How to upload photos from Xiaomi phone to your computer: all ways of 2026

Transferring photos from Xiaomi to a computer is a task that every user sooner or later faces: photos take up space in the memory of a smartphone, and editing them or backing them up is more convenient on the big screen. However, not everyone knows that there are at least five ways to transfer data, and each of them has its own nuances.

In this article, we'll look at all the current methods, from classic USB connectivity to cloud services and wireless technology, how to avoid common mistakes (like why your computer doesn't see your phone as a drive), what settings to check on Redmi or POCO, and how to keep your images original, and if you're working with large amounts of data, you'll find recommendations for speeding up the process.

Whether you’re using the Xiaomi 13 Ultra with a 200MP camera or the budget Redmi Note 12, the instructions are for any model running MIUI (including global and Chinese firmware versions).

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

Connecting your phone to your computer with a cable is the most stable method, it doesn't require internet, it works even with a dead battery, and it allows you to transfer files of any size, but there are pitfalls here, from choosing a cable to setting up MIUI.

First, use the original cable from the kit or a certified USB-Type C (for new models) with data support. Cheap cables are often only for charging and do not transfer files. Second, check the port on your computer: USB 3.0 (blue connector) works 10 times faster than USB 2.0.

• 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC using a cable. The Xiaomi screen will display a notification, Charge via USB.
• 📱 Tap the notification and select File Transfer (or File Manager in older versions MIUI).
• 🖥️ A conductor window with a phone folder will open on your computer. If that doesn't happen, check this computer in Windows Explorer or Finder on a Mac.
• 📁 Go to Internal storage → DCIM → Camera (retains photos taken with your regular camera). For screenshots, check Pictures → Screenshots.

To speed up the process:

• 🚀 Select all files (Ctrl+A) and copy them to a separate folder on your PC at a time — faster than transferring multiple pictures.
• 🔄 If a transmission is interrupted, try another cable or port USB. Sometimes it helps to restart the phone.
• 🔒 A Mac may require Android File Transfer (official software from Google).

Use the original cable

Select the File Transfer Mode on Xiaomi

Check the DCIM/Camera folder

Disable blockers (antivirus, firewall) on PC

Copy files into one folder at a time-->

⚠️ Warning: If your computer can't see your phone, check the developer's settings. Go to Settings → About Phone, click on Version MIUI 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on Debugging on USB.

2. Wireless transmission over Mi Cloud: pros and cons

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi's proprietary cloud storage integrated into MIUI firmware, which allows you to automatically sync photos and access them from any device, the main advantage is that you don't have to physically connect your phone to your PC.

• 📉 Only 5GB is free (for new accounts), and for large libraries you'll have to buy space or clean the cloud.
• ⏱️ The first synchronization of a large gallery can take hours (depending on internet speed).
• 🔒 Photos are uploaded in compressed format – the originals are saved only when downloaded manually.

How to set up synchronization:

1. Open the Gallery on your phone, click on the avatar in the upper right corner.
2. Select Mi Cloud → Sync photos and switch on the switch.
3. Specify which folders to sync (e.g., Camera only or Screenshots as well).
4. Wait for the download to be completed (progress is displayed in notifications).

To download the photo to your computer:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Gallery section, mark the desired pictures and click Download.
3. The files are packed into the ZIP- archive (maximum 2 GB per download).

Po Po Po USB-cable

Through Mi Cloud or Google Photos

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Direct

Another way.-->

3. Alternative cloud services: Google Photos, Yandex.Disk, Dropbox

If Mi Cloud is not comfortable with volume or speed, you can use third-party cloud storage, and let’s look at the three most popular options and their features when working with Xiaomi.

Google Photos is the most versatile service, offering 15 GB for free (together with Gmail and Google Drive) and is able to automatically reserve photos in original quality (Option Source quality).

• 📱 You need to install the Google Photos app on your phone and enable autoload in the settings.
• 🔍 To download a photo on PC, go to photos.google.com, highlight the pictures and select Download.
• ⚠️ When selecting the option High quality photos are compressed to 16 MP (even if the original 48+ MP).

Yandex.Disk gives 10 GB for free and integrates well with MIUI:

1. Install Yandex.Disk from Google Play.
2. In the application settings, enable Autouploading photos.
3. On PC, download Yandex.Disk for Windows/macOS and synchronize the Photos folder.

