How to connect Xiaomi to PC via USB: all methods and settings

Connecting Xiaomi smartphone to your computer through USB-The cable seems like a simple task, and it's done, but in practice, users are faced with problems: the phone is not detected, files are not displayed, and Windows requires you to install drivers, POCO and other Xiaomi lineups for PCs, including setting up data modes, installing drivers and solving typical errors.

Feature of Xiaomi smartphones – flexible settings USB-Connections that by default can block access to files due to security policies MIUI. For example, in new versions of the firmware (MIUI 14+) The first connection requires a clear confirmation of trust in the computer, and we will show you how to set up the connection correctly to avoid problems with transferring photos, music or backups.

Important: the instruction is relevant for all modern models - from the budget Redmi 12C to the flagships Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Separately consider the features of connecting devices with unlocked bootloader and custom firmware.

1. Which one? USB-Ports and cables are suitable for Xiaomi

Not every cable is capable of stable data transfer, cheap charging wires often don't have the necessary contacts to share files.

• 🔌 Type of connector on the smartphone: modern Xiaomi use USB-C (USB Type-C) and older models (until 2018) are Micro-USB. Make sure the cable fits your device.
• 💻 Port to PC: Preferred USB 3.0 (blue connectors) or USB 3.1/3.2 — They provide the speed of transmission to 5–10 Gbps. USB 2.0 (Black connectors are running slower (up to) 480 Mbit/s).
• 🔄 Cable function: some wires are charge-only and do not transmit data. USB 2.0 Data or USB 3.0 on package.

To check the cable, connect it to your PC and check it in Device Manager (Windows): if an unknown device appears in the USB Controllers section, the cable transmits data. If not, the cable is "charged".

⚠️ Warning: Using damaged cables (with bare wires or broken contacts) can lead to short circuits and failure. USB-port of a smartphone or PC. Before connecting, inspect the wire for defects.

2.Setting up USB mode on Xiaomi smartphone

By default, when you connect to a PC, Xiaomi's smartphone can only offer charging. To access files, you have to manually select the data mode. Here's how to do this:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC using a cable.
2. You'll see a USB notification on your smartphone screen to charge.
3. In the menu that opens, select File Transfer (or MTP – Media Transfer Protocol).
4. If you don’t have an option, go to Settings → Connection & Sharing → USB and select the mode manually.

Newer versions of MIUI 14/15 may require additional confirmation of trust in the computer.

Other USB modes on Xiaomi:

• 📱 Charging only – blocks data transfer (by default).
• 🖥️ File transfer (MTP) — Standard mode for sharing media files.
• 📀 USB-accumulator (PTP) — Used to transfer photos (for example, on a Mac).
• 🔧 Debugging by USB — need to work with ADB (unlocking, firmware).
• 🔄 RNDIS — Connection as a modem (internet via USB).

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If you often connect your smartphone to the same PC, turn on the option to Always Allow from that computer in a trust request, eliminating the need to confirm access every time you connect.

3. Installation of drivers for Xiaomi on Windows

If the PC doesn’t recognize the smartphone even after selecting MTP mode, there are likely no drivers. Xiaomi uses standard Google USB Driver drivers, but sometimes they require manual installation.

Method 1: Automatic installation

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC in MTP mode.
2. Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
3. Find a device with a yellow exclamation point (usually under Other Devices or Portable Devices).
4. Right-click on it → Update the driver → Automatic search.

Method 2: Manual installation of drivers

1. Download the official drivers from the Xiaomi or Google USB Driver website.
2. Unpack the archive and remember the path to the folder with drivers.
3. In Device Manager, select Update Driver → Search on this computer → Select a driver from the list → Install from the disk.
4. Specify the path to the downloaded drivers and complete the installation.

If Windows blocks the installation of drivers with the caption "This driver does not have a digital signature", disable signature verification: restart the PC with the Shift key pressed, select Diagnostic → Additional settings → Download options → Reboot, then press F7 (disable the mandatory driver signature verification).

The device is determined in Device Manager without exclamation mark|In the section Portable devices appeared Xiaomi [model]|When you connect, you hear the device recognition sound.|In the Windows Explorer displays smartphone files-->

4. Solving Connection Problems

If the smartphone is still undetectable, check the following points:

4.1 The smartphone is not charged or detected

• ⚡ Check the cable and port on PC – try another one USB-plug-in.
• 🔋 Reboot your smartphone and PC.
• 🔌 Connect your smartphone to another device (such as a charger) to make sure the phone port is working properly.

4.2 The smartphone is charging, but files are not displayed

• 📱 Make sure that the mode is selected on the smartphone MTP (Not just charging).
• 🖥️ Update the drivers (see Section 3).
• 🔄 Reinstall the driver: in Device Manager, remove the Xiaomi device and connect it again.
• 🛡️ Disable the antivirus – some programs (for example, Avast or Kaspersky) block USB-device.

Mistake 4.3 "USB-device not identified"

This error is caused by driver conflict or hardware problems.

1. Connect your smartphone to another PC – if the problem recurs, the phone’s cable or port is faulty.
2. Update the motherboard BIOS (relevant for older PCs).
3. Turn off fast boot in Windows: Control Panel → Power supply → Actions of power buttons → Change settings → Disable fast start.

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If none of these methods worked, try connecting via Wi-Fi (e.g., using the Mi File Manager or AirDroid app), which is a temporary solution, but it will allow you to transfer files without USB.

5. Connecting Xiaomi to Mac or Linux

On macOS and Linux, Xiaomi smartphones connect using the same MTP protocol, but additional actions may be required.

For macOS:

1. Install Android File Transfer (official software from Google) from android.com/filetransfer.
2. Connect your smartphone in MTP mode.
3. Run Android File Transfer – the smartphone files will appear in the program window.

If the program does not see the device:

• 🔄 Restart the Mac.
• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port (preferably direct, without hubs).
• 📱 Switch the mode. USB smartphone-wise MTP on PTP back and forth.

For Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, etc.):

Most distributions support MTP out of the box, but you may need to install packages:

sudo apt install mtp-tools libmtp-common gvfs-mtp

After installation, connect your smartphone – it should appear in the file manager (for example, Nautilus or Dolphin).

If the device is not displayed, check:

• 🐧 Run the LSUSB command in the terminal – if Xiaomi is on the list, the problem is in the settings MTP.
• 🔧 Install jmtpfs for mounting as a file system: sudo apt install jmtpfs mkdir ~/xiaomi jmtpfs ~/xiaomi

6. Debugging mode (ADB) connection

Regime. USB Debugging (debugging by USB) necessary for advanced operations: unlocking the bootloader, firmware through Fastboot or working with ADB. To turn it on:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap it 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Enable options: Debug over USB OEM Unlock (if you plan to unlock the bootloader)

Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer on your phone screen.

To work with ADB:

1. Download Platform Tools from the Android Developers website.
2. Unpack the archive and open the cmd in the folder with the platform-tools.
3. Follow the command: adb devices If the smartphone is displayed in the list – the connection is successful.

Instructions for Mi Drop:

1. Open the Mi Drop app on your smartphone.
2. Select files to transfer and click Send.
3. On PC, open your browser and go to the address http://drop.mi.com (or scan. QR-smartphone-screen).
4. Confirm the transmission on both devices.

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Wireless methods are convenient, but speed depends on the quality of Wi-Fi. For large files (video, backups), USB remains the fastest way.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's PC connection