Modern smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi have huge amounts of internal memory, but even 512 GB or 1 TB sooner or later fill up, 4K-Video, documentation and cache applications take up gigabytes, forcing users to look for ways to free up space.
There are many synchronization methods: from classical USB-The choice of the specific method depends on the amount of data being transmitted and the speed you need at the moment. In this article, we will discuss each option in detail so that you can choose the most convenient for your situation.
Device preparation and driver verification
Before you start the active data phase, you need to make sure your hardware is ready to go. Basic training takes only a couple of minutes, but ignoring this stage often leads to the computer simply not seeing the smartphone. USB-cables, as cheap charging cables often do not support data transmission.
Usually, Windows 10 or Windows 11 automatically installs the necessary drivers for Xiaomi devices when you first connect. However, in some cases, especially on older versions of the OS, you may need to manually install ADB drivers or MTP components. If the Device Manager shows unknown hardware, you should download the official Mi PC Suite or Google Universal Drivers.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use damaged cables with fractures. Unstable contact can cause interruption of the copying process and damage to the file system of the smartphone.
It’s also worth checking the lock screen settings. Android’s security system requires you to unlock the device at least once after connecting to a new computer to get started. Without this step, folders may appear empty or unreadable.
Method 1: Transmission through USB-cable (MTP)
The most common and quickest method is the use of standard USB-This is ideal for moving large amounts of data, such as photo archives or heavy video files, and the speed of transmission is limited only by the capabilities of your port (USB 2.0 or 3.0) and the storage speed.
After physically connecting the smartphone to the PC, you need to change the mode of operation USB-By default, the phone can only charge. To access files, lower the notification curtain and find "Charge through" USB». Click on it and select File Transfer Mode (MTP) or Transfer of photo (PTP).
☑️ Checking the connection USB
Once you select the mode, a new device will appear in My Computer, and inside you will see the internal memory and, if you have one, the map. SD. Folder structure in Xiaomi is standard: photos are stored in the DCIM/Camera, Download to Download and Documents in Documents folder.
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Use USB 3.0 ports (usually blue) on the back of the system unit for maximum speed copying large files.
Method 2: Wireless transmission via Mi Drop (ShareMe)
If you don't have a cable, Mi Drop (known as ShareMe in global versions) is a proprietary application that uses Wi-Fi Direct to create a high-speed communication channel between your phone and your computer, and can transfer speeds as high as 20-40 MB/s, which is comparable to USB 2.0.
To get started, open the app on your smartphone and click Connect to your computer. Then select the connection type: via the access point or via the router. In the first case, the phone will create a network to connect to the PC, in the second case, both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network.
The screen will display an address in ftp://192.168.1.XX:XXXX. Enter this address in the address bar of the Explorer Windows. Once you confirm access on the phone screen, you will get full access to the file system without unnecessary wires.
Why does Wi-Fi speed drop?
Comparison of data transmission methods
Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation, and to make it easier for you to determine, we have compiled a comparative table of the main characteristics.
| Method | Speed. | Stability | Need for PO |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB Cable (MTP) | High (up to 400 MB/s) | Maximum | Not required |
| Mi Drop (Wi-Fi Direct) | Medium (up to 40 MB/s) | Tall. | App on the phone |
| Cloud services | Low (depending on the internet) | Medium | browser or client |
| Bluetooth | Very low (< 1 MB/s) | Low. | Built-in OS |
As you can see from the table, cable remains the leader in gigabytes of data, but for the rapid transfer of multiple documents or photos, wireless methods benefit from the convenience and lack of need to search for wires.
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For regular backup of large amounts of data, use only a wired connection to avoid battery drain and time wasted.
Use of cloud storage and Mi Cloud
Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers its own Mi Cloud storage, which is deeply integrated into the system, synchronizing contacts, notes, gallery and voice recorder, and provides 5GB of free space for users, which is enough for documents but not enough for video archives.
You can also use third-party services like Google Photos, Yandex.Disk or Dropbox. Install the app on your smartphone, enable autouploading photos, and your data will automatically appear on your computer via a browser or desktop client, which is the most passive and secure way to store.
It is important to keep in mind the tariffs and speed of the Internet: downloading a large amount of data can take hours with a slow connection, and some services in Russia may require a stable connection or the use of alternative clients.
Solving Connection Problems
Users often encounter a situation where the computer does not respond to the phone's connection. One of the common reasons is the "Charge Only" mode. Check notifications: if there is no choice of USB mode, try to enable debugging over USB in the "Developers" menu.
Another problem is that there are no MTP drivers in Windows, in which case the device manager can display the phone as “Unknown Device” with a yellow exclamation mark. The solution is to update the driver manually with the selection of the standard MTP USB Device driver from the list.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone connects but shuts down immediately, try another one. USB-The front ports of the system unit often do not provide enough voltage for stable operation.