Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO The gallery is full of images, and cloud services are not always convenient for working with large amounts of data. USB-This allows you to transfer files at high speed without loss of quality and depending on the speed of the Internet connection.
However, just by connecting a device to a PC, users sometimes don't see their photos. Android has its own security features that require manual port switching. In this article, we will examine all the nuances of connection, MTP interface settings and solutions to typical synchronization errors.
To start, you'll need a serviceable cable, preferably original or certified, that supports data transfer, not just charging. Also make sure your computer has basic drivers installed, although modern versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11 often load them automatically. Let's take a closer look at the process.
Preparation of equipment and primary connection
The first step is to physically connect your smartphone to your computer. Use a USB port 3.0 or higher on your PC motherboard for maximum data transfer speed. If you use a desktop computer, connect the cable to the rear sockets, as they have more stable power compared to the front ports of the case.
Once you connect your smartphone screen to your computer, the device will start charging, but the files will remain hidden for now. This is standard Android behavior to protect user data from unauthorized access when charging in public places. You need to manually activate file transfer mode.
Note the status of the Type-C connector on the phone. The presence of dust or pile can prevent close contact, leading to unstable connection or lack of system response. In such cases, the computer can only charge the device, ignoring data commands.
⚠️ Attention: If the computer makes a sound when connecting the device, but the charging is not going, the power line in the cable may be damaged.
The quality of the cable directly affects the stability of the connection. Cheap analogues often do not have shielding, which can lead to communication interruptions when copying large arrays of photos. For transferring large volumes of data (over 10 GB), it is critical to use a cable with USB 3.0 and higher.
Configure USB mode in the MIUI interface
Once you're physically connected, unlock your smartphone screen. Swipe from top to bottom to open the notification panel. You'll see the "Charge through" system notification. USB» or «USB-Connection. Clicking on this notification will open the mode selection menu.
In the list that opens, you need to select the option of File Transfer (MTP), which allows the computer to see the phone's file system as an external drive, and by default, the system always chooses Charge Only mode, ignoring requests for data access.
☑️ Connection check
Sometimes the MIUI interface may hide this menu if the screen is locked by an access code. Make sure the device is unlocked when you connect or immediately after it. If the menu doesn't appear, try turning off the cable and plugging it back in again while keeping the screen on.
Some firmware versions may require proof of debugging or data access permission if you have previously enabled developer mode. Android security will request confirmation of action with your computer's digital fingerprint displayed. Click "Allow" to continue.
Working with files on a computer (Windows and macOS)
Once you select MTP mode on your smartphone, a new device should appear on your computer. On Windows, open "This Computer" (My Computer). Under Devices and Disks, your phone icon will appear with the model name, such as the Redmi Note 10.
For macOS users, you won’t see the phone with standard means. You’ll need to install a special Android File Transfer or OpenMTP application. Once you install the program and connect the cable in file transfer mode, the application will open access to the folder structure of the device.
| Folder on the phone. | Where to find a photo | Description of the contents |
|---|---|---|
| DCIM | Camera | Photos and videos taken with the main camera |
| Pictures | Screenshots / Instagram / Telegram | Screenshots and images from apps |
| MIUI | Gallery / cloud | Hidden Albums and Cloud Miniatures |
| Download | (Folder root) | Files downloaded from the browser |
The most important folder for you is DCIM/Camera, which is where all the pictures taken by the regular camera are stored. The Pictures folder contains images from messengers, social networks and screenshots. The structure may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI.
Why can a DCIM folder be empty?
Copying files is done using the standard Drag-and-Drop method or via the clipboard (Copy/Publish), and it is recommended to create separate folders on the computer to sort photos by date or event, so as not to create chaos in the file system.
Solving the visibility problems of the device
There are times when your computer doesn't respond to your smartphone. First of all, check the cable itself. Many of the cables that come with cheap power banks or toys are just for charging and don't have data lines.
The second common reason is the lack of drivers. Although Windows 10/11 has a vast database, sometimes manual installation is required. Go to Device Manager, find an unknown device or device with an exclamation mark. Right-click and select Update Driver → Auto Search.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use questionable software to install drivers "in one click" download software only from official resources of Microsoft or smartphone manufacturer.
If the drivers are installed but the phone is not visible, try to enable USB debugging. Go to Settings → About Phone and click 7 times on MIUI Version to activate the developer menu. Then to Settings → Advanced Settings → For developers, turn on USB Debugging.
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Use USB 2.0 ports if you have problems connecting to USB 3.0. Sometimes older cables or ports work better at lower speeds, providing a stable connection.
Rebooting both devices — the smartphone and the computer — often solves software failures in sync services, and it’s also worth checking if the phone is in Charging Only mode by default in the USB settings (the “Default USB Configuration” item in the developer menu).
Use of alternative methods of transmission
If wired connectivity is not possible or the cable is lost, there are wireless analogues. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop) tool is built, which allows you to transfer files to your PC over Wi-Fi. To do this, you need to open your browser on your computer and go to the address specified in the Mi Share app on your phone.
Another option is to use cloud services like Google Photos or Xiaomi Cloud, which automatically upload photos to the Internet when synced, from where they can be downloaded to your computer at any time, but this method depends on Internet speed and free space in the cloud.
A protocol is available for advanced users FTP. Through the standard file explorer on MIUI launch FTP-The computer and the phone must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and by entering the address in Windows Explorer, you will have full access to the file system without installing additional software.
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USB-cable provides the highest speed and stability when transferring large amounts of data, while wireless methods are convenient for fast transfer of multiple files.