The computer does not see Xiaomi Redmi 5: all the reasons and ways to fix

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is a popular smartphone, but even it is not immune to problems with connection to the computer: did you insert a cable and the device is not detected? Or the phone is charging, but the files are not transferred? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi 5 (codenamed rosy), and its causes can be hidden in the settings of the smartphone and in malfunction of the equipment.

80 percent of the time, software solves the problem by updating drivers, changing USB mode, or debugging, but sometimes physical damage is to blame, such as a worn cable, a dirty connector, or a faulty port on a PC. In this article, we’ll look at all the possible scenarios for Redmi 5, including the rare cases where a phone is defined as an “unknown device” or does not respond at all.

If you've tried rebooting both devices and changing cables, don't rush to bring your phone to service. It's probably a typical problem that can be solved in 5-10 minutes. Let's start with the simplest one.

1. Verification of physical connection

The first thing to rule out is hardware malfunctions, and even if the cable looks complete, it could have been worn or oxidized inside, especially for Redmi 5, which has a microUSB connector that is less resistant to mechanical damage than the current Type-C.

Here's what to do:

• 🔌 Try another cable – preferably original from Xiaomi or certified (marked) USB Cheap Chinese cords often don't transmit data, they only charge.
• 📱 Connect the phone to another USB-Ports on the front of the system unit often don't communicate well. On laptops, try ports from different sides.
• 🧹 Clean the Redmi 5 connector from dust and debris. Use a wooden toothpick (not metal!) or compressed air. Don't blow with your mouth - moisture from your breath can cause contact corrosion.
• 💻 Connect your phone to another computer (or even charger) if it doesn't charge at all, the problem is the smartphone connector.

If you still don't see Redmi 5 after this manipulation, you can go to the software settings, but first check if the phone is not on the connection notification, and if so, then there is a physical connection, and the driver or data mode is the problem.

2.Setting up USB mode on the phone

By default, Xiaomi Redmi 5 when connected to a PC can work in one of three modes:

1. Charging only - data is not transmitted.
2. File Transfer (MTP) is the standard mode for sharing media and documents.
3. USB-Modem – The phone works as an internet source.

If you don’t see a connection notification or can’t select a mode, do the following:

1. Unlock the Redmi 5 screen (on a locked phone, the USB may not work).
2. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
3. Click on the notification “Charge via USB” (or “Connected as...”).
4. Select "File Transfer" (MTP).

If no notice appears:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and computer.
• 📲 Check if Do Not Disturb or Saving Charge is activated – they can block USB-linkage.

💡

On some firmware MIUI notice USB-To see it, swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open the full notification panel.

3. Updating and installing drivers on PC

If a computer makes a connection sound, but Redmi 5 doesn’t show up in “This Computer,” the problem is likely drivers, especially for Windows 7/10, where drivers for Xiaomi are often incorrectly installed.

Here’s how to check and update drivers:

1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
2. Open the section "Portable devices" or "Other devices".
3. If there is a Redmi 5 with a yellow exclamation point, right-click on it and select “Update driver”.
4. Select Auto Search. If Windows doesn't find the driver, download it manually from Xiaomi's official website ("Drivers").

Windows 11 may require you to disable driver digital signature verification:

1. Click Win + I, go to Update & Security → Recovery.
2. In the section "Special download options" click "Reboot now".
3. After the reboot, select “Find and troubleshoot” → “Additional options” → “Boot options” → “Disable mandatory driver signature verification.”

If Redmi 5 is still undetectable, try installing the universal ADB driver:

https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools

Open Device Manager|Check if Redmi 5 is on the list|Update the driver manually|Install ADB-driver (if necessary)|Reboot the PC-->

4. Enable USB debugging and developer mode

If you connect Redmi 5 to firmware, unlock the bootloader, or use ADB, it may be necessary to activate developer mode and USB debugging.This also helps in cases where the phone is defined as an "unknown device."

Instructions:

1. Open “Settings” → “About the phone”.
2. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times until the notification “You are a developer!” appears.
3. Return to the main Settings menu and open a new section for developers.
4. Activate the switches: “Debugging by USB” “Unlocking OEM” (if you plan to firmware)

Redmi 5

Then try reconnecting the device. If you use ADB, check the connection with the command:

adb devices

The response should show the serial number of your Redmi 5.

5.Firmware and MIUI problems

Sometimes Xiaomi Redmi 5 is not recognized due to firmware bugs or conflicts with MIUI.

• 📱 Custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience).
• 🔄 Old versions MIUI (below MIUI 10).
• 🔒 Phones with unlocked bootloader, but incorrectly installed drivers.

Here's what we can do:

If you recently updated MIUI and then you had problems with USB, try rolling back to the previous version.

1. Download the archive with the desired version of MIUI for Redmi 5 (codename rosy) from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website.
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root folder of the phone.
3. Open the Update app on your phone, click on the three dots in the top right corner and select “Select firmware file.”

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If after updating MIUI phone stopped being determined by USB, first try resetting network settings: Settings → System and device → Resetting settings → Network settings Reset.

6 Problems on the computer side

Sometimes it's not the phone that's the fault, it's the operating system settings. Let's look at the typical scenarios for different OSes.

Windows 10/11

• 🖥️ Antivirus conflict: temporarily disable protection (for example, Avast or Kaspersky often block) USB-device).
• 🔌 Saving energy USB: Open the Device Manager» → «Controllers USB» → «Root USB-hub» → «Power management" and uncheck the box with "Allow shutdown...».
• 🔄 Service failure: Run the command line on behalf of the administrator and execute: net stop winnat net start winnat

macOS

On Mac, Redmi 5 may not be detected due to the lack of MTP drivers.

• 🍎 Android File Transfer (official software from Google): download here.
• 🔧 OpenMTP (alternative to new versions of macOS): GitHub.

Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, etc.)

On Linux, you may need to install MTP packages:

sudo apt install mtp-tools libmtp-common libmtp-runtime

If the phone is still not visible, try connecting it in PTP mode (like a camera).

💡

On Windows, if Redmi 5 is defined as a “Media Device” but files aren’t copied, try using alternative file managers like Total Commander or ES Explorer (they sometimes work better with MTP).

7. Hardware malfunctions and service repairs

If none of these things worked, it could be the hardware problem.

• 🔋 The phone does not charge from any cable and charging.
• 🔌 When connected to a PC, the microUSB connector moves or the cable falls out.
• 💥 A “Moisture in the connector” notification appears on the screen (even if the phone was not urinated).
• 🔥 The connector or cable is heated when connected.

In such cases, repairs will be required:

Before you bring your phone to the service, check:

⚠️ Warning: If the Redmi 5 was in water or fell, don't plug it into charging! This could cause a short circuit.

Also, note that for the Xiaomi Redmi 5 (released in 2017), parts are becoming less affordable, and in some cases, repairs can cost almost as much as a new budget smartphone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Redmi 5