Xiaomi’s modern smartphones accumulate gigabytes of valuable data, from high-resolution family photos to work documents and instant messenger correspondence. The device’s internal memory tends to end at the most inopportune moment, and the owner faces the question of backing up information. Transferring files to a personal computer is the most reliable way to free up space and create an insurance copy in case of a gadget breakdown.
The copying process may seem complicated to a beginner, but the ecosystem is a bit of a challenge. MIUI And HyperOS provides a lot of built-in tools to do this. IT-There are several proven methods, each of which has its own advantages depending on the amount of information transmitted and the availability of a cable at hand.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current methods of data transfer, from classic USB connection to wireless technologies. You will learn about the nuances of working with file managers, the features of synchronization through cloud services and methods for creating full backups of the system.
Preparing the device and computer for data transmission
Before you start copying files directly, you need to make sure that both devices are ready to work. USB-cable: it must be whole, without creases and oxidation on the contacts, using the original cable that came with the device, guarantees maximum data transfer speed and stability of the connection. Cheap analogues often only support charging or operate at low standard speeds. USB 2.0.
The computer also requires free disk space that exceeds the size of the data being copied. SSD-The storage device called it, for example,"Backup_Xiaomi_Date", If you use a laptop, make sure it is connected to the power grid, as active transmission of large amounts of data can consume significant energy.
On the smartphone itself, you should free up RAM by closing the background applications, and make sure that the battery charge is at least 30-40%. Although the copying process is not energy intensive, a sudden shutdown of the device can damage the transmitted files or malfunction of the file system. It is also worth checking whether the lock screen is on and if you know the unlock password, since the system can request an access confirmation on the first connection.
Method 1: Classical connection through USB-cable
The fastest and most reliable method of transferring information is the direct connection of a smartphone to a PC via a computer. USB-After physically connecting the cable to the computer port and the corresponding phone connector, pay attention to the smartphone screen. By default, the device can go into "Charge Only" mode, which will prevent the computer from seeing the file system.
To activate the data mode, lower the notification curtain and find the system message "Charge via USB." Click on it to reveal additional options, and select File Transfer or Android Auto. In some versions of the firmware, this mode may be called MTP (Media Transfer Protocol).
On your computer, open a Explorer (in Windows it's "My Computer" or "This Computer"), where a new device with your model's name, such as the Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 13, should appear in the device section. Inside, you'll see internal memory and, if available, a microSD memory card. Copying is done by the standard Drag-and-Drop method: just drag the folders from your phone to your hard drive.
It’s important to remember the structure of Android folders to find the files you want. Photos are usually stored in the DCIM/Camera directory, downloads are stored in the Download folder, and instant messenger documents can be scattered across different directories, often in the Android/media folder. Be careful when deleting files from your phone after copying, so as not to erase system data.
Method 2: Wireless transmission over FTP and Wi-Fi
If you don't have a cable or the ports on your computer are busy, you can use the built-in Wi-Fi file transfer function. This method is convenient because it does not require physical connections and allows you to work with files directly from Windows Explorer.
To activate the function, open the standard Explorer app on your Xiaomi smartphone. On the side menu or at the top of the screen, find the Remote Devices or FTP section, then click Launch. The screen will show the address you want to enter into the Explorer address bar on your computer. The address looks something like this: ftp://192.168.1.55:2121.
Once you enter the address in Windows Explorer, your phone's file system will open, and the speed of the transfer depends on the quality of the Wi-Fi signal and the support of Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 standards by your router. This method is great for quickly transferring several documents or photos, but it is better to use a cable to back up hundreds of gigabytes.
What if your computer can’t see your phone on FTP?
If the address doesn't open, check the settings of the Windows firewall. Often, an antivirus or system firewall blocks incoming connections using the protocol. FTP. Try temporarily disabling protection or adding an exception rule for private networks, and make sure that the router’s settings do not include client isolation, which prevents devices on the network from seeing each other.> Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers its own Mi Cloud cloud storage, which is deeply integrated into the system, ideal for those who want to set up automatic backup without user involvement. Data that enters the cloud will be accessed from any device that has Internet access, including a PC via a browser. → Mi Account. → Mi Cloud. You can activate synchronization of contacts, messages, notes, voice recorder and, most importantly, gallery. When you turn on gallery synchronization, all new photos are automatically uploaded to Xiaomi servers. To access them on your computer, you just go to i.mi.com and log in to your account. Free user is provided with 5 GB of space, which may not be enough for a full backup of media files. In this case, a paid tariff or the use of alternative cloud services, such as Google Photo or Yandex.Disk, which also have applications in the GetApps store or Google Play Automobile storage. Specialized backup software For users who need to create a full copy of the system or manage data in a structured way, there are specialized utilities. The official Mi PC Suite program was once the main tool, but now it is outdated and does not work well with new versions of Android. It is replaced by more versatile solutions. One of the best alternatives is the XiaomiTool V2 program or the standard Windows backup tool. Many users also prefer time-tested utils like MyPhoneExplorer, which is great friends with Android. These programs allow you to make contact backups, calendar, SMS and even to avoid the official application registry, always with the help of its developers. The process of backing up through these programs usually takes longer than just copying files, because it's archiving data, but the result is worth it -- you get a structured file from which to restore the phone to its original state. Transfer method Speed Convenience Best application USB Cable High (up to) 400 MB/s) Requires cable First copy, large volumes FTP / Wi-Fi Average (10-50 MB/s) Wireless Operational work with documents Mi Cloud / Google Depends on the Internet Automatic Photos, contacts, constant Bluetooth synchronization Low (< 3 Simple but slow Transfer of a pair of files here and now" ⚠️ Note: When copying a folder Android/data on new versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14) You may be facing access restrictions. The security system prohibits direct access to this directory even when connecting to the USB. To circumvent this limitation, you may need to use file managers with support for special permissions (for example, Total Commander with plugins) or connect your phone in debugging mode. USB. Sometimes the data transfer process may or may not start at all. One of the common problems is that the computer sees the phone only as a charging device. USB-To activate this menu, click 7 times on the build number in the About Phone section. Inside the developer menu, find Configuration. USB by default and set the value "File Transfer". Try replacing them. USB-port on your computer: ports on the back of the system unit (direct to the motherboard) are more stable than ports on the front panel or through the motherboard USB-If the device drivers are not installed automatically, go to Windows Device Manager. Find the device with the yellow exclamation point, right-click and select Update driver" →"Automatic search. In rare cases, manual driver installation is required. ADB from the official Google website. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Why does the computer see the phone but the folders are empty? Most likely, the phone is connected in Charge Only mode. USB and select "File Transfer" (MTP). Also check if the phone screen is unlocked. Can you copy passwords and app settings on a PC? Just copying files -- no. Passwords and settings are stored in secure areas of the system, and to save them, you need to do a full backup through the Mi Cloud or use the "Reserve and Restore" function in the phone settings, creating a backup file that can then be copied to the PC. How to copy WhatsApp correspondence to your computer? Direct copying of WhatsApp folders may not restore correspondence with reinstall. The best way is to back up inside WhatsApp itself (Settings for WhatsApp folders). → chat → Backup) on Google Drive. Local copies of the database are in the folder Android/media/com.whatsapp, But you need some tools to read them. Is it safe to use computers to copy data? It's not recommended. Public PCs can have keyloggers or viruses that steal access to the file system of connected devices. After using someone else's computer, be sure to perform a full antivirus check of the phone.