How to copy photos from the phone Xiaomi: all the ways USB-cloud-cable

There are a dozen ways to copy photos from Xiaomi to another media or device, from classic USB connection to sync via cloud services. But not all methods are equally convenient: somewhere quality is lost, somewhere transfer speed leaves much to be desired, and some methods require additional programs. In this article, we will analyze the 5 most reliable options that work on all Redmi, POCO and Mi models (including the latest flagships of 2026).

We'll focus on some of the nuances that are rarely written about in standard instructions, like why you copy through the computer. MTP Some files may be "disappeared" from the folder. DCIM, How to circumvent the transfer restriction RAW-And what to do if your computer doesn't see Xiaomi as a removable disk, and compare the data rate for each method, which will help you choose the best way to use it depending on the volume of the photo (10 pictures or 10 000 photos).

If you want to transfer not only photos, but also videos to 4K or 8K, we will separately note which methods will save the original resolution and which will compress files. And yes, on models with MIUI 14+, there is a hidden feature called "Fast Transfer" over Wi-Fi Direct - it works 3 times faster than AirDrop, but it must first be activated in the engineering menu.

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

The most versatile way, which works even without the Internet, is suitable for transferring large amounts of data (for example, if you want to copy 50 GB of photos from Xiaomi 13 Ultra to a PC), but there are pitfalls: starting with MIUI 12, the MTP protocol is turned on by default, which can “glut” on Windows 10/11.

To avoid problems:

• 🔌 Use the original cable from the kit (cheap analogues often do not support data transfer, only charging).
• 🖥️ On a Windows PC, pre-install Mi drivers PC Suite (even if you don’t plan to use it, it will solve 90% of your device recognition problems).
• 📱 On your phone, when you connect, select File Transfer Mode (not Charging or Photos (PTP)).
• 🔍 If the folder DCIM empty, check the settings for displaying hidden files in Windows Explorer.

Step-by-step algorithm:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer with the original cable.
2. On the phone in the notification curtain, tap on the option Charge via USB → select File Transfer.
3. On PC, open This PC → find a Xiaomi device (usually displayed as Mi Phone or Redmi).
4. Go to the Internal storage → DCIM → Camera folder (there are photos taken on the main camera).
5. Copy the files you need to hard drive (we recommend creating a separate folder, for example, Xiaomi Backup [date]).

Check the cable for damage.

Update MIUI to the latest version

Turn off the developer mode (if it was turned on)

Close all programs that can block files (e.g., a gallery)

-->

Transfer speed depends on the version USB-port:

⚠️ If your computer can’t see your phone, try connecting to another phone. USB-The port (preferably blue) is the USB 3.0+). Also check if Xiaomi is not enabled Debugging mode. USB In the developer’s settings, it may conflict with MTP.

2. Wireless transmission via Mi Drop (Wi-Fi Direct)

Mi Drop is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for sharing files between devices over a local network. It works without the Internet, retains the original quality of photos and supports the transfer of folders as a whole. The main plus is the speed of up to 20 MB / s (faster than Bluetooth, but slower than USB 3.0).

How to use:

1. On both devices (Xiaomi and target phone/PC), turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
2. On the source phone, open the Mi Drop app (if not, download from the Mi App Store).
3. Select files in the gallery → click Share → Mi Drop.
4. On the target device, open Mi Drop and confirm the file acceptance.

Features:

• 📱 Supports transfer between Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and even some other branded devices (for example, Oppo or Vivo with ColorOS).
• 🚫 It doesn’t work with iPhone (it’s better to use AirDrop for them).
• 🔋 Battery consumption ~15% per hour of active transmission (with Wi-Fi and screen on).
• 📂 Maximum size of one file – 2 GB (for video in the video) 4K might not fit).

💡

If Mi Drop doesn’t find the device, make sure both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (even if the internet is off), and try restarting the app or clearing its cache in the settings.

⚠️ Attention: On models with MIUI 14 and later in Mi Drop, Turbo mode (in the app settings) is added, which increases the transfer speed by 30%, but can cause the processor to overheat with prolonged use.

