How to provide gallery access to SD-Xiaomi Redmi 9: 5 working ways

You put it in. SD-map in your Xiaomi Redmi 9, but the gallery stubbornly ignores the photos on it? MIUI The problem with accessing an external drive is one of the most common on Xiaomi smartphones, especially after changing the firmware or resetting settings. In this article, we will discuss all possible causes and ways to eliminate them, from basic settings to hidden functions. MIUI, which are not written in official documentation.

It is important to understand that restrictions on access to SD-The map in Redmi 9 can be associated with both software settings (application resolutions, formatting) and hardware features (file system type, card compatibility). We're not going to limit ourselves to standard tips like "reset your phone" -- instead, we're going to suggest specific steps that explain why they work. MIUI Default blocks access to external drives for some applications due to security policies? or that cards with exFAT file system may not be recognized on stock firmware without additional drivers?

This article will suit the owners of Redmi 9 (including modifications of Redmi 9A/9C/9T), as well as other Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI 12-14. If you have already tried standard methods and they did not work, pay attention to the sections about manual mounting of the drive and changing configuration files through ADB. These methods require a little more effort, but are guaranteed to solve the problem in 90% of cases.

Why the gallery doesn't see files on the SD-map: 4 main reasons

Before you get to the fix, you need to understand what exactly prevents the gallery (or other applications) from accessing files. In Xiaomi Redmi 9, this may be due to:

• 🔒 Lack of permissions for the application to work with external storage (especially relevant after the update) MIUI).
• 🗃️ Incorrect file system on the SD-map: MIUI It only works consistently with FAT32 and NTFS (but there are nuances).
• 🔄 mounting failure – when the card is physically inserted, but the system does not see it due to errors in the system /storage.
• 📱 Manufacturer restrictions: Xiaomi blocks access to external drives for some applications by default (for example, for Google Photos).

The most common mistake users make is trying to format the card in exFAT to work with files larger than 4 GB. The fact is that the MIUI stock kernel does not always support this file system out of the box. If your card is formatted in exFAT and the gallery does not see it, this is the first signal to reformat the drive to FAT32 (despite the 4 GB limit per file).

Another nuance: if you have moved the app to SD-map MIUI, The system could automatically encrypt the partition, making it inaccessible to other programs, in which case only complete formatting of the map and then adjusting the permissions will help.

Method 1: Grant permissions to the gallery manually

Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi tightened control over app access to storage, and even if you previously allowed the gallery to work with files, these settings may reset once the system is updated. Here's how to check and fix this:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Gallery app (or Google Photos if you use it) in the list.
3. Slip on the Permission.
4. Activate the switches opposite: 📁 Storage (required!) 📷 Camera (if you want to save the photo directly to the camera) SD-map)

Settings → Privacy → Special permissions → Access to files

file-wise

If you don't have access to files in your settings, your version of MIUI doesn't support this feature, in which case you can try updating your firmware or using an alternative method via ADB (described below).

Make sure the gallery has access to the "Storage" in the app settings

Check special permissions in "Privacy → Access to files"

Reboot your phone after changing permissions

Try to open a gallery and update the media library (swipe down)

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⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (And especially custom ones, you may not be able to manually control permissions, and if you're still not seeing files after all the manipulations, you can move on to the next way.

Method 2: Formatting SD-Maps to the correct file system

If SD-the card is formatted in exFAT or NTFS, Your Redmi 9 runs on stock firmware, and it’s likely that the system simply doesn’t recognize the file system. MIUI It only supports defaulting FAT32, Other formats require additional drivers.

To check the current file system:

1. Connect. SD-card to the computer through the card reader.
2. Open this computer (Windows) or Disk utility (macOS).
3. Look at the properties of the card: if exFAT or NTFS is specified, it needs to be reformatted.

If you need file support over 4GB, but FAT32 isn’t suitable, there are two options:

1. Install a custom core with exFAT support (requires unlocking the bootloader).
2. Use an external card reader with OTG-cable NTFS/exFAT.

