phone (see the section on developer settings).
• 🔄 An outdated version MIUI (relevant to Redmi 4X, Mi A1 — renewal).
• 🚫 The cable only supports charging (try another one).

Important! On some models (Xiaomi 12T, POCO X5 Pro) after selecting MTP, you may need to confirm access to files through the data access pop-up window. If you ignore it, the computer will see the phone, but the folders will be empty.

Step 2: Set up your computer to recognize Xiaomi

Even if you have MTP on your phone, the computer may not recognize the device, because there are no drivers or conflicts in the system, and let's look at the different OS solutions.

For Windows 10/11

Modern versions of Windows usually install the MTP driver automatically, but sometimes manual configuration is required:

1. Open Device Manager (click Win + X → Device Manager).
2. Find your Xiaomi in the “Portable Devices” or “Other Devices” list (may appear as MTP or with an exclamation point).
3. Right-click → Update the driver → Automatic search.

If the automatic search didn’t help, download the official Mi PC Suite drivers from Xiaomi’s website or use the universal Google USB Driver (for MIUI based on Android One, for example, Mi A2/A3).

For macOS

On a Mac, you'll need additional software to work with MTP, because it doesn't support this protocol out of the box.

• 🍎 Android File Transfer (official solution from Google, download here).
• 🖥️ OpenMTP (alternative with support for macOS Ventura and newer).

On macOS Monterey and later, you may need to disable system protection: go to System Settings → Security & Security → General and temporarily allow the installation of software from the developer Google LLC.

For Linux.

Most distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora) have MTP enabled by default, if the device is not recognized:

1. Install packages: sudo apt install mtp-tools libmtp-common libmtp-runtime
2. Restart the system or execute: sudo service mtp-server restart

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On Linux, use Thunar or Nautilus file manager to access Xiaomi files via MTP – they work best with the protocol.

Step 3: Solving Common Mistakes

If after all the manipulations, the computer still does not see files on Xiaomi, check the following points:

Particular attention should be paid to models with MIUI 14+ (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro+). These firmware versions have the default “Personal Data Protection” feature enabled, which can block access to certain folders (e.g, DCIM/Camera). To disable the restriction:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Special Permissions → Access to Files.
2. Find the Media app (or Files) and allow access to all folders.

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If you frequently connect Xiaomi to different computers, add a shortcut to quickly switch USB mode: go to Settings → Additional → Developer Mode → Default USB configuration and select MTP.

Step 4: Alternative ways to transfer files (if USB is not working)

If USB connectivity is still not possible, consider alternative methods, which are less convenient but can help in a critical situation.

1. Wi-Fi transmission (Mi Share/FTP)

Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop) allows you to transfer files without cable, but with a speed limit (~10-15 MB / s).

1. On your phone, open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Mi Share.
2. On your computer, open your browser and go to the address indicated on your phone screen (e.g. ftp://192.168.1.100:8888).
3. Download files via a web interface or connect as a network drive (in Windows: This computer → Connect network drive).

2. Cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Drive)

For small files, it is convenient to use the cloud:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Upload files via the Cloud app on your phone, then download them from i.mi.com.
• 📁 Google Drive: Install the app on your phone, download files, then open drive.google.com on your PC.

⚠️ Note: when using Mi Cloud, note that the free rate is limited to 5 GB, and the download speed depends on your Internet connection. 4K It could take a few hours.

3. Memory card (for models with MicroSD support)

If your Xiaomi supports memory cards (Redmi Note 11, POCO M5), the easiest way to remove the MicroSD and connect it to your computer is through a card reader, which also solves the problem with the “invisible” system folders, since Windows will have full access to all files.

Step 5: Enable the Developer Mode for Advanced Features

If standard methods don’t work, you may need to activate the developer mode, which will allow you to manually select the MTP protocol, as well as enable debugging over USB (useful for transferring files over ADB).

To enable the Developer Mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row (you will be notified of becoming a developer!).
3. Go back to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.

Inside the developer mode:

• 🔧 Turn on Debugging. USB (required ADB).
• 🔄 Set the configuration. USB default MTP.
• 🚫 Turn off Permission revocation USB (if any, to avoid constant access requests.

⚠️ Warning: Do not turn on the Unlock option OEM, If you don't plan to unlock the bootloader, this can cause the phone to reset to factory settings on some models (Xiaomi). 12S, POCO F4 GT).

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The developer mode also allows you to increase the data transfer speed over the USB. To do this, activate the option. USB-configuration → High performance (available on the MIUI 13+).

Step 6: Transfer files via ADB (for power users)

If MTP doesn’t work even after all the manipulations, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool for low-level file system access, which requires command line skills, but is guaranteed to work on any Xiaomi.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Connect your phone in Debugging mode via USB (see the section about the developer mode).
3. Open the Command Prompt in the ADB folder and execute: Adb devices (you should display your device).
4. Copy the file from your phone to your PC: adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/photo.jpg C:\Users\YourName\Downloads\

To transfer files to your phone, use the command:

adb push C:\path\to\file.mp4 /sdcard/Download/

⚠️ Attention: When working with ADB Do not use the commands adb shell rm -rf or similar – this can lead to the complete deletion of data from the phone without the possibility of recovery!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions