Where to look for the Files folder in Xiaomi smartphones: all ways to access and manage

Have you just downloaded an important document or photo, but can’t find exactly where it has been saved on your Xiaomi? or are you trying to make room on your phone but don’t understand where all these “invisible” files are stored? The Files folder** (or Files in the English version) is the central data store in MIUI firmware, but its location and display depend on the system version, smartphone model and even regional settings.

In this article, we will examine all possible ways to access the Files folder, from the standard explorer to hidden system directories that are not shown by default. You'll learn how to find it through the MIUI interface, with ADB or with third-party file managers, and what to do if the Suddenly folder disappears after the update. Special attention will be paid to the difference between internal memory and the SD- card, which is critical for the Redmi Note and POCO models with hybrid slots.

1. Standard method: where to look for the Files folder in MIUI Explorer

The most obvious way is to use the built-in MIUI Explorer (the Files app with the yellow folder icon), but even here, users are facing problems: the folder can be called differently or hidden in unexpected sections.

Open the File Manager app and look at the top panel with tabs. Depending on the version of MIUI, you will see:

• 📁 Local files (or Internal Storage) — this is where you store everything that's stored in your phone's internal memory, and that's where you look for the Files or Miui folder.
• 💾 SD- Card (if installed) – The Files folder may be duplicated here, but with different content.
• 🌐 Cloud – synchronized data with Mi Cloud (not to be confused with local storage!).
• 🔍 Categories are files grouped by type (images, videos, documents) and the Files folder is not directly displayed here.

If you don’t see the Files folder in the root directory, check the following paths (they are relevant for MIUI 12–14):

• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Files/ is the main location for the new models (Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12).
• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Files/ is an outdated path for MIUI 11 and below.
• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Download/ — This is often a browser-based download, but it’s not the same as the Files system folder.

⚠️ Warning: On some models (e.g., POCO F4), the Files folder may be called Documents or My Files. If you don't find it, try enabling the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings (three dots in the upper right corner → "Show hidden files").

2. Alternative ways of access: through My Computer and ADB

If MIUI Explorer doesn’t show you the right folder, try connecting your phone to a PC, which is especially useful for models with locked access to system partitions (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra with MIUI Optimization protection).

Instructions for Windows/macOS:

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer via USB-C cable (preferably original).
2. On your phone, select File Transfer Mode: Swipe down the notification bar → press USB to transfer files → select File Transfer (MTP).
3. On PC, open This computer (or Finder on macOS) – your Xiaomi will appear as a removable drive.
4. Go to the Internal Storage folder and find Files or MIUI.

If the folder is still not visible, use the ADB- command (USB debugging is required):

adb shell ls /storage/emulated/0/

This command will list all the folders in the root directory, and look for Files, Documents, or Xiaomi.

Enable debugging over USB in the developer settings

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC

Download the ADB platform (for example, through Android Studio)

Connect your phone to the original cable-->

⚠️ Warning: On phones with MIUI 14 and later, access via ADB may be restricted due to security policy. If the command returns a Permission denied error, try rooting first or using an alternative file manager (e.g., FX File Explorer).

3.Why Files folder may disappear and how to restore it

Sometimes users experience a Files folder disappearing after a MIUI update, reset or cache clearing.

• 🔄 Firmware Update — MIUI sometimes transfers system folders to new directories (e.g., from /MIUI/Files/ to /Files/).
• 🧹 Clean up the Files app data in settings (Settings → Apps → Files → Storage → Clear data).
• 🛡️ An antivirus or an optimizer (such as Security or Clean Master) could have removed the folder as “junk.”
• 🔧 Manual root or TWRP changes (relevant for the firmware).

To restore the folder:

1. Restart your phone – sometimes MIUI restores system directories automatically.
2. Check the cart in the Files app (the Recycle Bin tab at the bottom of the screen).
3. Create a folder manually: adb shell mkdir /storage/emulated/0/Files (requires ADB root rights).
4. If the folder was deleted along with the files, try recovering data using DiskDigger or Recuva (by connecting the phone to your PC).

4.The difference between the Files, Download and MIUI folders

Many users confuse the Files system folder with other directories, such as Download or MIUI.

Pay special attention to the MIUI folder – it is often confused with Files, but removing content from MIUI can lead to a crash of the themes, loss of wallpaper or even errors when updating. If you need to vacate space, you better clean Download or DCIM (pre-copy important files).

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If you work with documents frequently, create a shortcut for the Files folder on the home screen: open the explorer, find the folder, click on ⋮ → Add to the home screen.

5. How to transfer the Files folder to the SD- card (for models with a hybrid slot)

On Xiaomi smartphones with microSD support (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro), you can transfer some files to an external drive.

• 📱 The Files folder cannot be moved as a whole, only individual files within it.
• 🔄 Some applications (e.g. Gallery or Records) may not see files on the SD- card.
• ⚡ File speeds on microSD are lower than in internal memory (especially on cheap Class 10 cards).

Instructions for transfer:

1. Open the Files app and go to the Files folder.
2. Select the necessary files (long press → ticks).
3. Click "More" (three dots) → "Move to" → select the SD- card.
4. Create a new folder (e.g., Documents_SD) and confirm the transfer.

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI 13/14, the application transfer to the SD- card is disabled by default. To enable this feature, activate the developer mode and manually allow installation to the external drive via ADB: adb shell sm set-force-adoptable true After that, restart the phone and format the SD- card as internal memory in the storage settings.

6 Hidden System Folders: What You Can and Can't Touch

In addition to the visible Files folder, MIUI has a lot of hidden directories that don't show up without special permissions, some of which can be safely cleaned, and some only if you know exactly what they're responsible for.

Here is a list of key hidden folders and recommendations for working with them:

• 🗑️.thumbnails are thumbnails of images and video. You can clean up (release up to 1-2 GB), but they will recover over time.
• 📊.estrongs are temporary files from the ES File Explorer manager. Delete if you are not using this application.
• 🔒.data or.system -- system files MIUI. Don't touch! This can lead to bootloop.
• 🎵.nomedia — files that should not be displayed in the gallery, and deletion will lead to the appearance of media files in applications.
• 📱.miui is a hidden folder with firmware settings. Cleaning can reset personalization (themes, fonts).

To see the hidden folders:

1. In Explorer MIUI: press “⋮” → “Settings” → turn on “Show hidden files.”
2. In Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer: Go to the → “Show Hidden Files” and “Show System Files” settings.

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Never delete folders with a dot at the beginning of the name (such as.android_secure or.data) unless you are sure of their purpose.This can disrupt Android or cause data loss.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Working with the Files folder can lead to unexpected problems, if you do not take into account the features of MIUI. Here are the most common errors and ways to solve them:

Error 1: “Not enough permissions to access the folder”

Reason: MIUI blocks access to system partitions without root.

• Use ADB with superuser rights.
• Install an alternative root-enabled conductor (such as Root Explorer).
• Disable MIUI Optimization in the developer settings (but this can disrupt system stability).

Error 2: Files folder is empty but takes up space

Reason: Files can be hidden or occupied by system processes.

• Check the folder with ADB with the adb shell du -sh /storage/emulated/0/Files/ command.
• Use DiskUsage from Google Play to visualize occupied space.

Error 3: After the MIUI update, the folder disappeared

The reason: firmware moved the files to a new directory.

• Check the paths /storage/emulated/0/Files/ and /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Files/.
• Restore the folder through ADB (see Section 3).

Frequently asked questions