How to transfer photos from Xiaomi to your computer: all ways for 2026

Transferring photos from Xiaomi to your computer is a task faced by every owner of Redmi smartphones, POCO Even if you have a model from 2020 to 2026 (for example, Xiaomi). 13T, Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro, the modes of transmission remain relevant, but have nuances. USB-cable, others choose wireless methods through Mi Share or cloud services, and in this article we will discuss all the working options, from the fastest to the most reliable, taking into account the features of the firmware. MIUI HyperOS.

The main problem when sending a photo is loss of quality or long wait. For example, when sending through messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), images are compressed, and drag and drop hundreds of files over the Internet. USB We tested each method on real devices and found the best scenarios: when to use it best. MTP-The mode, and when is Google Photos or LAN, and we'll also tell you how to get around common errors like "Device not recognized" in Windows or "No access to a folder." DCIM" Mac.

1.Photo transfer via USB-cable: step-by-step instruction

The most universal way is to connect a smartphone to a computer through USB-It works on all Xiaomi models, including the old ones (Redmi). 4X) and new (Xiaomi 14), but requires the correct setting of the data transfer mode. MIUI HyperOS can be enabled by default with Charge Only mode, which blocks access to files.

To avoid problems, follow the algorithm:

• 🔌 Connect your smartphone to your PC with the original cable (cheap analogues may not support data transfer).
• 📱 A notification will appear on the phone screen "USB To transfer files, tap on it.
• 🔄 Select the "File Transfer" mode (MTP)" (or "Photo (PTP)", if MTP doesn't work).
• 🖥️ On your computer, open "This Computer" (Windows) or "Finder" (Mac) - the device will appear as a removable disk.

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If your computer can’t see your phone, try:

1. Reconnect the cable to another USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0 blue).
2. Update Xiaomi drivers through the official website.
3. Enable "Debugging by USB" in the menu "Settings → About Phone → MIUI version" (tap 7 times according to the firmware version, then go back to "Additional settings → Developer options").

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If Windows gives an error "Device not recognized", try connecting Xiaomi to another PC. If the problem persists, reset the USB settings in the Settings menu → Connections and Sharing → Reset USB settings.

2. Transfer of photos over Wi-Fi without cable

If you don’t have a cable on hand or want to avoid physical connectivity, use a local Wi-Fi network. This method works on all Xiaomi with MIUI 12 and later, as well as on devices with HyperOS. The main advantage is to maintain the original quality of the photo (unlike instant messengers).

Instructions for Windows and Mac:

1. Connect your phone and computer to the same Wi-Fi network (e.g., Xiaomi Mi Router).
2. On your smartphone, open the Explorer (or Files) and select the DCIM → Camera folder.
3. Click "Send" → "FTP" (or "Local Network" in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Copy the address of the species ftp://192.168.x.x:xxxx and type it into the address bar "Windows Explorer" or "Finder" (Mac).
5. Enter the login and password (by default, often anonymous without a password).

The speed of transmission depends on the power of the router. On the Xiaomi AX3600 100, RAW photos (~20 MB each) are transferred in ~5 minutes. If the connection is interrupted, check:

• 📶 Wi-Fi signal (must be at least 70%).
• 🔋 Phone battery charge (at a level below 15% MIUI Can limit background processes).
• 🛡️ Windows Firewall settings (allow incoming connections to "FTP-server").

3.Using Mi Share (Fast Transmission without Internet)

Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop) is Xiaomi’s proprietary technology for file sharing between devices without an internet connection. It works on the principle of Wi-Fi Direct and supports speeds up to 20 MB / s (in theory). In practice, 100 photos in JPEG (~5 MB each) are transferred in ~2-3 minutes.

How to use Mi Share:

• 📱 On the phone, open "Settings" → Connections and sharing → Mi Share".
• 🖥️ Download Mi on your computer. PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi).
• 🔄 Turn on Mi Share on both devices and select “Send” on your phone, “Get” on PC.
• 📂 Select photos in the gallery and confirm the transfer.

Important: Mi Share does not work with files larger than 1 GB and can be interrupted when the battery is low (less than 20%).If the transfer is frozen, restart Mi Share on both devices or use an alternative - Snapdrop (web service for sharing over a local network).

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4. Cloud services: Google Photos vs Mi Cloud

Cloud storage is easy to back up and access photos from any device, but there are limitations to every service:

To upload a photo to Google Photos:

1. Install the Google Photos app.
2. Log in to Google and enable “Backup and Sync”.
3. Select "Original Quality" (if it is important to keep RAW or HEIF).
4. On your computer, open photos.google.com and download the archive.

⚠️ Note: When selecting “High Quality” in Google Photos, images are compressed to 16 MP resolution, and videos are compressed to 16 MP resolution. 1080p. This is critical for Xiaomi owners with 200MP cameras (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra).

5. Transfer photos to Mac (features and solutions)

MacBook or iMac users often face a problem when Xiaomi is not displayed in the Finder or photos are not copied.This is due to the peculiarities of the MTP protocol, which is poorly supported by macOS.

• 🍎 Install Android File Transfer (official software from Google).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone and Mac, then reconnect the cable.
• 🛠️ Turn on Developer Mode on Xiaomi and select "PTP" instead MTP.
• 🌐 Use Mi Share or FTP Wi-Fi (described above).

If Android File Transfer is not working:

1. Open the Terminal on Mac and enter: Killall AppleMobileDeviceHelper
2. Turn off and reconnect the phone.
3. Check if the access is blocked by "MacOS System Protection" (allow in "Settings → Security").

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On a Mac, the most reliable way is to use Mi Share or FTP over Wi-Fi. MTP often works unstable due to macOS limitations.

6. Alternative methods: OTG, memory card and email

If standard methods don’t work, consider these options:

• 📁 MicroSD card: Remove it from your phone and insert it into your computer via an adapter. SD-Cards: Redmi Note 11, POCO X3).
• 🔌 OTG-Adapter: Connect the flash drive to the phone via USB OTG, Copy the photo, then insert the flash drive into the PC.
• ✉️ Email or messengers: Send yourself an archive via Gmail (max. 25 MB) or Telegram (max. 2 GB). Attention: photos are compressed to 12 MP in Telegram and up to 16 MP in Telegram. VK.
• 🖥️ Computer as a FTP-Server: Install FileZilla Server on your PC and on your phone — FTP-client (e.g. Solid Explorer).

For OTG, check:

• Does your Xiaomi model support USB OTG (the list of compatible devices is available on GSMArena)
• Do you use a USB 3.0 adapter (blue connector) for high speed?
• Whether the flash drive is formatted in FAT32 or exFAT (NTFS is not supported by most smartphones).

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When you move photos from Xiaomi to your PC, users face typical problems.

⚠️ Note: If you are connected to USB The phone is starting to run out, use it. USB-power hub or plug in charger. Some ports USB 3.0 consumes more energy than they give away.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions