Transferring photos from Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 to your computer seems like a simple task — until you face typical problems: the phone is not defined as a drive, MIUI asks for permission to access files, and Windows stubbornly does not see the DCIM folder. This model, released in 2017, is still actively used, but its firmware (especially based on Android 6/7) has nuances when working with modern OSes.
In this article, we've got 5 proven ways to transmit photos, including bypassing common errors (USB-cable, cloud services, but also alternative options for cases when the smartphone refuses to connect to the PC. MIUI, which often block data transmission, and optimize the process for large photo volumes (1000)+ snapshot).
Transfer through USB-cable: step-by-step instruction
The most reliable way is to connect your smartphone to your computer with a USB Type-C cable (or Micro-USB if you have a Redmi Note 4X modification), but even here, users face problems: the PC can’t see the phone, MIUI asks for permission to debug, or the folder with the photo simply does not open.
To avoid errors, follow the algorithm:
- 🔌 Connect the Redmi Note 4 to your PC with the original cable (cheap analogues often don't transmit data). USB 2.0 on a computer - it works more stable with outdated firmware.
- 📱 On the phone screen, select File Transfer Mode (MTP). If this item is not available, go to Settings. → Additionally. → Developer settings and activate Debugging by USB.
- 🖥️ On PC, open This Computer (Windows) or File Manager (Linux/macOS). The phone should be displayed as a removable disk (e.g. Redmi Note). 4 Xiaomi).
- 📁 Go to the Internal Storage folder → DCIM → Camera (or) MIUI → Camera, if the photos are made with a regular app. Copy the files to your hard drive.
Use the original Xiaomi cable
Enable the "File Transfer (MTP)" mode on the phone
Activate debugging over USB in the developer settings (if necessary)
Check the USB 2.0 connection (for stability)
Disable ad blockers on PC (they can block) MTP-linkage)-->
If your computer can’t see your phone, try:
- Reboot both devices.
- Update MTP drivers on PC (via Device Manager → Portable Devices).
- Enable on the phone Settings → Memory. → Menu (three dots) → USB-PC-connection → MTP.
What if Windows says "Device not recognized"?
2. Wi-Fi transmission: no cables and restrictions
If USB-The port on your phone is damaged or you just want to avoid wires, wireless is a great alternative. MIUI, and third-party applications.
The easiest way is to use the built-in Wi-Fi File Transfer feature:
- 🌐 Connect your phone and computer to the same Wi-Fi network (important: not via mobile hotspot!).
- 📱 On Redmi Note 4, open the Explorer → Menu (three dots) → Wi-Fi transmission.
- 🖥️ On a PC, enter the address in the browser that will appear on the phone screen (for example, ftp://192.168.1.100:8080).
- 📁 Select a folder. DCIM And download the right photos.
Transfer speed depends on the router: on Wi-Fi 5 GHz it reaches 10-15 MB / s, on 2.4 GHz - 2-5 MB / s.
- 🚀 Close all background apps on your phone.
- 📶 Bring the devices closer to the router.
- 🔄 If the connection is interrupted, restart the router.
Through USB-cable
Wi-Fi (built-in MIUI function)
Through the Cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud)
Third-party applications (Xender, Send Anywhere)
Another option-->
For large amounts of data (for example, transferring 5000 photos), it is better to use specialized applications:
| Annex | Speed. | Limitations | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Send Anywhere | Up to 20MB/s | Without registration – up to 10 GB at a time | Official website |
| Xender | Up to 15MB/s | Advertising in the free version | Official website |
| Portal by Pushbullet | Up to 10MB/s | Requires installation on PC | Official website |
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If Wi-Fi transmission is permanently interrupted, try turning on Flight Mode on your phone and then manually activating Wi-Fi, which will turn off background processes that may interfere with the connection.
3. Cloud services: automation and backup
Using cloud storage is the most versatile method, especially if you need to regularly sync photos between devices. Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 supports several services out of the box:
- ☁️ Mi Cloud — Xiaomi's proprietary cloud (5GB for free) automatically uploads photos when connected to Wi-Fi.
- 📷 Google Photos – unlimited storage for compressed photos (up to 15 MP) or 15 GB for originals.
- 💾 Yandex Disk – 10 GB free, convenient for users from Russia.
To set up autoload in Google Photos:
- Install the app from Google Play.
- Open Settings → Backup and Synchronization.
- Turn on the option and select High Quality (free compression) or Original Quality (15GB credit).
- Connect to Wi-Fi – photos will start to download automatically.
To access the photo from the PC:
- Go to photos.google.com (for Google Photos).
- Select the desired pictures and click Download (they will be packed in) ZIP-archive).
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Cloud services are ideal for backup, but are not suitable for transferring large numbers of photos in original quality (due to traffic and speed limitations).
If you are using Mi Cloud, consider:
⚠️ Note: Xiaomi compresses photos by default when uploading to the cloud. To maintain original quality, go to Settings Mi Cloud → album → Download quality and select Original. Also check if there's enough space: free rate - only 5GB.
4. MicroSD Memory Card: Alternative for Large Volumes
If you have a microSD card (up to 256 GB), you can transfer the photo through it.
- 📸 You store your photo on a memory card (not in internal memory).
- 🔄 USB-port of the phone malfunction.
- 💾 You need to transfer more than 100 GB of data.
Instructions:
- Remove the memory card from the Redmi Note 4 (the tray is on the left end).
- Insert it into the card reader (or microSD adapter) → SD, If you have a laptop with a slot for SD-map).
- On a PC, open the card as a removable disk and copy files from the DCIM folder.
If you do not have a card reader, you can use it. OTG-adapter:
- 🔗 Connect the adapter. USB OTG phone-in.
- 💾 Insert a flash drive or external hard drive into the adapter.
- 📱 With the help of a conductor MIUI Copy the photo to a flash drive, then connect it to the PC.
How to check where the photo is stored – on the card or in the memory of the phone?
5. Transfer via email or messengers (for small volumes)
If you want to upload 10 to 20 photos, the easiest way to do this is by email or messengers, which is not suitable for large volumes (due to the size constraints of the attachment), but is convenient for fast sending.
Ways:
- ✉️ Email: Select a photo in the Gallery, click Share → Email and send it to your mail. Gmail has a limit of 25 MB per email.
- 💬 Telegram: Create a chat Save Messages, send a photo there, then open the web version on your PC and download them.
- 📎 Viber/WhatsApp: Limitation - up to 100 MB in one file. Suitable for urgent transfer 1–2 snapshot.
To speed up the process:
- 📦 Archive the photo in ZIP Before sending (use the Explorer) → Select → Squeeze).
- 🔄 If photos weigh more than 25 MB, reduce their size in the Gallery app. → Edit → Change the size.
⚠️ Note: When sending via messengers, photos are automatically compressed (even in Telegram without the option "No Compression"). USB.
6. Solving common problems
When you send a photo with Redmi Note 4, users experience typical errors.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The phone is not defined as a storage device. | MTP mode not selected or drivers missing | Switch the connection mode on your phone or install the Mi PC Suite driver |
| DCIM folder is empty, although there is a photo | Photos are stored in another directory (e.g. MIUI/Camera) | Check all folders in Internal Storage via Explorer |
| Error "Device not recognized" (Windows) | Driver conflict or damaged USB-port | Update the driver in Device Manager or try another cable |
| Slow Wi-Fi transmission | Weak signal or background processes | Restart your router and disconnect other devices from the network |
If none of the methods work, check:
- 🔋 Battery charge: at below 15%, Redmi Note 4 can block data transmission.
- 🔒 Permits: c Settings → Annexes → Conductor → Permissions must be active with the Warehouse option.
- 🛠️ Updates MIUI: outdated firmware may conflict with modern PCs. Check the relevance of the software in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
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If you connect to a USB phone and it starts charging but doesn't show up as a drive, try turning off fast charging in the battery settings, which sometimes solves the recognition problem.
7. Process optimization: how to transfer 1000+ photos without hanging
When sending a large number of photos (for example, after a vacation), standard methods can slow down or interrupt.
- 📂 Break the photos into folders of 200 to 300.
- 🔄 Use Archiving: Compress the photo in ZIP/RAR (applications RAR ZArchiver).
- 🖥️ For USB-Use TeraCopy (Windows) – it speeds up copying and resumes the process when the failure occurs.
- ☁️ For cloud services, upload photos at night when internet traffic is minimal.
If you regularly transfer photos, set up automatic synchronization:
- In Google Photos, enable Autoboot and Sync.
- In Mi Cloud, activate Auto Sync Albums.
- Use FolderSync (from Google Play) to sync your DCIM folder to the cloud on schedule.
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To speed up the transfer, turn off Windows animation and Settings Transitions on your phone → Additional → Special. features → Animation. This will reduce the load on the processor.