How to download data from Xiaomi to your computer: all ways with explanations

Transferring data from Xiaomi phone to computer seems like a simple task – until you encounter errors like «USB-The device is not "identified" or infinite sync through the cloud. MIUI, What worked a year ago on the Redmi Note 8 may not work on the Xiaomi 14 Pro due to changes in security policy or drivers.

In this article, we will analyze 5 current methods of file transfer - from the classical USB-cable to little-known tricks from ADB And we'll focus on common mistakes: why can't the computer see the phone, how to get around the limitations. MIUI access to folders, and what to do if files are copied at a speed of 1 MB / s. All instructions are tested on devices 2022-2026 years from the beginning of the year MIUI 13-14 and HyperOS.

If you only need to transfer photos, not the entire library, or you are working with a device on Android 13+, where USB-The debugging is disabled by default, and you'll find solutions for these cases in the appropriate sections. POCO Added a separate block with nuances of firmware POCO Launcher.

1. Data transmission through USB-cable: step-by-step instruction

The most reliable, but also the most problematic method, the main difficulty is to set the connection mode on the phone correctly. By default, Xiaomi often chooses Charging Only, which blocks access to files.

To avoid mistakes:

1. Connect your phone to your PC with the original cable (cheap analogues may not transmit data).
2. On the phone screen will appear a USB notification for transferring files – tap it.
3. Select File Transfer Mode (MTP). If this is not the case, see the error resolution section below.
4. On your computer, open This computer (Windows) or Finder (macOS) – the phone should appear as a removable drive.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 or later, when you first connect, you may need permission to access data through a pop-up window. If you miss it, you'll have to reconnect the cable.

Use the original cable (or certified USB-C)

Unlock the phone screen before connecting

Turn off “Charge Only” mode in USB settings

Update the drivers MTP on PC (see section on errors)-->

The transfer speed depends on the USB version:

If the speed is lower than the stated, check:

• 🔌 Cable: Try another one (preferably with SuperSpeed labeling for the USB 3.0+).
• 🖥️ Port to PC: Connect the cable to the blue port (USB 3.0) or Type-C.
• 📱 Mode on the phone: in Settings → Memory. → USB-connect MTP (not PTP!).

2. Solving errors in the USB-connection

If your computer doesn’t see Xiaomi as a removable drive, the reasons may be as follows:

1.Outdated MTP drivers

Windows 10/11 often triggers automatic driver installation, but sometimes it fails to update manually:

1. Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
2. Find your Xiaomi’s Portable Devices or Other Devices (may appear as MTP or with an exclamation point) in the list.
3. Right-click → Update the driver → Search for drivers on this computer.
4. Select Install from the list of available drivers and manually specify MTP USB Device.

2.Block MIUI

Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi added protection against unauthorized access via USB. If a notification appears when connecting, but it is not on the screen:

• 🔒 Unlock your phone and swipe down the notification bar – sometimes the message is hidden.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone and reconnect.
• 📱 Enable Developer Mode (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times) and activate the debugging USB.

3. Problems with macOS

On a Mac, your phone may not appear in Finder due to the lack of Android File Transfer drivers. Download the official software from Google:

• 🌐 The Android File Transfer is a link
• ⚠️ After installation, restart the Mac – otherwise the program will not recognize the device.

3. File transfer via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If USB-The cable is not available, Mi Cloud is an alternative for backup, advantage: files are available from any device, disadvantage: the limit on free tariff (5 GB) and possible problems with synchronization.

How to use:

1. On the phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.
2. Enable synchronization for Gallery, Contacts, Notes and other data.
3. On PC, open i.mi.com and log in under the same account.
4. Select a section (such as a Gallery) and download files through the web interface.

⚠️ Note: When you first log in to Mi Cloud from a new device, Xiaomi may request a confirmation code sent to the linked phone number or email. If you do not remember your account details, restore access in advance!

The limitations of Mi Cloud:

• 📁 Free 5 GB available (to expand you need to pay from 100 GB) ₽/month).
• ⏳ Download speed depends on your Internet connection (at 100 Mbps). ~10 MB/s).
• 🔄 Photos are uploaded in compressed quality (originals are saved only when manually uploaded).

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To speed up the download in Mi Cloud, connect your phone to 5GHz Wi-Fi and turn off background sync for other apps (like Google Photos).

4. Wi-Fi transmission: FTP-server and local area network

The method for those who do not want to mess with cables, plus: there are no limits on volume (unlike the cloud), minuses: requires stable Wi-Fi and settings on the phone.

Method 1: Built-in FTP-server MIUI

Most Xiaomi devices have a hidden feature FTP-server:

1. Connect your phone and PC to the same Wi-Fi network (or create an access point on your phone).
2. On the phone, open Explorer → Network Storage → FTP.
3. Tap to launch. FTP-server - will appear the address of the type ftp://192.168.x.x:2121.
4. On PC, open Explorer → Connect the network disk and enter this address.

Method 2: Solid Explorer (FX File Explorer)

If you don’t have built-in FTP (e.g., on POCO F4), install Solid Explorer:

• 📱 Open the app. → Network → FTP-server.
• 🖥️ On PC, enter the address from the application into the browser or Explorer bar.
• 🔑 Default Login/Password: Usually anonymous without password (specified in server settings).

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) transmission speeds reach 30-50 MB/s, but depend on:

5. Alternative methods: ADB, OTG and external drives

If the standard methods don’t work (for example, the phone is broken). USB-Port, try out these options:

1. Transmission via ADB (for power users)

It allows you to access the file system of the phone without a graphical interface.

• 🖥️ Established ADB Tools on PC (download).
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB phone-on.

Commands for copying files:

adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ C:\Xiaomi_Backup\Photos


adb pull /sdcard/Download/ C:\Xiaomi_Backup\Downloads

Where:

• /sdcard/DCIM/ - the path to the folder with the photo on the phone.
• C:\Xiaomi_Backup\ — PC folder (create it in advance).

⚠️ Attention: Do not use the command `adb pull /` — This will copy the entire file system of the phone (tens of gigabytes), which will lead to a failure.

2.Use of OTG-cable and external storage

If you need to transfer files to a flash drive or hard drive without a PC:

• 🔌 Buy it. OTG-adapter (USB-C → USB-A modern Xiaomi).
• 📁 Put the flash drive on the phone. → open the conductor → copy files manually.
• 💡 Xiaomi supports exFAT and NTFS, but for the flash drive >64GB formatting may be required.

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ADB is the only way to copy data from a phone that doesn’t have a screen but has USB debugging enabled.

Transfer optimization: how to speed up file copying

Even with the right settings, the speed can be slow.

1. File fragmentation

If there are many small files on the phone (such as Telegram cache), the copying slows down.

• 📦 Archive folders before transfer (use) RAR or ZIP phone-on).
• 🗑️ Remove unnecessary files through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup.

2. Antivirus and firewall

On a PC, programs like Avast or Kaspersky can scan every file they transfer, slowing down.

• 🛡️ Temporarily disable the antivirus while copying.
• 🔧 Add a folder with Xiaomi files in Windows firewall exceptions.

3. File system format

Xiaomi phones use F2FS or ext4, which are not optimized for Windows.

• 🖥️ Copy files in small portions ( 1-2 GB each).
• 📁 For large volumes (video) 4K) use USB 3.0 or Wi-Fi 6.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability with Xiaomi