Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face a lack of built-in storage, especially after long-term shooting of video in high resolution 4K or 60 FPS. The internal memory of the device quickly fills up, and there is an urgent need to make room for new files or just back up valuable moments on the hard drive of the PC. There are dozens of ways to sync, but not all of them are equally convenient and secure for the integrity of your data.
In this article we will discuss in detail all current methods of transferring media files: from the classical to the traditional media. USB-Cable to modern cloud technologies and hidden functions MIUI. You will learn why the computer can not see the phone, how to properly configure debugging USB What is the best way to copy large amounts of information without loss of quality.
Device preparation and cable selection
Before you start any manipulation, you need to make sure that your equipment is ready for data transfer. USB-Many cables, especially cheap third-party cables, are designed solely for charging and do not have internal lines for data transfer. If you plug in your phone and nothing happens on your PC screen, try replacing the cable with an original or certified one.
Check the connectors for dust and pile, which often get clogged in your pockets and interfere with tight contact. Carefully clean the Type-C port on your smartphone and USB-It is better to use wood toothpicks or compressed air for cleaning, but not metal objects so as not to damage the contacts.
It is important to understand that different USB ports on your computer can deliver different power and speeds. Blue ports are usually USB 3.0 standard and provide faster file transfer than black USB 2.0 ports. If you plan to transfer gigabytes of video, using a fast port will significantly reduce latency.
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Use short cables (up to 1 meter) to transfer large files – long wires often cause speed drops and connection breaks when working with heavy video files.
USB Method: Classic MTP Connection
The most common and reliable way to do this without additional software is to use the MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) protocol. Once you connect the cable to your computer, unlock the smartphone screen. By default, Xiaomi can charge without having to transfer data, so you need to change the USB mode yourself.
Lower the notification curtain ("curtain") by swipe from top to bottom. You will see the notification "Charge through" USB» or «USB-Click on it to open the mode selection menu. Select File Transfer or Android Auto. Then, in Windows, a new device with the name of your smartphone will appear in the "This Computer" section.
In the Explorer window that opens, find the DCIM folder and the Camera folder inside it. This is where all the photos and videos taken on the main camera are stored. For third-party video, the paths may differ: for example, WhatsApp stores media in the Android/media/com.whatsapp folder, and Telegram in Android/data/org.telegram.messenger or a separate Telegram folder at the root of the memory.
☑️ Connection check MTP
⚠️ Note: When copying a large number of video files, do not remove the abruptly cable (sharp). wait until the process is complete and use the Safe Device Removal feature in the Windows tray to avoid damaging the file system.
Configure debugging over USB for advanced users
If standard MTP mode is unstable or you need access to system folders that are hidden from the average user, you will need to activate the developer mode. This is an advanced Android feature that allows the computer to take full control of the device. To enable, go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI version (or OS version) until the message “You are a developer” appears.
Then go back to the main settings menu, go to the "Additional" section and select "Developers" and find the "Debug by" switch. USB» And activate it. When you connect to a PC, you'll see a confirmation request on your smartphone screen. RSA-keys – be sure to click “Allow” and tick “Always Allow from this computer».
Using debugging allows tools like ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to manage files through the command line, which can be useful when restoring a system or working with protected memory partitions. However, for simple video transfer, this method is redundant and requires technical knowledge.
What does the ADB pull command give?
Wireless transmission via Mi Drop and FTP
When you don't have a cable, wireless technology comes to the rescue. The MIUI/Xiaomi HyperOS shell has a great Mi Drop tool built in (now often integrated into ShareMe), which allows you to transfer files to your computer over Wi-Fi at a high speed comparable to USB 2.0. You just have to launch the application, select files and click "Send to PC", then enter the address shown in your computer browser.
Another elegant way is to use the built-in FTP-Open the Files app, click on the menu (three bars) and select Remote Management or PC Access. Click Launch and the system will give you the view address. ftp://192.168.1.XX:XXXX.
Type this address into the address bar of any Windows Explorer. Your smartphone now appears as a network drive. You can copy, delete and move video files directly. The main condition is that the phone and computer must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. The speed depends on the router: at 5 GHz, the transmission is much faster.
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FTP-server through the built-in conductor is the fastest wireless method that does not require the installation of third-party applications on the phone and PC.
Use of cloud storage and Mi Cloud
Cloud technology allows you to forget about wires and sync data automatically. Mi Cloud service is deeply integrated into Xiaomi system. In the settings of the Mi Account, you can enable gallery synchronization. Videos will automatically upload to the cloud when you connect to Wi-Fi, and then they can be downloaded from the i.mi.com site on any computer.
Alternatively, Google Drive, Yandex.Disk or Dropbox. By installing the app on your phone and setting up autoload photos and videos (Backup & Sync), you can access your archives from any device. Free space is usually a little (15 GB from Google, 5 GB from Mi), so for large video archives you will have to buy a subscription.
The cloud is also a security advantage: even if your phone crashes or gets lost, your videos will stay safe, and the downside is the dependence on Internet speed and the need for tariffed traffic if you don't have Wi-Fi on hand.
| Method | Speed. | Difficulty | We need the Internet. |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB Cable (MTP) | Tall. | Low. | No. |
| Wi-Fi (FTP/Mi Drop) | Medium | Medium | No (locally) |
| The cloud (Mi Cloud) | Depends on the network. | Low. | Yes. |
| Bluetooth | Very low. | Low. | No. |
The solution to the problems: PC does not see Xiaomi
One of the most common problems is when the computer makes a connection sound, but the device does not appear in the Explorer. Often the reason lies in the drivers. Windows 10 and 11 usually install them automatically, but sometimes manual intervention is required. Try downloading the official utility Mi PC Suite (Chinese version with a patch or global), which will force you to install the necessary ADB and MTP drivers.
Another cause is damage. USB-Try connecting your phone to another port, preferably at the back of the system unit, where the connection goes directly to the board. USB In the developer settings: item "Configuration" USB by default" must be set to "File Transfer».
If nothing helps, there may be a problem with the file system, check if the memory partition is damaged, and in rare cases, it helps to turn on Charge Only mode and then switch to File Transfer seconds after you connect.