How to quickly transfer photos from Xiaomi to your computer USB-cable: step-by-step guide 2026

Transfer photos from Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO on a computer through a standard USB-The charging cable seems like a simple task – until you run into typical problems: the phone is not defined as a storage device, MIUI It asks for permission to access, and Windows can't see files, and this guide will help you avoid all the pitfalls and throw over the pictures. 2-3 minutes, even if you are doing it for the first time.

We will analyze all possible scenarios: from basic transmission through conductor to solving problems with drivers and settings MIUI. The instructions are relevant for all Xiaomi models (including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.) on MIUI 14/15 and Android 12/13/14.

What you need to transfer photos from Xiaomi to PC

Before you plug in your phone, check for everything you need, and without these components, it may take a while or not at all:

• 📱 Smartphone Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO battery-charged 20% (At low charge, the system can block data transmission).
• 🖥️ Computer running Windows 7/10/11, macOS or Linux (instructions are universal, but there are nuances for Mac).
• 🔌 Original. USB-charging cable (or quality analogue with support) USB 2.0/3.0). Cheap cables without flatbeds often don't transmit data!
• 🔄 Free USB-port on the computer (preferably) USB 3.0 - Blue connector to speed up transmission).

If you have a MacBook with USB-C ports, you may need an adapter, and make sure that the phone unlocks the screen – some versions of MIUI block the connection to the PC when the device is locked.

Step-by-step: Connect Xiaomi to a PC via USB

Follow this algorithm to make sure that the phone is correctly defined as an external drive:

1. Connect the cable to your phone and your computer. Use the original cord -- cheap ones can only charge, but they can't transmit data.
2. Unlock the screen of your smartphone. Some models (POCO F5, Redmi Note 12 Pro+) will display a notification "Charge via USB" - tap it.
3. Select the data transfer mode: 📁 "File transfer" (MTP) — Standard mode for access to photos and documents. 🖼️ "Image transmission" (PTP) — if MTP Not working (less commonly used). ⚡ "Charging only – not suitable for file transfer.

Wait for the drivers to install

If nothing happens after the connection, check:

• 🔌 Port port USB — Try another connector on the PC.
• 📱 Developer settings – sometimes you need to enable “Debugging by” USB" (see next section).
• 🖥️ Antivirus – it can block the connection (temporary disable protection).

The solution to the problem: PC can’t see Xiaomi via USB

If the phone is connected but not defined as a drive, the reasons can be different, and here are the most common ways to address them:

If none of these methods worked, try alternative methods:

• 🌐 Cloud Services: Upload photos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud, then download them to PC.
• 📧 Email: Send yourself an archive with a photo (suitable for a small number of snapshots).
• 🔗 FTP-server: use applications such as FX File Explorer to create a local area network.

Where to store photos on Xiaomi: the way to folders

Photos on Xiaomi smartphones can be in different folders depending on which application they were taken.

• 📷 DCIM/Camera — Photos taken with a standard camera.
• 🤳 DCIM/Screenshots — screenshot.
• 📱 Pictures – photos from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and downloaded from the Internet.
• 🌄 DCIM/.thumbnails — thumbnails (hidden folder, enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer).
• ☁️ MiCloud – if sync with Xiaomi cloud is enabled.

If you use a camera from a third party (such as Google Camera or Open Camera), photos can be saved in folders like:

• DCIM/Google Camera
• Pictures/OpenCamera

Important: On some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), RAW (.dng) photos are stored in a separate DCIM/RAW folder. If you don't see the pictures, check the file filter in Windows Explorer (whether all extensions are displayed).

How to speed up transferring photos from Xiaomi to your computer

Transferring hundreds of photos through a standard conductor can take a long time. Here are 5 ways to speed up the process:

1. Use it. USB 3.0: 🔵 Blue port on PC provides speeds up to 5 Gbps (versus 480 Mbps) USB 2.0). 📱 On the phone, check the supported standard in the characteristics of the model.
2. Archive photos before transfer: 📦 Use it. MIUI File Manager or ZArchiver to create a new file manager ZIP-photo-archive. ⚡ One large file is transferred faster than hundreds of small files.
3. Turn off sync with the cloud: ☁️ Google Photos or Mi Cloud can slow down transmission. Turn off autosynchronization in settings.
4. Use specialized programs: 🖥️ Mi PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi) optimized for transferring media files. 📁 Total Commander with a plugin MTP It is more stable than a standard conductor.

Reboot the devices

• 🔄 Sometimes it helps to restart the phone and computer before connecting.

If the transmission is slow, check your health. USB-cables: bent connectors or damaged wiring can limit speed, and it is also worth closing background programs on PCs that consume traffic (torrents, updates).

💡

Before mass transfer, sort them by folder (e.g., "Vacation 2023", "Family") directly on your phone, which will save time organizing files after transferring to your PC.

Security: How not to lose photos when transferring

File portability is always fraught with risks, from accidental deletion to transmission failures, and follow these rules to avoid loss:

⚠️ Attention: Never take out USB-This can damage photos or the phone's file system. Always use the Safe Device Removal feature in Windows.

• 🔄 Backup before transfer: Copy your photo to the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) or to a memory card. Use the Xiaomi Backup app to create a local copy.
• 📊 Check file integrity: Compare file sizes before and after transfer. Open a few random photos on your PC to make sure there is no damage.
• 🛡️ Use antivirus: Before connecting to someone else's PC, check your phone for viruses (MIUI Security or Malwarebytes).

If some of the photos are damaged after transfer (they don’t open or display artifacts), try to restore them with programs like Recuva or PhotoRec.

💡

Always check the photo on your PC immediately after transfer, and if the files are corrupted, you can only recover them from your phone until the next data record (for example, taking new photos).

Alternative ways to transfer photos from Xiaomi to PC

If USB transmission is not possible for some reason (the port is broken, there is no cable), use one of these methods:

For regular transfer of a large number of photos, the best way to do this is Google Photos or Mi Cloud. If you need to transfer a photo once (for example, after a vacation), it is optimal. USB-cable FTP local-network.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos from Xiaomi to PC