Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a shortage of internal memory when the gallery is overflowing with high-resolution images. Modern cameras create large files that quickly take up gigabytes, slowing down the device.
There are many ways to accomplish this task: from a classical connection to a USB-The choice of method depends on the number of photos, Internet speed and personal preferences of the user. In this article, we will discuss each option in detail so that you can choose the most convenient for yourself.
Some methods require pre-tuning, others work instantly out of the box. It is important to understand the features of each approach to avoid loss of image quality or connection breakdown at a critical moment. We will look at both standard MIUI tools and third-party utilities.
Wired connection through USB-cable
The most common and fastest way to transfer large amounts of data is to use USB-This method does not require the Internet, and it provides maximum stability of the connection. First, you need a serviceable cable, preferably original, because cheap analogues can only charge the device without transmitting data.
After connecting the smartphone to the computer port, you need to change the USB mode. By default, the phone can only charge, so the system will not see its file structure. You need to lower the “curtain” of notifications on the smartphone screen and click on the Charge point via USB.
In the menu you should select the mode File Transfer (MTP). After that, a new disk will appear in My Computer with the name of your model, and now you can copy files like a flash drive. DCIM/Camera or Pictures.
- 🔌 Connect the phone with a cable to USB-port.
- 📱 Unlock the smartphone screen.
- 🔽 Lower the notification panel and select “File Transfer».
- 💻 Open My Computer and Find a Xiaomi Device.
Sometimes the computer doesn't see the device the first time. USB-The port preferably located on the back of the system unit, or replace the cable.Drivers for Xiaomi are usually installed automatically, but in rare cases, you may need to install Mi PC Suite.
Using Mi Cloud Cloud Storage
Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers its own cloud storage, which is deeply integrated into the MIUI shell.This allows you to automatically sync the gallery with the server, making photos available from any device that has access to the account. Free user is provided with 5 GB of space.
To activate the function, you need to log into your phone's settings, select the Mi Account partition, and go to the cloud, and you need to enable synchronization for the Gallery, and then all new images will be uploaded to the network when you have a Wi-Fi connection.
To download a photo to your computer, you just go to the official i.mi.com website and log in to your Mi Account. In the web version interface, you will see all your albums. You can select the right pictures and click the download button, or use the mass download function.
What to do if you run out of space in the Mi Cloud?
If 5GB is not enough, you can buy a subscription or use the Clean Local Copies feature. When storage optimization is enabled, the original photos remain in the cloud, and the phone stores smaller versions that take up minimum space.> The main advantage of this method is automation. You don't have to plug in the cable every time, it's in the background, but the speed of downloading and uploading depends on the bandwidth of your Internet channel. ⚠️ Warning: When using the free rate, keep an eye on cloud filling. If the space runs out, new photos will no longer sync, and you risk losing fresh pictures when your phone breaks. FTP Shell MIUI It has a built-in function that turns the smartphone into a FTP-It's one of the most elegant ways to send photos without wires or extra software. Your computer and phone should be on the same Wi-Fi network. To start, open the standard Explorer application (Files). From the menu, select Remote Control or FTP. Click the “Start” button and the system will give you an address, for example, ftp://192.168.1.5:2121. This address should be entered into the address bar of any folder on your computer, and once you have access, the phone's file system will open as a network drive, and you can copy thousands of photos at high speeds limited only by the router. 📶 Make sure your PC and phone are on the same Wi-Fi network. 📂 Open the “Conductor” on Xiaomi. 🚀 Click Remote Management and start the server. 💻 Enter the displayed address in the Windows address bar. FTP It's convenient because it doesn't require you to install any additional software on your computer, and it's low-level, providing direct access to the file system. This is especially useful if USB-The cable is lost or the port is shattered. Sync through Google Photos and Google Drive, and the alternative to Xiaomi's proprietary cloud is Google's services. Google Photos is pre-installed on most devices and offers unlimited storage (in space saving mode) or 15 GB in original quality. The setup process is similar to Mi Cloud: you need to open the application, log in to your account and enable autoboot. On your computer, you just have to open your browser and go to photos.google.com. From there you can upload photos archived through the Google Takeout function or select individual albums. RAW It's easier to use Google Drive, or video, and it allows you to download any files from your phone and download them back to your PC. And integration with office documents makes it universal. Free Volume Quality by Default Integration with MIUI Mi Cloud 5 GB Original Google System Photo 15 GB Compressed / Original High Yandex.Disk 10 GB Original Through Tg Cloud App No Limit Compressed/File Third-party use of the Google ecosystem is especially warranted if you plan to change your smartphone brand in the future. Your photos will remain available on any device, be it Samsung, iPhone or the new Xiaomi. Wireless transfer via Mi Drop and SHAREit For quick transfer of several dozen photos without setting up networks, you can use specialized applications. Xiaomi smartphones previously used Mi Drop (there is known as ShareMe), which works on the principle of Wi-Fi Direct. This method creates a direct point of access between devices without using the home router. 20-40 MB/s, which is much faster than Bluetooth. You'll need to install the client version of the program on your computer, or use the web version if it's supported. The process is simple: open the app on your phone, select Send, scan. QR-You can use the code from your computer screen or you can choose from a list of devices, and the files go instantly, and it's perfect for an office or meeting friends. ⚠️ Note: When using Wi-Fi Direct, the smartphone battery drains faster than usual, since the wireless module operates in high power mode. Third-party counterparts like Airdroid or Send Anywhere offer similar functionality, often with a more convenient web interface. They allow you to manage contacts, SMS And they use files directly from the browser, turning the phone into a remote terminal. Connection problems and solutions Despite the simplicity of the methods described, users often face technical difficulties. The computer may not see the phone, the connection may break, or the copy speed drops to zero. Most often, the problem is physical damage to the cable or ports. If the phone is only charging but not being detected, try cleaning the connector. USB Type-C from dust and pile with a toothpick, often there is dirt that prevents contacts from closing, and it is worth checking whether debugging is included. USB In the case of copying errors (the file is too large for the final file system), make sure that the computer disk is formatted in the format of the file. NTFS Or exFAT. Old file system. FAT32 It does not support files weighing more than 4 GB, which is important for long videos in the Internet. 4K. 🧹 Clean the charger connector from dust. 🔄 Reboot both devices. 🔌 Use another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0). 💿 Check the disk file system on your PC. If nothing works, you can use the adb command to force copying, but it requires command line skills. For most users, it is enough to reinstall device drivers through Device Manager in Windows. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Why does a computer see a phone as just a charger? Chances are you're using a charging-only cable that doesn't have internal data lines. Replace it with a quality data cable. Also check the notification on your phone screen and switch from Charge Only to File Transfer. How to transfer a photo if your phone screen is broken? If the sensor is not working but the image is there, you can connect it. USB-mouse-over OTG, To control the phone and allow access to data. If the screen is black but the phone is working, only cloud sync, which was turned on earlier, or connecting to a PC with drivers and debugging mode already installed. Is it safe to use third-party programs to transfer? Using trusted applications from the official Google Play store or GetApps is safe. However, avoid dubious programs that require rights or access to system files without obvious need. Standard MIUI and Windows tools are preferable. Why do photos on a computer look worse than on a phone? This can happen if you look at compressed previews (miniatures), but you can also transfer files to the original ones with root spaces. Technically possible, but highly discouraged for large volumes: Bluetooth speed is low (about 1-2 MB/s in ideal conditions), and it takes a gigabyte of photos to transfer, and use this method only for 1-2 shots.