Gallery requires permission to access SD-Xiaomi Redmi 9: 7 ways to solve the map

You are trying to open a photo or video on Xiaomi Redmi 9 with SD-maps, but the gallery insists on permission to access - and no taps help? This problem is typical of Xiaomi smartphones based on the Internet. MIUI, where security blocks applications from accessing external drives, 80% of the time the error is not related to the memory card itself, but to permission settings or the app cache.

In this article — 7 Proven ways to return the gallery to access files SD-card, from basic (reboot and clearing the cache) to advanced (manual mounting of the drive through ADB). We will also discuss why the problem arises after the update. MIUI, How to distinguish a system bug from a memory card damage, and what to do if none of the methods worked. 9 (model M2003J15SC/M2003J15SS) taking into account the features of its firmware.

Why does the gallery ask for permission to access the SD-map

The error is caused by a combination of three factors:

• 🔒 Security policy MIUI: starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi tightened control over the access of applications to external drives. Gallery by default gets the rights only to read system folders, and for SD-Cards require separate permission.
• 📱 Update of the firmware: after update to MIUI 13/14 on the Redmi 9 Some permissions are reset, including access to memory, and even standard applications like Gallery or Files are affected.
• 💾 Format SD-Cards: If the drive is formatted as an internal (Adoptable Storage), the system can block access to it by third-party applications. FAT32.

Important: if the problem came suddenly (it worked before), it's not hardware failure, it's software conflict. 95% of the time, it helps to reset permissions or reinstall the gallery. If the error occurred immediately after you bought the card, check it on another device.

Method 1: Manually grant permission through settings

The easiest method is to explicitly issue the gallery the right to work with SD-On Redmi 9, this is done not through the app menu, but in a separate settings section:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Gallery (or Google Photos if you use it) and tap it.
3. Select Permissions → Memory.
4. Activate the switch to allow access to SD-map (or external memory).
5. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

If Memory is not on the permission list, it means that the problem lies deeper (see Method 4). Also check if access to all applications is disabled: Settings → Privacy → Special Access → Access to files.

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On Redmi 9 with MIUI 14, the path to permissions may be different: try Settings → Apps → Gallery → Additional → Permissions. If you don’t have one, upgrade to the latest version.

Method 2: Clearing cache and gallery data

The cached data of the application may contain outdated access settings, and resetting it often solves the problem without losing photos:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Gallery.
2. Press Warehouse.
3. Tap to clear the cache (it's safe).
4. If it doesn’t help, click Clear Data (photos and videos on the device will be saved, but you will have to reconfigure the albums).

Once the data is cleaned, the gallery will request all permissions again when it first starts. SD-The map will remain intact.

Make a backup of important albums|Close the gallery in multitasking|Connect the charger (the process may take place) 1-2 minute)|Check the free space on the device (at least necessary) 500 MB)-->

Method 3: Rewire SD-map

Sometimes MIUI mounts the external drive incorrectly, which causes applications to fail to see files, and reconnecting the card helps in 40% of cases:

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Put your hands on yours. SD-map (e.g. SanDisk) 64GB).
3. Press Extract (don’t worry, you don’t need to physically remove the card).
4. Wait 10 seconds and press Connect.
5. Reboot your smartphone.

If you still ask for permission after rewiring, try to physically remove the card, restart the phone, and then insert it back in, which is especially effective if the problem has occurred after the firmware update.

Method 4: Resetting permissions for all applications

If the gallery isn't the only app that has trouble accessing SD-This will help you reset all the permits, and it will bring back the factory settings without losing data:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset Application Permissions.
3. Confirm the action.
4. Reboot the phone.

Once reset, all apps (including the gallery) will request permissions again when they first run, and this method also solves memory access problems for WhatsApp, Telegram, and other instant messengers that save media files to their users. SD-map.

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Resetting permissions does not delete files from the device, but can log out of accounts in some applications (for example, in banking).

Method 5: Using a file manager for manual access

If the gallery stubbornly does not see the files, but they are physically on the map, you can access them through Files (standard manager from Xiaomi) or Solid Explorer:

1. Open the Files app.
2. Go to section. SD-map (or external memory).
3. Find the DCIM folder (there are photos and videos).
4. Long tap select the desired files and select Open with → gallery.

This workaround works even if the gallery doesn't have direct permission to access the map, and the downside is you can't view files in landscape mode, just one at a time. Use Method 6 to solve the problem all the time.

Method 6: Manual permission editing via ADB (for advanced)

If the standard methods do not work, you can manually issue the gallery rights to the SD-Map via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method requires a computer and basic command line skills.

Instructions for Redmi 9:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times).
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and run the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux).
4. Enter the commands in turn: adb shell pm grant com.miui.gallery android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE pm grant com.miui.gallery android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
5. Reboot the phone.

Nana MIUI 14 for Redmi 9 may require additional command to mount SD-maps as external storage:

adb shell sm set-force-adoptable true

This method only works for cards formatted as portable (not internal).

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If ADB issues a device unauthorized error, check the phone's trust request pop-up. On Redmi 9, it sometimes hides behind notifications.

Method 7: Alternative galleries and cloud services

If none of the methods worked, consider the options to get around the problem:

• 🖼️ Google Photos: Automatically uploads all media files to the cloud, allowing you to view them without access to the cloud SD-The downside is that it requires the Internet.
• 📁 Simple Gallery Pro: third-party gallery with extended permissions. Redmi 9 runs more stable than the standard one.
• ☁️ Cloud Storage (Yandex Drive, Mega): Download files from SD-Maps through the file manager and then view them through the web interface.
• 🔄 File transfer: temporarily copy photos to the phone’s internal memory (if space is enough).

For Redmi. 9 small-scale internal memory (32/64 GB is the optimal option with Google Photos in Original Quality Mode (free to use) 15 GB) or Simple Gallery that can work with SD-card-free.

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Gallery side (e.g. QuickPic or A)+ Gallery often better at accessing the SD-maps than the standard gallery MIUI. Their only drawback is the lack of deep integration with system functions (for example, real-time photo editing).

What to do if nothing helps

If all 7 methods are powerless, the problem may be hardware or firmware-related:

⚠️ Attention: If SD-The map is determined in the settings → Memory, but no application can read files - probably the file system is corrupted. Connect the card to your PC and execute the command in Command Prompt (Windows): chkdsk D: /f (Replace D with the letter of your disk).

Other possible causes:

• 🛠️ The connector is damaged. SD-maps: check if the card is wobbling in the slot.On Redmi 9, it's a typical problem after falls.
• 🔄 Firmware conflict: if the error occurred after the update MIUI, Try to revert to the previous version via Fastboot.
• 📛️ Fake. SD-map: some non-original cards (especially larger ones) may be blocked by the system. H2testw.

Last chance - reset to factory settings (with data saved on the SD-On Redmi 9, this is done through Settings. → The phone. → Reset settings. Remove before reset SD-map to avoid formatting it.

FAQ: Frequent questions about access to SD-map 9