How to download photos from Xiaomi phone: all ways to transfer to PC, Mac and other devices

Downloading photos from Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phones to a computer or other device seems like a simple task — until you encounter connection errors, MIUI limitations or synchronization problems. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer photos, including hidden MIUI functions that the manufacturer does not advertise. You will learn how to bypass typical errors (for example, when the PC does not see the phone as a drive), what settings you need to change in Xiaomi for seamless transfer, and how to automate backup of images.

We will focus on alternative methods for cases where standard solutions do not work: transfer over ADB, use of a local network without clouds, as well as how to extract photos from a locked or broken phone. All instructions are tested on the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 and are relevant for models from Xiaomi 11T to Redmi Note 13 Pro+.

1. Method: USB connection (most reliable method)

Transferring photos via the USB-Type C cable remains the most stable way, but Xiaomi has a nuance: by default, the phone may not display as a drive due to the MIUI security policy. To avoid problems, follow the exact sequence:

• 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC with the original cable (cheap cables often don’t support data transfer).
• 📱 On your phone screen, select File Transfer Mode (if a notification appears). If the notification does not appear, unlock the screen and swipe down the notification bar.
• 🖥️ On PC, open This PC – the phone should appear as a removable drive (e.g. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12).
• 📁 Go to the Internal Storage folder → DCIM → Camera (or Screenshots if you need screenshots).

If the telephone is not identified:

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14+ by default, the protocol is off MTP To save charge, turn it on manually: Settings → Connection and sharing → USB-connection → File transfer.

Enable USB debugging (for ADB)|Use the original cable |Unlock the phone screen |Select File Transfer mode |Check the drivers on PC (for Windows)

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For mass copying, it is convenient to use a key combination: Ctrl+A (select everything) → Ctrl+C (copy) → paste into the desired folder on your PC. If there are thousands of photos, it is better to archive the DCIM folder directly on your phone (via Files → Select → Archive), and then transfer the archive.

2. Method: Synchronize via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud storage that automatically backs up photos when connected to Wi-Fi. The advantage of the method is that files are accessible from any device, and the original quality is preserved (unlike compression in Google Photos).

• ☁️ Free available only 5 GB (for comparison: Google Photos gives 15 GB per account).
• 🔒 Photos are only uploaded when connected to Wi-Fi (on a mobile network – no).
• 📶 Download speeds vary by region: Mi Cloud servers are slower in Russia than in Europe.

How to set up autosynchronization:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on the gallery synchronization switch.
3. Select the original quality (otherwise the photo will be compressed to 16 MP).
4. Wait until the first synchronization is completed (may take several hours).

To download the photo on PC:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Gallery section → mark the necessary photos → Download.
3. Files are archived in ZIP (maximum 2 GB per archive).

⚠️ Note: If you delete photos from your phone, they will automatically be deleted from the Mi Cloud after 30 days (unless the Recycle Bin feature is enabled in the cloud settings).

Mi Cloud|Google Photo|Yandex Disc |iCloud|Other/Not used

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3. Method: Wi-Fi transmission (without cables and clouds)

If you don't have a cable and the Internet is slow, you can transfer photos directly over the local network: FTP-server (for power users) and built-in Wi-Fi Transfer function in the Files application.

Method 1: Built-in transmission (simple method)

1. Open the Files app → go to the DCIM folder.
2. Select a photo → Click Share → Wi-Fi transmission.
3. On PC, open your browser and enter the address that will appear on your phone screen (e.g. ftp://192.168.1.100:8888).
4. Download files via the web interface (speed depends on the router).

Method 2: FTP-server (for large volumes)

This method allows you to download photos at a speed of up to 50 MB / s (versus 5-10 MB / s in the clouds).

1. Install the FTP Server application from Google Play (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Launch it. FTP-server in the application and write down the address (for example, ftp://192.168.1.100:2221).
3. On PC, connect via Explorer (enter the address in the address bar) or use FileZilla.
4. A default login/password is not usually required (or specified in the app).

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If FTP-server is not connected, check that the phone and PC are on the same Wi-Fi network. VPN and firewall on PCs – they can block the connection.

4. Method: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct (for transfer to another phone)

If you want to transfer photos to another smartphone (e.g., from Xiaomi to iPhone or Samsung), the easiest way to use Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth, although the speed is slow, these methods do not require Internet and work even in the field.

Wi-Fi Direct (recommended):

• 📲 On both phones, turn on Wi-Fi Direct (Settings) → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct).
• 🔗 Connect devices to each other (on one click Create a group, on the second – Connect).
• 📁 Open the gallery, highlight the photo → Share. → Wi-Fi Direct.

Bluetooth (for small files):

• 🔵 Turn on Bluetooth on both devices and pair them.
• 📷 In the gallery, select a photo. → Share. → Bluetooth → select the target device.
• ⚠️ Limitation: maximum file size is 16 MB (otherwise the transfer will be interrupted).

⚠️ Note: When transmitting via Bluetooth, photos are compressed to resolution 1280×960, even though the original 4K. Use Wi-Fi Direct to maintain quality.

5. Method: Retrieving photos from a locked or broken phone

If the Xiaomi screen crashes, the phone doesn’t turn on or you forget your password, there are ways to save the photo without losing data.The main thing is not to try to reset the settings through Recovery, otherwise the files will be deleted!

Method 1: Connect to your PC in Fastboot mode (if the screen is not working, but the phone is turned on)

1. Turn off the phone, then press the Power button + Volume down until the Fastboot logo appears.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and check if it is detected via the command: fastboot devices
3. Use it. ADB For copying files (root rights required): adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ C:\Xiaomi_Photos\

Method 2: Flash memory extraction (for power users)

• 🛠️ Disassemble the phone and connect flash memory (eMMC/UFS) to the programmer (e.g. EasyJTAG).
• 💾 Count the memory dump and recover files using a Hex editor (e.g. HxD).

⚠️ Note: If BitLocker was enabled on the phone (encryption) MIUI), You can't extract a photo without a password, even through a programmer, in which case only the official Xiaomi service will help (but no data recovery warranty is given).

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If the phone is switching on but the screen is not working, plug it into your PC via USB and try to control it via scrcpy, which will unlock the device and copy the photo in the standard way.

6. Method: Automatic backup (for constant synchronization)

So, to avoid thinking about manually transferring photos, set up automatic backup. MIUI has three reliable options:

• 🔄 Google Photos: uploads photos in original quality (if you choose High Quality, free unlimited, but compression up to 16 MP).
• ☁️ Yandex Disk: gives 10 GB for free, supports autoboot over Wi-Fi and mobile network.
• 📱 Local backup: MIUI Allows you to save copies of the photo to the memory card (Settings) → System and device → Backup).

How to set up Google Photos for automatic download:

1. Install the Google Photos app from the Play Market.
2. Open the settings → Backup and Synchronization → turn on the switch.
3. Choose High Quality (free) or Original Quality (calculated from Google Drive quota).
4. Turn on the option only when connected to Wi-Fi so as not to waste mobile traffic.

For local backup to the memory card:

1. Insert microSD into your phone (A2 class is recommended for speed).
2. Go to Settings → Memory → Backup to the SD card.
3. Select the Gallery and start copying.

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If you use Google Photos, turn on Delete Copies from your device after downloading – this will free up space on your phone without losing your photos.

FAQ: Frequent questions about downloading photos from Xiaomi