How to download photos from Xiaomi to your computer: all working ways

Transferring photos from Xiaomi smartphone to computer seems like a simple task — until you encounter connection errors, slow transfer or unexpected limitations of MIUI. Even experienced users sometimes lose hours to find a solution when the phone is not defined as a removable drive and cloud services refuse to sync. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of transferring photos, taking into account the features of the MIUI 14/15 firmware and the new Xiaomi 13/14 models, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5.

We will pay special attention to the typical problems: why the PC does not see the folder DCIM, How to circumvent restrictions MTP-Windows 11 protocol, and what to do if Mi Cloud blocks the boot due to regional settings. USB-cable to wireless alternatives using LocalSend or Snapdrop.

1. Transfer of the photo through USB-cable: step-by-step instruction

The most reliable, but often problematic, way is to connect your phone to your computer through a cable, and in theory it's simple: connect devices, copy files, and in practice, people are faced with the fact that Xiaomi doesn't show up in "This Computer," or the folder with the photo is empty, and let's take the algorithm into account the nuances.

First, prepare the phone:

• 🔌 Use the original cable from the kit (or certified) USB-C/USB-A). Cheap analogues often do not support data transfer, only charging.
• 📱 Unlock the smartphone screen before connecting — MIUI Blocks access to files on a locked device.
• 🔄 Enable File Transfer Mode (MTP) If the option doesn't appear, check the developer's settings (more on this below).

Then on the computer:

1. Connect the phone to USB-port directly (without hubs or extensions).
2. Wait for the drivers to install (on Windows it may take 1-2 minutes).
3. Open This Computer – The phone should appear as a removable drive (e.g. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12).
4. Go to Internal Storage → DCIM → Camera (or Screenshots if you need screenshots).

Original cable used|Phone screen unlocked|The curtain is set to mode. MTP|Port port USB PC is good (check on another device)-->

If the telephone is not identified:

• 🔧 Update MediaTek or Qualcomm drivers (depending on your model’s processor) via Device Manager.
• 🔄 Reboot both devices and reconnect.
• 🛠️ Turn on Debugging. USB In the developer settings (how to do this in the next section).

2. Set up the developer mode for stable connection

If USB-The connection is unstable (it appears, then disappears), the fault is often the restriction MTP-protocol MIUI. This is solved through the developer settings – a hidden menu that you need to activate first.

How to turn on the developer mode:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row (you will be notified “You became a developer”).
3. Return to the main settings menu – there will be a new item for developers.

Now set the parameters for stable transmission:

• 🔧 Turn on Debugging. USB (You will need confirmation when connecting to the PC).
• 🔄 Select the configuration. USB default → File transfer (MTP).
• 🚫 Turn off the revoke permissions USB when disconnected (if there is an option).

USB-cable|Wi-Fi/Bluetooth|Cloud Services (Mi Cloud, Google Photos)|Other-->

Important for Windows 11: If your phone is identified as an “Unidentified Device” after you connect, download the official Xiaomi drivers from en.miui.com (Driver section). Install them manually through Device Manager by selecting “Update Driver → Search on this computer.”

3. Wireless transmission over Mi Cloud (with limitations)

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud storage that allows you to sync photos between devices, but the method has critical shortcomings:

• 🌍 Not all regions (for example, in Russia, access is limited).
• 📉 Free tariff - only 5 GB, which is enough for ~1000 photos of high quality.
• ⏳ Download speed depends on the Internet connection (in practice – 1-3 MB / s).

If the restrictions do not scare you, follow the instructions:

1. On the phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery → turn on synchronization.
2. On PC: Go to i.mi.com, log in and select the Gallery section.
3. Select the desired photos and click Download (files will be packed in the file). ZIP-archive).

💡

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).

Alternative for users outside China - Google Photos:

• 📱 Install the app on your phone and turn on autoload.
• 💻 On PC, open photos.google.com and download photos through the web interface.
• ⚠️ Note: Google Photos compresses images for free storage (resolutions over 16 MP decrease).

4. Wi-Fi Transfer: LocalSend, Snapdrop and Built-in Tools

If you don't have a cable and the cloud doesn't work, use a local area network. Today's Xiaomi smartphones support several wireless transmission protocols:

For maximum speed:

• 📶 Connect both devices to your router over 5GHz Wi-Fi (or use the hotspot on your phone).
• 🔌 Disconnect other devices from the network to reduce the load on the channel.
• 📁 Send files back to the archive (ZIP/RAR) — That's gonna cut the time. 20–30%.

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LocalSend is the best choice for transferring large numbers of photos without loss of quality. Supports folders, saves EXIF-Data and works without the Internet.

5. Memory card use (if the phone supports)

If your Xiaomi is equipped with a microSD slot (for example, Redmi Note 11 or POCO X3 Pro), you can make it easier to transfer photos:

1. Transfer the photos to the memory card via Phone Explorer (DCIM folder → select files → Move).
2. Remove the card and paste it into the computer card reader.
3. Copy files directly from the card to the hard drive.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Reading speed with microSD (UHS-I) — up to 90 MB/s (10 times faster) USB 2.0).
• 🔄 There is no risk of interrupting the transmission due to the discharge of the phone.
• 📁 You can transfer thousands of files without restrictions.

💡

If you don’t have a card reader on your PC, use a microSD→USB adapter (costs ~300 rubles). For maximum speed, choose a class A2 or U3 card (for example, SanDisk Extreme).

Please note:

⚠️ Note: Not all Xiaomi models support memory cards, such as the flagships of the Xiaomi series 13/14 and POCO F5 You can check the specifications of your model on mi.com.

6. Solving problems: phone not detected, photos not copied

Even with the right settings, users are faced with errors, and let's look at the typical cases and how to fix them.

If none of these methods helped:

• 🔧 Check the phone on another computer to help you determine what the problem is (in a PC or smartphone).
• 📱 Reset network settings on your phone: Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version - in the old firmware were bugs with MTP-protocol.

This error occurs when the PC mistakenly identifies the phone as a removable disk with an unknown file system. Do not format it! Turn off the phone, restart the PC, and try another one. USB-If the problem recurs, check your phone for viruses (for example, through Malwarebytes).-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos from Xiaomi to PC