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

Transferring photos from Xiaomi to your computer seems like a simple task – until you encounter connection errors, slow data transfer or unexpected limitations. MIUI. Even experienced users have questions: why the PC can not see the phone through the phone USB, How to bypass the lock on file transfers in new firmware versions or what settings need to be changed to speed up the process.

In this article, we will discuss 5 current ways to transfer photos - from the classic cable connection to cloud services and local network. MIUI, All instructions are tested on Redmi Note 12 Pro models, and all instructions are tested on the Redmi Note 12 Pro models.+, Xiaomi 13 Ultra and POCO F5 latest-everything.

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

The most reliable, but often problematic, way to connect your phone to your PC is through a cable. In theory, it's simple: connect devices, copy files. In practice, users are faced with the fact that the computer does not see Xiaomi as a removable disk or folder. DCIM We'll figure out how to avoid these problems.

The first thing to do is to choose the right cable. Cheap uncertified wires often don't support data transmission, working only for charging. Original cables from Xiaomi (especially labeled cables). USB 3.2 Gen 1) deliver speeds of up to 5 Gbps, which is critical when transferring hundreds of photos in format RAW.

• 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC with the original cable (preferably from the kit).
• 📱 On the screen Xiaomi will appear notification “Charge through” USB». Put it on him.
• 🔄 Select File Transfer Mode (or FTP, if you need high speed).
• 🖥️ Open This Computer (Windows) or Finder (macOS) – the phone should appear as a removable disk.

If the telephone is not identified:

1. Check if the debugging mode is enabled USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times according to version, then return to additional → For developers).
2. Update the Xiaomi drivers via the official website (Drivers section).
3. Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0, marked in blue).

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14+ By default, the Safe Transfer function is enabled, which blocks access to folders DCIM and Pictures without unlocking the screen. To turn it off, go to Settings. → Privacy → Special permits → Secure transmission and deactivate the option.

Use the original cable|Unlock the phone screen|Enable the "File Transfer" mode"|Check the drivers on PC|Turn off "Secure Transmission" in MIUI-->

2. Transfer photos through Mi Cloud: pros and cons

The Mi Cloud is a built-in solution from Xiaomi that automatically syncs photos between devices, the main advantage of which is that you don’t have to physically connect your phone to your PC, but there are pitfalls: limited free storage (5GB), possible authorization issues, and slow loading when the Internet is weak.

How to set up synchronization:

1. Open the Gallery app on your phone.
2. Go to Settings. → Mi Cloud → Synchronization of photos.
3. Turn on the option and select Original Quality (if it is important to keep) RAW-file).
4. On PC, go to i.mi.com and log in under the same account.

If the photos are not displayed in the cloud:

• 🔄 Update the Gallery app to the latest version.
• 📶 Check your Internet connection (synchronization only works on Wi-Fi or mobile data with the option Sync over the mobile network enabled).
• 🔑 Re-authorize in your Mi Account.

Po Po Po USB-cable|Through the Mi Cloud|Wi-Fi (FTP/HTTP)|Through Google Photos|Other-->

3 Wi-Fi Transmission: FTP- Server and Local Area Network

If you don't have a cable and the cloud doesn't work because of the limitations, you can use local Wi-Fi, which is faster than the cloud (up to 10 MB/s) and doesn't require Internet access. FTP-server MIUI Apps like Send Anywhere.

Instructions for built-in FTP:

1. Connect your phone and PC to a single Wi-Fi network.
2. On Xiaomi, open Explorer (File app).
3. Move to the FTP (tab at the bottom) and click Launch.
4. Copy the address of the species ftp://192.168.x.x:xxxx.
5. On PC, open Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS), paste the address in the address bar and press Enter.

To accelerate transmission:

• 📶 Use Wi-Fi 5 GHz (if the router supports).
• 🔌 Disconnect other devices from the network to reduce the load.
• 📁 Transfer files archived (for example,.zip) if there are many photos.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14+ FTP-The server default limits the transfer speed to 2 MB/s. To remove the limit, go to Settings → Additionally. → Laboratory → FTP-server → Remove the speed limit.

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If FTP It doesn't connect, check if the connection is blocking the Windows firewall or antivirus. IP-telephone address.

4.Using Google Photos and other cloud services

Google Photos is a popular alternative to Mi Cloud, especially if you’re already using Google’s ecosystem, offering 15GB of free storage (together with Gmail and Drive) and convenient photo sorting tools. However, there are nuances: from June 2021, free high-quality storage has been canceled, and new photos are taking up space in the cloud.

How to set up automatic booting:

1. Install Google Photos from Google Play.
2. Open the app and log in to your Google account.
3. Go to Settings → Backup and Synchronization.
4. Enable the option and select quality (Original or High).
5. On PC, open photos.google.com and download the desired albums.

Comparison of services:

* In conjunction with Gmail and Google Drive.

If Google Photos does not upload a photo:

• 📵 Check if sync is enabled on mobile data (if there is no Wi-Fi).
• 🔄 Update the application to the latest version.
• 📁 Make sure that the photo folder is not excluded from backup (in the application settings).

5. Special applications for rapid transmission

When standard methods fail or you need top speed, third-party applications come to the rescue. MIUI and offer additional functions: lossless compression, transmission by QR-code or even via Bluetooth 5.0. Let's look at the top.-3 solution.

1. Send Anywhere (cross-platform, no registration):

• 📲 Install the application on your phone and PC (official website).
• 📎 On your phone, select a photo, click Send and generate a 6-digit key.
• 🖥️ On PC, enter the key – the transfer will begin automatically.

2. Snapdrop (works through the browser, without installation):

• 🌐 Open snapdrop.net on your phone and PC (both devices must be on the same network).
• 📱 On the phone, select a photo and tap on the PC icon in the list of devices.
• 💻 On the computer confirm the receipt of files.

3. Xender (optimized for large files):

• 📱 Install Xender on your phone and create a Wi-Fi hotspot.
• 🖥️ Connect your PC to this network and open web.xender.com in your browser.
• 📁 Select a photo and click Send.

⚠️ Note: Apps like SHAREit (formerly popular) are no longer recommended due to security concerns.In 2023, researchers discovered vulnerabilities that allow them to intercept transmitted files (AES-256).

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For transmission RAW-Photos (size 50)+ MB) better use Send Anywhere or Xender - they support the resumption of transmission when the communication is interrupted.

6. Solving the Problem: Why Photos Are Not Portable

Even when following instructions, users encounter errors, and let's look at typical scenarios and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The computer can’t see Xiaomi USB.

• 🔌 Try a different cable or port (especially if you use USB-hub).
• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 📋 In Device Manager (Windows) check if there is an exclamation mark near Xiaomi... If there is – update the driver manually.

Problem 2: Folder DCIM blank, though there is a photo.

• 📁 Check if files are hidden. In Windows, turn on the hidden elements (View) → Hidden elements).
• 🔍 Use the extension search: type in the address bar.jpg or.png.
• 📱 On the phone, open the Gallery and check if the photos are moved to the Recycle Bin or Archives.

Problem 3: Slow Wi-Fi transmission (FTP).

• 📶 Switch to 5 GHz in the router settings.
• 📵 Disconnect other devices from the network.
• 📡 Check if the channel is overloaded (use the WiFi Analyzer app to analyze the network).

Problem 4: Synchronization error in Mi Cloud.

• 🔄 Update the Gallery and Mi Cloud app.
• 📅 Check the date and time on your phone (incorrect settings can block syncs).
• 🔑 Log out of your Mi Account and log in again.

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If the photos are in format HEIC (iPhones) do not open on PC, use an online converter or install a Windows extension.

7. Alternative methods: SD-map OTG-adapter

If none of the above methods are suitable, you can use physical media, this method is relevant for Xiaomi models with a microSD slot (for example, the Redmi Note 11 Pro).+ or POCO X4 Pro).

Instructions:

1. Insert the microSD card into the phone (pre-formatted in the phone) FAT32 exFAT).
2. Open the Gallery, select a photo and click Export.
3. Choose. SD-map.
4. Remove the card and paste it into the computer through the card reader.

For phones without a microSD slot (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) can be used OTG-adapter:

• 📱 Connect. OTG-Adapter to the phone and to it – flash drive (format) FAT32).
• 📁 In Explorer (Files) copy photos to a flash drive.
• 🖥️ Connect the flash drive to the PC and transfer the files.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ It does not depend on the Internet or drivers.
• ✅ Suitable for large volumes (up to 2 TB per microSD).
• ✅ It maintains the original quality and EXIF-data.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Requires additional accessories (card reader, OTG).
• ❌ Slower than the transmission USB 3.0.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring photos from Xiaomi to PC