How to allow gallery access to SD-Map on smartphones Xiaomi Redmi: 5 working ways

Did you insert a microSD card into your Xiaomi Redmi, but the gallery stubbornly doesn't see photos and videos? Or does the app ask for permission to access, but even after it is provided, the files don't show up? This problem is familiar to many Xiaomi smartphone owners - especially after updating MIUI or resetting. 90% of cases are to blame for incorrect system resolutions or features of the shell.

In this article you will find 5 Proven ways to set up gallery access to SD-map - from the basic settings MIUI before manually mounting the section through ADB. We’ll explain why the gallery can’t see files even with the right resolutions, and how the settings for the Redmi Note differ. 10/11/12 And the old models, and what to do if the system requires you to format the card as an internal drive. MIUI 14/15 Android 13/14.

Why the gallery doesn't see files on the SD-map?

Problem with access to SD-Xiaomi Redmi card is usually associated with one of 5 reasons:

• 🔒 There are no permissions for the gallery application in the system settings.
• 📁 The file system of the card is not supported (for example, NTFS instead FAT32/exFAT).
• 🔄 The card is connected as internal memory, but not formatted correctly.
• 🛠️ Metadata errors (for example, after card retrieval without secure shutdown).
• 📱 Limitations MIUI for third-party applications (including Google Photos).

For example, if you have transferred files from your computer to your NTFS card, Android will not be able to read them without additional drivers, or if the card was formatted as an internal drive on another device, Redmi will require it to be reformatted, and it is also worth checking if files are hidden: sometimes folders with photos (DCIM, Pictures) become system and do not appear in the gallery.

Method 1: Grant permissions to the gallery in MIUI settings

The easiest method is to check and update the permissions for the gallery app, and in MIUI, this is done through the Apps menu:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Gallery app (or Google Photos if you use it).
3. Go to Permits. → Memory.
4. Activate the switches for "Inner Memory" and «SD-map».
5. If you're an option SD-The card is missing, click “More” and select the card manually.

Once the permissions are changed, restart your smartphone to help the system apply the settings correctly. If the gallery still can't see the files, check if access to the map is blocked at the Android level:

• 📌 Go to Settings. → Confidentiality → Special access → Access to all files.
• 🔍 Find the gallery in the list and enable full access.

Method 2: Set up the setup SD-card

If the card was connected as internal memory, the system may restrict access to it for third-party applications.

1. Go to Settings. → Memory. → SD-map.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select “Memory Settings”.
3. If the card appears as “Inner”, click “Format as Portable”.
4. Warning: this will delete all the data from the card!

After formatting:

• 🔄 The card will be available as a removable drive.
• 📁 All applications (including the gallery) will be accessed without additional permissions.
• ⚠️ But you can’t install apps on a map (only for internal memory).

Method 3: Use a file manager for manual access

If the gallery stubbornly does not see the files, but they are on the map, you can manually specify the path to the folders with photos through the file manager:

1. Open the standard Files (or install Solid Explorer/FX File Manager).
2. Go to section. SD-map and find the folders DCIM, Pictures or Camera.
3. Long click on the folder → “Open with” → select “Gallery”.
4. If you don’t have an option, copy the files to your internal memory temporarily (for example, in Download).

Also check if the files are hidden:

• 🔍 In the file manager, enable the display of hidden files (Settings) → Show hidden files).
• 📂 Folders with a dot at the beginning (e.g.,.thumbnails) may contain thumbnails, but not originals.

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If the card appears as “damaged,” try connecting it to your PC via a card reader and running error checkers (in Windows: right button on the drive → Properties → Service → Check).

Method 4: Change the file system format SD-map

Android only works correctly with cards in FAT32 or exFAT formats. If your card is formatted in NTFS (for example, for use on a PC), the smartphone will not be able to read files without additional drivers.

To reformat the map:

1. Connect it to the computer through the card reader.
2. In Windows: Right button on the disk → “Format”.
3. Select exFAT (for cards >32GB) or FAT32 (for cards <32GB).
4. Click “Start” (all data will be deleted!).

⚠️ Note: If the card was formatted as internal memory on Xiaomi, formatting on a PC can make it unreadable for a smartphone. In this case, return the card to your phone and format it through Settings. → Memory.

Method 5: Manual mounting SD-map ADB (advanced)

If none of these methods worked, you can manually mount the card to the system via ADB. This method requires an unlocked bootloader and root rights (or at least access to ADB).

Instructions:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on Redmi (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock the developer menu → return to Additional Settings → Developer → Debugging on USB).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell sm list-disks Remember the card ID (e.g., disk:179.65).
4. Hand-mounted map: Adb shell sm mount -o rw -f -a /mnt/media_rw/Replace the ID with the value from the previous step.

If the command is successful, check the access to the map in the gallery. Permanent mounting will require root and editing the /etc/fstab file.

⚠️ Attention: Wrong commands ADB This method can cause data loss or system damage, and only use it if you are confident in your actions.

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If, after installation, through ADB The card is still not visible, check it for errors with the adb shell fsck command. /dev/block/mmcblk1 (substitute mmcblk1 on the current block of your card).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When setting up access to SD-Users often face typical problems:

• 🔄 «Map corrupted": usually means that the file system is incompatible or the card is physically damaged.
• 📵 «SD-card not found": check the contacts of the card and slot, try to insert it into another smartphone.
• 🔒 «No File Access Even After Granting Permissions: Clear Gallery Cache (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Clear the cache).
• 📥 Files are copied slowly: this is normal for classes SDHC Class 4/6. For 4K-Video use maps UHS-I/U3.

Also, note the power saving settings: MIUI can block access to the card in optimization mode.

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Application Power Management.
2. Find the Gallery and select No Limits.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions