Where to look for a gallery on Xiaomi: standard and hidden ways to access photos / videos

You just took a great photo on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro, but can’t find where it survived? Or after the MIUI 14 update, the gallery icon disappeared from the desktop? This situation is familiar to many users of Xiaomi smartphones, a brand that regularly changes the location of system applications in its shells. Unlike “pure” Android, where the gallery is usually in one place, in MIUI, the path to photos can vary depending on the firmware version, device model and even regional settings.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to find a gallery on Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark devices, from the standard Gallery app to hidden folders to alternative file managers. You’ll also learn why photos can “disappear” after updates and how to return them without resetting. If you’re a Xiaomi user with experience, check yourself out: you may not have known about half of these methods!

In most cases, the Gallery app on Xiaomi is located in the same place as on other Android devices, whether on the home screen or in the app menu.

  • 📱 Desktop: The icon can be hidden in the Google or Multimedia folder (especially on newer devices with a newer device). MIUI 14).
  • 🔍 In the app menu: swipe up from the bottom of the screen and search for "Gallery" (English - Gallery).
  • 📁 In the Tools folder: on some models (e.g. Redmi) 10C) Gallery hidden together with calculator and dictaphone.

If you don't find the icon, try resetting your desktop settings: press the blank space on the screen → screen settings → Restore the default layout. This will return all standard shortcuts, including the gallery.

📊 What version? MIUI You're using it?
MIUI 12
MIUI 13
MIUI 14
HyperOS
I don't know.

Even if the standard Gallery app is gone or not working, you can access photos in other ways. Here are 5 proven methods:

  1. File Manager: Open Files app → go to internal memory → DCIM → Camera. This is where all photos and videos taken on the main camera are stored. For screenshots, check Pictures/Screenshots.
  2. Google Photos: If your Xiaomi has Google Photos installed, all media files are automatically synced to the cloud. Open it - there will be all your pictures, even if the standard gallery does not work.
  3. Using "Recent Files": From the app menu, swipe down and select the Recent tab, and the latest open photos and videos will be displayed here.
  4. Through camera settings: Open Camera → swipe right to Gallery section (on some models, such as POCO F4, this option is available right in the camera interface).
  5. Through Windows/Mac Explorer: Connect your smartphone to your computer in file transfer (MTP) mode and open the Internal Storage/DCIM folder.

💡

If the DCIM folder is empty, check the hidden folders: in Files, click three dots → Show hidden files. Sometimes photos are saved to.thumbnails or.nomedia.

One of the most common problems with Xiaomi users is the missing gallery after a firmware update, which happens for several reasons:

  • 🔄 Reset desktop settings: after major updates (e.g., with MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) the system may reset the location of the icons.
  • 📦 Remove system application: some “optimizers” or users manually delete the gallery, considering it unnecessary.
  • 🔒 Restrictions of regional firmware: on devices with global (Global) or Chinese (China) firmware, the set of preinstalled applications may differ.
  • 🛠️ Shell conflict: If you use a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher), the gallery icon may be hidden.

In MIUI 14 and later, the gallery can be replaced by Xiaomi’s Photos app (com.miui.gallery), which doesn’t always appear in the app menu.

Install an update for the Gallery app in the Play Store|

Reboot the device |

Reset the launcher settings (Settings → Applications → Launcher → Reset)|

Restore the application through Settings → Annexes → Application management → Show it all. → gallery → Restore-->

The location of the gallery may vary depending on the model and version of MIUI. The table below shows the current data for popular devices (2022-2026):

Model of the deviceMIUI versionWhere to look for a galleryFeatures
Xiaomi 13/13 ProMIUI 14 / HyperOSApp menu → Google folder or search by GalleryThe app may be called Photo (Icon with Mountain)
Redmi Note 12 Pro+MIUI 14Desktop (default icon) or Files → DCIMSupports cloud synchronization with Mi Cloud
POCO F5 ProMIUI 14 (POCO Launcher)Swipe down on the desktop → search for “Gallery”POCO Launcher does not have a Tools folder
Black Shark 5 ProJOYUI (base MIUI 13)The game space → Menu → GalleryGallery integrated into the game interface
Xiaomi Pad 6MIUI 14 for tabletsDocking station at the bottom of the screen or Files → ImagesSupports split screen for viewing photos

If your model is not in the table, use the universal method: open Settings → Applications → Application Management and search for “gallery”.

