How to transfer all data from your Xiaomi phone to your computer

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to free up the device’s internal storage or back up valuable data before resetting. The internal memory of modern gadgets is overflowing with high-resolution photos, 4K video and messenger cache, which inevitably leads to a slowdown.

There are several proven synchronization methods, each with its own characteristics depending on the amount of data and the availability of a cable at hand. You can use a wired connection to quickly transfer gigabytes of information or wireless protocols for regular backup of documents. Below we will discuss all the current methods in detail so that you can choose the most convenient for your situation.

Note that different versions of the MIUI shell and HyperOS may differ slightly in the names of menu items, but the general principle of operation remains the same for the entire ecosystem. It is important to prepare the computer in advance, making sure that there is enough free space for the files to be received on the disk, and the correct organization of the process will save you from wasting time and nerve cells.

Preparing the device and computer for data transmission

Before any manipulations, you need to make sure that both your smartphone and PC are working and ready to work. Charge the phone battery to at least 50-60%, as active data transmission via cable can consume energy, although slower than navigation.

Special attention should be paid USB-Many users make the mistake of using cheap charging-only cables that don’t have any physical data lines, and you need the original Xiaomi cable or a third-party counterpart labeled Data Transfer. If after connecting to the PC, only the charging sound is heard, and the file manager does not respond, try replacing the wire.

⚠️ Warning: Using damaged or substandard cables can lead to unstable connection, interruption of file transfers and even port damage. USB on the computer motherboard due to voltage surges.

Windows or macOS are also not hard to prepare, but drivers need to be up to date. Usually Windows 10 and 11 automatically install the necessary components when you first connect, but in rare cases, you may need to install Mi PC Suite or universal ADB drivers to correctly display all memory partitions.

The classical method through USB-cable (MTP)

The most common and quick way to copy files is to use the MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) protocol, which allows you to work with the phone's file system like a simple flash drive, dragging your folders with your mouse. First, connect your smartphone to your computer unlocked so that Android security does not block access to data.

After the physical connection, lower the notification curtain on the phone screen, and you'll see a message called "Charge over USB" or something similar. Click on it and select File Transfer or MTP mode from the menu that appears. Without this action, the computer will only see the device as a charger.

On your computer, open "My Computer" or "This Computer," and your smartphone will appear in the list of devices with the model name, and double-click will open access to internal memory and SD-The basic data is usually in the root or in folders. DCIM (photo), MIUI (Screenshots, dictaphone, Download (downloads).

When copying large amounts of data (like an entire archive of photos over several years), the speed can vary.The Android file system is sometimes not optimized to work with thousands of small files at once, so the process can seem “hungry.” In such cases, it is better to copy the data in large blocks of data. 5-10 GB.

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Direct USB connection provides maximum transfer speed and connection stability, which is critical for backing up large amounts of data (4K video, full system backups).

Use of Mi Cloud and Google Drive Cloud Storage

Wireless technology allows you to transfer data without being tied to cables, which is convenient for regular synchronization of documents and contacts. Xiaomi ecosystem offers built-in cloud Mi Cloud, which is deeply integrated into the system. To use it, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.

You can set up synchronization of gallery, contacts, notes and voice recorder. Once sync is enabled, the data is automatically uploaded to Xiaomi servers. To get it to your PC, you just go to i.mi.com through your browser and log in to your account. From there, you can download files to your computer's hard drive.

The alternatives are Google Photos and Google Drive, which many users prefer because of their easy image search and integration with other Google services, but the free storage limits (15 GB per Google account) are quickly exhausted when actively used.

Cloud methods are ideal for documents and important contacts, but for full system backups or heavy video files, they can be inconvenient due to traffic restrictions and download times.

Wireless transmission over Wi-Fi via FTP and conductor

If the cable is lost and the Internet speed is low, you can organize a local network between the phone and the computer. FTP-This allows you to transfer files over Wi-Fi at high speeds limited only by the power of the router.

To run, make sure your phone and computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Open the Explorer app on your phone, go to the Categories tab or click on the menu (three dots/strips) and select Remote Control or PC Access. Click Launch and an address will appear on the screen, such as ftp://192.168.1.5:2121.

Type this address into the address bar of any folder on your computer or Windows Explorer, and then the contents of the phone's memory will open like a regular folder, and you can copy, delete and move files just like you would when you connected to a USB connection, but without wires.

⚠️ Attention: Method FTP It only works on the local network, if your router is set to isolate client devices (AP Isolation, PC and phone won’t see each other even when on the same Wi-Fi network.

The advantage of this method is its versatility - it does not require the installation of additional software on a PC and works on any operating system. FTP-server discharges faster than usual, so with prolonged work it is better to keep the device on charge.

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For maximum Wi-Fi transmission speed, use the 5 GHz band. 2.4 GHz frequency is often overloaded by neighboring routers, which reduces the real speed of copying files by 3-4 times.

Specialized software: Mi PC Suite and third-party utilities

For users who need deep device management, complete system images or data cloning, there are specialized programs. The official Mi PC Suite utility (Chinese version is more functional than the global one) allows you to make backup contacts, messages, call logs and applications.

Third-party programs like TiMi Phone Assistant or AirDroid offer advanced functionality that can display the phone screen on a monitor, manage files, take screenshots, and even install. APK-These tools are especially useful for those who work with multiple Xiaomi devices at the same time.

When using third-party software, always download it from official developer sites. There are many modified versions on the network that may contain malicious code. It is recommended to create a system restore point before installing any software on a PC.

The functionality of such programs often includes the ability to manage SMS messages directly from the computer keyboard, which is convenient for office workers, and many utilities are able to automatically sort photos by date and location when uploading to a PC.

Solving Connection Problems

Even if all instructions are followed, technical difficulties can arise. One of the common problems is that the phone is visible to the computer, but the folders are empty or not opened. This is often due to the fact that the phone screen is locked. Android for security reasons does not allow access to the file system to external devices until the user unlocks the screen with a pin code or a fingerprint.

Another common situation is that the copying is interrupted by 99% or the “File is too big” error, which happens if you try to write a file larger than 4 GB to a flash drive or a partition formatted in the FAT32 file system, the solution is to format the drive in NTFS or exFAT, or break up large video files into parts.

⚠️ Attention: Never take out USB-This can damage the file table and not only the file being copied, but also the entire partition of memory. Always use the Safe Device Removal command in Windows.

If the phone is permanently disconnected and plugged in again, the problem may be in the computer's USB port.Try to switch the cable to a port located directly on the motherboard (back of the system unit) rather than on the front panel of the case, where voltage can be unstable.

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Connection stability is more important than speed: If the cable causes permanent breaks, it is better to use a slow but reliable wire or switch to wireless FTP to maintain data integrity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)