How to download photos from Xiaomi: everything from the cloud to cable

Why Standard Photo Copying Methods Don’t Always Work

Xiaomi smartphones are some of the most popular in Russia, but many users face unexpected difficulties when trying to download photos. For example, when connecting via USB, the computer may not see the DCIM folder, and cloud services do not sync all images. The reason often lies in the default settings: the manufacturer activates the “Charge via USB” mode instead of “Charge Files”, and also restricts access to system folders in new versions of MIUI.

Another common problem is that HEIF/HEIC photos (with the.heic extension) don’t open on Windows without additional codecs, such as Xiaomi 12/13/14 and the flagship POCO F5/Mi 11, where the camera defaults to save space in this format, and if you use protected folders (Private Folder in MIUI), their content will not be visible through standard copying methods.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Topical ways to download photos from Xiaomi, including bypassing restrictions MIUI 14/15, And you can use cloud services, and you can even recover deleted images. 2020–2026 year-end.

Method 1: USB connection (the most reliable method)

The classic method that works on all Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Mi 11 Lite. However, there is a nuance here: if you first connect your phone to a computer, you must allow access to data in the window that appears on the smartphone screen.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC with the original cable (it’s better to use the USB 3.0 port on your computer for speed).
2. On the screen Xiaomi will appear notification “USB for charging” – tap it.
3. Select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
4. Open this computer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) – the phone will appear as a removable disk.
5. Go to Internal Storage → DCIM → Camera (or Screenshots for screenshots).

If the DCIM folder is not visible:

• 🔍 Check if system files are hidden in Windows Explorer settings (View) → Hidden elements).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone and reconnect.
• 🛠️ Update the drivers MTP via Device Manager (relevant to Windows) 10/11).

Allowed mode "File transfer" on the phone

Original cable (not charging)

MTP drivers are installed on the PC

folder DCIM Not hidden in the conductor settings-->

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with MIUI 14+ (for example, Xiaomi 13T) When you first connect, you may need to enter a password from your Mi Account to unlock your files. If you don't remember it, use the cloud method (Section 3).

Method 2: Wireless transmission via Wi-Fi Direct or Mi Share

If you don’t have a cable, you can use the built-in Mi Share (formerly Xiaomi Share) feature, which works between two smartphones (including devices from other brands that support Wi-Fi Direct) or between a phone and a PC with the Mi PC Suite app installed.

Instructions for transfer to another smartphone:

1. On both phones, turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
2. On Xiaomi, open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Mi Share.
3. Select photos in the gallery, click "Share" → Mi Share.
4. On the second phone, accept the file in the notification.

For transmission to PC:

• 🖥️ Set up Mi. PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi).
• 📱 On the phone in Mi Share, select the option “Connect to PC».
• 🔗 Scan it. QR-computer-screen.

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If Mi Share doesn’t find the device, reboot Bluetooth on both phones and turn on Visible for All mode in the Wi-Fi Direct settings.

Method 3: Cloud Services – Google Photos vs Mi Cloud

Cloud storage is convenient for automatic backup and access to photos from any device. Xiaomi offers two main options: Mi Cloud (built-in service) and Google Photos (requires installation).

Mi Cloud:

• ✅ Free 5GB (expands to 100GB for 199)₽/month).
• ✅ Automatic synchronization of photos in original quality.
• ❌ Interface in Chinese/English, no Russian-language support.
• ❌ Photos are deleted from the cloud when deleted from your phone (unless the option “Save a copy” is enabled»).

How to download photos from Mi Cloud:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Go to the section "Gallery» → «Photo Photo».
3. Select the desired pictures and click “Download” (cloud icon with arrow).

Google Photos:

• ✅ Free unlimited storage for photos in "High Quality" (compressed to 16 MP).
• ✅ Smart search by persons, places, objects.
• ❌ Original quality takes place on Google Drive (15GB free).
• ❌ On Xiaomi MIUI 13+ background synchronization may be blocked.

To avoid synchronization problems:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Google Photos → Battery.
2. Choose "No Limits"
3. Turn on "Autostart" and "Background Activity".

Method 4: Transfer via messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)

If you need to send a few photos quickly, the easiest way to use instant messengers is to use them, but there are serious limitations to this method:

• 📸 Telegram: compresses photos up to 5 MP (maximum 10MB per file), but retains original quality when sent as a “File».
• 💬 WhatsApp: compresses all photos up to 1600 pixels on the long side.
• 📱 Viber: 200MB limit per file, but no strong compression.

How to send photos in original quality via Telegram:

1. Open a chat with you ("Saved Messages").
2. Press the paper clip. → «File (not "Photos»!).
3. Select the desired images in the DCIM folder.
4. Download them to your PC via Telegram Desktop.

⚠️ Note: When sending metadata via messengers, photos (date, geotags, camera model) are deleted. If they are important (for example, for proof in court), use USB cloud.

Method 5: Recover deleted photos (if they are missing)

If photos were deleted by mistake, they can be restored within 30 days through the MIUI or Google Photos Recycle Bin. New Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+) also have a built-in Backup feature that saves copies of images for 7 days.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Gallery app on Xiaomi.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → «Basket».
3. Select the desired photos and click "Restore".
4. If the basket is empty, check the.trash folder in the root directory through the file manager (hidden folder).

To recover via Google Photos:

• 🖥️ Go to photos.google.com.
• 🗑️ In the menu on the left, select "Basket».
• ⏳ You have 60 days to recover (as opposed to 30 days in your lifetime). MIUI).

If the photos are permanently deleted, try the recovery software:

DiskDigger (Android, requires root for deep scanning)

Recuva (Windows, if the phone is connected as a removable drive).

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The only way to recover is if you don't have any new data written to the deleted photos, and the faster you start the process, the better the chances of getting the images back.

Additional tips: Optimizing photo storage on Xiaomi

To avoid problems with copying photos in the future, set your phone up in advance:

• 📁 Change the save format: go to the camera settings → Photo format and select JPEG instead HEIF (If you need compatibility with Windows).
• ☁️ Set up automatic backup: in Google Photos or Mi Cloud, enable the option “Supplies».
• 🔒 Use secure folders: For confidential photos, create a Private Folder in Settings → Confidentiality.

For models with MIUI 14+ (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the Smart Grouping feature is available in the gallery, which automatically sorts photos by person, place and event, making it easier to find the right shots before copying.

If you often move photos between devices, consider buying a microSD card (up to 1TB) to expand memory. Note: Xiaomi with MIUI 13+ supports the exFAT format, which allows you to write files larger than 4GB.

FAQ: Frequent questions about copying photos from Xiaomi