How to transfer photos from Xiaomi to your computer: all working ways

Why transfer photos from Xiaomi to PC and what are the risks?

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO have become an integral part of our lives, storing thousands of photos, from family photos to work documents. But the phone's memory is not infinite, and data loss due to a breakdown or reset can be a disaster.

✅ Freeing up space on the device (especially important for models with a 64–128 GB memory). ✅ Backup – Protection against accidental deletion or damage to files. ✅ Convenient processing – editing photos on a large PC screen is easier than on a phone. ✅ Long-term storage — SSD/HDD On the computer last longer than the flash memory of the smartphone.

But when you move data, you often have problems: your computer can't see your phone, photos aren't fully copied, or it takes hours. In this article, we'll look at all the current ways to transfer photos from Xiaomi to your PC in 2026, including bypassing common errors and optimizing speed.

Important: If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu or PixelExperience), some methods may work differently. MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

Method 1: Transfer through USB-cable (most reliable)

Connecting your phone to your computer via cable is the most versatile method, which works on all Xiaomi models (from Redmi Note 4X to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and does not require Internet connection.

Step-by-step:

1. Use the original cable from the kit or a certified USB-TypeC/MicroUSB (cheap cables often don’t transmit data, only charge).
2. Connect your phone to your PC. A notification will appear on the Xiaomi screen — tap it and select File Transfer (or MTP).
3. On your computer, open this computer (My computer is in Windows 7). Your Xiaomi will appear as a removable drive (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G).
4. Go to the Internal Storage → DCIM → Camera folder (camera photos are stored here) or Pictures (screenshots and uploaded images).
5. Copy the files to your computer (drag and drop or use Ctrl+C → Ctrl+V).

Typical problems and solutions:

• 🔌 Computer can't see phone: Check cable, try another USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0 blue. Install the drivers. MIUI Or use Mi. PC Suite.
• 📱 The phone doesn't offer a mode MTP: Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Developer parameters → Configuration USB by default and select File Transfer.
• ⚡ Slow Transmission: Turn off sync with the cloud (Settings) → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Photos) and close the background apps on your phone.

Use the original cable

Enable the File Transfer Mode (MTP)

Check it out. USB-port to PC (preferably 3.0)

Disable the ad blocker (may interfere with drivers)

Close background apps on your phone-->

The transfer speed depends on the USB version:

⚠️ Note: If you connect Xiaomi to a MacBook, you may need to install Android File Transfer. on Linux, use gvfs-mtp or jmtpfs.

Method 2: Sync with Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud is a built-in cloud storage from Xiaomi that automatically backs up photos, contacts and notes, which is convenient if you need to transfer photos without cable or from multiple devices.

❌ Free storage limit is 5 GB (for comparison, Google Photos gives 15 GB).

❌ Image compression – when downloaded in “original quality” files can decrease in size.

❌ Geolocking – in some regions (e.g. India) the functionality of the Mi Cloud is limited.

How to transfer photos through Mi Cloud:

1. On the phone: Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud → Photos → Enable Sync photos.
2. Choose Source Quality (if it is important to keep the originals) or High Quality (compression up to 16 MP).
3. Wait for the download to be completed (you can monitor the progress in the notifications).
4. On your computer, go to i.mi.com and log in to the same Mi Account.
5. In the Photos section, select the necessary pictures and click Download (they will be packed in the photo). ZIP-archive).

Advantages of the method:

• 🌍 Access to photos from any device (even if your phone is broken).
• 🔄 Automatic synchronization of new images.
• 📱 No need for cable or additional programs.

⚠️ Note: If you are using a dual account (e.g. personal and work), make sure that the photos are synced to the desired profile. → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Account.

Method 3: Wi-Fi transmission (via local area network)

If you don't have a cable on hand, but you have stable Wi-Fi, you can transfer photos over the local network, which is slower than USB, but is convenient for a large number of files. We'll look at two options: Mi Drop (built-in application) and third-party utilities.

Option 1: Mi Drop (without installing software)

1. On your phone, open the Mi Drop app (if not, download from the Mi App Store).
2. Select a photo and click Next.
3. Select the Computer → Connect to the PC. It'll appear on the screen. QR-code.
4. On your computer, open your browser and go to the address http://drop.mi.com, scan QR-phonecode.
5. Files will start to load into the browser - save them to disk.

