Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where, after installing a memory card or updating the operating system, applications stop seeing files that are on an external medium, due to changes in Android security policy since version 11, when access to the file system was strictly regulated, the system no longer allows programs to read and write data anywhere without control, requiring explicit user confirmation for each specific directory.
If you installed a MicroSD card to expand storage, but when you try to open music, videos or documents through the file manager, you see an empty screen or an error, then access is indeed blocked. In the operating shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS, this mechanism works slightly differently than on pure Android, which often causes confusion among users who are accustomed to older logic.
Access permission is not just a formality, but a necessary step for the gallery, players and voice recorders to work properly. Without this step, even standard system applications can ignore the contents of a flash drive. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to properly configure access, what hidden settings can interfere with and how to avoid typical formatting errors.
The main reasons for blocking access to the drive
The first thing to understand is why the system restricts access. Since Android 11, Google has implemented Scoped Storage, which isolates app data from each other, meaning that a music app can’t just crawl into a folder of documents, even if they’re on the same SD card.
The second reason is often misformatted: If the card was formatted as “internal memory” on another device, your current smartphone may not have the encryption keys to access the data, in which case the system will require re-initialization, which will lead to the deletion of all files.
There are also system limitations to the MIUI shell itself. The memory optimizer can force background processes that try to scan media files as suspicious activity, especially for older Redmi and POCO models that run stripped-down versions of Android.
⚠️ Warning: If you format a card as internal memory on one phone, you can't just move it to another phone, it's encrypted, and you can't access it without resetting the original device.
Understanding these reasons helps avoid unnecessary actions: Often users try to reinstall apps or reset their phone settings, although the problem lies in the lack of explicit permission to read a particular /storage/sdcard1 directory.
Preparing SD card to work with Android
Before you give permissions, you need to make sure that the card itself is physically correct and correctly defined by the system. Insert the drive into the slot before clicking and wait for the notification of the new device's connection. If there is no notification, check the contacts of the card or try to wipe them with a wipe.
For stable operation in the ecosystem Xiaomi is recommended to use the file system FAT32 or exFAT. NTFS format, popular on Windows, often requires third-party drivers and may not be read by standard means of the system without root rights.
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Use UHS-I or higher memory cards, and cheap unlabeled cards can cause interface lags and errors when writing large files.
The preparation process involves not only physical installation, but also logical verification. Go to settings, select About Phone, and click multiple times on the storage version to see the details. If the system writes "damaged" or "unsupported," formatting is likely to be required.
- 📂 Make sure the card is defined in the Settings item → The phone. → Warehouse.
- 🔒 Remove the physical lock switch (Lock) on the card adapter, if any.
- 📱 Check if the computer sees the card through the card reader to rule out hardware defects.
- 🛠 Format the drive through the smartphone menu if it is used for the first time.
If you have important information on the map, copy it to your computer first, and then you can start setting the permissions for the applications after you've finished the preparation.
How to Access via the Application Menu
The most common way to solve the problem is to grant rights directly through the settings of a particular application. When you first run a program that should work with files (for example, the MX Player video player or the Total Commander file manager), the system will ask for permission.
However, if you accidentally clicked “Opt” or the window didn’t appear, you need to manually act. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the program you want, such as your file manager, in the list. Go to Application Permissions.
Here you will see a list of categories. We are interested in Files and Media or Memory. In newer versions of HyperOS, this item may be called Access to Photos and Videos. Select the option "Allow All Files" or the same wording that removes restrictions.
☑️ Access rights verification
After changing the settings, it is recommended to completely close the application (swipe from the bottom up in the menu of running tasks) and open it again, which will force the process of re-scanning the paths to the files.
Some system applications, such as the standard Gallery or Explorer, may not have an explicit switch in this menu, as their rights are governed by system privileges.
Configure access through Permission Manager
In the shell. MIUI There's a separate tool for global rights management that users often ignore, which allows you to see which applications are already accessed and which are not.
