How to transfer a photo from Xiaomi phone to a flash drive: all ways + errors and decisions

Transfer photos from Xiaomi to USB-The flash drive seems like a simple task, but many users face unexpected difficulties: the phone does not see the drive, files are copied with errors, or the transfer speed leaves much to be desired. OTG, obsolete flash drive file system or shell limitations MIUI. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of photo transfer – from a standard conductor to specialized applications, and also tell you how to avoid typical errors.

Feature of Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Mi series - support OTG "out of the box, but with nuances, for example, some models require you to turn on the function manually, and flash drives format. NTFS They may not be recognized without additional adjustments. We tested all the methods on the latest versions. MIUI 14/15 And they've identified the most reliable.

If you need to urgently free up your phone’s memory or back up your pictures, choose the method from the table below – or read the detailed instructions further.

1.Preparation: which flash drive is right for Xiaomi

Not every one. USB-The flash drive is compatible with Xiaomi via OTG. Here are the key requirements:

• 🔌 Interface: only USB Type-A (for connecting via a OTG-cable USB-C (For modern models of Xiaomi 12/13/14). Micro.-USB The flash drives won't do.
• 📏 Volume: 8 GB to 2 TB (but) MIUI may not see the drives >1 TB without formatting).
• 💾 File system: optimally FAT32 (It always works or exFAT (for files) >4GB). NTFS It is not supported on all models.
• ⚡ Speed: for fast transfer, choose flash drives with labeling USB 3.0/3.1 (blue-jack).

⚠️ Note: If the flash drive was previously used on a Windows PC, it is better to format it in Xiaomi via Settings → Warehouse → Format. It will eliminate possible reading errors.

Hardware-encrypted flash drives (such as SanDisk SecureAccess) won’t be recognized by Xiaomi via the X-ray. OTG — They need to be connected to the PC.

2. Method 1: Transfer through a standard MIUI conductor

The easiest method is to use the built-in File Manager. OTG-storage devices without additional applications.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect. OTG-The cable to the phone, the flash drive to the cable, and the notification will appear on the screen "USB-plug-in".
2. Open the Explorer application (the folder icon on the desktop).
3. In the Devices section, select USB-The storage device (the name of your flash drive).
4. Go back to the guide root folder, find it. DCIM → Camera (or other folder with a photo).
5. Press your finger on the files you want, click Copy, then go to the flash drive and select Insert.

🔹 Is there a problem:

• 🔄 Reconnect. OTG-cable (sometimes it helps to change the port).
• ⚙️ Check if it's on. OTG: Settings → Connections → OTG (In some models, the path may be different).
• 🛠️ Try another flash drive – some cheap drives are not compatible with the MIUI.

On. OTG customized

The flash drive is formatted in FAT32/exFAT

OTG-The cable is valid (checked on another device)

There's plenty of free space on the flash drive.-->

3. Method 2: Using the Files app from Google

If the standard conductor MIUI It doesn't work smoothly, try the official Google Files app (available on the Play Market) and it's better optimized for external drives.

Advantages of the method:

• 📂 More convenient interface for selecting multiple files.
• 🔍 Built-in folder search (useful if photos are scattered across different directories).
• 📊 Shows occupied/free space on the flash drive in real time.

How to transfer the photo:

1. Install Google Files from the store.
2. Connect the flash drive through the OTG.
3. In the app, go to the Review tab → USB-accumulator.
4. Press. + In the lower right corner, select the internal storage. → Find the photo folder.
5. Select files, click Copy in and specify the flash drive as the target.

⚠️ Note: When you first connect a flash drive through Google Files, you may be asked to access the storage. Be sure to confirm it, otherwise the copy will not start.

💡

If you need to transfer all photos at once, Google Files has a function "Clean up" → "Large files. It automatically finds images and suggests that you copy or delete them.

Method 3: Transfer over a computer (if) OTG doesn't work)

If the phone doesn’t see the flash drive through OTG, You can use a PC as an intermediary, and it's universal, and it works even with damaged ones. OTG-cable.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with USB-port.
• 📱 Cable for connecting Xiaomi to PC (preferably original).
• 🔌 OTG-cable (if the flash drive is not) USB-C).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via cable. On Xiaomi, select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
2. Open This PC – your Xiaomi will appear as a removable drive.
3. Copy the photo from your phone to any folder on your PC.
4. Connect the flash drive to the PC and transfer the files to it.
5. Remove both devices safely.

➕ Pros of the method:

• It works even if it does. OTG faulty.
• You can simultaneously copy the photo to the flash drive and to the hard drive of the PC (double backup).
• Transmission speed is higher than through OTG (particularly USB 3.0).

➖ Cons:

• I need a computer.
• It takes longer with a large amount of photos.

5. Method 4: Automatic transfer using the application "Send files to the device"

For those who often carry photos, Send Files to Device (from Google) is a good application, which allows you to send files between devices over a local network – including flash drives connected to another phone or PC.

How it works:

1. Install the app on Xiaomi and on a second device (such as a tablet) to which the flash drive is connected.
2. Open the app on both devices and select Send (to Xiaomi) and Receive (on the second device).
3. Select photos on Xiaomi and send them. On the second device, save files directly to the flash drive.

📌 When it's convenient:

• 📱 If you don't. OTG-cable, but there is a second phone/tablet.
• 🌐 If you need to transfer the photo to a flash drive connected to a Smart TV laptop.
• 🔄 If you regularly sync files between multiple devices.

Method 5: Transfer over Total Commander (for power users)

Total Commander application – powerful file manager with support OTG, FTP And cloud storage, which is good if you don't just copy the photos, but you also sort them, rename them, or compress them.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Total Commander.
2. Connect the flash drive through the OTG.
3. In the app, go to /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera (photo-folder).
4. Select files, click Copy (or F5).
5. In the left panel, select../ (back to the root), then mnt/usb_storage (Or a similar folder with the name of your flash drive).
6. Press Insert (F6).

🔧 Additional features of Total Commander for working with photos:

⚠️ Note: Total Commander has disabled hidden files by default. If you need to copy photos from folders like.thumbnails, turn them on in settings (Settings) → Display → Show hidden files).

7.Typical errors and their solutions

Even with the right connection, there can be problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

💡 Tip: If the flash drive is detected but does not open, try connecting it to the phone via an adapter USB-C → USB-A (without OTG-Sometimes the problem is the cable itself.

💡

On Xiaomi models with MIUI 14+ OTG It can automatically shut down when the screen is locked. To avoid this, add Explorer to the battery optimization exceptions: → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Conductor → No restrictions.

8. Alternative options: clouds and instant messengers

If transferring to a flash drive is not possible for some reason, consider alternative ways to back up your photo:

• ☁️ Cloud storage: Google Photos (automatic download when connecting to Wi-Fi). Mi Cloud (built-in MIUI, Yandex Disk or Mail.ru Cloud (convenient for users from Russia).
• 📤 Messengers: Send your photo to Telegram (no size limit) and use WhatsApp or Viber to transfer it to another phone.
• 🖥️ Local area network: Set up FTP-server on Xiaomi via the application FX File Explorer. Connect to your PC phone IP-address and copy the photo.

⚠️ Note: When using cloud services, turn off mobile Internet on Xiaomi to avoid wasting traffic. Upload photos only via Wi-Fi.

📌 When to choose a cloud instead of a flash drive:

• If you need to access photos from multiple devices.
• If you often lose or break flash drives.
• If the photo volume exceeds 64 GB (cloud scales more easily).

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos to Xiaomi