3. Sync with Google Photos: Automatic Backup

If you don't just want to copy photos, but back them up with access from any device, Google Photos is the best option. Google Photos automatically uploads all new images to the cloud, and you can download them to a PC or other phone at any time, and 15 GB of space is free (shared with other Google services).

How to set up:

1. Install Google Photos from the Play Market.
2. Open the app and log in to your Google account.
3. Slip on the avatar in the upper right corner → Photo settings → Backup and sync.
4. Turn on the switch and select quality: Original - retains the original resolution (counted in the quota of 15 GB). High quality - compresses the photo to 16 MP (free, without limiting the volume).

Camera

To download the photo to your computer:

1. Go to photos.google.com.
2. Select the desired photos (you can select the date range in the side menu).
3. Press the three dots at the top. → Download.
4. Files will be uploaded to ZIP-archive (maximum 2 GB per download).

How to transfer photos over Bluetooth:

1. On both devices, turn on Bluetooth (Settings → Connected Devices → Bluetooth).
2. Make your devices visible to everyone (in Bluetooth settings, click Visibility or Detection).
3. On the source phone (Xiaomi) open the gallery, highlight the photo → Share → Bluetooth.
4. Select the target device from the list and confirm the receipt of files on it.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 13+ When transmitting via Bluetooth photo format HEIC (used by default on new models, automatically converted to JPEG To avoid this, manually convert the images through the Gallery app (open the photo) → More. → Save how → choose JPEG).

💡

Bluetooth is only suitable for emergency transfer of 1-2 photos. For large volumes, use USB, Wi-Fi Direct or the cloud.

5.Use of microSD memory card: transfer without computer

If your Xiaomi supports memory cards (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO X5 Pro), you can copy the photo directly to the microSD and then paste it into another phone or computer card reader, which is ideal for traveling where there is no access to a PC or stable Internet.

How to transfer a photo to a memory card:

1. Insert microSD into the phone slot (some models will require you to remove the tray for the phone slot). SIM-map).
2. Open the Files (or Explorer) application.
3. Go to the Inner Memory → DCIM → Camera.
4. Select the necessary photos → click Copy.
5. Return to the root directory, select Memory Map → create a folder (e.g. Xiaomi Photos) → click Insert.

Important nuances:

• 🔄 On some models (Xiaomi) 13T, POCO F5) The memory card is formatted as an internal memory (not a removable drive), in which case you can't transfer the photo back to the phone, they will only be accessible through this device.
• 🚫 Do not remove the memory card while copying – this can damage the file system.
• 📥 You may need an adapter to read a microSD on a PC (if there is no built-in card reader).

The speed of copying depends on the class of the memory card:

Alternative methods: FTP-server ADB

For advanced users who need maximum flexibility, two little-known methods are suitable: startup. FTP-servers on Xiaomi or copying through ADB. These methods require additional settings, but allow you to bypass the limitations of standard protocols.

Method 1: FTP-server

Applications like WiFi FTP Server turn your Xiaomi into a file server that you can connect to over a local network:

1. Install and open the application.
2. Press Start and the View Address will appear. ftp://192.168.x.x:2221.
3. On PC, open the Explorer, enter this address in the address bar and connect (the default login / password is usually anonymous or specified in the application).
4. Copy files from /sdcard/DCIM folder.

Method 2: ADB (for technically savvy)

If you have experience with ADB, you can copy the photo via the command line:

adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/ C:\XiaomiPhotos\

Where C:\XiaomiPhotos\ is the folder on the PC where the files will be copied.

• Enable USB Debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap the build number → return to Additional → For developers).
• Install ADB Tools on PC.
• Connect the phone and confirm trust in the computer.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB You can violate the warranty if you change system files. There are no risks to simply copying photos, but do not execute other commands without understanding their actions.

Comparison of all methods: which one to choose?

To determine the best method, evaluate your priorities:

• 🏆 Maximum speed: USB 3.0 or FTP Wi-Fi 6.
• 🌍 Universality: Google Photos (access from any device).
• 🔌 Free Internet: MicroSD or Mi Drop (Wi-Fi Direct).
• 📱 Between phones: Mi Drop or Bluetooth (for 1-2 photos).
• 💻 On the computer: USB or FTP.

Model recommendations:

FAQ: Frequent questions