How to copy photos from Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to transfer the accumulated image archive to a more reliable medium. The device’s built-in memory is not rubber, and system files in conjunction with multimedia quickly occupy available space. Timely copying of photos allows not only freeing up gigabytes, but also creating a backup, protecting valuable photos from accidental removal or breakage of the gadget.

There are many ways to accomplish this task, and the choice of the specific method depends on your goals and the equipment available. USB-It's important to understand that the Android file system that runs the shell is the one that uses the shell to transfer large amounts of data quickly, or use wireless technology to quickly share multiple files. MIUI HyperOS, has its own features of storing media files.

In this article, we will take a closer look at each method, focusing on the nuances that are often overlooked, how to set up a connection correctly, where to look for hidden folders, and how to automate the process (backup). Whether you use Windows, macOS or Linux, you will find a solution that will allow you to keep your memories safe and sound.

Preparation of the smartphone and the choice of the method of transmission

Before you start the active phase of data transfer, you need to perform basic preparation of the device. Make sure that the screen is unlocked, as the security system Xiaomi can block access to the file system when the screen is locked. It is also worth checking the battery power: if you plan to transfer tens of gigabytes of information, the charge level should be sufficient so that the phone does not turn off at the most critical time.

The key is to understand where you plan to save files on your computer or external media. It is recommended to create a separate directory with a clear name in advance so as not to get confused with the data flow. Chaotic saving files to your desktop or to the Downloads folder can lead to the fact that after a month you will not be able to find the desired image among hundreds of others.

⚠️ Warning: If you are using a public computer or someone else's device, be sure to delete your data after you have finished your work.

The choice of method of transfer depends on the amount of data. For a regular backup of a couple of dozen images, a cloud storage or messenger will suit. If your goal is to completely clean up your phone’s memory before selling or after a vacation, when you’re counting on thousands of files, then the only sensible solution is to have a direct wired connection or use of a phone. OTG-storage.

Copying photos through USB-computer-mount

The fastest and most reliable way to transfer photos from Xiaomi to your computer is to use them. USB-This method does not require internet and provides a stable transmission speed that is limited only by the capabilities of your port and drive. To start, connect your smartphone to your PC with the original cable, preferably the one that came with the kit, since cheap analogues often only support charging without data transfer.

After you're physically connected, you'll notice the charging mode notification on the top, click on it, and select File Transfer (MTP) mode from the menu that appears, and the computer will recognize the device as an external drive, and a new drive will appear in My Computer with the name of your phone model.

Now you need to find the right folder inside the phone's file system. The standard way for camera shots is: Internal Shared Drive → DCIM → Camera. This is where all the photos taken on the main and front camera are stored. If you've used other shooting apps, they can create their own directories, but DCIM remains the primary storage.

Select the files or folders you want, click the right mouse button, and select Copy, then paste them into the prepared folder on your computer's hard drive. When you copy large amounts of data, the system can warn you about long transaction times -- that's OK. Interrupting the process can cause files to be corrupted, so wait until you're done.

Use of cloud services and synchronization

Cloud technology allows you to forget about wires and automate the process of saving photos. Xiaomi smartphones by default integrated Mi Cloud service, which offers a basic amount of free storage. To activate synchronization, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud and turn on the slider opposite the item “Gallery”.

In addition to the Xiaomi ecosystem, Google Photos is gaining popularity, pre-installed on all certified devices and offers a convenient search and sorting system. When you first launch, the app will offer to enable autoload, after which all new images will be unnoticed to fly to the cloud profile associated with your Google account.

There are third-party solutions, such as Yandex.Disk or Dropbox, which also have automatic photo backup features, and their advantage is the flexibility of setting up: for example, you can configure download only via Wi-Fi or only when you connect to a charger, which saves mobile traffic and battery power.

* Total volume for all Google services.

⚠️ Attention: Free cloud storage rates are limited. If you take thousands of high-resolution images, the place may run out and sync will stop.

Transfer files over Wi-Fi without installing applications

The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have built-in functionality for transferring files over a local network, eliminating the need to install third-party software. This method is ideal when there is no cable at hand, but there is a computer and a Wi-Fi router to which both devices are connected.

To start the function, open the standard Explorer app (yellow folder icon). In the top menu or in the Services section, find PC Access or Remote Control. Click Start and the system will give you an address in ftp://192.168.x.x:port.

Type this address into the address bar of any conductor on your computer (not in your browser!) and the phone’s file system will open, and you can copy photos just like you would from a regular flash drive. The transfer speed depends on your router’s power and the Wi-Fi standard (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).

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For maximum Wi-Fi speed, make sure that both your phone and your computer are connected to a 5GHz network, which is especially true when copying video in 4K resolution.

Use of the USB-accumulator OTG-cable

If you don't have access to a computer, but you have a regular USB flash drive, you can copy the photo directly to it. This will require support for USB OTG (On-The-Go) technology, which is present in all modern Xiaomi smartphones. If your USB drive has a USB-A connector (standard large), you will need an OTG adapter.

Connect the flash drive to your phone via an adapter. The system automatically detects the external device and will issue a notification. Open Explorer, find photos in your phone's memory, highlight them, and select Move or Copy. As your destination, specify your destination. USB-flash drive, which will appear in the list of available storage facilities.

The good thing about this method is that it's completely standalone. You can create a physical backup on your journey just by plugging in a flash drive. But remember the file system format: Android works best with FAT32 or exFAT. If the flash drive is formatted in NTFS, the phone can offer formatting, which will delete all the data on it.

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Use of the OTG-Flash drives are the fastest way to create a physical backup without the help of a computer or the Internet.

Working with hidden folders and garbage in the gallery

When you copy photos, users often find that there are hundreds of files on the computer: screenshots of the interface, thumbnails, application logos and messenger cache. To avoid clogging the archive, you need to know which folders to ignore.

Here is a list of directories that don’t usually require copying on PC:

• 📁 Android/data — here are stored application data, cache and temporary files.
• 📁 MIUI — System shell folder containing themes and logs.
• 📁 ThunderStore is a folder of the bootloader, where temporary files from browsers often fall.
• 📁 Screenshots – Screenshots if you don’t need to save your action history on the screen.

Also worth paying attention to the.thumbnails folder (it is hidden, visible when you turn on the display of hidden files), it stores thumbnails for the gallery, and copying them to the computer is absolutely meaningless - they will take up space, but do not carry value.

For easy navigation, you can use a built-in filter in the explorer. Click three dots in the corner and select Sort or Filter to hide system files, which will make it easier to visually find the right albums with personal photos.

So to sum up, you can say that the choice of method depends on your specific situation. For daily use, you can use cloud synchronization, which works in the background. USB-And for emergency data storage in the field, it's indispensable. OTG-By combining these methods, you'll be able to keep your digital memories safe.

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Regular 3-2-1 backups (three copies, on two different media, one remotely) ensure that you never lose your photos.