How to enable USB data transfer mode on Xiaomi: instructions for all models

Why is Xiaomi not defined as a drive when connected to a PC?

You connected Xiaomi or Redmi to your computer via USB-And you can see charging instead of just getting the files you want, and this is a problem that many people know, because by default, smartphones automatically choose charging mode over data mode, and there are many reasons why: From incorrect settings in the developer menu to damaged cable or outdated drivers on the PC.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to enable data transfer mode (MTP/PTP) on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices POCO — From basic to advanced, you'll learn how to set your phone up through the notification curtain, the developer's settings, and what to do if your computer still can't see the files. MIUI, Often ignored in standard instructions.

Before you go to the settings, make sure you use the original one. USB-Cheap, uncertified wires often only support charging, not data transmission. USB On your computer, try connecting to another connector (especially if you use it). USB 3.0).

Method 1: Quickly switching through the notification curtain

The easiest way is to use the notification bar, and when you connect Xiaomi to your PC, you get a connection type alert at the top of the screen.

1. Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable.
2. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification curtain.
3. Find a notification that says Charge via USB or Connected as... and tap it.
4. In the window that opens, select File Transfer (MTP) or Photo Transfer (PTP).

If there is no connection notification in the curtain, check:

• 🔌 Cable and port - try another one USB-plug-in.
• 📱 Whether the screen is unlocked – on some Xiaomi models, the notification only appears after unlocking.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes a banal reboot helps.

If the computer still can't see the files after selecting MTP, the driver may be the problem, and we'll talk about this in the section on PC setup.

Method 2: Configure USB mode in developer settings

On some MIUI firmware (especially older or custom ones), the standard USB connection menu may be hidden or not work properly, and the developer mode, where you can manually specify the default connection type, will help.

First, you need to activate the developer’s parameters:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row.
3. You will be a developer of the book.

Now we move on to the USB configuration:

1. Return to the main Settings menu and select Additional → For Developers.
2. Scroll down to the Network section and find the default USB configuration.
3. Select File Transfer (MTP) or Photo Transfer (PTP).
4. Connect your phone to your PC – now the mode must activate automatically.

⚠️ Note: If the developer menu does not have a configuration item USB default, so your firmware doesn't support this option. MIUI Up to the latest version or use alternative methods from this article.

Method 3: Manually enable MTP via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can force MTP to be enabled via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is suitable for advanced users, as it requires additional tools to be installed on a PC.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Turn on USB debugging on your phone: Go to Settings → For developers. Activate Debugging over USB.

Connect the phone.

Open the command line.

adb

Enter the command:

adb shell settings put global usb_configuration 2

Where 2 is the MTP mode code (for PTP use 3).

Reconnect. USB-cable

If nothing changes after you run the command, check if the antivirus or firewall is blocking access on your PC. Also make sure there is no exclamation point next to your Xiaomi in Windows Device Manager.

Problems with drivers on PC: how to fix?

Often, a computer doesn't see Xiaomi as a drive because of the lack or incorrect operation of drivers, especially for Windows.

For Windows:

1. Download the official drivers from Xiaomi’s website: Go to the MIUI support page. Select your phone model and download the Mi PC Suite or drivers in the Tools section.

Install the drivers manually:

• Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
• Find a device with a yellow exclamation point (usually under Other Devices or Portable Devices).
• Right-click → Update the driver → Search for drivers on this computer.
• Please indicate the path to the downloaded drivers.

For macOS/Linux:

These systems usually don’t require additional drivers, but sometimes you need to install Android-file-transfer (for macOS) or mtp-tools (for Linux).

sudo apt install mtp-tools libmtp-common

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi drivers are still undetected after installing, try turning off fast charging in your phone settings. Sometimes high charging current interferes with correct data transfer.

Comparison of Connection Modes: MTP vs PTP vs MIDI

When connecting via USB, Xiaomi offers several modes, let’s see how they differ and which one to choose:

On most Xiaomi devices, it is better to choose MTP by default, as it provides access to all files. PTP comes in handy if the MTP doesn’t work or you connect to an old Windows XP computer.

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If you need to copy large files (for example, videos in the file) 4K), But the transmission is too slow, try to use it. FTP-server via Wi-Fi. Install the phone app FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer and activate it FTP-It's faster than speed. USB.

What if your computer sees your phone but doesn’t see your files?

Xiaomi is defined as a device, but folders are empty or not open, and here are the main reasons and solutions:

• 🔍 Check the permissions: On some firmware MIUI File access is blocked due to privacy settings. Go to Settings → Annexes → Permits → File management and make sure access is allowed for Media and Memory.
• 📁 Hidden Files: In Windows, enable the display of hidden files in Explorer → species → Hidden elements. Often Xiaomi system folders are hidden by default.
• 🔄 Resetting settings USB: In the developer menu, find a configuration reset USB Then you activate it. Then reconnect the phone.
• 🛠️ Faulty File System: If the phone was disconnected from the PC incorrectly, the file system could have damaged. Connect Xiaomi to a PC, open This Computer, right-click on the device, and select Properties → Service → Check it out.

If none of these methods worked, try updating your firmware through Settings → System Update. Sometimes USB bugs are fixed in newer versions of MIUI.

Alternative ways to transfer files without USB

If the USB connection never worked, don't despair! There are several alternative methods:

• 🌐 Cloud services: Upload files to Google Drive, Mi Cloud or Yandex.Disk, then download them to your PC.
• 📶 FTP Wi-Fi: Install on the phone FX File Explorer or File Explorer ES Conductor, turn on. FTP-server and connect to it through Windows Explorer at the address ftp://[IP-phone].
• 📎 Bluetooth: Slowly but without internet, suitable for transferring multiple photos.
• 🔗 Transfer apps: Xender, Send Anywhere or LocalSend allow you to send files between devices over a local network.

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If you need to regularly transfer large amounts of data (for example, videos or backups), consider buying a card reader for microSD. USB or wifi.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer to Xiaomi