How to transfer photos from your Xiaomi phone to your computer USB-cable: 5 proven methods

Transfer photos from Xiaomi to your computer via USB-cable seems like a simple task, but in practice, users face a lot of nuances: from the lack of reaction when connecting to the slow copy speed. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to transfer photos, taking into account the features of firmware. MIUI 14/15, connection (MTP/PTP) You'll learn how to set up your smartphone correctly, what drivers you might need for your PC, and how to speed up the process. 2-3 once.

Special attention will be paid to hidden Xiaomi features that allow you to bypass the limitations of the standard protocol. MTP — For example, use of File Transfer mode (FTP) via a local network or activation of debugging USB Also consider why some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ Xiaomi 13 Ultra may require additional manipulation of the developer settings.

If you’ve tried to reslip a photo before and have encountered messages like “Device not recognized” or “Folder is empty,” this guide will help you understand the reasons and offer working solutions. We’ve tested all methods on current versions of Windows 10/11 and macOS Ventura/Sonoma, so this guide will be suitable regardless of your operating system.

1. Preparing Xiaomi phone for USB connection

Before connecting a smartphone to a computer, there are several critical steps that need to be taken, and skipping any of them can result in the PC simply not seeing the device or being able to access files.

The first thing to do is unlock the Xiaomi screen. Many users miss this point, but MIUI firmware blocks access to memory if the phone is locked with a password or fingerprint. Also make sure the cable is working: it is better to use the original USB-Type-C from Xiaomi, since cheap counterparts often do not support data transfer (charging only).

• 🔌 Check the cable: connect it to another device or try charging – if the indicator flashes, the cable is working.
• 📱 Unlock the screen: the smartphone should be in active state (not in sleep mode).
• 🔄 Update. MIUI: In older versions of the firmware may be bugs with USB-Connection (current for models until 2022).
• 🛠️ Clean the port: Dust or debris in the Type-C connector can prevent reliable contact.

If you connect Xiaomi to your computer for the first time, the system may request permission to access data. The phone will display a notification "Allow data access?" - be sure to click "Allow". Without this, the PC will see the device but will not be able to read the files. On some models (for example, POCO F5), this window may hide behind other notifications - swipe down the notification panel so that you do not miss it.

2. Selection of regime USB-connection

By default, Xiaomi smartphones connect to the PC in Charge mode, which does not allow you to transfer files. To transfer photos, you need to manually change the connection type.

1. Through the notification panel: Once the cable is connected, swipe from top to bottom to open the notification bar. Find the notification "USB to Charge" (or "Connected as..") and tap it. In the window that opens, select "File Transfer" (MTP) or "Photo Transfer" (PTP).
2. Through Developer Settings (for advanced users): If the standard method doesn’t work, activate Developer Mode by going to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (7 times). Then to Settings → Additional → For developers, find “USB Configuration” and select MTP.

Important: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 9A or POCO M3), PTP mode may be more stable than MTP, especially when connecting to macOS. If the computer doesn't see files when selecting MTP, try switching to PTP and updating the list of devices in Explorer (click F5).

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If your computer still can’t see your phone after changing USB mode, try connecting the cable to another port (preferably USB 3.0, which is usually blue).

3. Transfer of photos to Windows: step-by-step instructions

Once you have successfully connected Xiaomi to MTP or PTP, you can start copying photos. On Windows 10/11, the algorithm is as follows:

Open the Conductor (Win) + E)|Make sure the phone is displayed in the "This Computer" section"|Go to the file. DCIM → Camera|Select the necessary photos (Ctrl) + A for everyone)|Copy (Ctrl) + C) and insert (Ctrl) + V) to the PC folder-->

If the phone is not displayed in the conductor, follow the following steps:

1. Install drivers: Download Mi PC Suite or ADB drivers for Xiaomi. They will automatically install the necessary components.
2. Update your device configuration: Open Device Manager (Win + X), find Xiaomi in the list, right-click and select “Update Driver”.
3. Restart both devices: Sometimes it helps to reboot your phone and computer.

To speed up the transfer of large volumes of photos (for example, with Xiaomi 13 Ultra with a resolution of 200 MP), we recommend:

• 📁 Use it. USB 3.0 (Ports are usually marked in blue).
• 🔌 Connect the cable directly to the PC, not via the hub.
• 🚀 Archive photos in ZIP Directly on the phone (via the Files app) and transfer one file.

4. Transfer of photos to macOS: features and solutions

Macbook or iMac users often find that Xiaomi does not appear in Finder even after choosing MTP mode. This is due to the limitations of macOS, which does not fully support the MTP protocol.

Method 1: Use Android File Transfer

The official application from Google for working with Android devices on Mac:

1. Download the Android File Transfer and install it.
2. Connect Xiaomi in MTP mode.
3. Run the program – it will automatically display the file system of the phone.

⚠️ Warning: If the app can't see the phone, check if macOS Catalina or newer is blocking access. → Security → Permissions and add Android File Transfer to exceptions.

Method 2: Enable debugging over USB

For advanced users who are ready to work with ADB:

1. Activate Developer Mode (as described above).
2. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings.
3. Install Android Studio or ADB via Homebrew:

brew install android-platform-tools

Then connect the phone and execute a command to access the files:

adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ ~/Downloads/xiaomi_photos

Method 3: FTP-server through a local network

If none of the methods worked, set up FTP-server:

1. Install the FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer app.
2. Launch the built-in FTP-server (usually in the Network menu) → FTP).
3. On Mac, connect via Finder → Transition → Connect to the server (input) ftp://[IP-phone]).

5. Solving common errors in the transfer of photos

Even with the right connection, Xiaomi users can encounter errors, and consider the most common ones and how to fix them:

If the photo copying process is interrupted, check:

• 🔋 Battery Charge: If the level is below 15%, MIUI Can restrict data transmission.
• 📶 Connection Stability: Try to disable Wi-Fi/Bluetooth on the phone, they can cause interference.
• 🛡️ Antivirus: temporarily disable protection on PC (for example, Avast or Kaspersky can block access).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) When connecting to a PC, Mi Share can automatically start – disable this feature in the Connection and Sharing settings to avoid conflicts.

6. Alternative ways to transfer photos without USB

If you can't connect via cable for some reason, consider alternative methods. They may be even more convenient, especially if you need to regularly sync photos between devices.

1. via Mi Cloud or Google Photos

• 📁 Upload the photo to Mi Cloud (built into the MIUI) or Google Photos.
• 💻 Open the web version of the service on PC and download files.
• ⚡ Advantage: automatic synchronization, access from any device.
• ⚠️ Disadvantage: volume limit (5 GB in Mi Cloud, 15 GB in Google Photos).

2. via a local network (Wi-Fi Direct)

For this method, both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network:

1. On Xiaomi, open the Files application → Transfer.
2. Select a photo and click "Send via Wi-Fi".
3. On PC, open your browser and enter the address specified on your phone screen (e.g. 192.168.1.100:8080).

3. Through messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)

Suitable for transferring a small number of photos:

1. Send your photo to Telegram (without compression) or WhatsApp.
2. Open the web version of the messenger on your PC and download files.

⚠️ Note: WhatsApp compresses photos strongly (up to 1,600 pixels on the larger side). For original quality, use Telegram or send files as "Document".

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For maximum transfer speed, use USB 3.0 + MTP mode. Alternative methods (cloud, Wi-Fi) are convenient, but depend on the speed of the Internet and can compress the quality of the photo.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos from Xiaomi to PC