⚠️ Attention: Formatting erases all data on the card! Before the procedure, copy important files to a computer or cloud. If the card is used as internal storage (the option "Expand memory"), it can not be removed without resetting the phone.

Method 3: Mounting SD-maps through settings MIUI

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is not available for mounting SD-This may be due to a failure in the Vold (Volume Daemon) service, which is responsible for managing the storage volumes, to force the map to be mounted:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Slip on the item SD-card (if it is displayed in gray - it means not mounted).
3. Choose Mount or Connect (depending on the version of MIUI).
4. If there is an error, remove the card, restart the phone and insert it again.

If the card is still not mounted, try clearing the storage service cache:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three points in the top corner and select Show System Processes.
3. Find the storage (or External Storage) and clear the cache.
4. Reboot the phone.

If it doesn't work, it's probably the card itself, so try inserting it into another phone or computer, and if it doesn't recognize it there, it's probably physically damaged.

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Before extraction SD-Always use the "Safe Retrieval" function in the notification curtain.Abrupt shutdown can cause file system damage and data loss.

Method 4: Using ADB for forced access

If standard methods fail, you can manually issue permissions via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that is suitable for power users and requires connecting the phone to a computer.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB Redmi 9 (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the version, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your computer and confirm debugging permission on the Redmi 9 screen.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Issuance of permission to access SD-Gallery map: adb shell pm grant com.miui.gallery android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE adb shell pm grant com.miui.gallery android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

If the gallery still does not see the files after the reboot, try to force the media library to update:

adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MEDIA_MOUNTED -d file:///storage/XXXX-XXXX

(substitute XXXX-XXXX on the real path to yours SD-The map can be recognized by the adb shell ls command /storage).

Method 5: Alternative applications for working with SD-card

If none of these methods worked, but the card is perfectly good, try using third-party file managers or galleries that bypass the limitations of MIUI.

• 📁 Solid Explorer: Supports: ROOT-Access and manually mount volumes, can see files even if the standard gallery ignores them.
• 🖼️ Simple Gallery Pro: An alternative gallery with extended resolutions, able to scan external drives bypassing system constraints.
• 🔧 FX File Explorer: It has a built-in ROOT-conductor exFAT/NTFS plug-in.
• 🌐 Mixplorer: a powerful manager with the ability to connect FTP and working with encrypted volumes.

To ensure that these applications have access to SD-map:

1. Install the selected application from Google Play.
2. Open it and provide all the permissions requested (including access to the storage).
3. In the application settings, find an item like Scan external drives or Show hidden files and activate it.
4. If the application requests ROOT-access, but you don’t have it – skip this step (most features will work without it).

Note: Some apps (such as Google Photos) don’t work with the same software. SD-Xiaomi maps due to Scoped Storage policy in Android 10+. In this case, you can only transfer files to internal memory or use cloud services.

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If the standard gallery MIUI I do not see the files persistently. SD-map, but they are displayed in third-party applications - the problem is precisely the system limitations. In this case, either use an alternative gallery, or change the firmware to custom (for example, LineageOS), where there are no such restrictions.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When working with SD-With the Xiaomi Redmi 9, users often make the same mistakes that lead to data loss or unstable work:

• 🚫 Removing the card without "Safe Shutdown" can damage the file system, especially if the data was being written at the time of extraction.
• 🔄 Format the card as "Internal Storage" This option encrypts the data, and once the card is removed, it will become unavailable on other devices.
• 📱 Use of cheap uncertified cards. MIUI can block access to drives with low read/write speed (class below) UHS-I).
• 🔒 Rejection of updates MIUI. In new versions of firmware, bugs with work are often fixed SD-map.

Another common problem is when, after transferring applications to SD-They stop working on the map. It's because MIUI It creates an encrypted partition that not all programs can read:

1. Transfer the problem applications back to internal memory.
2. Format the card as a portable storage (not internal!).
3. Use the option of adaptive storage in MIUI 13+, if available.

If after all the manipulations SD-The card still doesn't work, check it on another device, and if there's an error, the drive probably failed, and the average life of a microSD card is 3-5 years when you're in active use.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions