Transfer photos from Xiaomi phone to computer via USB-The cable seems like a simple task, but in practice, users are faced with a lot of nuances: the smartphone is not defined as a drive, drivers refuse to install, then files simply do not appear in the explorer. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios – from basic connection settings to solving common errors.
Xiaomi devices (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark) are featured in MIUI firmware, which often blocks data transfer by default.Moreover, modern versions of Windows 10/11 and macOS may require additional drivers or security settings.We will look at universal methods that are relevant to all versions of phones, including the latest models of 2023-2026.
If you've tried to connect your phone before and you've had problems, don't rush to use cloud services or instant messengers. 90% of the time, the problem is solved by setting up your smartphone or computer. And for those who prefer alternative methods, at the end of this article, we'll compare all the available methods of transferring photos.
Preparing Xiaomi Phone for Connection
Xiaomi itself must be configured correctly before connecting the phone to a computer, and many users miss this step, which means that the system simply does not recognize the device as a drive.
The first thing you need to do is unlock the screen, if the phone is locked with a pattern lock, PIN-by fingerprint or code, by connecting USB It's limited. Also make sure the cable is working, because often the problem is a damaged cord or connector. To check, try charging your phone with the same cable, because if you're charging, you're physically working.
Next, check the settings. USB-Debugging (optional, but useful for diagnosing problems):
- Open the Settings. → The phone.
- Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times until the notification “You’ve become a developer” appears.
- Go back to the basic settings, select Additional settings → Developer settings.
- Activate the debugging switch over USB.
⚠️ Attention: Including debugging by USB It allows you to access the system functions of your phone. Don't connect your device to unverified computers to avoid data leakage.
The last step is to choose the connection mode. When you connect the phone to the PC, the notification curtain will have a USB option to transfer files. Click on it and select File Transfer (MTP), and if you don't, the computer will only see the phone as a charger.
Connecting to Windows: Step-by-step instructions
Modern versions of Windows 10/11 usually automatically recognize Xiaomi as a media device, but sometimes manual configuration is required.
1. Connect your phone to your computer using the original cable (or a certified USB-C/USB-A). Using cheap, unoriginal cords can lead to data transmission errors.
2. On the phone screen, select File Transfer (MTP) mode as described in the previous section.
3. Open This Computer (or My Computer in Windows 7). Your Xiaomi should appear as a removable drive with the model name (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro).
If the device does not appear:
- 🔄 Restart your phone and computer. Sometimes it solves the driver problem.
- 🖥️ Update drivers. Go to Device Manager, find Xiaomi under Portable Devices, right-click and select Update Driver».
- 🔌 Try another one. USB-Ports on the front of the system unit often have poor power supply.
- 📱 Reset the settings. USB. On your phone, go to Settings. → Additional settings → Resetting settings → Resetting settings USB.
If the phone is identified but the DCIM folder (where the photo is stored) is empty, check:
- Are files hidden in the Explorer settings (View → Hidden Items).
- Have you moved your photos to the Mi Cloud (open the gallery on your phone and check the Cloud tab).
The cable is original and serviceable
Phone unlocked.
Selected MTP (File Transfer) mode
Drivers on PC updated
Port port USB It works (checked on another device)-->
Transfer of photos to macOS: features and nuances
Mac or iMac users often find that Xiaomi does not appear in Finder even when connected correctly, due to the peculiarities of the MTP protocol on macOS.
To transfer files to your Mac, follow the following steps:
- Install the official Android File Transfer software (you can download from Google), which is the only reliable solution for working with MTP on macOS.
- Connect the phone in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
- Start Android File Transfer. The program must automatically open the window with the phone files.
- Go to DCIM → Camera (or Pictures if the photos are saved elsewhere).
If the program doesn't see the phone:
- 🔄 Restart Android File Transfer and reconnect the cable.
- 🍎 Update macOS to the latest version (older versions have bugs with the new version). MTP).
- 📱 Check if the antivirus or firewall is blocking data transmission on your Mac.
⚠️ Note: On macOS with Apple Silicon chip (M1/M2) You may have driver problems with older Xiaomi models, in which case you use cloud services or a memory card.
An alternative way for Mac users to use Termux (a terminal emulator for Android) and transfer files over SSH, but this requires technical skills. Android File Transfer is enough for most tasks.
Common mistakes and their solutions
Even with the right connection, there can be errors, and we've collected the most common problems and ways to fix them.
| Mistake. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The phone is charged, but not defined as a drive | Not selected MTP mode | In the phone notification curtain, click on the USB notification and select “File Transfer” |
| The computer makes the connection sound, but the disk does not appear. | There are no MTP drivers | Update drivers through Device Manager or install Mi PC Suite |
| DCIM folder is empty, although there are photos on the phone | Photos saved in the cloud or hidden | Check the gallery settings on your phone or enable the display of hidden files on your PC |
| Error "Device not recognized" (code 43) | Driver conflict or damaged port | Remove the device in Task Manager and reconnect the phone |
| File transfer is interrupted or very slow. | Unstable connection or damaged cable | Try another cable or USB 3.0 port |
If none of these methods worked, try resetting the network settings on your phone:
- Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
- Confirm the reset and restart the device.
Important: Some Xiaomi models (e.g., POCO F5) require proof of access via unlocking the screen when you first connect to a new PC. If you ignore this notification, the data transfer will be blocked.
Alternative methods of transferring photos
If USB connectivity is not possible for some reason, consider alternative methods, each with pros and cons:
- ☁️ Cloud Services (Mi Cloud, Google Photos, Yandex Drive):
- 📤 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp):
- 📡 Local area network (FTP/Wi-Fi Direct):
- 💾 MicroSD Memory Card:
You can use applications like Send Anywhere or Xender to transmit over Wi-Fi, and they create a local network between the phone and the computer, which is convenient for large amounts of data, and the speed of the transfer will depend on the power of the router.
How to transfer photos via FTP to Xiaomi?
Optimizing the process: tips to speed up
If you regularly have to transfer photos from Xiaomi to your computer, a few simple tips will help save time:
- 📁 Sort your photos in advance. In the Xiaomi gallery, you can create albums and transfer the images you want to take to them, and then you don't have to search for them in a shared folder. DCIM.
- ⚡ Use it. USB Ports with blue connector provide transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps (versus 480 Mbps y) USB This is particularly noticeable when transferring RAW-photo-in 4K.
- 🔄 Turn off cloud sync. If you have automatic download enabled in Mi Cloud or Google Photos, cable transmission may be slowed due to background sync.
- 🛠️ Set up AutoRun. In Windows, you can create a task that will automatically copy a photo from your phone to a given folder when you connect.
To speed up the transfer of large files (such as videos), you can archive them directly on your phone. RAR Or ZArchiver to create a ZIP-archive with the photo and then transfer it to the PC, which will reduce the number of I/O operations and reduce the risk of errors.
💡
If you frequently connect your phone to the same computer, in the developer settings (Developer Options) → Configuration USB By default, you can set the file transfer mode (MTP) So you don't have to manually select it every time you connect.
Security of data transmission
Transferring photos from phone to computer is not only a technical process, but also a matter of privacy.
1. Check connected devices. Do not use public computers (e.g., in an Internet cafe) to transmit personal photos. Attackers can install software to steal data.
2. Turn it off. USB-This mode provides extended access to the system, which can be used to install malware.
3 Encrypt sensitive data. If the photo contains personal documents (passports, tickets), archive them with a password before transfer. 7-Zip or WinRAR with encryption option will do this.
4. Use proven cables. Cheap, uncertified cables may contain chips to intercept data, especially for USB-C cables with active electronics.
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra) will request to unlock Bootloader when you connect to your computer. Never confirm this request unless you plan to flash your phone, this will open access to system partitions.