How do I find out the exact version of MIUI?
Open Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. If it only says the shell name (e.g., “MIUI Global”), the full version can be seen in Settings → About Phone → All Specifications → MIUI Version.

Hidden folders and system media files

Sometimes photos and videos on Xiaomi are not saved in a standard DCIM folder, but in hidden directories.

  • 📸.thumbnails - photo miniatures (not displayed in the gallery, but take up space).
  • 🔒 MIUI/Extra — backup copies of media files created by the system.
  • 📥 Download – photos and videos downloaded from messengers or browser.
  • 🤖 Android/data/... — Media files from games and applications (e.g. screenshots from the PUBG Mobile).
  • ☁️ MiCloudBackup – Temporary Cloud Backup Files.

To see the hidden folders:

  1. Open Files → click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
  2. Select Settings → Enable Show hidden files.
  3. Go back to the root directory and check folders that start with a dot (like.nomedia).

💡

Files in folders called.nomedia don't show up in the gallery, but take up space on the device, and can be safely deleted if they're not needed.

If you find the Gallery app but it doesn’t show photos or gives you an error, try the following steps:

⚠️ Warning: Before resetting cache or gallery data, make sure that photos are synced to Google Photos or Mi Cloud. Otherwise, thumbnails may disappear!

  • 🔄 Clear the cache: Go to Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
  • 🔧 Reset the application settings: In the same menu, click Data Management → Reset the settings.
  • 📲 Update the app: Go to the Play Store, find the Xiaomi Gallery and update it.
  • 🔍 Check permissions: In gallery settings (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Permits) make sure that the Warehouse and Chamber rights are included.
  • 🛠️ Reinstall Gallery: If nothing helps, delete the app updates (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Three points. → Remove updates) and restart the device.

If the problem persists, try using a third-party gallery, such as:

  • Google Photos (automatic sorting and cloud storage)
  • Simple Gallery (a lightweight alternative with support for themes)
  • QuickPic (Advanced Media File Management Features)

How to transfer photos from Xiaomi to another phone or PC

If you want to save photos from Xiaomi on another device, here are 4 reliable ways to save them:

  1. Through USB-cable: Connect your smartphone to your computer, select File Transfer mode (MTP) and copy the folder. DCIM hard-drive.
  2. Through Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud → Gallery and enable sync. Photos will be available at i.mi.com.
  3. Through Google Photos: Install the app, enable backup (Settings → Backup and Sync) and wait for the download. Photos will be available on any device via photos.google.com.
  4. Through instant messengers: Send a photo to your Telegram (save to "Favorites") or to mail via Gmail. For a large number of files, use an archiver (for example, ZArchiver).

⚠️ Note: when transferring via messengers (WhatsApp, Viber) photos are compressed! To maintain the original quality, use cloud services or USB.

To speed up USB transfer to Xiaomi with MIUI 14, turn on the developer mode and activate the USB debugging option:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB
Why aren’t there any new photos in the gallery?
This can be due to: A filled cache (clear in gallery settings); a.nomedia file in the photo folder (delete it); synchronization errors (reboot the device); and check if the photos are saved to the cloud (e.g., Google Photos) instead of local storage.
Can I restore deleted photos on Xiaomi?
Yes, but fast: For 30 days after deleting, photos are stored in the gallery cart (Gallery → Recycle Bin). If the cart is cleared, try recovery software: DiskDigger, Recuva (requires root for deep scanning). Check Google Photos → Recycle Bin or Mi Cloud → Recycle Bin. Important: don't save new files to the device after deleting - they can overwrite old data!
How to turn off automatic sorting of photos by albums in MIUI?
In the standard Xiaomi gallery, albums are created automatically by date and location. To turn this off: Open Gallery → click three dots → Settings. Select Albums → disable Autosort. For full control, use a third-party gallery, such as Simple Gallery.
Where are the screenshots on Xiaomi stored?
Screenshots are saved in the folder: Internal Memory → Pictures → Screenshots or Internal Memory → DCIM → Screenshots If the folder is empty, check: Screenshot settings: Settings → Additional → Screenshots → Saving folder. Cloud services: Screenshots can be automatically uploaded to Mi Cloud or Google Photos.
How to hide photos in the Xiaomi gallery?
MIUI has a built-in photo hiding feature: Open photos in the gallery → click three dots → Hide. To see hidden photos, swipe down to the gallery and enter your password (the default is your pattern lock or PIN). For additional protection, use apps like KeepSafe or Vaulty.