How to transfer video from Xiaomi to your computer: all ways with nuances

Transferring video from Xiaomi to your computer seems like a simple task – until you encounter errors like «USB-The device is not recognized, slow copy speed or missing files after transfer. 13/14 and budget Redmi Note 12/13, video-in 4K/60fps Weighs several gigabytes, and standard transmission methods fail.

In this article, 5 proven ways to transfer video, taking into account the features of MIUI 14/15 and Android 13/14, including bypassing the restrictions on files >4 GB, speeding up Wi-Fi transmission and restoring connection if the computer “can’t see” the phone, separately, we will discuss why you can not just drag files from the DCIM folder and how to avoid loss of quality when copying.

Transfer through USB-Why the computer can’t see Xiaomi

The most obvious way to connect your phone to your PC via cable often turns into a fight against drivers and MIUI settings. The main problem: Xiaomi smartphones default to MTP (Media Transfer Protocol), which conflicts with Windows drivers, especially on older versions of the OS.

To avoid mistakes, follow a sequence of actions:

• 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC with the original cable (cheap counterparts often don’t support data transfer).
• 📱 On the Xiaomi screen, select File Transfer Mode (not Charge Only»!).
• 🖥️ Open this computer on your computer. → Find the Xiaomi device in the Devices and Disk section».
• 📂 Go to the Internal Storage folder → DCIM → Camera (or Movies if the video is filmed in the Cinema app»).

Use the original cable (or certified USB-C)

Enable the "File Transfer" mode on the phone

Update MTP drivers in Windows Device Manager

Disable the ad blocker (may interfere with the connection)

Check if the mode is on "USB-debugging" (it conflicts with MTP)-->

If the computer still can't see the phone:

1. Open Device Manager on PC (Win + X → Device Manager).
2. Find in the list of Xiaomi with a yellow exclamation point → right-click → Update the driver → Search for drivers on this computer → Select from the list → specify MTP USB Device.
3. Reboot both devices.

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If the video is not copied due to its size (>4 GB), break the file into parts using the FX File Explorer app ("Split File" feature) or archive it in ZIP with volume breakdown.

2 Wireless Wi-Fi Transmission: Mi Drop vs. Snapdrop

If the cable is not available, or USB-The port is damaged, Wi-Fi transmission is a lifesaver. Xiaomi has a built-in solution, Mi Drop, but it doesn't work smoothly on new versions. MIUI. Alternatively, Snapdrop is a service that does not require registration and supports files up to 10 GB.

Comparison of methods:

Instructions for Snapdrop:

1. Open snapdrop.net on your PC and phone (both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network).
2. On the phone, tap on the PC icon in the list of devices.
3. Select the video in the gallery and confirm the shipment.
4. On the computer, save the file to the desired folder.

⚠️ Note: Do not use public Wi-Fi networks (cafes, airports) to transmit personal videos. Data in Snapdrop is not encrypted and can be intercepted by other users of the same network.

3. Cloud services: Google Drive vs. Mi Cloud

The cloud is convenient for backup, but not suitable for large files due to limitations:

• 📁 Mi Cloud only gives 5GB for free and compresses video when downloading.
• ☁️ Google Drive restricts downloading of files >750 MB via mobile application.
• 🔗 Yandex Drive allows you to download up to 20GB at a time, but speed depends on the tariff.

The best algorithm for Google Drive is:

1. On your phone, open the Google Drive app → press “+” → Download.
2. Select the video in the DCIM folder (if the file is >750 MB, use the browser version of the Drive on your PC).
3. Wait for the download (on Xiaomi 13 Pro 1 GB video loads ~5-7 minutes at a speed of 3-4 MB / s).
4. On your computer, open drive.google.com → download the file.

Google Drive |Mi Cloud|Yandex Drive |iCloud |Nothing else |Not using-->

⚠️ Note: When downloading video in Mi Cloud resolution above 1080p Automatically transcoded into Full HD, even if the source was in 4K. To avoid quality loss, use the Closed Folder in the Xiaomi Gallery (it doesn’t sync with the cloud).

4. Transfer through FTP-server (for advanced users)

If you need to flip it. 100+ Video at a time (for example, after shooting the event), FTP-The server on the phone is the fastest way. It requires tuning, but it's getting faster. 20-30 MB/s (in) 3-4 faster USB).

Step-by-step:

1. Install the FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer app on Xiaomi.
2. Open the app. → Go to the Web. → FTP-server → Launch.
3. Write down the server address (e.g. ftp://192.168.1.10:2221) and login details.
4. On PC, open Explorer → enter the address in the address bar → enter the login / password.
5. Copy files from /storage/emulated/0/DCIM to your computer.

Advantages of the method:

• 🚀 Speed is limited only by the Wi-Fi router.
• 📂 You can transfer entire folders without compression.
• 🔄 Files of any size are supported (unlike clouds).

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FTP-The server is the only way to transmit the original video without loss or size limitations.

5. Memory card use: When internal memory is clogged

If the video is stored on a microSD, you can transfer it to your PC without going through the phone:

1. Remove the card from Xiaomi (pre-mounted in Settings → Storage).
2. Insert it in the card reader of a computer or laptop.
3. Open the DCIM folder → copy the files.

Nuances:

• 🔄 Redmi with a hybrid slot (Redmi Note 11, POCO X5) I'll have to take it out. SIM-map.
• 🛑 ExFAT cards (capacity) >32GB) may not be readable on older PCs without drivers.
• ⚡ If the card is defined as RAW, use SD Formatter for formatting (data will be deleted!).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+ Videos are stored in internal memory even when installed SD-To change the way you save, open the camera. → Settings → Warehouse → Memory map.

6. Alternative methods: AirDroid, Send Anywhere, Telegram

If standard methods don’t work, try specialized applications:

Telegram Lifehack: To avoid compression, upload the video as a file (not as a media) 📎 Paperclip → File and select video.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Problem 1: The computer sees Xiaomi, but the DCIM folder is empty.

Solution: Enable the display of hidden files in Explorer (View → Hidden Items). Videos can be in the.thumbnails or Pictures/Screenshots folders.

Problem 2: When copying, it gives an error “Not enough memory on the disk”, although there is enough space.

Solution: The disk file system is FAT32, which does not support files >4 GB. Format the disk in NTFS or break the video into parts.

Problem 3: Videos are copied but not played on PC.

Solution: Install the K-Lite Codec Pack or use the VLC player, which supports all formats, including HEVC (used by Xiaomi for 4K video).

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If the video twitches when you play it on a PC, try converting it to MP4 using HandBrake (free software). Select the preset "Fast 1080p30."

FAQ: Answers to popular questions