How to turn on USB file transfer on a Xiaomi phone (HyperOS 3)

Device

Android

Shown on

Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G (25080RABDG), HyperOS 3.0.308.0, Android 16

Real screenshots

5 of 5 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

3 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Tap the USB notification

   Unlock the phone and connect it to the computer with a USB cable. Swipe down from the top to open the notifications. Under Android System, tap Charging this device via USB, Tap for more options. The USB debugging line on ours is from our test setup.

   Done

2. 

   Use USB for

   A sheet called Use USB for opens with four choices: No data transfer, File transfers/Android Auto, Photo transfers and Reverse charging. On ours No data transfer had the tick, so the phone only charged.

   Done

3. 

   Tap File transfers/Android Auto

   Tap File transfers/Android Auto to see the phone's files on the computer. On ours the sheet closed at once, and the notification changed to USB file transfer is on. Photo transfers is the choice for photos only; we didn't try it.

   Done

4. 

   Check the tick

   To check, tap the notification again. File transfers/Android Auto now had the tick.

   Done

5. 

   Back to charging only

   Google's help says to eject the phone on Windows before you unplug the cable. To go back to charging only, pick No data transfer. We set ours back, and the tick was on No data transfer again.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• Want File transfer every time? Xiaomi says that on MIUI phones you can turn on Developer options, then set Default USB configuration to File transfer. We did not check this on ours. Source: What should i do if the computer or laptop unable to read my phone when connect via USB cable?
• Named File Transfer in the guide? Xiaomi's HyperOS 3 guide says File Transfer/Android Auto. On ours the sheet said File transfers/Android Auto and also had Photo transfers and Reverse charging. Source: Generic User Guide for HyperOS 3.0

  

• Using a Mac? Google's steps cover Windows and Chromebooks only. Our phone was connected to a Mac, but we didn't copy files, so we can't say what the Mac shows. Source: Transfer files between your computer and Android device

If this does not work

• No USB notification? Swipe down again and look for the Android System group; on ours it was the third card. Google's help says to unlock the phone before you connect it. Source: Transfer files between your computer and Android device
• Phone only charges? It is still on No data transfer. Tap the notification again and choose File transfers/Android Auto.
• Computer still doesn't see the phone? Xiaomi suggests the original USB cable, other USB ports, cables or computers, and the latest Windows updates and USB drivers. Google adds that not all USB cables can transfer files. Source: What should i do if the computer or laptop unable to read my phone when connect via USB cable? · Source: Transfer files between your computer and Android device

About this guide

By default a Xiaomi phone only charges from a computer. You have to tell it to share files.

The screenshots are from our Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G with Xiaomi HyperOS 3.0.308.0 and Android 16, in Light mode. It was connected to a Mac. We picked File transfers/Android Auto, then set it back to No data transfer. We didn't copy any files.

Good to know

Need room for the files first? See Xiaomi storage full.

Keep a copy of everything: how to back up a Xiaomi phone.

In short: Connect the cable, tap Charging this device via USB, Use USB for: File transfers/Android Auto.