Managing media files on modern Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones has long gone beyond just browsing, with users often facing the need to organize hundreds of snapshots by assigning them clear names for quick search or sending to colleagues. Standard naming system that generates names like IMG_20260512_143022.jpg, It is convenient for sorting by time, but completely uninformative for a person looking for a specific document or frame.
Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide flexible tools for working with the file system. In this article, we will not only discuss the basic methods of renaming through standard applications, but also touch on the nuances of batch renaming and hidden system restrictions. Understanding the structure of folders will help you avoid data loss when cleaning the cache.
Before embarking on a massive archive reorganization, it is important to recognize the difference between renaming a file and changing its metadata. EXIF-This is a critical point for photographers using smartphones as their primary shooting tool, as Google Photos and Gallery search algorithms often rely on internal information rather than the file name.
Basic renaming through the Gallery app
The most obvious and affordable way to change a picture name is to use the built-in Gallery app, which is ideal when you need to rename one or more files immediately after shooting. The interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same for all devices of the brand.
Open the picture and click on the "More" button (three dots or menu icon). In the drop-down list, select "Rename"; the system will prompt you to enter a new name while saving the file extension. Once confirmed, the file will instantly receive a new identifier in the device's memory.
But there's a big limitation to this method: it only works with individual files, and if you try to pick out a few photos and find a renaming option, you probably won't find it, and that's to avoid confusion, because massive renaming through the gallery interface could lead to duplication of names.
💡
Use short and clear prefixes in file names, for example, «Doc_», «Work_» or «Trip_», So that when sorted by alphabet, they are grouped together.
It is important to note that when you rename through the Gallery, you do not change the physical path to the file, but only its shortcut to the system. If the photo was part of the link album or synced to the cloud, the new name may not immediately appear on other devices until the next sync.
Working with files through a conductor
For more advanced file management, including renaming, the built-in Explorer (or Files) tool is much better suited to seeing the real structure of directories and working with files as if you were on a computer, accessed through a folder with a folder on your desktop or in the application menu.
Go to Images or manually open the Internal storage/DCIM/Camera path, where all the pictures taken by the main camera are stored. Select the file you want with a long tap. The bottom menu will show a button called "More" where the "Rename" option hides. Unlike the Gallery, here you see the full file name along with the extension.
- 📁 You can manually change the file extension, but this can cause the image to stop opening.
- 📂 Explorer allows you to move files to custom folders with new names, saving the original.
- 🔍 Search for a new name in Explorer works instantly after renaming.
Using Explorer gives you the advantage of being able to copy the path to the file, which is useful if you plan to link to a specific image in other applications or scripts. Just click on the file, select Properties or Details, and you will see the full path.
☑️ Checking before renaming
Be careful when renaming system thumbnails: cached, reduced copies are stored in.thumbnails folders, and renaming or deleting them will cause the system to regenerate previews, which can temporarily slow down the Gallery and increase battery consumption.
Mass renaming and third-party applications
Xiaomi’s regular means of mass renaming (e.g., Photo001, Photo002) are difficult to implement, and specialized file management applications from Google Play, such as Total Commander, Solid Explorer or Files by Google, are best suited for this purpose.
Consider a powerful manager like Solid Explorer, which is to highlight a group of files, select a rename function (often available through a long press or action menu), and offer templates like adding a prefix, a suffix, replacing text, or numbering files in order, an indispensable tool for organizing archives.
When using third-party software, you need to give the application extended permissions to access storage. In modern versions of Android (Android 11/12/13/14), the security system strictly controls access to the file system, so you will need to confirm permission to manage all files when you first start.
| Annex | Packet renaming | Russian interface | Advertising |
|---|---|---|---|
| Files by Google | No (basic) | There is. | No. |
| Total Commander | Yeah (plugins) | There is. | No. |
| Solid Explorer | Yeah (embedded) | There is. | No (trial) |
| X-plore | Yes. | There is. | No. |
Some advanced file managers allow you to use Regex to rename, a powerful tool for syntax-knowing users, such as extracting a date from a file name and rearranging it to the beginning of a line automatically.
Rename through connection to a computer
The fastest way to rename hundreds of photos is to connect your smartphone to your computer, and in this mode, your phone acts as an external storage device (MTP), and you can use all the features of your PC operating system, which is especially true for working with large amounts of data.
Connect the device with a cable and select File Transfer mode in the notification on the smartphone screen. On your computer, open the disk that appears, go to the DCIM folder. Here you can select groups of files, use renaming with numbering (the standard Windows function when selecting a group and pressing F2) or powerful utilities like Total Commander or FastStone Image Viewer.
⚠️ Note: When working through a computer, make sure that the cable USB Abrupt communication break during renaming or writing can cause file system damage or loss of metadata.
The advantage of the PC approach is that it's quick and easy to type, and the keyboard allows you to type complex names, copy and paste quickly, which is very inconvenient on a smartphone touch screen, and it's also easier to see duplicate names on a PC.
What to do if the computer can’t see the folder?
Nuances of work in HyperOS and MIUI 14
The latest shell updates from Xiaomi have changed the file access security policy, which means that applications can no longer read and write freely to the root directory without the explicit permission of the user, and this can cause difficulties when trying to rename files through older versions of file managers.
If standard Explorer does not allow you to rename the file, check if it is protected. Some files created by system applications (for example, screenshots with sensitive data in the “Second Space” mode) can be hidden or blocked for editing in the main profile, and it is also worth checking the “Security” and “Privacy” settings.
HyperOS has improved cloud integration. If you have sync enabled with Xiaomi Cloud or Google Photos, renaming a file locally may not change its name in the cloud immediately. The system can use the unique file ID to sync, ignoring the local name until the next full check.
- 🔄 Synchronization can take time depending on internet speed.
- 🔒 Files from the "Closed Album" cannot be renamed without unlocking them first.
- 📱 On tablets Xiaomi Pad file management interface adapted for the big screen.
Users who are actively using cloud storage are advised to monitor sync status. Local renaming is one action, but for it to be applied everywhere, you need to wait for the background processes of the system to complete.
💡
In newer versions of MIUI and HyperOS, accessing system folders through third-party applications may require a special permission to “Access all files” in the privacy settings.
Frequent problems and their solution
Often users are faced with a situation where the file refuses is renamed. The system gives an error "failed to rename" or "file is busy", most often this means that the image is open in another application (for example, in the editor or messenger in the background) and blocked for recording.
Another common problem is the forbidden characters in the name. Android, which is based on Linux, is sensitive to certain characters. Although it is more loyal than Windows, using characters like /,,:,,?, ", <, >, | can cause errors when transferring a file to other devices or to the cloud.
⚠️ Note: Do not use reserved operating system words (e.g, «CON», «PRN», «AUX») as file names, even if the system allows it, and this can cause the file to be displayed incorrectly in other programs.
If the renaming was successful, but Gallery continues to show the old name, try clearing the Gallery app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Gallery → Clear the cache. This will not delete your photos, but will force the app to re-index the media library.
In rare cases, the problem may lie in the corruption of the file system. If the renaming causes the phone to freeze or disappear files, it is recommended to check the disk for errors through the computer or reset the media storage settings (not to be confused with a complete reset of the phone).