You’ve taken hundreds of photos on your Xiaomi, but the standard names are like, IMG_20260515_123456.jpg Is renaming files not only helps to organize the collection, but also to find the right pictures faster through search. On Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and other devices). POCO) There are several ways to change the name of the photo – from built-in tools to third-party applications.
In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, including renaming through a standard gallery, file managers, PCs and even batch processing of dozens of photos at a time. EXIF-We'll also find out why sometimes new names don't show up in the gallery and how to fix them.
Important: the procedure differs depending on the version of the MIUI shell (12/13/14) and the smartphone model. We tested all methods on the Xiaomi 13 Pro (MIUI 14), Redmi Note 12 (MIUI 13) and POCO X5 (MIUI 14 for POCO) - the instructions are universal for most devices of the brand.
1.Renaming through the standard Xiaomi gallery
The easiest way is to use the built-in Gallery app (or Photos in newer versions of MIUI), which is suitable for single files, but has limitations: you can’t rename multiple photos at once, and some formats (such as.HEIC) may not be supported.
To change the name of the photo:
- Open the Gallery app and find the photo you need.
- Tap the image and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds to create a context menu.
- Select "Details" (or "Information" in MIUI 14).
- Click on the current file name (for example, IMG_20260510_182345.jpg) And you can enter a new one.
- Save the changes with the "Ready" or "OK" button.
⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI If you rename the photo, it may disappear from the gallery. DCIM/Camera, But it takes time for the gallery to re-index, so to speed things up, restart the app or restart the smartphone.
Make sure that the photo is not in the cloud album (e.g. Google Photos)
Check that the file is not locked (no lock icon in the information)
Turn off memory optimization in gallery settings (if enabled)
Make a backup of important photos-->
2.Using the MIUI file manager
If the gallery does not allow you to rename a photo (for example, because of the.HEIC or.DNG format), use the standard Explorer (or Files in MIUI 14), which gives you more control, but requires caution: changing the file extension incorrectly can make it unreadable.
Instructions:
- Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
- Go to the photo folder: it’s usually internal memory → DCIM → Camera.
- Find the file you want and tap three dots to the right of it (or hold your finger on the file).
- Select "Rename" and enter a new name. Do not change the extension after the dot (for example,.jpg or.png).
- Confirm the change.
| Action. | The result | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Remove file extension | Photo won't open. | Restore the extension manually (e.g. add.jpg) |
| Used prohibited symbols (\/: *? < > |) | Mistake of renaming | Replace the characters with an emphasis ( ) or hyphen (-) |
| Renamed the file in the cloud folder | Changes didn't synchronize. | Download photos locally before renaming |
💡 If you rename a photo often, create a separate folder (for example, Renamed_Photos) And you can move the processed files there, and that'll make it easier to find them, and it'll avoid confusion with the originals.
Standard Files from MIUI
Google Files
Solid Explorer
FX File Explorer
Other-->
3. Package renaming of several photos
Do you need to rename dozens or hundreds of photos at a time? Xiaomi's standard tools don't have this feature, but it can be implemented through third-party apps. We tested 3 reliable options:
- 📌 Rename My Files – a simple tool with template support (for example, add a date or serial number).
- 📌 Batch Rename – allows you to rename the name EXIF-Data (date of shooting, camera model).
- 📌 Files by Google – has a built-in batch renaming function (menu “More" → "Rename the elements").
Example of batch renaming via Files by Google:
- Open the application and go to the folder with the photo.
- Select files with a long tap or through the select button.
- Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Rename elements".
- Set a template (e.g., Vacation_2026_{number} and confirm.
⚠️ Note: When batch renaming, some applications (such as Google Photos) may lose connection to the original files, resulting in duplicate photos in the cloud.
What is it? EXIF-Data and Why it Matters?
4. Rename via computer (Windows/macOS)
If your smartphone lacks features, connect Xiaomi to your computer and rename the photo through Windows Explorer, Finder (macOS) or specialized utilities like Bulk Rename Utility, a method that is convenient for mass processing and backup.
Step-by-step instructions for Windows:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode in Xiaomi Notification Curtain).
🔹 Important for macOS: If photos don't show up in Finder, install Android File Transfer (the official utility from Google). Also check that Xiaomi has Mode enabled. MTP in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times to unlock).
5. Work with EXIF-Data: How to Save Metainformation
When renaming through some applications or PCs, they are lost. EXIF-data -- this can be critical for professional photographers or for those who sort photos by date, to avoid losing meta-information:
- 🛠️ Use programs with support EXIF: ExifTool (PC), PhotoExif (Android), Exif Viewer by Fluntro (iOS).
- 📅 Before renaming export, export EXIF a separate file (the function "Metadata Export" in ExifTool).
- 🔄 After renaming, verify the integrity of the data through the "Details" in the gallery or specialized applications.
Example of a command to rename with saving EXIF via ExifTool (PC):
exiftool "-filename<CreateDate" -d %Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S%%.jpg -r -ext jpg DIRECTORYThis command will rename all.jpg files in the DIRECTORY folder using the MGGG-MM-DD Ch-MM-SS.jpg pattern using the shooting date from EXIF.
💡
If you often work with EXIF, install the Exif Editor app on Xiaomi, which allows you not only to view metadata, but also to edit it (for example, fix the wrong shooting date or remove geotags).
Frequent problems and their solutions
When renaming a photo to Xiaomi, users encounter common mistakes, and we have collected the most common ways to eliminate them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Photo disappears from gallery after renaming | Gallery has not updated index | Restart the app or restart your smartphone. check the DCIM folder through the file manager |
| You can’t rename your photo in.HEIC format. | MIUI does not support editing this format | Convert to.JPG through HEIC to JPG Converter |
| The new name is not displayed in Google Photos | Cloud service synchronized before renaming | Remove photos from Google Photos, rename locally, then upload them again. |
| Error "File used" when renaming | Photos are open in another app (e.g. editor) | Close all applications through the latest task menu and try again. |
🔧 Key takeaway: If standard methods don't work, you can always rename a photo via PC or third-party apps, and the key is to keep backups in mind and check file integrity after changes.
💡
Before renaming the process, test it with 2-3 photos to avoid data loss from errors in templates or name conflicts.