How to connect Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus to your computer: all the ways + fixing

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus

vince

USB 3.1

wirelessly

MIUI

MIUI 9/10

5 Proven Methods

MTP

ADB

Redmi 5 Plus by default blocks access to memory when connecting to a PC USB, Even after unlocking, many people have a device not recognized error because they don't have Qualcomm drivers. We'll go through every step from basic setup to solving rare bugs, like when the phone is charging but not defined as a drive.

In the article you will find:

• 🔌 Standard connection via USB (unlockable MTP)
• 💻 Installation of drivers for Windows 7/10/11 (including manual)
• 📶 Wireless file transfer via Mi Drop and FTP-server
• 🔧 Error resolution: “Device not recognized", "MTP-not installed"
• 🔄 Alternative means: ADB, Fastboot and cloud services

1. Preparation of the smartphone: unlocking the developer mode

Before you connect Redmi 5 Plus to your computer, you need to activate the developer mode and enable debugging. USB. Without this, the PC will not be able to recognize the device as a drive.

Instructions for MIUI 9/10/11:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row (you will receive a notification "You became a developer").
3. Return to the main Settings menu – there will be a new section Additional Settings → For developers.
4. Activate the switches: 🔓 Debugging by USB 🔄 Factory unlocking OEM (if you plan to firmware)

⚠️ Note: If after activation of the developer mode the option Debugging by USB If it goes missing, check if there are cache cleaning apps on your phone (like Clean Master.

After debugging is enabled, connect your phone to your PC. On the smartphone screen, you will see a request "Allow debugging by USB?" — Please confirm by ticking the box "Always allow from this computer".

Activate the Developer Mode|Enable debugging on USB|Allow access on the phone when connected|Install drivers on PC (if Windows)

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2. Connection through USB: setup MTP error-solving

The standard method is to connect via cable USB Type-C (with Redmi 5 Plus comes cable) USB However, even with the right setup, Windows may not recognize the device. Consider the step-by-step instructions and typical errors.

Step 1: Selecting a connection mode

After connecting the cable to the PC:

1. Swipe down the notification panel on your phone.
2. Tap on the notification "Charging via USB".
3. Select a mode: 📁 File transfer (MTP) — memory-access. 📱 Transmission of photo (PTP) — if MTP doesn't work. 🔌 Charging only – blocks access to data.

Step 2: Install drivers for Windows

If the PC doesn't see the Redmi 5 Plus, there are likely no drivers for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset.

• 🔗 Official Xiaomi drivers: link (section "Driver").
• 🔧 Qualcomm Universal Drivers: Qualcomm website (registration required).

For manual installation:

1. Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
2. Find a device with a yellow exclamation point (usually under "Other Devices" or "Ports" COM").
3. PKM → Update the driver → Search on this computer.
4. Specify the path to the downloaded driver file.

⚠️ Warning: Windows 7 may require you to disable driver digital signature verification. CMD (on behalf of the administrator):

bcdedit.exe /set nointegritychecks on

After installing the drivers, restart the PC.

3. Alternative ways of connecting: Wi-Fi and FTP

If USB-The connection is broken or the cable is damaged, you can transfer files over Wi-Fi:

• 📲 Mi Drop – a proprietary application from Xiaomi for transferring files between devices.
• 🌐 FTP-Server – a universal method that works through any file manager (e.g., a file manager, ES Conductor).
• ☁️ Cloud services: Google Drive, Mi Cloud or Yandex Drive.

Method 1: Mi Drop (without root)

Mi Drop is pre-installed on Redmi 5 Plus to transfer files

1. Open Mi Drop on your phone and PC (download for Windows: link).
2. On the phone, select "Send", on the PC - "Get".
3. Scan it. QR-code from the PC screen or connect via Hotspot.

Transmission speed: ~5-10 MB/s (depending on the router).

Method 2: FTP-server (for experienced users)

If you need to get full access to the file system (for example, for backup), set up FTP-server:

1. Install. ES Solid Explorer or Explorer from Google Play.
2. In the application settings, find "FTP-server and activate it.
3. Remember the address of the form ftp://192.168.x.x:3721.
4. On the PC, open "Conductor" → enter the address in the address bar → Enter your login/password (often anonymous by default).