Dropbox only offers 2GB for free, but it supports Dropbox Camera, a feature that automatically uploads new photos when you connect to Wi-Fi. To save traffic, select Only over Wi-Fi in the app settings.

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If you often transfer photos, create a folder on your PC Xiaomi Photos and sync it with the cloud (Google Drive/Yandex.Disk), so new photos will automatically download to your computer when they appear in the cloud.

4. Wi-Fi transmission: no cables or clouds

If you don't have a cable or you don't want to use the cloud, you can transfer photos directly over the local network, and there are two reliable ways to do this: through the FTP- server on your phone or through specialized applications.

Method 1: Built-in FTP-server MIUI

1. Connect your phone and computer to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. On Xiaomi, open Explorer (or Files) and select the FTP tab.
3. Click Launch and the address of the view ftp://192.168.x.x:xxxx appears.
4. On PC, open Explorer, enter this address in the address bar and press Enter.
5. Copy the files you need from the DCIM folder.

Method 2: Send Anywhere App

• 📱 Install Send Anywhere on your phone and computer (or use the web version on your PC).
• 🔑 On your phone, select a photo, click Send and generate a 6-digit key.
• 🖥️ On the PC, type this key and the transfer will start automatically.

The advantage of these methods is that there are no volume limits (unlike Bluetooth) and no Internet (unlike clouds), but the speed depends on the power of the router: on older models with Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), 1 GB transmission can take 10-15 minutes.

⚠️ Warning: When transmitting on FTP, don’t turn off the phone screen — the server will stop and communication will stop. To avoid this, in the Xiaomi settings, turn on Settings → Display → Sleep → Never (remember to return it after transfer).

5. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct: When there are no other ways

These are methods that are suitable for emergencies, when there is no cable at hand and the Internet is off, but they have serious limitations.

• 🐢 Bluetooth transmits data at a rate of ~1-2MB/s (100 photo in 5MB = 8-10 minutes).
• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct is faster (up to 10MB/s), but not all computers support it.
• 📎 Both methods typically limit file size (e.g., Bluetooth may not send a photo weighing >50MB).

How to transfer photos over Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth) and on your PC.
2. Connect devices (on the PC you may need to enter a confirmation code).
3. In the Xiaomi gallery, highlight a photo, click Share → Bluetooth and select your computer.
4. On the PC, confirm the file acceptance.

Wi-Fi Direct is more difficult to configure, but it works more stable:

1. On the phone: Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct (or Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi Direct in new versions of MIUI).
2. On PC: Enable Wi-Fi Direct (in Windows 10/11, this is done via Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → Managing Known Networks).
3. Connect to your phone as an access point and use Explorer to access files.

Specialized programs: Mi PC Suite and alternatives

For users who regularly sync data between Xiaomi and PC, the manufacturer offers the official software - Mi PC Suite, which allows you not only to transfer photos, but also to manage contacts, messages and applications.

• 🖥️ It only works on Windows (no version for Windows). macOS/Linux).
• 📥 Requires driver installation (sometimes you have to do it manually).
• 🔄 Supports backup, but data recovery is only possible on a Xiaomi phone.

How to use Mi PC Suite:

1. Download the program from the official website and install.
2. Connect your phone over USB by selecting File Transfer mode.
3. In the main window of the program, select File Management → Photos.
4. Select the desired pictures and click Export, pointing the folder to the PC.

Alternatives for macOS/Linux:

• 🍎 Android File Transfer (official software from Google for Mac).
• 🐧 gMTP or jMTP for Linux (working over MTP- protocol).
• 🌐 Airdroid is a cross-platform solution for managing your phone through a browser.

💡

Mi PC Suite is convenient for backup, but it is easier to use USB or cloud for one-time photo transfer. The program is useful if you often sync contacts, SMS or install firmware.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even when following the instructions, Xiaomi users sometimes encounter errors, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

If the phone is no longer defined as a drive after the MIUI update, reset the USB settings: go to Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset USB settings. This will return the standard connection settings.

Another common problem is corrupted files when you're transferring them, so you can avoid that.

• 🛑 Do not remove the USB- cable during copying (wait until the process is complete).
• 🔋 Make sure the phone has enough charge (less than 15% can cause a shutdown).
• 🗃️ Check the files on your phone before transferring, and sometimes damage occurs while you're still shooting.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions