How to download photos from Xiaomi to your computer: all ways USB cloud-based

Transferring photos from Xiaomi smartphone to your computer seems like a simple task – until you encounter errors like «USB-The device is not "identified" or slow transmission speed, especially for owners of models Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Xiaomi 13, where MIUI This article will discuss all working methods, from classic cable connection to automatic synchronization via Mi Cloud, and also solve typical problems such as the absence of drivers or “gray” folders in the memory of the phone.

Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to simply connect the phone to a PC – but in practice MIUI It blocks access to internal memory without any additional settings. USB 2.0 may be disappointing: for example, a folder with 500 photos in the format.HEIC We've tested each method on current firmware (including HyperOS) and identified the best options for different scenarios, from one-time transfer to daily backup.

If you need to make room on your phone or save memories to your hard drive, choose the appropriate method from our instructions. And if you’ve encountered connection errors before, there’s a section at the end of the article that addresses 10 of the most common problems (including “computer can’t see Xiaomi” and “folder”). DCIM idle»).

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

The most reliable, but often problematic, way to connect your phone to your PC is through cable. MIUI 12) Charge mode is turned on by default, which prevents you from accessing files. To fix this, follow the following steps:

1. Connect the phone to the computer using the original cable (it is better to use the one that came with the kit - cheap analogues may not support data transfer).

2 Unlock the Xiaomi screen and swipe down from the top edge to open the notification bar.

3.Slip on the Charging notification through USB (Or connected as a media device on older versions MIUI).

4. In the window that opens, select File Transfer Mode (or MTP Windows).

If the computer doesn't have drivers installed, the system can start installing them automatically. 10/11 This usually happens without user involvement, but for Windows. 7 Older assemblies may require manual installation via Mi PC Suite.

Download Mi. PC Suite from the official website|Use the original cable|Unlock the phone screen|Turn on the mode. MTP noticeably-->

Once connected, open This Computer (My PC is in Windows 7) and a new drive with your phone’s name (e.g. Redmi Note 11) will appear there. → DCIM → Camera, where all the photos taken on the main camera are stored. For screenshots, check the Pictures folder. → Screenshots.

⚠️ Attention: If the folder DCIM It's empty, but you're sure it's there -- check the camera settings. In some Xiaomi firmware, the photos are saved by default to the default. SD-map (if installed) or to the Mi Cloud.

2. Wireless transmission over Wi-Fi (without cable)

If you do not have a cable on hand, or USB-The port on the computer is not working, you can transfer photos over the local network. FTP or specialized applications like Mi Drop (built into the MIUI) Send Anywhere.

The easiest way is to use the built-in FTP-server:

1. Connect your phone and computer to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. On the phone, open the Explorer application (or Files in the MIUI).
3. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select FTP-server.
4. Launch the server and copy the address of the view ftp://192.168.x.x:xxxx.
5. On your computer, open Windows Explorer, paste the address in the address bar and press Enter.

Wi-Fi transmission speed 5 (802.11ac) will ~10-15 MB/s is faster than that. USB 2.0, slower USB 3.0. To speed up the process, you can archive the folder with the photo directly on the phone (via Explorer). → Select → Squeeze), and then pass one ZIP-file.

Po Po Po USB-cable|Wi-Fi (FTP, Mi Drop)|Cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud)|Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)|Another option-->

An alternative is Send Anywhere (available on Google Play), which allows you to send files without connecting to a single network, generating 6-digit code, and the speed is limited only by your Internet channel.

3. synchronization through Mi Cloud: automatic backup

If you use a Mi Account, you already have 5GB of free cloud storage in the Mi Cloud, which is convenient for automatic photo backup, but has limitations:

• 📸 Photo quality: when uploaded to the cloud, Xiaomi defaults to compress images to resolution 2048px (can be turned off in the settings).
• 🕒 Speed: Depends on your Internet connection. On slow channels (up to) 10 Mbit/s) loading 1 GB photo will take ~15-20 minute.
• 🔒 Privacy: Photos are stored on Xiaomi servers in China (for global versions) MIUI — servers in Singapore).

To enable automatic synchronization:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on the switch in front of the gallery.
3. Slip on Sync Settings and select Original Quality (if it is important to keep source).
4. Wait until the first synchronization is completed (it may take several hours).

To download the photo to your computer:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Gallery section.
3. Tag the photos and click Download (or Export for batch saving).

⚠️ 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 gallery settings.

4.Use Google Photos for backup

Google Photos is an alternative to Mi Cloud with more flexible settings and integration with other Google services. The free tariff allows you to download an unlimited number of photos in compressed quality (up to 16 MP) or 15 GB in the original resolution.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔍 Search by content: Google recognizes objects in a photo (for example, you can find all photos with dogs or a beach).
• 📱 Cross-platform: photos are available on any device through a browser or application.
• 🛡️ Security: Two-factor authentication and data encryption.

To set up automatic booting:

1. Install the Google Photos app from Google Play.
2. Open it and log in to your Google account.
3. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner → Photo settings → Backup and synchronization.
4. Turn on the switch and select quality (High for free unlimited storage or Original for saving source).

To download the photo to your computer:

1. Go to photos.google.com.
2. Select the desired photos (you can use filters by date or albums).
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Download.

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If you need to download all your photos at once, use Google Takeout, which allows you to export the entire gallery to the archive at a time.

5. Transmission through messengers and social networks

If you only need to upload a few photos, it's easier to use instant messengers, but there are some limitations to this method:

• 📏 Quality compression: Telegram compresses a photo to 5 MP when sent as a "photo" (no compression only when sent as a "file"). WhatsApp reduces the resolution to 1600px.
• 🚫 Size restrictions: in VK Instagram can not upload photos weighing more 10-20 MB.
• ⏳ Time: 100 photos will take much longer than cable.

The best options for transfer:

For transmission via Telegram:

1. Open Save Messages Chat (or any other chat).
2. Click on the clip (Attach) and select the File (not Photo!).
3. Select the desired images and send them.
4. On your computer, open the web version of Telegram, find the files sent and download them.

Alternative methods: SD-map, OTG AirDroid

If standard methods don’t work, consider these options:

1. Transfer through SD-map

If your Xiaomi supports memory cards (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or the Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro, you can temporarily copy the photo onto it, and then paste the card into the computer through the card reader. SD-maps (recommended) UHS-I Class 10).

2. USB OTG + flash-drive

Connect. USB-phone-storage OTG-Adapter, copy the photo onto a flash drive, and then connect it to a computer, which is useful if you don't have a cable to connect to your PC.

3.AirDroid Appendix

AirDroid allows you to manage your phone files via a browser on a PC.

1. Install AirDroid from Google Play.
2. Sign up or sign in via Google/Facebook.
3. On your computer, open web.airdroid.com and scan. QR-phonecode.
4. In the Files section, find the folder. DCIM and download the right photos.

7. Solving common problems

If there are errors in the transfer of photos, check these points:

Problem 1: The computer can't see Xiaomi

• 🔌 Check the cable - try another (preferably original).
• 🖥️ Update drivers through Device Manager (find Xiaomi in the list and update the software).
• 📱 Enable Developer Mode (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times) and activate the debugging USB.

Problem 2: DCIM folder is empty, but there is a photo

• 📁 Check the Pictures folder – sometimes screenshots and photos from messengers are saved there.
• 🔍 Enable the display of hidden files in Windows Explorer (View) → Hidden elements).
• 📱 On the phone, open the gallery. → Albums. → Check the camera and see if the photo is hidden.

Problem 3: Slow transmission by USB

• 🚀 Connect the cable to the port USB 3.0 (blue connector) on PC.
• 📵 Turn off the others. USB-devices (mouse, keyboard, external disks).
• 📂 Archive the photo in ZIP pre-transmission.

Problem 4: There is not enough room on the phone to copy

If you are trying to copy a photo to your computer, but your phone gives you an error called “Not enough memory”, try:

1. Move some of the photo to SD-card (if any).
2. Remove the gallery cache (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
3. Use the cloud (Mi Cloud or Google Photos) to temporarily vacate space.

Issue 5: Photos in format HEIC not open on PC

Files. HEIC (They are used in Xiaomi on iOS-like firmware) not supported by Windows by default. HEIF Image Extensions from Microsoft Store or Convert Photos to Photos JPG directly on the phone through the Gallery app (Edit → Save how).

8. Which way to choose: Comparative table

To determine the best method, evaluate your priorities:

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For a single transfer of a large volume (for example, after a vacation) is optimal USB-plug-in MTP. For regular backup, set up automatic sync via Google Photos or Mi Cloud.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions