How to download photos from Xiaomi Redmi 4 to your computer: all ways of 2026

Transfer photos from Xiaomi Redmi 4 On a computer seems like a simple task – until you encounter typical problems: the phone is not defined as a drive, MIUI It asks for unlocking, and Windows insists on not seeing the files. 2017 It is still in use today, but its scaling is still in use. MIUI 8/9 (or custom builds) often conflicts with modern OS. 5 working methods of photo transfer - from the classical USB-Cable to cloud services, and solve common errors, such as when Redmi 4 connects only to charge.

The Redmi 4 feature (codenamed prada) is that there is no memory card slot in the base version (16GB of memory), which means that the photos take up precious space and need to be cleaned regularly. USB» (This is often unnecessary, and we'll show you alternative ways if the main way didn't work, like how to get around the lock. MIUI through MTP-Why Redmi 4 can disappear from the conductor after connecting.

1. USB Connection: Step-by-step instructions with nuances

The most obvious way is to use the original Micro-USB cable (or quality cable), but there are pitfalls: Redmi 4 can be defined as a Charger instead of Media Device, due to the MIUI settings or drivers on the PC.

What to do:

• 🔌 Connect the phone to USB-port on the back of the system unit (if it is a PC) – front ports often do not provide enough power to transmit data.
• 📱 On the screen of Redmi 4 will appear the notification “Charge through” USB». Slip on it and select File Transfer (MTP).
• 🖥️ Windows. 10/11 Check the Device Manager: if you are near Redmi 4 Exclamation point is burning, update the driver manually (download from the official Xiaomi website).
• 🔄 If the phone is still not visible, restart both devices and reconnect.

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If Redmi 4 is defined as a “Portile Device” rather than a drive, try enabling Developer Mode and activating USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times).

MacOS may require Android File Transfer (the official software from Google) download it from android.com, without which you will not be able to access photos.

⚠️ Attention: Do not use USB-Hubs or extension cords, which often cause data errors, and if the cable is damaged, the phone will only charge, but not transfer files.

2. Bluetooth Transmission: When USB is Not Working

If USB-The port on Redmi 4 is damaged or drivers are persistently not installed, Bluetooth will become a lifeline).

How to transfer the photo:

1. On your phone: Open Settings → Bluetooth and turn on visibility.
2. On PC: activate Bluetooth (in Windows via the taskbar, on Mac – in the menu bar).
3. Connect the devices by confirming the code on both screens.
4. In the Redmi 4 gallery, select a photo → Share → Bluetooth → select your PC.
5. On your computer, accept the file (in Windows it is saved in Downloads, on Mac – in the Sharing Folder).

To speed up the process:

• 📁 Send photos in packs of 5-10 pieces (not one at a time!).
• 🔄 If the transfer is interrupted, restart the Bluetooth module on your PC (turn off/on in Device Manager).
• 📶 Make sure there are no interference sources nearby (microwaves, other Bluetooth devices).

3. Cloud Services: Google Photos, Mi Cloud and Alternatives

Cloud storage is convenient if you need to transfer a large number of photos (for example, 500+ pictures) or make a backup. Xiaomi Redmi 4 supports Mi Cloud (5 GB free), Google Photos (15 GB) and other services. The main plus is not needing a cable, minus is the dependence on Internet speed.

Comparison of services:

Instructions for Google Photos:

1. Install an app from the Play Market.
2. Open and log in to your Google account.
3. Enable Backup and Synchronization in the settings.
4. Wait for the photo to load (you can speed up by connecting to 5 GHz Wi-Fi).
5. On PC, open photos.google.com and download the archive.

⚠️ Note: When using Mi Cloud on Redmi 4 with custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS), sync may not work. In this case, use Google Photos or Yandex Drive.

4. Wi-Fi transmission: FTP-phone-side

If the cable is not at hand and Bluetooth is too slow, you can start the cable. FTP-server directly to Redmi 4. This will allow you to download photos over the local network at a speed of up to 10-15 MB / s. FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer (both available in the Play Market).

Step-by-step:

1. Install Solid Explorer and open it.
2. In the side menu, select Network → FTP-server.
3. Click Launch Server - the address of the view will appear ftp://192.168.x.x:xxxx.
4. On a PC, open either Windows or Finder (Mac) and enter that address in the address bar.
5. Download the photo as if it were from a regular network disk.

Advantages of the method:

• 🚀 Speed is faster than Bluetooth (but lower than Bluetooth) USB 2.0).
• 📱 No need for cable or internet.
• 🔒 You can set a login/password for access.

5. Use of a memory card (if there is a slot)

The Redmi 4 Pro (and some Redmi 4 Prime versions) comes with a microSD slot of up to 128GB. If photos are saved to the card, it can be extracted and pasted into the card reader on a PC. This is the fastest and most reliable way, but not suitable for all models.

How to transfer photos from the map:

1. Turn off the phone and remove the tray for SIM-cards (use a paper clip from the set).
2. Insert the MicroSD into the SD adapter (if needed) and connect to the PC.
3. Open the map in the explorer – photos are usually in the DCIM → Camera folder.
4. Copy the files to the hard drive.

⚠️ Note: If the memory card is formatted as an internal drive (Adoptable Storage function in Android), it cannot be removed without losing data.

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A memory card is the fastest way to transfer, but only if the photos are saved to it by default. Check the way to save in the camera settings (Storage → Memory Map).

6. Error Solutions: phone not visible, photo not copied

Even when connected properly, problems can arise, and let's look at typical scenarios and their solutions:

Problem 1: Redmi 4 is connected, but the DCIM folder is empty.

• 🔍 Check if the hidden files are displayed in Explorer (Windows: View) → Hidden elements).
• 📂 Photos may be in a different folder, such as Pictures or MIUI → Camera.
• 🔄 Restart your phone - sometimes MIUI does not update the file list for MTP.

Problem 2: When copying a photo, the error “Device is not responding” appears.

• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port USB 2.0).
• 📵 Turn off the debugging. USB In the developer settings – sometimes it conflicts with the MTP.
• 🖥️ Update the driver. MTP manually via Device Manager (download from Microsoft website).

Problem 3: On a Mac, the phone is connected, but the files are not displayed.

• 🍎 Install Android File Transfer (link above).
• 🔄 Restart your Mac – sometimes the system doesn’t recognize it MTP first-time.
• 📱 On the phone in Memory settings, check that the internal drive is not encrypted.

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If neither method works, try connecting Redmi 4 to another computer, and sometimes the problem is with the settings of the OS, not the phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos from Redmi 4