To get into this section, open the Security app (green lightning icon). In the bottom menu or tool list, look for Permissions Manager, where permissions are grouped by categories: location, contacts, camera, and of course files.
Select Files or Storage, and you'll see a list of all the programs installed. Those with a green icon have full access. Those with a red cross or question mark are limited. Click on the app and select Allow.
| Type of application | Access required | Security risk | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| File manager | Full access to all files | High (can delete data) | It's imperative to |
| Video player | Media files only | Low. | Allow access to media |
| messenger | Camera and microphone | Medium. | Limit access to files |
| Game. | No. | Low. | Refuse access to memory |
Using permissions manager gives you more flexibility, you can deny access to files for games that require this for cache, but do not use your personal photos, thereby increasing data security.
Note that after the Android system update, the settings in the Manager can reset to standard values. So after a major firmware update, it is worth rechecking this list.
Solving access issues in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi’s shells have an extra layer of protection that can block access even if you have all the permissions, including MIUI optimization and special features, and sometimes the system kills the card reading process as being too battery-consuming.
To solve this problem, go to Settings → About Phone and press 7 times on the MIUI/HyperOS version to activate Developer Mode. Then, in the advanced settings, find “Enable MIUI Optimization” and try to disable it. The system will warn you of the risks — agree.
What is the MIUI optimization shutdown?
In some versions of the firmware, accessing the file system for certain managers (such as Total Commander or Solid Explorer) requires activating the plugin in the Special Features menu. Without this step, you will not be able to copy the file from the card to internal memory.
If the problem persists, try clearing the Media Storage cache, a system process that indexes files, and cleaning it won't delete your photos or music, but will force the phone to re-scan all folders and update the database of available files.
- 🔍 Find the application settings item "Show system processes».
- 🧹 Clear the cache of the Media Storage and Download Manager app».
- 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes to the file registry.
- 🛡 Check the antivirus built into Security for blocking.
Often users forget that access can be blocked not by the Android system itself, but by a third-party antivirus or "cleaner" that was installed earlier.
Specifics of working with file managers
Xiaomi’s standard Explorer usually works without a problem, but many users prefer third-party solutions such as Solid Explorer, FX File Explorer or RS File Manager. These programs have their own rights request mechanisms, which may differ from the system.
When you first run, these managers often show a Quick Start or Setup screen, where you ask them to confirm access to the root folder. SD-If you missed this point, go to the settings of the app itself (usually a three-dot menu button or stripe button».
An important nuance: when you request access, the system can open a standard folder selection window. In this window, you need not just click “OK”, but select the root folder of the card (often called sdcard1 or has the name of the card brand, for example, SANDISK) and click the blue “Use this folder” button at the bottom of the screen.
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The key when working with file managers is that you should explicitly select the external drive root folder in the system selection window and confirm the action with the “Use this folder” button.
Some advanced managers also offer PC Access (FTP/SMB) settings, and this feature also requires separate permissions that are requested when you first enable the respective plugin within the application.
If the file manager sees the internal memory, but does not see SD-Check if it's hidden in the display settings. Some programs have a filter that hides external drives to simplify the interface.
Frequent errors and ways to fix them
Even with the right settings, there can be specific errors, one of the most common being "File corrupted" or "Failed to read," although the file opens normally on the computer, often indicating file system problems or broken sectors on the map.
Another common mistake is that apps don't see the new files you just threw on the map, which means that the media indexer didn't work, and that's when the resident app, which is forced to scan the map, or simply switching flight mode (on/off), restarts network and system services.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use memory cards larger than 256GB in older smartphone models (released before 2018.
If nothing works, try extracting the card, pasting it into your computer and checking for errors through the standard Windows utility (Properties → Service → Check).
As a last resort, if the card works on other devices but is not readable on your Xiaomi, it may be the slot contacts. Carefully clean the slot with compressed air. Contact oxidation is a common cause of loss of connection with an external drive.