How to transfer data from Xiaomi Redmi 4X to your computer

Owners of the legendary Redmi 4X often face the need to free up the internal memory of the device or back up important documents. Despite the fact that this model is no longer a flagship, it is still actively used by millions of users around the world.

There are several proven ways to do this, from traditional cable connections to cloud computing, depending on the amount of information you transmit and the speed of your Internet connection, and in this article, we will take a closer look at all the options available, focusing on the nuances of working with the MIUI shell.

The fastest and most reliable way is to connect directly through the USB-This method does not require access to the Internet and provides maximum data transfer speed, but users often find that the computer does not see the device immediately after connecting, which requires the correct configuration of the interface.

⚠️ Warning: Before you start any manipulation of the file system, make sure your Redmi battery is charged. 4X is 30-40%. Suddenly disabling the device during the data recording process can cause file damage or system failures.

Preparation of the device and cable for synchronization

The first step is always to connect physically. Use the original cable that came with the kit, or the high-quality analogue with data support. Cheap charging-only cables don't have the necessary internal contacts to exchange information, so the computer can only respond to the connection with a charging beep.

After connecting ports, a notification about USB mode will appear on the smartphone screen. By default, the system often selects Charge Only mode, which hides files from the outside world. You need to switch this setting yourself. Click on the notification and select File Transfer (MTP) or Photo Transfer (PTP) if the first option does not work.

If the automatic notification doesn’t appear, go to the Settings section. The path may vary depending on the version of MIUI, but it’s usually in the Settings menu → About Phone → The MIUI version (to activate the developer mode by multiple clicks) or immediately to Settings → Additional Settings → For developers. You need to find the option “Default USB Configuration” and set the desired value.

It is important to understand that to work in MTP mode, the appropriate drivers must be installed on your computer. In modern operating systems, such as Windows 10 or 11, they are installed automatically. If you use older versions, you may need to manually install Android USB Driver drivers.

Direct connection via USB-cable

The classic method of copying through My Computer (or This Computer) is the most versatile. Once you select the MTP mode in the notifications, your device will appear on the system as an external drive, you will be able to see the internal memory and, if available, the microSD memory card.

Open internal memory and find folders with the desired content. Photos are usually stored in the DCIM/Camera directory, downloads are stored in the Download folder, and documents can be scattered across different directories. For easy navigation, it is better to sort files by date or type.

The transfer process is done by drag-and-drop or by copying and pasting. When you're working with large amounts of data, like backing up an entire video archive, the speed can vary. Don't forcefully interrupt the process, wait for the operation to end.

• 📁 Use file replacement copying if you want to update your backup, but make sure the new data is up to date.
• 🔌 Try to connect the cable directly to the motherboard (connectors at the back of the system unit), and not to the front panel of the case or USB-Hub to avoid shortage of food.
• 🛡️ Regularly check the integrity of copied files by opening random photos or documents on your computer after the procedure is completed.

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If the copy speed has dropped dramatically to zero, try changing USB mode from MTP to PTP and back without turning off the cable.This often restarts the driver and restores the speed.

Using Mi Cloud Cloud Storage

Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers a built-in data synchronization solution, the Mi Cloud, which allows you to transfer contacts, notes, calendars and photos without using wires. It requires a stable Wi-Fi connection to work, as mobile Internet can quickly run out.

To activate synchronization, log into your Mi Account through the settings menu. In the "Mi Cloud" section, select the types of data you want to save. The system will automatically upload it to the company's servers. After that, you can access this data from any computer by going to the official cloud service website.

Free 5GB may not be enough for a full backup of media files, so this method is ideal for contacts, SMS and system settings. For photos, it’s better to use the Clean Local Copies feature, which will remove the originals from the phone, leaving them in the cloud, but this requires caution.

⚠️ Note: When you delete your Mi Account or reset your phone to factory settings without first detaching, the device may be locked (Anti-theft protection.

Alternative methods: Mi PC Suite and third-party software

The official Mi PC Suite program was once the main tool for Xiaomi owners, but now it is almost unsupported and does not work well with new versions of Android and MIUI. However, for older models like the Redmi 4X, you can try to find a working version, although the chances of success are declining every year.

Universal file managers and third-party utilities are more effective. Software like Android File Transfer (for macOS) or AirDroid allows you to manage files wirelessly. AirDroid, for example, creates a local server through which you can download files directly in your computer browser.

Also worth mentioning is the FTP protocol built into the standard MIUI Explorer. Open the Explorer, click on the menu (three bars) and select "Access from PC." The phone will give you the address you want to enter into the address bar of Windows Explorer, which allows you to work with files as if they are on the network disk.

• 📡 Method FTP convenient because it does not require the installation of additional software on the computer, any browser or conductor is enough.
• 🚀 Wi-Fi transmission speed depends on the quality of the router and may be lower than when using a cable. USB 3.0 (although the phone itself only supports the phone) USB 2.0).
• 🔒 When using public Wi-Fi networks, be careful about transferring sensitive data, it is better to use a home secure network.

Typical problems and their solution

The most common problem is that the computer can't see the phone. If the cable is working, try replacing it. USB-Ports on the front of your computer often have poor contact or do not give enough voltage. It is also worth checking whether Charging Only mode is enabled in the settings. USB.

Another common situation is slow copying speed, which can be caused by fragmentation of the phone's memory or the presence of a large number of small files, in which case it is recommended to copy the files to an intermediate folder on the computer first, and then sort them out.

Errors in copying individual files often indicate a sector being damaged on a flash memory or memory card. If the system says "File corrupted" or "Impossible to read," try copying adjacent files. If the problem is massive, the drive may fail.

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90% of phone visibility problems are solved by replacement USB-cable-shift USB notice-curtain.

Keeping Contacts and Messages Separate

Photos are the most space-consuming, but contacts and SMS are more important. Simply copying folders is not helpful here, because this data is stored in secure databases. Use the built-in export function to transfer them. Go to the Contacts app, select settings and click Export Contacts.

The file will be saved in.vcf format, which can be opened on any computer or imported into an email client (Outlook, Thunderbird) or another phone, a universal format supported by all manufacturers of equipment.

For messages (SMS), MIUI has a built-in backup tool. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Backup and Restore. Create a backup system by selecting only SMS. The backup file will lie in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder, from where it can be copied to the PC.