How to quickly upload photos and videos from Redmi 4 to your computer: all working ways

Why Standard Methods Don't Always Work

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 4 often face a problem: the phone is recognized by the computer as a “media device”, but the files are not copied or transmitted with errors. The reason lies in the features of MIUI firmware and Qualcomm drivers, which do not always correctly interact with Windows 10/11 or macOS. For example, when connected via a USB cable, the system can only offer charging, and access to files is blocked.

Another common problem is the 5MB/s transmission speed limit when using standard cable from the kit, which is due to support for only USB 2.0 in Redmi 4, whereas modern PCs are equipped with USB 3.0/3.1 ports. As a result, transferring 100 photos in high resolution can take up to 5-7 minutes. Solutions are available - and we will look at them all, from classic to non-obvious.

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

Despite the difficulties, cable connectivity remains the most stable method, and the main thing is to set the data mode on the phone correctly.

1. Connect Redmi 4 to your PC with the original cable (or a certified USB-Type C).
2. On the phone in the notification curtain, tap on the alert "Charge via USB".
3. Select "File Transfer" (or "MTP" - Media Transfer Protocol).
4. On your computer, open "This Computer" ("My Computer" in Windows 7) and the phone will appear as a removable drive.

If the phone is not recognized:

• 🔌 Check the cable -- 70 percent of the problems are with damaged wires. Try another cable that supports data transmission.
• 🖥️ Update Qualcomm drivers through Device Manager (section "Controllers" USB").
• 📱 Restart your phone and PC – sometimes cache resetting helps MIUI (Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings).

Try another one. USB-port (preferably 2.0)

Enable debugging over USB in Developer Settings

Install the Mi PC Suite program from the official Xiaomi website

Disable the antivirus (it can block) MTP-linkage)-->

The USB transfer speed to Redmi 4 is limited to 480 Mbit/s (theoretically up to 60 MB/s), but in practice rarely exceeds 10-15 MB/s.

• 📁 Transfer files archived (.zip or.rar) – this reduces the time by 20-30%.
• 🔄 Use the port. USB 3.0 on PC (usually marked in blue).
• 🚫 Close all programs that use the disk (for example, antivirus or cloud syncs).

💡

If you only need to transfer a photo, open the folder. DCIM/Camera It's on the phone, and it stores all the pictures that you can get from a standard camera. DCIM/Video Movies.

Method 2: Wireless transmission over Wi-Fi (without cables)

If you don't have a cable or a USB port is damaged, you can use a local area network, and you can use standard MIUI tools or third-party applications, and let's look at both.

Option A: Built-in File Transfer (MIUI)

In the firmware MIUI 10 and newer has built-in FTP-server that allows you to access files through the browser:

1. Connect your phone and PC to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. On Redmi 4, open Settings → Additional → File Transfer.
3. Activate the switch and copy the view address ftp://192.168.x.x:xxxx.
4. Enter this address in the address bar of Windows Explorer or file manager on Mac.

Cons of the method:

• ⚠️ The speed depends on the router – 2.4 GHz rarely exceeds 2-3 MB / s.
• ⚠️ When the connection is broken, the transmission will be interrupted and it will have to start again.

Option B: Accelerated transfer annexes

Third-party utilities like Send Anywhere or Xender are faster than built-in FTP It's based on optimized protocols, like Send Anywhere. P2P-technology that speeds up transmission to 5-8 MB/s even on weak Wi-Fi.

USB-cable|Wi-Fi (FTP application)|Cloud services (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk)|Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)|Another option-->

Method 3: Cloud storage (for backup)

If you want to not only transfer files, but also back them up, cloud services are suitable, they are convenient for automatic synchronization — for example, all new photos from Redmi 4 will immediately be uploaded to the cloud and available on PC.

