How to allow Xiaomi Gallery access to the SD-map: all ways to MIUI 14 and older

Did you insert a microSD card into a Xiaomi smartphone but the gallery stubbornly doesn't see the photo on it? 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 owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi devices - especially after upgrading to MIUI 14 or HyperOS. Not only are the restrictions on Android, but also the features of Xiaomi's firmware, which aggressively manages application rights.

In this article, we will discuss all working ways to give the gallery access to the gallery. SD-map – from basic permission settings to hidden functions MIUI, You'll learn why the standard method is through Settings. → Apps often don’t work out how to get around the limitations of Android 11+ The first is to access external drives, and what to do if the memory card is defined as “damaged” (although it works on other devices, POCO X5, Mi 11 and others.

Why Xiaomi Gallery Can't See Files SD-map?

Problem with access to SD-Xiaomi cards are usually associated with a combination of three factors:

• 🔒 Limitations of Android 11+: Google tightens rules on external drives, apps can no longer freely scan SD-Cards – They need special permits.
• 🛠️ The function "Battery Optimization" in MIUI: It forcibly closes background processes, including scanning media files.
• 📁 Incorrect map format: Xiaomi works best with exFAT or FAT32, NTFS malfunction.

Also, MIUI 14 has a Privacy Protection feature that blocks file access even for system applications, and if you've recently updated your firmware, that's probably the problem, and it's worth checking if Guest Session mode is activated, which restricts access to all external media.

Method 1: Standard Permitting (for MIUI 12–14)

So let's start with the most obvious method, which works 60 percent of the time, and it's important that you do these things right after you insert them. SD-maps, otherwise the system may ignore the changes.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Gallery (or Mi Gallery, Google Photos) in the list.
3. Slip on "Permissions" → "Memory."
4. Select "Allow access to" SD-Map" (or "Allow management of all files" in new versions) MIUI).
5. Reboot your phone – this is a must!

If files are not displayed after rebooting, check:

• 🔄 Is Charge Savings on – it blocks background scans.
• 📱 Is the second account not being used (MIUI It allows you to create multiple profiles with different rights).
• 🗑️ Are files hidden through settings? → Additionally. → Show hidden files.

Format the card in FAT32/exFAT via phone | Check the card for errors in PC| Disable "Battery Optimization" for Gallery | Make sure the card is not encrypted

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Method 2: Configure with "Additional Memory Settings" (hidden MIUI section)

MIUI 13/14 has a hidden settings section that controls applications' access to external drives, which is not in the main menu, but can be opened through the code of the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app and type in ##4636##
2. Select "Equipment Testing" → "Memory settings".
3. Tap it on "SD-map" and enable the option "Allow access for all applications".
4. Return to the main settings and go along the way: Settings → Memory. → Additionally. → Access to SD-map.
5. Turn on the switch for the Gallery and other necessary applications.

Warning: After this manipulation, some applications (such as messengers) may lose access to the map, and you will have to reconfigure them.

Method 3: Using a file manager to force a scan

If the gallery persists in not seeing files, you can push the system to detect them through standard Explorer (or Files by Google). 13/14, where restrictions on access to SD-cardboards as hard as possible.

1. Open Explorer (or any other file manager).
2. Go to the root catalogue SD-cards (usually these are /storage/XXXX-XXXX, where XXXX — unique identifier).
3. Find the DCIM folder (where the photos are stored) or Pictures.
4. Long click on the folder → “Properties” → “Scan media files”.
5. Wait 1-2 minutes – the system should update the media base.

If the option "Scan Media Files" is not available:

• 📲 Install Rescan Media Root from Google Play – This App Forcedly Updates Android Media Base.
• 🔧 Manually create the root SD-map file.nomedia (no extension), then delete it - this will reset the scan cache.

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If the photos are displayed in Explorer but not in Gallery, try clearing the Media Store app cache (Settings → Apps → Show Everything → Media Store → Memory → Clear Cache).

Method 4: Change the format SD-Cards (if nothing helps)

Sometimes the problem lies in the memory card file system. Xiaomi is optimized to work with FAT32 and exFAT, whereas NTFS or ext4 can cause conflicts.

How to format the map correctly:

1. Copy all the data from the card to the PC.
2. Insert the card into your phone and go to Settings → Memory. → SD-map → Format.
3. Select exFAT (if card >32GB) or FAT32 (if <32GB).
4. After formatting, do not remove the map – set up access for the gallery immediately (see Method 1).

⚠️ Note: Formatting via PC (e.g. Windows) can create partitions that are not readable for Xiaomi. Always format the card directly on your phone if you plan to use it as a memory extension.

Method 5: Using ADB to enforce rights (for advanced)

If all previous methods fail, the manual granting of rights through ADB is left, which requires connecting the phone to a PC, but is guaranteed to solve the problem by 99%.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap according to the version → return to → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices (should display the serial number of your device).
4. Grant rights of access to 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. For Google Photos, use: adb shell pm grant com.google.android.apps.photos android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
6. Reboot the phone.

If after the restart, access still does not appear, follow the additional command:

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

(substitute XXXX-XXXX real ID yours SD-The map can be found through the command adb shell ls. /storage).

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ADB-The commands are reset when you reset your phone to the factory settings. If you do a hard reset, you'll have to repeat the procedure.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even after successful access to SD-This is the top of the map.-5 The reasons why this happens and how to eliminate them:

• 🔋 Optimizing the battery: MIUI It aggressively closes the background. Solution: Settings. → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → gallery → No restrictions.
• 🔄 Update MIUI: After updating the firmware, the rights are reset. Solution: Reconfigure from Method 1.
• 📵 Flight mode/guest session: In these modes, access to SD-Solution: Turn them off in the notification curtain.
• 🛡️ Protection of confidentiality: B MIUI 14 new section: Settings → Confidentiality → Protection of confidentiality → Access to files → Turn on gallery access.
• 📱 Reset rights after reboot: On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11) rights are reset when rebooted.Solution: Use Method 5 (ADB) permanent access.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using SD-The card is an internal memory (the function "Format as internal drive"), then access to it will have only system applications. Third-party galleries (for example, Google Photos or Simple Gallery) will not see the files!).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions