Why your computer doesn’t see video from your Xiaomi phone: a full analysis of the causes and solutions

You connected Xiaomi to your computer via USB, but video files persist in not showing up in the Explorer? Or folders are empty, even though the phone files take up gigabytes of memory? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphones — and it can have a dozen reasons, from trivial settings to hardware failures. 80% of the time, MTP malfunctions, inappropriate drivers or “curved” Windows codecs, but sometimes the root of the evil lies in the proprietary firmware MIUI.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible scenarios where a computer doesn’t see a Xiaomi video, from the elementary (“forgot to unlock the screen”) to the exotic (damage to the F2FS file system on new models), you’ll get step-by-step instructions with pictures, a format compatibility table, and even ways to restore files if they’re gone, and at the end, an FAQ with answers to users’ most frequent questions.

1. Checking the basic settings: USB-screen-setting

Start with the obvious: 9 out of 10 problems are solved at this stage.When you connect Xiaomi to your PC, a notification with a choice of mode should appear on the phone screen. USB-If it's not connected, the computer won't be able to physically access the files.

What to do:

  • 🔓 Unlock the phone screen. On Xiaomi models 12/13/14 s MIUI 14+ The lock automatically disables the data transfer USB.
  • 📱 Swipe down the notification bar and click on the option "USB for transferring files" (or "charging through" USB"). Select File Transfer (MTP).
  • 🔄 Reconnect the cable. Use the original. USB-C cable POCO F5 Redmi Note 12: Cheap cables often don’t support data transfer).

If there is no MTP in the list of modes, then:

  • 🚫 The phone's debugging is off. USB (included in the settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
  • 🔧 Installed custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience), where MTP defaulted.
📊 What kind of smartphone you Xiaomi?
Redmi Note 10/11/12
POCO F3/F4/F5
Mi 11/12/13
Another Xiaomi
Not Xiaomi.

2. Problems with MTP drivers on Windows

If the computer makes a connection sound, but the Xiaomi device does not appear in "This Computer", the drivers are to blame. Windows 10/11 often installs a universal MTP driver that conflicts with MIUI 13/14 firmware.

How to check:

  1. Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
  2. Deploy the "Portable Devices" or "Other Devices" branch.
  3. If there is a device with an exclamation point (for example, Xiaomi MTP Device), the driver does not work.

Decisions:

  • 🔄 Update the driver manually: Right-click on the device → "Update the driver. Select "Search for drivers on this computer." Click "Select from list" and install MTP USB Device (producer - Microsoft).

Install the official Xiaomi drivers

  • Download Mi PC Suite (official synchronization software).
  • Start the installer – it will automatically install the desired drivers.