How to download music from your computer to your phone Xiaomi Redmi: all working ways

Transferring a music collection from your computer to your Xiaomi Redmi smartphone seems like a trivial task, and users face challenges ranging from the lack of drivers when connecting via USB to the limitations on the size of their instant messengers. This article will help you choose the best method depending on your Redmi model (be it the Note 12 Pro+ or the budget Redmi A2), the volume of tracks transferred and the tools available.

We looked at all the current ways of 2026, from the classic cable connection to cloud services with automatic synchronization, and paid special attention to the nuances that Xiaomi does not advertise: why some Redmi are not defined as a drive, how to circumvent the file size limit in Mi Drop, and why Bluetooth 5.3 in new models is not always faster than USB 2.0. At the end of this article, you will find a comparative table of methods for speed and convenience - this will save you time for experiments.

1. Connection through USB-cable: the classic method with pitfalls

USB-Connection is the most reliable way, but only if you set the data mode correctly. Many Xiaomi Redmi users find that the phone is defined as a "charger" instead of a drive, the reason lies in the developer settings and firmware version. MIUI.

For Redmi models on MIUI 14+, the algorithm is as follows:

• 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC with the original cable (cheap analogues may not support data transfer).
• 📱 On the Redmi screen, select File Transfer Mode (not Charge Only!").
• 🖥️ Open this computer – the phone should appear as a removable disk (e.g. Redmi Note 11 (E:)).
• 🎵 Drag music files to the Music folder or create your own (like MyTracks).

Is file transfer mode on the phone enabled?

Is the original USB cable used?

Is the MIUI firmware updated to the latest version?

Is USB Debugging Mode disabled in the Developer Settings (if not needed)

-->

If the phone is not identified, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version to activate the Developer Mode.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone again and select Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) mode.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi with MIUI 13 and below, when you first connect to a new PC, you may need to unlock the screen to confirm trust.

2.Speeding music over Bluetooth: when speed is not the main thing

Bluetooth is convenient for transferring 1-2 tracks, but not suitable for large collections. The maximum speed of Bluetooth 5.3 (available in the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and later) reaches 2 Mbit / s - this is enough for a track that is 3-4 minutes long in 10-15 seconds. However, older models with Bluetooth 4.2 (for example, Redmi 9C) transmit data 4 times slower.

Instructions for Windows 10/11:

• 🔵 Turn Bluetooth on Redmi (Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth).
• 🖥️ On PC, press Win. + A, select Bluetooth and start searching for devices.
• 📱 Confirm the pairing on the phone (the code must match on both devices).
• 🎵 Right-click on the file on the PC → Send. → Bluetooth device → Choose your Redmi.

⚠️ Note: When transmitted via Bluetooth, files are compressed, which can impair sound quality for formats FLAC or WAV. For lossless audio use USB or wifi.

Po Po Po USB-cable

Through Bluetooth.

Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)

Wi-Fi (FTP, Mi Drop)

Another option-->

3. Cloud services: Wireless synchronization

Cloud storage is ideal for backing up a music library and accessing it from multiple devices. Xiaomi offers its own Mi Cloud service, but it is limited to 5GB of free space. Alternatives are Google Drive (15GB), Yandex Drive (10GB) or Mega (20GB).

How to download music via Google Drive:

1. On PC, go to drive.google.com and log in.
2. Click Create → Folder, name it (e.g., “Redmi Music”).
3. Drag audio files into a folder or use Download files.
4. On Redmi, install the Google Drive app from the Play Market.
5. Open the folder with music → highlight files → Download.

For Mi Cloud (only for Mi Account holders):

• 🌥️ On PC, go to i.mi.com and log in.
• 📁 Go to the Files section and download the music.
• 📱 On your phone, open the Mi Cloud → Files. → download the right tracks.

💡

If you need to transfer playlists in their entirety, use VLC for Android. The app can sync playlists through the cloud without losing folder structure.

4 Wi-Fi Transfer: Mi Drop and Alternatives

Mi Drop is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for wireless file transfer between devices on the same Wi-Fi network. The advantage over Bluetooth is the speed of up to 10 Mbps (5 times faster) and no restrictions on file size. However, there is a caveat: you need to install the official Mi PC Suite application or use the web version on your PC.

The following steps are taken for Mi Drop:

1. On Redmi, open the Mi Drop app (if not, download from the Play Market).
2. On PC go to drop.mi.com and scan QR-phonecode.
3. Select files on PC and click Send.
4. Confirm the reception on the phone - the music will be saved in the folder Download/MiDrop.

Alternative applications for Wi-Fi transmission:

• 📲 Send Anywhere: generates 6-digit code for connection, speeds up to 20 Mbps.
• 📲 LocalSend: Open Source, Works Without the Internet.
• 📲 Snapdrop: web service based on AirDrop (no need to install an application).

💡

Mi Drop automatically interrupts transmission if the phone goes into power saving mode. Turn off battery optimization for this application in Battery settings → Optimization.

5.Use of FTP-servers: for advanced users

If you need to stream music regularly (for example, to work with the user) FLAC-collection), setting FTP-Redmi servers save time, and this method requires minimal technical skills, but gives you complete control over the transmission.

Instructions for the FX File Explorer application:

1. Install FX File Explorer from the Play Market.
2. Open the side menu → Remote Manager → Start the server.
3. Remember the address of the species ftp://192.168.x.x:xxxx and entry data.
4. On the PC, open Explorer, enter the address in the address bar and log in.
5. Drag files like a regular network folder.

To accelerate transmission:

• Connect Redmi to a 5GHz network (if the router supports it).
• Disconnect other devices from Wi-Fi during transmission.
• Use an Ethernet cable for your PC (if possible).

⚠️ Attention: FTP-Redmi server automatically shuts down when the screen is locked. FX File Explorer excluding battery optimization (Settings) → Battery → Optimization).

6.Messaging and Social Media: A Fast, but Limited Way

You can send 1-2 tracks via Telegram, WhatsApp or even VK. However, this method has critical limitations:

• 📏 The maximum file size in WhatsApp is 100 MB, in Telegram – 2 GB.
• 🔄 Music is compressed in most instant messengers (except Telegram when sent as "File").
• 🚫 V VK Audio files are converted to 128 kbps format MP3.

How to send music via Telegram without loss of quality:

1. Create a chat with yourself (Saved Messages).
2. Drag the audio file to chat, but select Send as a file (not as music!).
3. On Redmi, open Telegram, find the file and download it.

💡

To save track metadata (title, artist), pack files into ZIP-archive before sending. After downloading to Redmi, unpack the archive - the tags will be saved.

7. Comparison of all methods: what to choose for your task

On Xiaomi Redmi models with Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset (like Redmi Note 12 4G), USB 2.0 runs 30% slower due to controller limitations, in which case Wi-Fi via Mi Drop may be faster.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions