Xiaomi smartphone owners know that the device’s internal memory fills up quickly, especially if you actively shoot high-resolution videos or take a lot of pictures in RAW. The Redmi 5, despite its age, is still popular as a reliable device, but 32 or 64 gigabytes of storage is not so much by modern standards. Sooner or later, every user faces the question of freeing up space for the correct operation of the MIUI operating system.
Transferring media files to a computer is not just a way to free up space, but a necessary measure to create backups. You may accidentally lose your phone, crash your screen, or experience a software failure, and then the stored memories will be lost forever.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods of data transfer, from classic cable connection to modern cloud technologies and wireless protocols. You will learn about the nuances of working with drivers, the features of the Android file system and ways to speed up the process of copying large amounts of information.
Preparation of the device and cable for connection
Before you start transferring files, you need to make sure that the physical connection is in good working order, and most often problems arise due to damaged or poor quality. USB-Many cables, which come with cheap accessories or bought separately, are only for charging and do not have internal contacts to transmit data.
Use the original cable from the Redmi 5 delivery kit or a certified Micro-USB-labeled counterpart. If only a charging cord is on hand, the computer can identify the device as a power source, but won't show it in the list of drives. Visually inspect the connectors for oxidation or dust that may have gotten inside the smartphone.
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Use short cables (up to 1 meter) for stable connection. Long cords often cause signal loss when transferring large files, which leads to copying errors.
It's also worth checking the settings of the smartphone itself. USB-The port can be locked by security or set to Charge Only by default. Make sure the device screen is unlocked when you connect, as MIUI Often requests confirmation of action on a locked screen.
Classical method: transmission through USB-cable
The fastest and most reliable way to copy photos and videos is to connect directly to your PC. After you connect the Xiaomi Redmi 5 and your computer with a cable, pay attention to the notification panel on top of your smartphone screen. USB-connection.
Click on this notification to open the mode selection menu. By default, the phone can charge, so you need to manually switch the mode to File Transfer or MTP. Without this action, the computer will see the device but will not gain access to internal memory.
☑️ Checking the connection USB
Once you select the mode on your computer screen, a new device will appear in the "This Computer" section with the name of your model. When you open it, you will see internal memory and possibly a microSD card. Photos are usually stored in the DCIM → Camera folder, and images downloaded from instant messengers can be found in the Pictures directory or MIUI → Gallery → cloud.
⚠️ Note: Do not remove the cable while actively writing or copying files, this may cause damage to the file system and loss of some of the data currently being buffered.
To speed up the process of copying large video files, it is recommended to use a file manager on the computer, rather than drag and drop a mouse, which can freeze. If the copying is interrupted, try copying files in smaller portions, for example, 100 pieces at a time.
Configure the debugging mode over USB for advanced users
If the standard connection doesn't work or the computer can't see the device, you can try activating debugging mode. This is a hidden feature for developers that allows the PC to gain deeper access to the Android system. → About the phone and seven times quickly click on the item "Version" MIUI».
When you see the message "You're a developer," go back to the main settings menu and find the "Advanced Settings" or "Advanced" section, and a new "Developers" option will appear. USB» and activate it.
Why do you need USB debugging?
When you connect the debugging phone to a new computer, you'll see a request on the screen for debugging permission from that PC, and you'll check "Always allow from this computer" and click "OK." This creates a unique security key.
Using debugging mode may require installing special ADB drivers on your computer. If Windows can't automatically find the device, you'll have to download the Android SDK Platform Tools from the official developer site. This is a versatile solution for any device visibility issues.
Wireless transmission via Mi Drop and FTP
If you don't have a cable on hand or the phone's connector is loose, you can use wireless methods. The MIUI shell has a great tool for working with files. Open the standard Explorer app, click on the menu (three bars) and select Access from PC or FTP.
The phone will prompt you to turn on Wi-Fi. Make sure that both the smartphone and the computer are connected to the same wireless network. Once the server is started, the phone screen will display the address that you need to enter into the address bar of any conductor on the computer, for example: ftp://192.168.1.55:2121.
This method allows you to work with files as if they were on your computer's hard drive. You can copy, delete and rename files directly. The transfer speed depends on the power of your router and support for the 5 GHz standard.
Another option is to use the Mi Drop feature (known as ShareMe), which allows files to be transferred between Xiaomi devices and computers without using the Internet, creating a direct Wi-Fi point, but a PC will still require a dedicated client or a web interface.
Use of cloud storage and Mi Cloud service
For those who prefer automation, cloud storage is the ideal solution. Xiaomi offers a service called Mi Cloud, which can automatically sync the gallery. Go to the Mi Account settings and enable sync for the Gallery.
All the images taken will be uploaded to the cloud with a Wi-Fi connection, and then you can go to i.mi.com from your computer and download the files you want, and you can have 5GB of free space available to the user, which is not much, but it's enough for important documents.
The alternative is Google Photos or Yandex.Disk, which can also back up automatically, and the main advantage of clouds is that data is available from any device in the world, the Internet, but the speed of downloading and uploading is limited by your provider's tariff.
⚠️ Note: When using free cloud storage rates, remember to compress quality. Original photo resolution can be reduced to save space if a paid tariff is not selected.
If you have a lot of 4K or FullHD video, cloud services can become paid pretty quickly, so it’s wiser to combine methods: keep important photos in the cloud, and periodically dump heavy video archives on your computer’s hard drive via cable.
Comparison of methods and solution of problems with drivers
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages: the cable provides maximum speed and does not depend on the quality of the network, but requires the physical presence of a cord. Wireless methods are convenient, but can be slow at transferring tens of gigabytes of data.
A common problem for Windows 7 and older users is that there are no MTP drivers. The computer can beep when you connect, but the device does not appear in the list. The solution lies in Device Manager.
Find an unknown device or device with an exclamation mark in the list. Right click, select Update Drivers → Search for drivers on this computer → Select a driver from the list of available drivers. From the manufacturer list, find MTP USB Device or Microsoft and select a standard driver.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | We need the Internet. |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB Cable | Tall. | Average. | No. |
| FTP / Wi-Fi | Medium | High. | No (local area network) |
| Mi Cloud / Google | Low/Mediocre | Very high. | Yes. |
| Bluetooth | Very low. | Low. | No. |
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For regular freeing up of space, the bundle is best suited: automatic synchronization of photos to the cloud + monthly full backup of videos on your PC via USB.
The table above shows a comparison of the main features. Note that Bluetooth for Redmi 5 video is almost useless because of the extremely low data rate. One minute video can be copied for more than 10 minutes.