Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with high-resolution cameras, which inevitably leads to a rapid filling of internal memory. Users often face a situation when notifications of a shortage of free space appear at the most inopportune moment.
There are several proven methods of transferring photos to a computer, each of which has its own characteristics. The choice of the particular method depends on the speed you want to get and the availability of a cable at hand. In this article, we will discuss all the current options in detail so that you can choose the best one for yourself.
Some methods require wired connection, others work exclusively over a wireless network, and understanding the differences between them will allow you to manage your digital archive flexibly, and we'll look at both standard system tools and specialized utilities.
Preparation of the device and checking the settings
Before you start transferring files, you need to make sure your device is ready to interact with external computers. MIUI can be charged USB-This is a standard security measure to prevent unauthorized access to files.
You'll need to unlock your smartphone screen when you connect the cable, and if the screen is out, your computer may not see the device or only identify it as a power source, and unlocking the screen is a must-have for a successful synchronization start.
It is also worth checking the condition. USB-Cheap charging cables often don’t have internal contacts to transmit data, leading to connection errors.
⚠️ Note: If your computer makes a connection sound but the device doesn’t appear in My Computer, try replacing the cable with an original or certified data-enabled counterpart.
To activate the options you need, go to the settings menu. The path may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the logic remains the same for all models.
- 🔌 Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable.
- 🔓 Unlock the device screen and swipe down to open the notification curtain.
- ⚙️ Click on the notification “Charging through” USB» (or similar).
- 📂 Select the File Transfer mode or «MTP».
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Use the original cable from the supply kit – it is guaranteed to support high-speed data transfer and secure charging.
Method 1: Classical connection through USB-cable
The fastest and most reliable way to copy large amounts of data is to use a physical connection. MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) allows a computer to see the file system of a smartphone as a regular flash drive, in which case the transfer speed is limited only by the capabilities of the ports and the drive itself.
Once you select the file transfer mode in the notification curtain, a new device will appear on your computer in Windows Explorer, usually displayed as your phone’s model, such as the Redmi Note 10 or Xiaomi 13.
Inside the device, you're interested in the DCIM folder. This is where Android stores all the shots taken on the main and front camera, and inside this directory is the Camera folder, where the fresh photos are put together.
This computer \ [Device Name] \ Internal shared storage \ DCIM \ CameraYou can simply drag and drop selected files to your laptop hard drive. To speed up the process of highlighting large numbers of photos, use the Ctrl + A key combination to select all files in the folder.
⚠️ Note: Do not remove the cable while actively writing or copying files, this may cause damage to the file system or loss of some data.
☑️ Verification USB connection
Method 2: Wireless transmission over Wi-Fi via Conductor
Xiaomi device owners are more fortunate than other brands thanks to the built-in remote management feature: the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have a native tool that allows you to turn a smartphone into a network drive without installing unnecessary applications.
To get started, both devices — a laptop and a phone — must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If the router distributes the network at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, make sure that both gadgets “see” each other on the local network.
Open the standard Explorer app on your smartphone. At the top of the interface or in the side menu, find Remote Management. FTP-address that you need to enter in the address bar of the conductor on the computer.
- 📱 Open the Explorer app on Xiaomi.
- 🌐 Click the menu button and select Remote Management».
- 🔗 Click “Run” and copy the displayed address (for example, ftp://192.168.1.5:2121).
- 💻 Insert this address in the address bar of “My computer” on Windows.
Now you see your phone files in a Windows Explorer window, you can copy the photos just like you would if they were on a normal drive, and the speed depends on the quality of the router's Wi-Fi signal.
What to do if the address is not opened?
Comparison of data transmission methods
The choice of transmission method often depends on specific conditions: file size, cable availability and speed requirements, and to make it easier for you to determine, we have prepared a comparative table of basic characteristics.
| Parameter | USB Cable | Wi-Fi (FTP) | Cloud services | Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | High (up to 40 MB/s) | Mean (5-10 MB/s) | Depends on the Internet. | Very low. |
| Stability | Tall. | Depends on the router. | Requires a network | Low. |
| Convenience | I need a cable. | No wires. | Automatically. | Only for a few files |
| Better for you. | Archives > 1 GB | Daily work | Backup copies | 1-2 photos urgently |
| Battery consumption | Charging is coming. | Medium. | High-pitched | Low. |
As you can see from the table, cable is the best way to upload thousands of photos in a month, but Wi-Fi is the best way to quickly transfer a few pictures in the process.
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For daily work and small amounts of data Wi-Fi method is more convenient, but to create full backups of archives for a year is indispensable USB-cable.
Use of cloud services and Mi Cloud
Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers its own Mi Cloud storage that automatically syncs the gallery, ideal for those who want to forget about manual copying and have access to photos from any device.
The Cloud Sync feature in the gallery settings allows you to upload original photos to the cloud, freeing up space on your device. On your computer, you just need to go to i.mi.com or use a Windows client to access files.
Alternatively, Google Photos or Yandex.Disk, which also have handy PC apps, and setting up autoloads in the app on your phone ensures that no new snapshots are lost.
The main disadvantage of cloud methods is the dependence on Internet connection speed and limited free space, and you will have to pay a subscription to store terabytes of video in 4K.
- ☁️ Mi Cloud – native integration, but little free space (5GB).
- 📸 Google Photos – smart search, but quality compression in a free tariff.
- 📂 Yandex.Disk - unlimited for photo from the phone (when the option is turned on).
Solution: Computer can't see phone
One of the most common problems is when you connect the cable, the computer makes a sound, but the folder doesn't appear. USB-port.
Try connecting the cable to another. USB-connector, preferably directly to the motherboard (behind the system unit), bypassing the front ports or USB-Lack of power can also block data transmission mode.
If the problem is not resolved, it is possible that the computer does not have MTP USB Device drivers installed.In Windows Device Manager, this may appear as "Unknown Device" with a yellow exclamation mark.
To correct the situation, right-click on the device, select “Update driver” → “Search for drivers on this computer” → “Select from the list of available drivers.” Find the “MTP USB Device” list and install it.
⚠️ Note: If the device manager defines the phone as «ZTE Handset or Android, try changing the cable – it probably only supports charging.
Sometimes it helps to turn on the debugging USB, Although you don't need to send a photo just to get it. → The phone. → Press 7 times on "Version" MIUI» for the appearance of the developer menu.
Alternative synchronization programs
If you don't like standard Windows methods, there are third-party solutions. Mi PC Suite is no longer officially supported, but enthusiasts are finding ways to install it.
Microsoft’s Phone Link app allows you to see the latest photos directly on your desktop without wires, which is convenient for quickly pasting screenshots into documents or correspondence.
Utilities like AirDroid or AnyDroid are also popular, providing advanced file system management functionality, allowing you to sort photos by date and album directly in your browser.
For advanced users, the ADB protocol is available. With it, you can unload the entire DCIM folder with one command, which is useful for automating backups.
adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/ C:/Backup/Photos/This method requires installing Android platform tools on a PC, but provides maximum reliability and copy speed without the phone interface.