Option 2: Through FTP-server (for advanced servers)

If Mi Drop is unstable, you can start on your phone. FTP-server and connect to it from the PC:

1. Install the FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer app from Google Play.
2. Open the side menu. → Remote access → FTP-server → Launch.
3. Remember the address of the species ftp://192.168.x.x:xxxx.
4. On the computer, open Explorer, enter the address in the address bar and press Enter.
5. Copy files from the /DCIM/Camera folder.

Comparison of methods:

USB-cable|Mi Cloud|Wi-Fi (Mi Drop, FTP)|Bluetooth|Other-->

Method 4: Bluetooth and other wireless technologies

Bluetooth is not the fastest way to do this, but it does work when you don't have any cable or Wi-Fi on hand. It usually doesn't go faster than 1 to 3 MB/s, so it's not good for a lot of photos, but it doesn't need Internet, and it works even on an airplane.

How to transfer photos over Bluetooth:

1. On the phone: Settings → Connection devices → Bluetooth → turn on visibility.
2. On your computer, turn on Bluetooth (in Windows: Start → Settings → Devices → Bluetooth).
3. Connect the devices (confirm the connection code on the phone).
4. In the phone explorer, highlight a photo → Share → Bluetooth → select your PC.
5. On your computer, confirm the acceptance of files (they will be saved in the Download folder or Bluetooth Exchange Folder).

Alternative wireless methods:

• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct: Connects your phone and PC directly without a router. Speed is faster than Bluetooth, but the setup is more complicated. → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct.
• 🌐 NFC: Suitable only for transferring 1-2 photos (maximum 1-2 MB at a time). NFC-module on PC (rareness).
• 🔗 AirDroid: Third-party application for transferring files over Wi-Fi. Free version is limited to 200 MB/day.

⚠️ Note: When you transmit over Bluetooth, photo quality may deteriorate, as some phones automatically compress images. ZIP before shipment.

💡

If Bluetooth doesn't work on your PC, check if the adapter driver is installed. Windows must display it without an exclamation point. Lenovo and HP laptops often require branded drivers from the manufacturer's website.

Method 5: Third-party applications (Google Photos, Snapdrop, etc.)

If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party services, which often offer additional features, such as automatic sorting or photo editing.

Top.-3 Applications for transferring photos from Xiaomi to PC:

1. Google Photo: ✅ Free 15GB (shared with Gmail and Disk). ✅ Automatic backup. ❌ Compression of photo when selecting "High Quality". How to use: Install the application, turn on autoload (Settings) → Backup and sync, then download photos from photos.google.com.
2. Snapdrop: ✅ Works without registration. ✅ Transfer over a local network (without the Internet). ❌ File size limitation (~500 How to use: Open snapdrop.net on your phone and PC, drag files to your browser.
3. Send Anywhere: ✅ Speed to 10 MB/s. ✅ Six-digit code for transmission. ❌ Advertising in the free version.

How to use: Install the app, select a photo, generate a code and enter it on send-anywhere.com.

Comparison of services:

💡

For transmission RAW-Photos (with the extension.dng or.arw) use Google Photos in the "Source Quality" or Send Anywhere mode.

Mistakes in photo transfer and how to fix them

Even when you follow instructions, users face problems, and we'll look at the most common mistakes and their solutions.

1 Computer cannot see Xiaomi via USB

• 🔌 Check the cable – try charging your phone: if charging is going on, but the data is not transmitted, the cable is faulty.
• 🖥️ Install the drivers. MIUI Or use Mi. PC Suite.
• 📱 On the phone go to Settings → Additionally. → Developer settings and enable debugging by USB.

2. photos are not fully copied or with errors

• 📁 Check if files are hidden. In Windows Explorer, turn on the hidden folder display: View → Hidden elements.
• 🔄 Try to copy the photo in small batches (100-200 pieces each).
• 🛠️ If files are damaged, use recovery software (such as Recuva or DiskDigger).

3. Slow Wi-Fi transmission

• 📶 Go to the Wi-Fi channel 5 GHz (in the router settings).
• 🚫 Disconnect other devices from the network.
• 🔌 Connect your computer to the router with a cable (if possible).

4.Mi Cloud does not sync photos

• 🔄 Reset the synchronization: Settings → Mi Cloud → Photo Photo → Synchronize now.
• 📱 Check if there is enough space in the cloud.
• 🌍 If you are in another country, try using it. VPN (Some Mi Cloud features are blocked regionally).