How to reset photos from Xiaomi to your computer: all ways + problem solving

Transferring photos from Xiaomi to your computer seems like a simple task — until you encounter connection errors, slow transfer speeds or unexpected MIUI limitations. Even experienced users sometimes lose hours finding a solution when the phone is not defined as a drive and cloud services refuse to sync hundreds of gigabytes of photos. This article will not only list the ways of transfer, but also reveal hidden MIUI settings that speed up the process by 2-3 times, and explain why some methods work unstable on new models of Redmi and POCO.

We tested all the current methods on devices from Xiaomi 11T Pro up to the budget Redmi Note 12, given the features of the latest versions MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS, with particular attention to the problems with MTP-And if you want to transfer not only photos, but also videos in their original quality, here you will find the best settings for each method.

Transfer through USB-Cable: Why the phone is not visible as a storage device

The most obvious way to connect Xiaomi to your computer via cable is often a headache, with the MIUI default connection mode, which can block access to files, and MTP drivers conflicting with the latest Windows updates. Even if you see a connection notification on your phone, your computer may show an empty drive or not detect the device at all.

To avoid problems:

• 🔌 Use the original cable from the kit – cheap counterparts often do not support data transfer (only charging).
• 📱 On the phone at the time of connection, unlock the screen and select File Transfer mode (MTP) notice.
• 🖥️ On Windows, update drivers MTP via Device Manager (Portable Devices section).
• 🔄 If the computer can’t see the phone, restart both devices and reconnect.

On models with MIUI 14+ and HyperOS, a new option has appeared — Developer Mode → USB configuration by default. If you often connect your phone to a PC, set the File Transfer value here so you don’t manually select it every time.

Fast Wi-Fi transmission without cables (Mi Drop, FTP, LocalSend)

If you're lost or you want to avoid physical connectivity, wireless is a lifeline, and the simplest is the Mi Drop app built into MIUI, which works like AirDrop, which automatically detects computers on the same network and allows you to send files without registering.

• 📶 Transmission speed depends on the quality of Wi-Fi (5 GHz 2-3 times faster than 2.4 GHz).
• 📁 Maximum size of one file is 500 MB (for video it is critical).
• 🔒 Windows may need to disable the firewall for proper operation.

The alternative is to use FTP-server-side FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer:

1. Install one of the apps on your phone.
2. Launch it. FTP-server in settings (usually a network section) → FTP).
3. Enter the server address (e.g., ftp://192.168.1.10:2221) into Windows Explorer or file manager on macOS.

For maximum speed, we recommend LocalSend, which works on the WebRTC protocol and bypasses the limitations of MIUI on transferring large files, speeds up to 10-15 MB / s even on medium routers.

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If Mi Drop does not find your computer, check if the Network Detection option is enabled in Windows settings (Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network Management Center).

3. Cloud services: Google Photos vs Mi Cloud vs Yandex.Disk

Cloud storage is convenient for backup, but not always optimal for one-time transfer. The main disadvantage is photo compression in most services by default. For example, Google Photos in High Quality mode reduces image resolution to 16 MP, and Mi Cloud limits free storage to 5 GB. To transfer photos in original quality:

For transfer without loss of quality:

1. In Google Photos, select Original Quality Mode (but it counts in the 15GB limit).
2. In Mi Cloud, disable Storage Optimization in Sync settings.
3. Use Yandex.Disk or Mega to batch upload folders – they do not compress files.

Special programs: Snapdrop, AirDroid, Xender

If standard methods don't work, third-party applications offer advanced features, such as AirDroid, which allows you to manage your phone files through a browser, and Snapdrop works without installation, just open a site on both devices.

• 🌐 Snapdrop (https://snapdrop.net) — The easiest way, but the speed is limited by the browser (usually) 2–5 MB/s. Suitable for transmission 10–20 photo.
• 📱 AirDroid - requires registration, but supports folder transfer and remote management. The free version has a 200 MB/month limit.
• ⚡ Xender – high speed (up to 20 MB / s over Wi-Fi Direct), but Windows needs to install a client.
• 🔗 Pushbullet – convenient for sending file links, but not suitable for mass transfer.

For maximum speed, we recommend LocalSend (mentioned earlier) or KDE Connect – the latest application integrates with Windows/macOS as a system service and supports file transfer in the background.

Install the app on your phone | Register an account (or log in via Google) | Connect your phone and computer to the same Wi-Fi network | Open a web interface on your PC (https://web.airdroid.com) | Allow access to files in the MIUI settings

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5. Problems and errors: phone undetected, slow transmission, crashes

Even with the right setup, Xiaomi users face typical problems, and here are the most common solutions:

⚠️ Note: If Windows is giving an error, "Device" MTP Unidentifiable, try connecting the phone to another. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0, blue, and often the faulty controller on the motherboard is the fault.

The phone is connected, but the DCIM folder is empty:

• Check if files are hidden in the MIUI settings (Settings → Additional → Show hidden files).
• Open the Gallery on your phone and wait for indexing to be completed (the indicator at the top of the screen).
• Restart your phone – sometimes MIUI doesn’t update your media base after taking new photos.

Slow USB transfer speed (less than 1 MB/s):

• Use a USB 3.1 cable (usually bundled with Xiaomi flagships).
• In Developer Settings, enable the USB Debugging option – this sometimes speeds up MTP.
• On Windows, disable Quick Deletion of Device in Properties USB-controller.

Mi Drop or AirDroid can't find your computer:

• Make sure that both devices are connected to the same network (not the guest!).
• On the router, turn off customer isolation (Client Isolation or AP Isolation).
• In MIUI settings, allow data transfer for the application (Settings → Applications → Permissions).

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If neither method works, try resetting the network settings on your phone (Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → Network Reset) this often solves the problem of detecting devices over Wi-Fi.

6. Process Optimization: How to Transfer Thousands of Photos Fast

If you have to reset more than 1,000 photos to your computer, standard methods will be too slow.

Archiving before transfer:

• On the phone, select all photos in the Gallery and create ZIP-archive (option to compress in the menu).
• Transferring one archive over USB or Wi-Fi is faster than copying thousands of small files.
• Unpack the archive with 7-Zip or WinRAR.

2.Use of ADB (for power users):

If USB-The connection is unstable, you can copy files through ADB pull:

adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ C:\Xiaomi_Photos\

For this:

1. Enable USB debugging in Developer Settings.
2. Install ADB Drivers and Platform Tools on your computer.
3. Run the command in the terminal (the folder with the photo will be copied to disk C).

Packet loading to the cloud:

• In Google Photos, select Download Everything in the backup settings.
• Use rclone to sync with Google Drive or Yandex Disk in the background.

On models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chips (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), USB 3.1 transmission speeds can reach 40 MB/s, but only when using the original cable and USB-C port on the computer.

Alternative solutions: SD-map, OTG, email

If none of the above methods are suitable, consider non-standard options:

• 📁 SD-Card: Transfer the photo to a memory card through the File Manager, then paste it into your computer. Suitable for microSD phones (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+, POCO X5 Pro).
• 🔄 OTG-Adapter: Connect the flash drive to the phone via OTG, Copy the photo, then insert the flash drive into the computer. USB OTG (usually 5-10 MB/s).
• ✉️ Email or Telegram: You can send 5-10 photos to yourself by mail or Telegram Saved Messages, not suitable for large volumes due to investment restrictions.
• 🖨️ The seal in PDF: In the Gallery. MIUI Choose a photo → Seal. → Save in PDF. The resulting file can be easily transferred to the PC.

⚠️ Attention: When in use SD-card OTG-Format them in exFAT, not in the flash drives. FAT32 — The latter does not support files larger than 4 GB (relevant for video in the video). 4K).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions