How to transfer from the phone Xiaomi Redmi 4X to the computer photos

Owning a Xiaomi Redmi 4X smartphone is a great way to always have a high-quality camera at hand to capture important moments of life. However, the device’s internal memory is not unlimited, and sooner or later every user faces the need to make room. Transferring photos to an external media or computer hard drive becomes not just a convenient option, but a vital necessity for storing data. Modern methods allow you to do this as quickly as possible and without losing image quality.

There are several proven ways to do this, each with its own advantages depending on the number of files and the availability of a cable. You can use a classic wired connection that provides maximum data transfer speed, or use wireless technology if the cable is lost or far away. In this guide, we will discuss all the current options in detail so that you can choose the most suitable for your situation.

Before you start the procedure, make sure that your device is charged at least 30-40% so that the process does not stop at the most inopportune moment.It is also worth checking whether your computer has an MTP driver (Media Transfer Protocol), although it is usually installed automatically on modern Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems. Preparing the workplace and understanding the basic principles of the Android file system will make it much easier.

Preparation of the device and checking the settings

The first step before starting any data transfer operation is to properly set up the smartphone itself. - Xiaomi Redmi 4X shell-operated MIUI, It has its own security and connection management features, and by default, when you connect the cable, the phone can only charge, and you'll need to manually change the mode of operation to access the files. USB-port.

It is also important to make sure that the file system is not blocked on the device screen. If you use a password or a pattern lock, unlock the screen immediately after the cable is connected, otherwise the computer may not see the internal memory. In some cases, the system may request permission to access the data, and a notification will appear on the smartphone screen, which must be confirmed.

⚠️ Note: If the computer makes a device connection sound when connecting the cable, but the folders are not displayed, check the integrity USB-Cheap cables bundled with Powerbank are often just for charging and don't have lines to transmit data.

For comfortable work, it is recommended to enable the display of hidden files, although for basic photo transfer this is not necessary. The main focus should be done on the debugging point over USB, which in new versions of MIUI is hidden in the menu for developers, but it is not necessary to activate it for simple transfer of photos.

β˜‘οΈ Readiness for data transmission

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Method 1: Classical connection through USB-cable

The most reliable and fast method to transfer gigabytes of photos in minutes is the use of the USB-You'll need a standard Micro-USB cable that came with Redmi. 4X, Or any quality analogue. Connect one end of the cable to the smartphone and the other to the free one. USB-port on the computer, preferably located on the back panel of the system unit to ensure stable power supply.

After the physical connection, lower the notification curtain on the phone screen, and you'll see a message called "Charge via USB" or something similar. Click on it to open the USB mode selection menu. You'll need to select MTP (File Transfer) that allows the computer to see the phone's file system as an external drive.

Once you select the mode, a new device will appear in My Computer (or This Computer) with the name of your model or simply Android. Opening it, you will see two main sections: internal memory and, if installed, a microSD memory card. Photos are usually stored in the DCIM folder and inside it in the Camera folder.

  • πŸ“‚ Find the file. DCIM β€” This is the standard storage for all the main camera images.
  • πŸ“‚ Inside, there may be a Screenshots folder if you need to flip screenshots.
  • πŸ“‚ For a photo from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) look for folders Pictures or Android/media.
  • πŸ“‚ Use the Copy and Insert function to transfer files to your PC hard drive.

⚠️ Note: When copying a large amount of data (more than 1000 photos), do not remove the cable abruptly. wait for the copy operation to be completed, otherwise the files may be corrupted or not fully copied.

If your computer can't see your phone even after selecting MTP, try installing Mi PC Suite or just drivers from the official website. In rare cases, rebooting both your smartphone and your computer helps. It's also worth checking the Windows Device Manager: If there's an unknown device with a yellow exclamation mark, the drivers definitely need an update.

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Use it. USB-Ports 3.0 (blue) on your computer for maximum copy speed. Ports 2.0 (black) are much slower when transferring large files.

Method 2: Transfer data over Wi-Fi via MIUI Explorer

If you don't have a cable on hand or the phone's connector is loose, you can use the built-in LAN data transfer feature. The MIUI shell on Redmi 4X has a great built-in tool that doesn't require third-party apps to be installed. Both devices -- the phone and the computer -- must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Open the standard Explorer app (yellow folder) on your smartphone. In the top menu or in the Categories section, find the Remote or PC Access icon. When you click on it, you'll see the Launch button. FTP-server and will give the address that you need to enter in the conductor on the computer.

ftp://192.168.1.55:2121

Copy that address (or type it manually) into the address bar of any folder on your computer, and in a few seconds, you'll be able to access your phone's files, and you'll be able to drag and drop photos with your mouse, just like if your phone was wired, but without any extra wires.

  • πŸ“Ά Make sure your phone and PC are on the same subnet (the same first three digits) IP-address).
  • πŸ“Ά Transfer speed depends on the power of your router and the Wi-Fi standard (b/g/n).
  • πŸ“Ά Do not turn off the phone screen during transmission so that the system does not interrupt the connection to save energy.
What to do if the connection is broken?
A common problem is energy saving. Go to your Wi-Fi settings, find your network, click Change, and in the advanced settings, select Do Not Limit or Always Keep Wi-Fi on.

Method 3: Using Cloud Storage and Synchronization

For those who prefer automation, the ideal solution is to use cloud services. Xiaomi Cloud, Google Photos or Yandex.Disk allow you to set up automatic uploading of photos immediately after they are created, this not only frees up space, but also serves as a backup in case of loss of the device.

Consider Google Photos, because it's pre-installed on most devices and integrated into the system. Go to the app, click on your profile avatar and select Photo Settings β†’ Autoupload and Sync. Once activated, all new photos will automatically upload to the Google cloud.

To access them on your computer, you just have to open your browser and go to photos.google.com, where you can select the photos you want and download them to your hard drive, and the advantage of this method is that it doesn't require the phone to be physically present next to your computer when you download them.

ServiceFree seatFeaturesSpeed.
Google Photo15 GB (total)Smart search, editingDepends on the Internet.
Xiaomi Cloud5GBDeep integration into MIUIHigh in China.
Yandex.Disk.10GBNo-limit for phone photoStable in Russia
Dropbox2GBReliability, business functionsMedium

It's important to remember the limits of free space, because if you take thousands of high-resolution images, 15GB can run out quickly, so it makes sense to buy a subscription or use the cloud only for the most important shots, and store the archives on your PC.

πŸ“Š What is the most common way you send photos?
USB-cable
Wi-Fi / FTP
Cloud services
Bluetooth / Mi Drop

Search and sort photos in the Android system

The Android file system on Redmi 4X can be confusing for a beginner, as different apps create their own folders to save media files. Understanding the structure of directories will help you quickly find the right pictures and not copy unnecessary garbage to your computer.

Most of the photos are at the root of internal memory or on a memory card in a DCIM folder. However, if you've used different shooting modes or third-party cameras, they can be scattered. For example, panoramas or slow-motion videos are sometimes saved to separate subfolders inside the DCIM.

Special attention should be paid to the folder MIUI -> gallery -> cloud, if you used to sync with the Xiaomi cloud. Also worth checking the folder Pictures, which often stores images from Instagram, Facebook and other social networks. Thumbnails system folder contains thumbnails and takes up a lot of space, but copying it to the PC does not make sense.

  • πŸ” Use the β€œDate of Change” sorting in Windows Explorer to see fresh photos first.
  • πŸ” Pay attention to file extensions:.jpg and.png are photos,.mp4 β€” video.
  • πŸ” Hidden folders that start with a point (e.g..thumbnails) are best left unattended.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files directly from your phone through your computer unless you are sure of their purpose. System thumbnails or app cache may be necessary for the gallery to work correctly on your smartphone.

Solution: Computer can't see phone

The situation when Redmi 4X It's not computer-defined, it's quite common, and it can be caused by software or hardware. First of all, as mentioned, eliminate a cable malfunction. Try connecting the phone to another one. USB-port, preferably to the port on the back of the motherboard, bypassing USB-hub.

If the hardware is working, the problem may be in the drivers. Go to Device Manager on your PC (press Win + X and select option). Find Portable Devices or Other Devices. If there is an exclamation point device, right click and select Update Driver β†’ Auto Search.

In some cases, enabling USB debugging helps. To do this, go to Settings β†’ About Phone and quickly click on MIUI Version seven times. You will see a message saying β€œYou’ve become a developer.” Then, in the β€œAdditional” β†’ β€œDevelopment for developers” menu, activate β€œDebug over USB.” After that, reconnect the cable.

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In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by replacement. USB-cables with high-quality analogue support for data transfer, not just charging.

What if only a few of the photos are copied?
This can be due to a file system error or a sector damage in memory. Try copying files in small portions (100-200 each). If an error occurs on a particular file, skip it. It is also recommended to check the disk for errors through the disk properties in Windows.
Can I send photos in original quality through messengers?
Yes, Telegram and WhatsApp have a "Send as a File" or "Document" feature, and select a photo from the attachment menu, but not from the gallery, but through the File -> Gallery button (on Telegram), or select the Document type, which will save the original resolution and metadata (EXIF).
Where are the photos from WhatsApp on Redmi 4X stored?
The path to them usually goes like this: Internal Memory -> Android -> Media -> com.whatsapp -> WhatsApp -> Media -> WhatsApp Images. In older versions of Android, the WhatsApp folder could be at the root of internal memory.

To conclude, it is worth noting that regular backup photos is a habit that will save your memories in the event of a smartphone breakdown. Xiaomi Redmi 4X remains a reliable device, and proper management of its memory will extend its life of comfort. Use the methods described depending on the situation: cable for large archives, Wi-Fi for the rapid transfer of several images, and the cloud for constant data protection.