How to quickly transfer photos from Xiaomi to your computer USB-cable: 5 working methods

Transfer photos from Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO computer USB-cable seems like a simple task – until you encounter errors like “Device not recognized” or no folder DCIM In practice, the process depends on the version. MIUI, In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer photos through the cord, including solutions for cases where the phone is not defined as a drive.

Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to simply connect Xiaomi to a computer and files will be immediately available. However, modern versions of MIUI 12/13/14 block data transfer via USB by default, requiring manual confirmation of the connection mode. In addition, starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi hid the option “Transfer Files” in the notification curtain, you need to look for it in the developer settings. We will show how to circumvent these restrictions and guaranteed to copy pictures on a PC.

Why Xiaomi doesn’t show up on your computer via USB

The problems with connecting Xiaomi to a PC via cable usually boil down to three key reasons:

• 🔌 Wrong regime. USB: The default is that the smartphone only connects to charge, not to transfer data. MTP (Media Transfer Protocol).
• 🔒 Lockdown MIUI: starting MIUI 12, the system requires unlocking OEM Unlock in the developer settings for full access to files.
• 🖥️ Lack of drivers: Windows (especially versions) 7/8) Xiaomi often does not recognize without installing proprietary Mi drivers PC Suite.

Another common mistake is using unoriginal cables: cheap cords often only support charging, but not data transfer, check the cable on another device or try connecting via another USB port (preferably USB 3.0 blue).

⚠️ Warning: If you connect Xiaomi to your computer for the first time, unlock your phone’s screen and confirm your trust in the window that appears.

Method 1: Standard Transmission over MTP (for Windows)

This is the main method that works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and other models. POCO steerable MIUI 11–14. The instructions are relevant for Windows 10/11:

1. Connect your phone to your PC with the original cable (preferably from the kit). Use the USB 3.0 port for maximum speed.
2. On the phone, unlock the screen and swipe down from the top edge to open the notification panel.
3. Tap on the Charge notification via USB (or USB for file transfer).
4. Select File Transfer Mode (MTP). If this option is not available, see the Hidden MTP section.
5. Open This Computer (My Computer) – Your Xiaomi should appear as a removable drive (e.g. Redmi Note 12).
6. Go to Internal Storage → DCIM → Camera (or DCIM → Screenshots for screenshots).
7. Copy the files you want on your PC (drag and drop or use Ctrl+C → Ctrl+V).

Transfer speed depends on the USB version: on USB 2.0 (black port), 100 photos weighing 10 GB will be copied ~ 15-20 minutes, and on USB 3.0 (blue port) - 5-10 times faster.

Use the original Xiaomi cable

Unlock the phone screen

Enable MTP mode in the notification curtain

Connect to USB 3.0 port (blue)

Install Mi drivers PC Suite (if Windows can’t see the device)-->

⚠️ Attention: If the folder DCIM Check if the photos are saved to the Mi Cloud cloud or memory card. Open the gallery on your phone, tap any photo and look at the path at the bottom of the screen.

Method 2: Transfer via Mi PC Suite (if MTP is not working)

Mi PC Suite is Xiaomi’s official software that helps you bypass driver and connection issues, and it works even if Windows doesn’t recognize your phone in MTP mode.

Download Mi PC Suite from the official website (Windows version). Install the program following the instructions.

• 📱 Connect Xiaomi to your PC and allow debugging USB (if there is a request).
• 🖥️ Launch Mi. PC Suite – the phone must be automatically determined.
• 📁 Go to the Files tab. → Internal memory. → DCIM.
• 📤 Select the photos you need and click Export to save them to PC.

The advantage of this method is stability: Mi PC Suite less likely to “lose” the connection than standard MTP. However, the program can slow down when transferring a large number of files (1000+ photos).

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If the Mi PC Suite doesn’t see the phone, try reinstalling the program with administrator rights or temporarily disabling the antivirus (for example, Avast blocks Xiaomi drivers).

Method 3: Use of ADB (for power users)

If Xiaomi is persistently not identified through either MTP or Mi PC Suite, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires the inclusion of debugging over USB, but is guaranteed to work even on locked devices.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive in the folder C:\adb.
4. Connect your phone to your PC, open Command Prompt (Win+R → cmd) and type: cd C:\adb adb devices If the serial number of the device appears, the connection is successful.
5. Copy the photo with the command (replace it) /sdcard/DCIM/Camera On your way: Adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera C:\Xiaomi_Photos

This is the most reliable way, but it requires command line knowledge, and the speed of ADB is faster than MTP, because there are no protocol limitations.

Through MTP (Windows Explorer)

Through the Mi PC Suite

Through ADB or Termux

Google Drive (Mi Cloud) and Google Drive (Mi Drive)

Another way.-->

Method 4: Transfer to Mac (macOS)

Owners of MacBook or iMac often face the fact that Xiaomi does not appear in Finder even after choosing the MTP mode. This is due to the features of macOS, which does not always work correctly with the MTP protocol.

Mac solutions:

• 🍎 Android File Transfer: Google's official software for transferring files from Android to Mac. Download it from the site android.com/filetransfer.
• 🔄 OpenMTP: Alternative Program with Support MTP new versions of macOS (Monterey, Ventura) and more stable than the standard solution.
• 📁 Termux + SSH: If nothing helps, install Termux on your phone and transfer files via scp (requires terminal skills).

For Android File Transfer:

1. Install the program and restart the Mac.
2. Connect Xiaomi in MTP mode.
3. Run Android File Transfer – the folders of the phone will appear in the program window.
4. Drag the photo to any folder on the Mac.

⚠️ Note: on macOS Ventura and newer Android File Transfer may not work with Xiaomi on the Internet MIUI 14.In this case, use OpenMTP or HandShaker.

Method 5: If the MTP option is missing from the curtain (MIUI 13/14)

Starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi hid the file transfer (MTP) option from the notification panel, and to return it, you need to:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 taps according to the MIUI version in the phone settings).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the default USB configuration option and select File Transfer (MTP).
4. Connect your phone to your PC – now MTP mode will turn on automatically.

If there is no default USB configuration option, upgrade to the latest version of MIUI or use ADB (see Method 3).

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On MIUI 14, the MTP option can be hidden even in the developer settings, in which case only firmware via Fastboot or the use of alternative methods (ADB, Mi PC Suite) will help.

Solving Errors When Connecting Xiaomi to a PC

Let’s look at the most common problems and their solutions:

If none of these methods worked, try:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and PC.
• 🔌 Connect via another USB-cable (original).
• 📱 Reset network settings on your phone (Settings) → SIM-maps and networks → Resetting network settings).

Alternative ways to transfer photos (without USB)

If cable transmission is not possible, consider alternatives:

• ☁️ Cloud services: Mi Cloud: automatically syncs photos (sets in the Gallery) → Mi Cloud. Google Photos: Freely stores photos in compressed quality (settings in the application).
• 🌐 Local area network: Install on the phone FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer and Enable FTP-Connect to it from the PC through Explorer. → Network environment.
• 📡 Wi-Fi Direct: Enable Wi-Fi Direct in Xiaomi settings and connect to your phone as an access point. ES Conductor for transferring files over a local network.

Cloud services are convenient, but transferring 1,000 photos over the Internet will take a lot of time and traffic. Local area network or FTP is faster, but requires configuration.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos from Xiaomi