How to transfer photos and videos from Xiaomi to your computer: all working ways in 2026

Transferring photos and videos from Xiaomi smartphone to your computer seems like a simple task – until you encounter errors like «USB-The device is "unidentifiable" or infinite sync over Wi-Fi. In 2026, users of the Redmi Note 13 Pro will have a device that is not recognized.+, Xiaomi 14 Ultra or even older models POCO X3 There are at least 7 ways to transfer files, but not all of them are equally effective. For example, Mi Cloud cloud services limit free storage to 5 GB, and the standard protocol is the same. MTP through USB It often “glues” on Windows 11.

In this article, we will analyze all current methods - from classic cable connection to advanced solutions like FTP-We will focus on the typical problems: why does the computer not see Xiaomi as a removable disk, how to circumvent the restrictions MIUI pass on RAW-Photos, and what to do if files are copied with errors. For each method, we will give step-by-step instructions with illustrations (in text format) and a comparative table on speed and reliability.

1. Classical method: transfer through USB-cable

The most obvious method is to connect your smartphone to your PC via a USB-Type C cable (or Micro-USB for older models). However, even here there are pitfalls: MIUI blocks file access by default if you don't turn on data mode. Here's how to do it correctly:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer with the original cable (cheap analogues may not support data transfer).
2. On the screen of the smartphone will appear a notification "Charge via USB."
3. Select File Transfer (MTP) mode. If you don't have one, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → USB and turn on MTP manually.
4. On your computer, open This computer (Windows) or Finder (macOS) – the device should appear as a removable disk.

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi is not defined as a drive, check out:

• 🔌 Cable: Try another one (preferably from the set).
• 🖥️ Port port USB: Connect to the back of your PC (on laptops, ports are often limited in power).
• 📱 Developer Settings: Enable Debugging by USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Additional settings → For developers.

Use the original cable |Enable MTP mode on your phone |Check USB ports on PC |Update MTP drivers (for Windows) |Deactivate blockers (antivirus, firewall)

-->

The USB transfer speed depends on the protocol version:

💡

If the transfer is too slow, try to archive the folders with photos in ZIP directly on your phone (use File Manager from Xiaomi), and then copy the archive to your PC.

2. Wireless transmission over Wi-Fi (without cable)

If you don't have a cable on hand or it's damaged, you can transfer files over the local network. FTP-server MIUI Or third-party apps like Send Anywhere.

Method 1: Built-in FTP-server MIUI

1. Connect your phone and computer to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. On Xiaomi, open File Manager → FTP (on the menu on the right).
3. Click Start - the address of the view will appear ftp://192.168.x.x:xxxx.
4. On PC, enter this address into Windows Explorer (Win) + R → \\192.168.x.x) Or use FileZilla.

⚠️ Attention: FTP-server MIUI It automatically shuts down after 5 minutes of inactivity. To avoid this, turn on Charging Only in the battery settings.

Method 2: Send Anywhere App

If FTP seems difficult, use Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on your phone and computer (or use the web version of send-anywhere.com).
2. On your phone, select files → click Send → generate a 6-digit code.
3. On the PC, enter this code - the transfer will begin automatically.

Send Anywhere: works even if the devices are on different networks (data is transmitted through the application cloud), the disadvantage is the limitation on the file size (up to 10 GB in the free version).

FTP-server MIUI|Send Anywhere|Google Photo|AirDroid|Other-->

3. Cloud services: Mi Cloud, Google Photos and Yandex Drive

Cloud storage is convenient for automatic synchronization, but has limitations in volume and speed, and we'll look at three popular services:

Mi Cloud (Xiaomi's built-in storage)

• 📁 Free: 5GB (expands to 200GB for 149) ₽/month).
• ⚡ Speed: depends on the Internet connection (in Russia it can slow down).
• 🔄 Sync: Automatic for photo/video (included in Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud).

How to transfer files:

1. Upload files to Mi Cloud on your phone.
2. On PC, go to i.mi.com → download the necessary folders.

Google Photo

• 📁 Free: 15 GB (shared with Gmail and Disk).
• ⚡ Speed: High (Google servers are optimized).
• 🔄 Synchronization: Automatic, with support RAW and 4K-video.

Important: from June 2021, Google Photos compresses new photos / videos to 15 GB, but old files (uploaded before that) do not count into the quota.

Yandex Disk

• 📁 Free: 10 GB (Invitation Bonuses).
• ⚡ Speed: High in Russia, but limited for large files (>1GB).
• 🔄 Synchronization: manually or through the Yandex Disk application.

Comparison of services:

4. Transfer through a memory card (microSD)

If your Xiaomi supports microSD cards (like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO X5 Pro), you can save time by:

1. Transfer the photo/video to the memory card through the Explorer on the phone.
2. Remove the card and paste it into the computer card reader.
3. Copy the files to the PC.

⚠️ Note: Not all Xiaomi models support microSD. for example, Xiaomi flagships 13T Pro and newer are devoid of a card slot. Check the specifications of your model on mi.com.

Advantages of the method:

• 🚀 Speed: up to 90 MB/s (when used) UHS-I map).
• 🔄 No dependence on the Internet or drivers.
• 📁 You can carry large volumes (up to 1 TB on microSDXC cards).

5. Advanced methods: ADB, Scoop and synchronization with NAS

For experienced users, there are more flexible ways to:

ADB (Android Debug Bridge)

If MTP does not work, you can copy files via ADB:

adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ C:\Xiaomi_Photos\

Instructions:

1. Enable USB Debugging (see Section 1).
2. Install ADB on PC (download from developer.android.com).
3. Connect the phone and execute the command above in Command Prompt.

Scoop (Fast Wi-Fi Transfer)

Xiaomi’s Scoop app allows you to transfer files at up to 20 MB/s over a local network:

• 📱 Install Scoop on your phone from the Mi App Store.
• 🖥️ On PC, open the web interface at the address http://scoop.mi.com.
• 🔄 Drag files in the browser or on the phone.

Synchronization with NAS (Network Storage)

If you have a NAS (such as Synology or QNAP), set up automatic booting:

1. Install Synology Drive or Qfile on your phone.
2. Set up autoload for the DCIM folder.
3. Files will be copied to the NAS in the background.

💡

ADB and Scoop are the fastest methods for big data, but require initial setup, and for regular backups, it's better to use NAS or the cloud.

6. Solving typical file transfer problems

Even with the right settings, Xiaomi users are faced with errors.

Problem 1: The computer can’t see Xiaomi via USB

Causes and solutions:

• 🔌 Port port USB: Try another port or hub with external power.
• 🖥️ Drivers: Update MTP Drivers via Device Manager (Windows).
• 📱 MIUI: reset the settings USB In Settings → Connection and sharing → USB → Reset the configuration.

Problem 2: File copying error

If the files are copied with errors:

• 📁 Check the file system: on Xiaomi by default F2FS or ext4, Windows only reads the book. FAT32/exFAT. Format your memory card in exFAT.
• 🔍 Check your files for errors: use File Manager → Integrity verification.

Problem 3: Slow Wi-Fi transmission

Speed up wireless transmission can be as follows:

• 📶 Switch to the 5 GHz band in the router settings.
• 🔌 Disconnect other devices from the network.
• 📡 Use it. FTP-server instead of clouds (less overhead).

7. Process optimization: how to transfer files faster

To save time, follow these tips:

• 📂 Archive files: before transfer, pack folders into ZIP/RAR (Use File Manager or ZArchiver).
• 🔄 Use night time: If you are broadcasting over Wi-Fi, start the process when the network is not loaded.
• 📊 Sort files: delete duplicates and unnecessary screenshots in advance (Files by Google app will help you).
• ⚡ Turn off sync: Before mass transfer, turn off autoload to Mi Cloud or Google Photos to avoid conflicts.

To automate the process, set up Tasker (Android) or Windows with this algorithm:

1. Create a Tasker task: When connecting to a Wi-Fi network» → launch FTP-server.
2. On PC, set up Task Planner to copy files on a schedule (e.g., every night).

FAQ: Frequent questions about file transfers from Xiaomi