Redmi 4 series smartphones, including the Prime and X models, are still popular due to their reliability, but their internal memory is often not enough to store thousands of high-resolution images. When space comes to an end, the system starts to run slower and new photos stop being saved, which requires immediate freeing up of space.
There are several proven methods of data transfer, each of which has its advantages depending on the availability of a cable, Internet speed and the amount of information transmitted. The user can choose a classic wired connection for fast transfer of gigabytes of data or use wireless technology to quickly synchronize several images. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods so that you can choose the most convenient for your situation.
It is important to understand that the right copy of files ensures their safety and allows you to back up your life. Modern operating systems Android and Windows have built-in mechanisms of interaction that, when configured correctly, make the process of transferring simple and fast even for inexperienced users.
Preparation of the device and cable for connection
Before any data transfer operation is initiated, it is important to ensure that the equipment used is in good condition, as it directly affects the speed and stability of the connection. For owners of Xiaomi Redmi 4, it is critical to use an original or high-quality certified Micro-USB cable that can transmit not only energy, but also data. Cheap cables that come with some accessories are often only designed to charge and do not have the necessary contacts to transmit information, which leads to a connection error.
It is also worth checking the condition of the connector on the smartphone itself, as dust and pile often enters the pocket, preventing close contact. Carefully clean the port with a wooden toothpick or compressed air, avoiding the use of metal objects that can close contacts. After cleaning, connect the cable to your computer and wait for the characteristic sound of the device connection in the Windows operating system.
If the computer makes a connection sound but does not display the device in the conductor, it is possible that the phone has activated Charge Only mode, in which case you need to unlock the screen and pull the notification curtain from top to bottom, where you will find the corresponding system message. By clicking on it, you can change the mode of operation. USB-port to "File Transfer" or «MTP», What will make internal memory visible to PCs.
Classical method of transmission through USB-cable
The fastest and most reliable way to copy a large amount of photos is to use a standard wired connection that does not require Internet and provides maximum speed. Once you switch USB mode to File Transfer (MTP), a new device will appear on your computer under the "My Computer" or "This Computer" section, with the name of your model, and when you open it, you will see two main storages: internal memory and, if available, an SD card.
Photos taken with a standard camera are usually stored in the DCIM folder and then in the Camera subfolder, where all your pictures are stored in chronological order. Screenshots and images from messengers can be in other directories, such as Pictures or folders of specific applications like Telegram and WhatsApp. To copy, simply select the desired files or entire folders, click the right mouse button and select Copy, and then paste them in the right place on the computer hard drive.
⚠️ Attention: Do not turn off the cable USB During the copying process, especially if the progress indicator is not yet 100%, as this may cause file corruption or logical errors in the file system.
In some cases, users are faced with a situation where the computer sees the phone as a charger, but the folders do not appear. MTP Windows systems, which are usually installed automatically, but sometimes require manual upgrades through Device Manager. USB-port, preferably located on the back of the system unit, as they have a more stable power supply.
What to do if your computer can’t see your phone?
If standard methods don't work, try to enable USB debugging in the Developer Menu. Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times. Then, in advanced settings, find USB Debugging and activate it. This will allow the computer to gain deeper access to the device's file system. Wi-Fi Wireless data transfer If the cable is lost or the phone connector is shattered, you can use a wireless file transfer method that is convenient for regular reset of a small number of photos. To do this, both devices and the smartphone will provide the same traffic, Xiaomi 4 will provide the same network, and the same Wi-wireless data transfer speed, the same Wi-wireless network. There are many file managers, such as MI Drop (now ShareMe) or third-party solutions like FTP Servers that create a virtual network drive, and the way that these programs work is that the phone deploys a mini server that displays its address on the screen, for example, ftp://192.168.1.5:2121. This address must be entered in the address bar of any conductor on the computer, after which you will open access to the file system of the smartphone. You can drag and drop photos with your mouse just like when working with ordinary folders, but without unnecessary wires. 📶 Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi router subnet. 🔋 Keep an eye on battery power as Wi-Fi modules are actively using energy. 🔒 When using public Wi-Fi networks, this method may not be secure. Wi-Fi speed depends on your router’s standard and signal quality, so it can take longer than USB to copy a few gigabytes of photos. However, for uploading dozens of images daily, this option is the most convenient and fast, without requiring a cable search. Using cloud storage for synchronization Cloud technologies allow you not only to transfer photos to your computer, but also to create an automatic backup of them, available from any device in the world. Google Photo service, which is preinstalled on all Xiaomi smartphones, offers free storage in compressed format or in original quality within the quota of a computer, it is enough to access to access your phone from a browser, or to access your phone from a Google. Alternatively, clouds from Yandex, Mail.ru or a specialized service Mi Cloud, deeply integrated into the shell MIUI. Setup automatic download allows you to forget about manual copying: once the phone connects to Wi-Fi, new photos fly unnoticed to the cloud. On your computer, you only have to open the browser and download the desired archives or work with them directly in the cloud interface. The main disadvantage of this method is the dependence on the speed of the Internet channel and the availability of storage limits. If you take hundreds of photos a day, free space may quickly not be enough, and you will have to pay for a subscription or manually clean the archive. Service Free download Speed Google Photos 15 GB (general) High web interface Mi Cloud 5 GB Average iCloud for Windows Yandex.Disk 10 GB High App/Web TegraDrive Depends on tariff Average web interface For owners of Redmi 4 with limited internal memory cloud synchronization with the function "Clear space" is a salvation. This feature removes the original photo from the device after successful download to the cloud, leaving only thumbnails, which instantly frees gigabytes of the hybrid card to the memory, if Xiaomi is equipped with a microSD card storage capacity, you will use the system of the system 4 GSD card immediately. You will need a card reader built into your laptop or connected via USB, It's a card that you put in a card that you've taken out of your phone, and the computer will define the card as a normal flash drive, so you can copy files in the same way you would, and the advantage of this method is that you don't have to put a load on your smartphone battery and you don't have to rely on your phone's drivers. However, frequent card retrieval can result in mechanical wear and tear of contacts or data loss if the card is removed without first disconnecting in the system. 💡Using a memory card is the best way to store photos separately from the system, making it easier to transfer data and protect information when resetting your phone. MIUI It is recommended to immediately activate the item "Save on" SD-map to prevent new images from taking up precious interior space. The path to this setup is in the camera menu: tap three bars in the corner, select Settings, and activate the external drive use switch. Frequent problem when connecting Xiaomi to computers running Windows 10 or 11 is the incorrect operation of drivers MTP. If you see an unknown device or device with a yellow exclamation point in Device Manager, you must manually update the driver» → «Search for drivers on this computer» → «Select a driver from the list of available drivers. From the list of device types, find Devices MTP» and select the standard driver «MTP Once installed, the system must correctly identify the phone and the folders will be available for viewing. Problems can also arise from an antivirus or firewall that blocks the connection of new devices. 🔄 Try restarting both devices before connecting. 🔌 Use the ports. USB 2.0 if the 3.0 ports are not operating smoothly. 🛡️ Temporarily disable the antivirus to check its effect on the connection. If nothing helps, turn on debugging. USB, The one I mentioned earlier, or try to install the official Mi program. PC Suite, although it may no longer be relevant for older models. In most cases, standard Windows tools are enough to work properly. 📊 What kind of photo transfer you use most often?USB-cable (classic): Wi-Fi and FTP (Wireless: Cloud Services (automatically): Memory card (taken out and pasted) Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Why your computer only sees your phone as a charger? Chances are you're using a cable that doesn't support data transfer, or you haven't chosen USB mode in notifications. Change the cable to a quality one and then unlock the screen after you're connected, pull the notification curtain and select File Transfer. Can you transfer photos over Bluetooth to your computer? Technically, but it's not recommended for a lot of data. Bluetooth speed is very low, and transferring one high-resolution photo can take several minutes, and the process is often interrupted. Where are screenshots stored on Xiaomi Redmi 4? Screenshots are usually in the DCIM/Screenshots folder or Pictures/Screenshots/Screenshots folder after you have your phone's digging and delets. Yes, it is safe, but only after you have made sure that the files are fully copied to the computer and open there without errors. It is recommended to first check a few random files on the PC. What to do if there is a copying error "File is busy"? This means that some application on the phone uses a file. Close the gallery and other applications that work with photos, or just restart the phone before copying.