The most popular services for Xiaomi:

• 🌐 Google Photos – unlimited storage for photos in “high quality” (compression up to 16 MP.
• 🌐 Yandex.Disk – gives 10 GB for free, there is an automatic photo download when connecting to Wi-Fi.
• 🌐 Mi Cloud – Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud (5 GB free), but runs slower than its counterparts.

How to set up autoload in Google Photos:

1. Install the Google Photos app from the Play Market.
2. Open Settings → Backup and Synchronization.
3. Turn on the switch and select quality ("Original" or "High").
4. Connect your phone to Wi-Fi and download will start automatically.

⚠️ Note: When using “High Quality” in Google Photos are compressed to 16 MP, and videos – up to 16 MP 1080p. If you want original resolution (like printing), choose Original, but keep in mind that it takes up space on Google Drive (only 15GB is free).

Method 4: Messengers (for small files)

If you want to upload 1-2 photos or videos up to 1-2 minutes, the easiest way to use instant messengers is to use them, most of which support file transfer without compression (or with minimal compression).

• 📎 Telegram allows you to send files up to 2 GB without losing quality. Create a chat "Saved Messages" and send files there, then open the web version on your PC.
• 📎 WhatsApp is a 100MB limit per file, but the video is compressed to 720p. Suitable only for fast transmission.
• 📎 Viber is 200MB, but photo quality is deteriorating.

How to send it via Telegram:

1. Open the Save Messages chat (or any other chat).
2. Press the paper clip (📎) and select "File" or "Gallery".
3. Select the right photo/video and send it.
4. On PC, open Telegram Desktop and download files.

⚠️ Note: When sent via messengers, metadata (date of shooting, geolocation) may be lost. If it is critical (for example, for professional photos), use the metadata. USB cloud.

Method 5: Memory card (if the phone supports it)

Xiaomi Redmi 4 has a microSD slot (up to 256GB), which allows you to transfer files without connecting to a PC.

1. Put the memory card in the phone.
2. Move photos and videos to the map via Gallery or Explorer (MIUI allows you to cut/copy files).
3. Remove the card and paste it into the PC through the card reader.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 No dependency. USB-port-of-way.
• 📁 You can transfer large amounts of data (up to 256 GB).
• ⚡ Read/write speed on microSD UHS-I reaches 30-50 MB/s.

Disadvantages:

• 💾 You need to purchase a memory card (if it is not available).
• 🔄 With frequent extraction, the slot contacts can wear out.

Method 6: Email and file sharing (for rare occasions)

If you only have the Internet, but you don't have the cloud or messenger, you can use email or file sharing, which is a way to transfer a small number of files one time.

Emailing

Most email services allow you to send attachments up to 25-50 MB:

• 📧 Gmail – 25 MB limit (compresses photos when exceeded).
• 📧 Mail.ru – up to 50 MB without compression.
• 📧 Yandex Mail – up to 30 MB, but there is a function “Yandex.Disk” for large files.

File-sharing

For files over 50 MB, you can:

• 🔗 WeTransfer – up to 2 GB free (files are stored for 7 days).
• 🔗 DropMeFiles – up to 50GB, but slow download.
• 🔗 Files.fm – up to 5 GB, there is a mobile application.

⚠️ Note: Do not use file sharing for sensitive data (such as document scans). Many services do not encrypt files and may be accessed by third parties.

Method 7: Specialized programs (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work well for speed or reliability, you can use professional utilities that offer additional features like a synchronization scheduler or file integrity checker.

How to configure Syncthing for automatic synchronization:

1. Install Syncthing on PC and phone (there is an Android version).
2. Add devices to the list of trusted (via the QR-code IP).
3. Select folders to sync (e.g. DCIM/Camera on your phone and D:\Photos\Redmi4 on your PC).
4. Activate synchronization – files will be copied automatically when connected to the same network.

💡

Syncthing is the only solution that allows you to configure two-way synchronization (changes to the PC will be reflected on the phone and vice versa) without depending on cloud services.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions