How to copy an image from a gallery on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to transfer photos from the device to a computer or another phone. The standard procedure for copying files may seem simple, but the MIUI or HyperOS shell has its own features that can confuse the beginner.

There are several proven methods for doing this, each of which is suitable for different use cases: you can use a cable to quickly transfer large amounts of data or wireless technology to send a couple of pictures. Understanding the folder structure and access rights of Android will help you not only copy, but also organize the media library competently.

In this guide, we will look at all the current ways to transfer images, from the classic USB connection to cloud services, and we will also focus on the typical errors when the computer can not see the device, and we will show you how to fix this situation in a few minutes.

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

Before you start copying, you need to decide on the tools, and if you need to move gigabytes of photos, the smartest solution is to use them. USB-This will provide maximum data speed and stability of connection.

It is important to understand that modern versions of Android pay special attention to the security of user data, so the first time you connect to a new computer, a request for permission to access files will appear on the smartphone screen, and ignoring this step will make copying impossible, since the device will remain in “Charge Only” mode.

⚠️ Note: When using public computers to copy photos, always choose File Transfer mode only after checking the system for viruses.

The choice of the specific method also depends on the operating system of the receiving device. For communication with Windows or macOS, the algorithms may differ slightly, especially in terms of drivers and the visibility of file systems. Below is a comparative table of methods that will help you choose the best option.

Copying photos through USB-computer-mount

This is the gold standard for large amounts of data, and you'll need a serviceable cable, preferably original or certified, that supports data transfer, not just charging. USB-port.

Once connected, unlock your smartphone screen. A USB mode notification will appear on the top. Click on it and select File Transfer (or File Transfer/MTP). If you select Charge Only, your computer won't see your photos, and all further action will be meaningless.

Now open "My Computer" on Windows or "Finder" on macOS. Your device will appear as an external drive. Go on the path Internal Shared Drive → DCIM → Camera. It is in this folder that MIUI defaults to save all the pictures taken on the main camera.

Select the images you want, right-click and select Copy, then paste them into a folder on your computer's hard drive. When working with thousands of files, the process can take time, so don't turn off the cable until you've finished.

Use of Google and Mi Cloud Services

Cloud technology allows you to forget about wires and automatically save your memories. Google Photos is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones. Just log in to your account and enable Autoboot and Sync in the application settings.

Once this option is enabled, all new images will be automatically sent to the cloud, and to copy them to another device or computer, just go to photos.google.com from any browser, which is especially useful if your phone is lost or broken, but you need to get the photo urgently.

The alternative is the Mi Cloud, which is deeply integrated into HyperOS, and allows you to sync not only photos, but also contacts, notes and settings, but the amount of free storage is limited, unlike Google, which gives 15 GB.

You don't need to install any additional software to upload photos from the cloud to your computer, and the web interfaces of both services allow you to select photos by date, album or person and download them from the archive, making cloud storage one of the most flexible solutions.

Wireless transmission via Mi Share and Bluetooth

If you don't have a cable at hand and the Internet is unstable, direct wireless technologies come to the rescue. Mi Share (formerly known as Mi Drop) is an analogue of Apple's AirDrop, running on Android. It allows you to transfer files between Xiaomi smartphones and other devices that support this feature at an enormous speed.

To transfer, open the gallery, select the images you want, and click the "Share" button. From the list of available methods, select Mi Share. The phone will start searching for devices nearby. Make sure that the receiving device also has this module on and visibility is open to everyone.

⚠️ Note: When transmitting via Mi Share or Bluetooth, do not lock the smartphone screen during the process.The Android system may suspend the background activity of the application and the transfer will interrupt.

Classic Bluetooth also stays in line, although it works much better than the medray, and its advantage is versatility: it is found in almost any smartphone, tablet and laptop. For large videos, this method is not suitable because of the slow speed, but for several documents or photos, it is quite acceptable.

When using Bluetooth, it's important to remember that devices pair together. When you first communicate, you need to confirm the code on both devices. In the future, devices will recognize each other automatically, which will speed up the process. Files received via Bluetooth are usually saved to the Bluetooth folder in internal memory.

Working with file manager and hidden folders

The standard MIUI Explorer or Files app provides advanced image management capabilities, so you can not only copy, but also sort a photo by type, date or size, and it's useful when you need to find a particular image among thousands of others.

Often users can't find the images they want because they're in hidden folders or messenger folders, like WhatsApp or Telegram images being stored separately from the camera shots, and the path to them is usually Android/media/com.whatsapp or Tencent/MicroMsg.

Using a explorer, you can create your own folder structure for archiving. Select a group of photos, click "copy" or "move" and specify a new address. This is a great way to clean up the gallery before you clear the memory or flash the device.

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Use the Hide Files feature in MIUI Explorer to protect your personal photos from prying eyes, and access to them will only be possible after you enter your password or fingerprint.

The file manager also allows you to connect to your computer via Wi-Fi (FTP function), and if you turn this option on in the explorer, you get an address that you want to type into the address bar of your browser on your PC, which turns your smartphone into a wireless flash drive without installing drivers.

Problem Solving: The computer can't see the phone

One of the most common problems is that you have a cable connection (charging is going on), but there are no folders with files. 90% of the time it's in mode. USB. Lower the notification curtain, find the notification Charging through USB" And click on it. The menu can be hidden if you have notification filtering enabled.

The second reason is a faulty cable. Many cheap cables are just for charging and don't have data lines. Try replacing the cable with an original or quality cable. USB-port on the computer, preferably located behind the system unit (on the motherboard).

If the problem persists, you may not have MTP drivers (Media Transfer Protocol) on your computer. In Windows Device Manager, your device may appear as "Unknown Device", in which case installing the Mi PC Suite program or the universal Google USB Driver driver will help.

⚠️ Note: Do not use data for transmission USB-Hubs and extension cords are low quality, and they often cause a voltage drop, which causes the phone to constantly reconnect, which can damage the file system.

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If the computer does not see the phone, consistently check: USB mode in the notification curtain, serviceability of the cable, the presence of MTP drivers in Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)