⚠️ Attention: FTP-Do not transmit sensitive data (passwords, bank documents) over public Wi-Fi networks.

💡

If FTP-The server is not connecting, check if it is blocked by Windows firewall or antivirus. Add an exception for port 3721 (or another specified in the application settings).

4. Connect via ADB and Fastboot (for firmware and debugging)

If you need not just to copy files, but to flash Redmi 5 Plus, unlock the bootloader or get root access, you will need to connect via the Internet. ADB (Android Debug Bridge or Fastboot.

Installation ADB PC-only

Download the Google Platform Tools:

1. Go to the download page and download the archive for your OS.
2. Unpack it in a folder. C:\adb.
3. Open up. CMD in this folder (Shift) + PCM → "Open the team window").
4. Connect the phone with the debugging enabled USB enter:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, the connection is successful.

Teams to work with ADB

To work in Fastboot mode (for example, to unlock the bootloader):

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Down + Power before the Fastboot logo appears.
3. Connect to the PC and type in:

fastboot devices

If the device is determined, you can sew TWRP or unlock the bootloader.

💡

The Redmi 5 Plus bootloader requires official permission from Xiaomi, which can be obtained through the Mi Unlock Tool app, but the process takes up to 720 hours (30 days) of waiting.

5. Solving common problems

Even when set up correctly, connecting Redmi 5 Plus to your PC can be unstable, and let’s look at common errors and their solutions.

Mistake 1: "MTP-not installed"

Causes and solutions:

• 🔌 Damaged cable – try another one (original from Xiaomi or certified) USB 2.0).
• 🖥️ Driver conflict – remove all previously installed Xiaomi drivers through Device Manager and install them again.
• 📱 Failure MIUI — Restart your phone or reset your settings in Settings → Additionally. → Resetting settings (without data loss).

Error 2: Phone Charges, but Not Defined as Drive

Possible causes:

• 🔒 Port Lock – Check if Charging Only is on in the notification curtain.
• 🛠️ The connector is damaged. USB — Try cleaning your phone port with a toothpick (not a metal object!).
• 🔄 Protocol failure MTP — enter ADB: adb shell setprop persist.sys.usb.config mtp,adb Then restart the phone.

Mistake. 3: Windows 10/11 Always install drivers, but the device is not working

Decision:

1. Turn off automatic driver installation: gpedit.msc → Computer configuration → Administrative templates → System system → Installation of the device → Prohibit installation of devices not described by other policy settings
2. Install drivers manually (see Section 2).

6. Connection to macOS and Linux

On Mac and Linux, Redmi 5 Plus is easier to connect than on Windows, but there are nuances.

For macOS:

Instructions:

1. Install Android File Transfer (official software from Google): download.
2. Connect the phone in MTP mode.
3. Open Android File Transfer – your phone files will appear in the program window.

⚠️ Note: On macOS Catalina and later, you may need to allow access to System settings → Security and confidentiality.

For Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):

Install packages for support MTP:

sudo apt install mtp-tools mtpfs

Then connect the phone and use the file manager (Nautilus, Dolphin) or terminal:

mtp-detect | grep idProduct # Connection check


go-mtpfs /media/redmi5plus # Mounting (requires go-mtpfs utility)

If the device is not defined, add a rule for udev:

sudo nano /etc/udev/rules.d/51-android.rules

Add a line (replace) ID_VENDOR You can find out through LSUSB):

SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="2717", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"

Restart the PC.

7.Cloud alternatives: when physical connectivity is not possible

If none of the methods work (for example, the connector is broken). USB), Use cloud services:

For automatic synchronization:

1. On the phone, open Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on sync for Gallery, Contacts and Notes.
3. On PC, go to i.mi.com and download the files.

💡

To speed up downloads to Mi Cloud, connect to 5GHz Wi-Fi (4G) speed-limited ~2 MB/s.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi connection 5 Plus to PC