How to copy photos from the gallery on Xiaomi: all ways with explanations

Copying photos from Xiaomi to a computer, another phone or cloud storage seems like a simple task — not yet faced with nuances. Depending on the model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T), the version of MIUI (14 or 15) and even the type of connection (USB-C, Micro-USB), the process may be different. For example, new smartphones with Android 13/14, the default MTP protocol may be enabled, which does not always work correctly with Windows 10, and Mac owners face the need to install additional drivers.

In this article, we will look at 5 proven ways to copy photos from the standard Xiaomi gallery, from classic cable connection to synchronization via Mi Cloud and transmission over the local network. Particular attention will be paid to typical errors: why the computer does not see the DCIM folder, how to circumvent the MIUI restrictions on file access and what to do if photos are copied but do not open. All instructions are relevant for 2026 and tested on the latest versions of firmware.

1. Copying the photo through USB-cable (the most reliable method)

Connecting Xiaomi’s smartphone to your computer via cable remains the most versatile method — it works even without the Internet and does not require registration in the cloud. However, there are pitfalls: since MIUI 12, Xiaomi has changed the logic of connecting over USB, and now the first connection may require permission to transfer files.

Here is a step-by-step guide for Windows 10/11 and macOS:

• 🔌 Connect your smartphone to your computer with the original cable (cheap cables often don’t support data transfer).
• 📱 On the screen Xiaomi will appear notification “Charging through” USB" — tap him.
• 🔄 Select the "File Transfer" mode" (MTP). If this item is not available, go to Settings. → Connection and sharing → USB and turn on MTP manually.
• 🖥️ The computer will open a conductor window with the Internal Storage folder. DCIM → Camera – here are stored all the photos taken on the main camera.

⚠️ Note: On a Mac to work with Xiaomi through MTP You will need to install the Android File Transfer program (official site: android.com/filetransfer). Without it, macOS will not be able to recognize the device.

Important: On Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 15, the DCIM folder can be protected – if you copy an error “No access permissions”, go to Settings → Applications → Permissions Management → Storage and provide read rights for the Gallery application.

2. Transfer photos via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi cloud)

If you don't have a cable on hand or need to copy a photo to another phone, Mi Cloud is a convenient alternative, which requires registration in the Xiaomi ecosystem, but allows you to access photos from any device, the main drawback is that only 5 GB of storage is available for free, and Redmi and POCO sometimes require separate cloud activation.

How to copy photos via Mi Cloud:

1. On the Xiaomi smartphone, open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure that the function "Sync Gallery" is enabled (if not, turn on and wait for the photo to be uploaded).
3. On your computer, go to i.mi.com and log in under the same account.
4. In the section "Gallery" select the desired photos and click "Download".

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with global firmware (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Global), sync with Mi Cloud may be disabled by default due to limitations GDPR. To enable it, go to Settings. → Memory. → Backup and activate Autoboot in Mi Cloud".

Advantages of the method:

• 🌍 Access to photos from any device (even if your phone is lost).
• 🔄 Automatic synchronization of new images.
• 📤 Selective uploading (for example, only photos, not videos).

Disadvantages:

• ☁️ Volume limit (5 GB free).
• 🕒 Long loading with a large number of photos.
• 🔒 Risk of data leakage (if the account is hacked).

3. Wireless transmission over Wi-Fi (without cable and cloud)

If you don't have a cable, and Mi Cloud is not suitable because of the space limit, you can copy photos over your local Wi-Fi network, and this will be done with standard MIUI tools or third-party applications like Send Anywhere or Feem, and we'll look at both.

Method 1: Built-in file transfer (MIUI 14/15)

Starting with MIUI 14, Xiaomi has a built-in Wi-Fi Direct file transfer feature that works without the Internet and does not require registration:

1. Open the Gallery, select a photo and click "Share".
2. In the list of options, select "Transfer Files" (or "Nearby Share" on global firmware).
3. On your computer, open your browser and go to the address that will appear on your phone screen (e.g. 192.168.x.x:8080).
4. Download the photo through the web interface.

Method 2: Send Anywhere App

If the built-in feature doesn’t work (e.g. on older Redmi 9A models), use Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app from Google Play on Xiaomi and on your computer (or open the web version of send-anywhere.com).
2. Select a photo in the gallery → “Send Anywhere” →
3. Click "Send" and you will get a 6-digit code.
4. Enter this code on the computer and the transfer will begin.

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If Wi-Fi transmission is interrupted, try connecting your phone and computer to the same 5GHz network, which is more stable than 2.4GHz.

4. Copy photos via Bluetooth (slowly but without internet)

Bluetooth isn’t the fastest way to do it, but it does work when you don’t have any cable or Wi-Fi on hand. Transfer speeds usually don’t exceed 1-2 MB/s, so it doesn’t work for a lot of photos, but it works on all Xiaomi models, including the old Redmi 4X or Mi A1.

How to copy photos via Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and computer (on Windows – via “Settings → Devices”).
2. Connect devices: on Xiaomi go to Settings → Bluetooth, find your computer and confirm the connection.
3. In the gallery, select a photo, click "Share" → "Bluetooth" and select your computer.
4. On the computer, confirm the file acceptance.

⚠️ Warning: Windows 11 may require you to install a driver for Xiaomi when you first connect. If the transfer does not start, check that the phone has enabled "Visibility for all devices" in Bluetooth settings".

5. Memory card use (for models with MicroSD support)

If your Xiaomi supports memory cards (Redmi Note 11, POCO M5, etc.), you can copy photos directly from the MicroSD without affecting internal memory.

• 📸 Photos are saved to the map by default (check in the camera settings).
• 🔄 You need to quickly transfer a large number of pictures (for example, after a vacation).
• 🛡️ You are afraid of damaging system files when connecting to the USB.

How to copy a photo from a memory card:

1. Remove the MicroSD from your phone (pre-mount it in Settings → Memory).
2. Insert the card into the card reader and connect to the computer.
3. Open the DCIM → Camera folder on the map and copy the files.

Important: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Xiaomi 12T), photos are saved to internal memory by default, even if the memory card is installed. To change this, open Camera → Settings → Save Place and select Memory Card.

6. Alternative methods: Google Photos, Telegram, Email

If the standard methods don't work, you can use third-party services. Let's look at three popular options:

Google Photo

The service automatically reserves photos in the cloud and allows you to download them to your computer:

• 📱 Install Google Photos from Play Market and log in to your account.
• 🔄 Enable autoboot in the app settings.
• 🖥️ On your computer, open photos.google.com, select a photo and click Download".

Restriction: 15GB is available free of charge (shared with Gmail and Google Drive).

Telegram

You can send a photo to your Save Messages:

• 📎 In the gallery, select a photo. → "Share" → Telegram → "Save messages".
• 💻 On your computer, open web.telegram.org, find the photos you sent and download them.

Advantage: There is no limit on the size (but there is a limit of 2 GB per file).

Email

Suitable for transferring a small number of photos:

• ✉️ In the gallery, select a photo. → "Share" → Post.
• 📧 Send a letter to your email and download attachments on your computer.

⚠️ Note: Most email services (Gmail, Mail.ru) limit the size of attachments to 25 MB. To bypass the restriction, archive photos in the Internet. ZIP.

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For regular copying of photos, it is better to use USB or Mi Cloud. Alternative methods (Telegram, Email) are suitable for a single transfer of a small number of pictures.

FAQ: Frequent questions about copying photos on Xiaomi