Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to quickly find a downloaded document or transfer photos. The standard folder structure in the MIUI and HyperOS shells can differ from the usual Android, which creates confusion. Users search for My Files without suspecting that the system Explorer may be called differently or hidden in the Tools folder.
Understanding the file system is key to managing your device’s memory efficiently, and in this article, we’ll look at where the data store is located, how to use embedded tools, and what to do when standard file access is closed, and learn how to find hidden directories and safely remove junk data.
Finding the right file can take minutes if you don’t know the exact path. We’ll look at several methods for accessing the contents of internal memory, including using third-party applications and system settings, which will help you always keep order in the digital space of your gadget.
Standard access through system conductor
The most obvious and quickest way to get into the data warehouse is to use a pre-installed app. On Xiaomi smartphones, it is often called Explorer or File Manager and has a distinctive yellow icon. Usually this shortcut is on the home screen or in the Tools folder, unless you have changed your desktop settings.
Once you start the app, you're taken to the main menu, where files are sorted into categories: images, videos, documents, music. However, to view the full folder structure, you need to go to the folder tab or click on the folder icon at the top of the screen, and this shows the internal storage root directory where all system and user data are located.
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If you can’t find the Explorer icon, use the desktop search bar and type the word “Conductor” or “Files.”
Inside the root directory, you'll see a lot of folders with app names like Android, DCIM, Download. This is where your "My Files" are physically stored. For ease of navigation, you can use the function of sorting by size or date of change, which is especially useful when searching for heavy video files.
- 📂 Click on the yellow conductor icon on your desktop.
- 📂 Go to the “Overview” or “Folders” tab in the lower menu.
- 📂 Select “Internal Drive” to view all directories.
- 📂 Use a search by file name in the top row.
Search through storage settings
If the Explorer shortcut has been removed or lost among the widgets, you can use system settings, which not only allows you to find files, but also analyze how much space each data type takes up. Go to Settings, then select About Phone or immediately look for Memory.
In the memory management menu, the system will prompt you to clear the cache or delete unnecessary files. By clicking on the Files or File Management button, you will be redirected to the same explorer, but with already open access to the root structure, which is a convenient way to get to the desired place, bypassing the search for the icon on the desktop.
Importantly, new versions of HyperOS may have slightly different interfaces, and here the focus is on visualizing the space occupied, and you'll see a color diagram showing the distribution of space between apps, photos and system files, and clicking on any sector of the diagram will open the corresponding folder.
Why can folders be called differently?
Memory settings are particularly effective when the phone warns of space shortages, and the system itself tells you which files are the most voluminous, and suggests you move to them to delete or move them, preventing the accidental removal of important system components.
Use of the Security App
A unique feature of Xiaomi’s ecosystem is the deep integration of the security utility, which not only checks for viruses, but also serves as a gateway to file management, and inside it is the Cleanup module, which scans the device and finds temporary files, cache and large documents.
When you run a deep cleanup, you'll see a file list sorted by type. If you scroll down, you can often find a "All Files" link or access to a file manager, which allows you to combine the process of finding the right document with the overall prevention of the system, which saves user time.
Inside the security section, a "Virus Scanner" is also available, which checks downloaded files for threats. APK-file from an unknown source and can’t find it in standard folders, check quarantine or scanner reports – there is often a path to the object.
- 🛡️ Open the Security app with a shield icon.
- 🛡️ Select “Cleaning” or “Dispossession of garbage».
- 🛡️ Wait for the scan to be completed and click "Files».
- 🛡️ Sort results by size to search for large objects.
⚠️ Note: When using the Cleanup function in the Security app, carefully look at which ticks you tick. Automatic selection can result in the deletion of the messenger cache, including photos and videos stored in them.
Navigation in hidden and system folders
The Android file system that Redmi and POCO run on is hierarchically structured, with some folders hidden from the average user to prevent accidental system damage, but still accessible if you know the exact path or use special browsing modes.
One of the most important hidden directories is.Android or folders with a dot at the beginning of the name (such as.thumbnails). The point at the beginning of the file name on Linux-like systems (and Android is based on the Linux kernel) means that the file is hidden. To see them in a standard Explorer, you need to go to the settings of the Explorer application itself and turn on the display of hidden files.
The Android/data folder is particularly important, and in recent versions of Android, access to it is restricted by Google's security policies, and direct login can be blocked and the system will require special permission, to protect the application data from outside interference.
☑️ Verification of access to system folders
If you're critically interested in accessing secure partitions, you can connect your smartphone to your computer. USB-cable and file transfer mode (MTP) The folder structure is displayed differently, and some of the restrictions can be removed. This allows you to copy data that is not available through the phone screen.
| The name of the folder | Contents | Importance | Can be removed |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCIM | Photo and video from the camera | Tall. | Only unnecessary. |
| Download | Downloaded files from the browser | Medium | Yes. |
| MIUI | System and recorder data | Critical | No. |
| Android | Application data and cache | Tall. | Careful. |
Alternative File Managers
Xiaomi’s regular Explorer is functional, but sometimes it’s not enough for advanced users, and in such cases, third-party solutions from Google Play come to the rescue. Popular applications like Total Commander, Solid Explorer or Files by Google offer a more flexible interface and advanced access rights.
Installing an alternative file manager allows you to work with archives, connect to cloud storage (Dropbox, OneDrive) and even access files over the network (FTP/SMB). This turns a smartphone into a full-fledged file server, and the interface of such programs is often more informative and convenient for working with large amounts of data.
When a third-party application is first launched, the system will request permission to access all files, which must be confirmed, otherwise the program will not be able to display the contents of the memory. In some cases, especially on Android 11 and above, you will need to manually allow access to the Android folder through the system window.
- 🚀 Download the file manager from a reliable source.
- 🚀 Provide all requested permissions at the first launch.
- 🚀 Use a built-in archiver to work with ZIP/RAR.
- 🚀 Set up access to cloud services for backup.
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Third-party file managers often have more powerful search and support for plugins, which makes working with the file system much more convenient than in a stock application.
Frequent problems with access to files
Users may encounter a situation where the My Files folder is empty even though the memory is busy or the files are not displayed in the gallery. Often this is due to the presence of a.nomedia file in the directory.This hidden file instructs the system to ignore the contents of the folder when scanning media content.
Another common problem is indexing failure: After a major system update or a large amount of data is transferred, the phone may temporarily “not see” files, in which case it helps to restart the device or clear the cache of media services through the developer menu.
If files were lost after resetting, they may have been in an internal storage that was formatted, and can only be restored with special software until the memory sectors are overwritten, and regular backup to the cloud service or PC will protect against data loss.
⚠️ Warning: If you see a file with the.apk extension in the download folder and don't remember where it came from, don't open it. It could be malware masquerading as a useful program. Always check the download source.