Formatting flash drive on Xiaomi Redmi 7: all the ways and nuances

Formatting a flash drive on Xiaomi Redmi 7 is a procedure that every smartphone owner faces whenever it is necessary to clear the drive of data or change its file system. Despite its apparent simplicity, the process has a number of nuances, from choosing the right format (FAT32, exFAT or NTFS) to solving possible errors like “device is not formatted” or “device is protected from writing.” In this article, we will analyze all the working methods – through the phone itself, using the PC, and also consider how to avoid data loss and why sometimes the smartphone does not see the formatted drive.

Redmi 7’s external media feature is the limitations of MIUI firmware. For example, the standard Files app doesn’t always handle flash drives larger than 64GB correctly, and some users find that the drive is defined as “damaged” after formatting. We tested all methods on current versions of MIUI (including MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 14) and collected checklists for each scenario.

Preparing the flash drive for formatting: what to do in advance

Before you start cleaning the drive, follow a few critical steps, which can cause data loss or even the USB drive to fail.

First, copy all important files to another medium or to the cloud. Formatting deletes information without recovery (unless you use specialized programs like Recuva or TestDisk). Pay special attention to the DCIM (photo/video), Download (download) and Android (application data).

Second, check the flash drive for physical damage, and if the drive is warming, making extraneous sounds, or not being detected by other devices, formatting can make the problem worse, and in such cases, it is better to use diagnostic tools (e.g., CrystalDiskInfo on a PC).

• 📁 Save backup: transfer files to your computer or to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).
• 🔍 Check Integrity: Connect the USB flash drive to your PC and run the error scan through Properties → Service → Verification.
• 🔋 Make sure to charge the battery: the formatting process can take up to 10-15 minutes, and an interruption due to discharge will lead to a failure.
• 🛠️ Use the original adapter: if formatting through OTG-cable, avoid cheap adapters - they can cause data transmission errors.

⚠️ Note: If the flash drive was previously used in Android devices as internal memory (Adoptable Storage function), it cannot be formatted using standard methods.

Method 1: Formatting through the standard Files app on Redmi 7

The easiest method is to use Xiaomi's built-in Files app, which is suitable for flash drives up to 32GB and does not require a PC connection.

• ❌ Does not support the exFAT file system (only) FAT32).
• ❌ It may not work with Mac formatted drives (APFS or HFS+).
• ❌ Sometimes "hangs" during the preparation stage (rebooted phone).

Instructions:

1. Connect the flash drive to Redmi 7 via OTG-Adapter (or insert it into a memory card slot if you have one in your modification).
2. Open the Files app and go to Devices (or) USB-accumulator).
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Storage Settings → Format.
4. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (usually takes 1-3 minutes).

Make a backup copy of the data|Connect the flash drive through OTG|Close all applications using the drive|Charge your phone at least 50 times%-->

If the flash drive is not identified after formatting, try to remove and reconnect it, and in rare cases, rebooting the phone with the flash drive turned off helps.

Method 2: Formatting via PC (Windows, macOS, Linux)

For flash drives with a capacity of 64 GB or more or if necessary, use exFAT/NTFS, it is better to use a computer, this method is also relevant if Redmi 7 does not see the drive or gives an error "device is protected from writing".

On Windows:

1. Connect the flash drive to the PC through the card reader.
2. Open this computer (or Explorer), find your drive.
3. Right-click. → Format.
4. Select the file system: FAT32 for compatibility with all devices (maximum file size is 4 GB). exFAT for flash drives > 32 GB (supports files > 4 GB). NTFS - only if the flash drive will be used only on a PC (on Redmi 7 you can not read).

Start.

On macOS:

1. Open the Disk Utility (Applications → Utilities)
2. Select the flash drive in the left menu → the tab Erase.
3. Specify the format of MS-DOS (FAT) (analogue of FAT32) or ExFAT.
4. Press erase.

⚠️ Note: If the flash drive is defined as RAW (Unknown file system, do not try to format it with Redmi 7. Use DiskPart utility on PC: diskpart list disk select disk X (where X is your flash drive number) clean create partition primary format fs=fat32 quick

Method 3: Recovery Mode Formatting (if the flash drive is used as internal memory)

If you have previously configured the USB drive as internal storage (Adoptable Storage in Android), it cannot be formatted using standard methods, in which case you will need to reset via Recovery Mode, but note: this will delete all data from the phone, including apps and settings.

Instructions:

1. Turn off Redmi 7.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
5. After the reboot, the flash drive will be formatted as an external drive.

This method is a last resort. If you need to save your phone data, first create a backup through Settings → About Phone → Backup.

Solving Common Formatting Errors

Even when following the instructions, Redmi 7 users encounter errors, and consider the most common and ways to fix them.

Error: "Device protected from recording"

Reasons:

• 🔒 Physical lock switch on the flash drive (relevant for microSD adapters).
• 🛡️ Protection against entry in the Windows registry (for flash drives formatted on PC).
• 🦠 Viral software that blocks access.

Decisions:

• Check the switch on the adapter (if any).
• On PC, run the command line on behalf of the administrator and type: diskpart list disk select disk X attributes disk clear readonly
• Scan the flash drive with an antivirus (Malwarebytes or Dr.Web CureIt!).

Error: "The flash drive is not formatted. Do you want to format it now?"

This error occurs if:

• 🖥️ The flash drive is formatted in NTFS or ext4 (It is not supported by Redmi 7).
• 🔌 The contacts of the drive are oxidized or damaged.
• 📉 File system damaged due to improper extraction.

Decisions:

• Format the flash drive on your PC in FAT32 or exFAT.
• Clean the contacts of the flash drive with alcohol and dry.
• Use the SD Formatter (the official tool from the SD Association).

💡

If the flash drive is defined as “damaged” after formatting, try disabling the Quick Retrieval feature in Windows settings: Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Autostart settings.

Mistake: “Not enough space” when formatting large flash drives

On Xiaomi Redmi 7 with MIUI firmware below version 11.0.3, there is a bug: the phone cannot format flash drives larger than 64 GB through the standard Files app.

• Use a PC to format in exFAT.
• Update the firmware to the latest version through Settings → System Update.
• Install an alternative file manager (such as Solid Explorer) that supports exFAT.

How to Choose the Right File System for a Flash Drive on Redmi 7

The choice of file system depends on the compatibility of the flash drive with devices, the maximum file size and speed. Three options are relevant for Redmi 7:

Recommendations:

• 📷 For camera photo/video (JPEG, MP4 4GB) — FAT32.
• 🎮 For games, movies in 4K file > 4GB - exFAT.
• 💻 If the flash drive is used only from the PC — NTFS (Redmi 7 will be available for reading only).

💡

For flash drives with a capacity of 64 GB and more exFAT is the best choice, since FAT32 does not support files larger than 4 GB, and NTFS is incompatible with Android at the write level.

Alternative methods: applications for formatting

If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party utilities that offer advanced settings (such as changing the size of the cluster) and support rare file systems.

Top.-3 supplant 7:

1. SD Card Formatter (official utility from the SD Association): 🔹 Optimized for microSD memory cards. 🔹 Supports FAT32 exFAT. 🔹 Available for Windows and macOS.
2. AOMEI Partition Assistant: 🔹 Allows you to change the size of the cluster (useful for speed optimization). 🔹 Supports NTFS, FAT32, exFAT. 🔹 Portable version (does not require installation).
3. MiniTool Partition Wizard: 🔹 Restores damaged sections. 🔹 Supports formatting of flash drives > 128GB. 🔹 Can convert. NTFS into FAT32 data-free.

For use on the Redmi 7 will fit the apps from Google Play:

• USB OTG Checker – checks the compatibility of the flash drive with the phone.
• Format USB is a simple tool for fast formatting.
• DiskInfo – shows technical information about the drive.

⚠️ Note: Formatting apps from Google Play often require root permission. If your Redmi 7 isn't rooted, use them with caution - some utilities may contain advertising software.

How to Recover Data After Accidental Formatting

If you formatted a flash drive by mistake, don't write new files to it, which will reduce your chances of recovery.

For Windows:

• Recuva is a free utility with a simple interface.
• EaseUS Data Recovery – Recover files even from damaged drives.
• TestDisk is a console utility for experienced users (free).

For Android:

• DiskDigger – works without root, but with limitations.
• Undeleter – supports photo and video recovery.

The recovery algorithm:

1. Connect the flash drive to the PC.
2. Run a recovery program (such as Recuva).
3. Select the drive and file type (e.g. JPEG, MP4).
4. Start the scan (deep analysis will take several hours).
5. Save the recovered files to another drive (not the same drive!).

The chances of success depend on:

• 🕒 Time Elapsed After Formatting.
• 📝 The number of new files recorded on the flash drive.
• 🛠️ File system type (c) FAT32 Data recovery is easier than exFAT).

💡

If you only need to recover photos, try PhotoRec (part of TestDisk), which ignores the file system and scans the drive at the sector level, which increases the chances of success.

FAQ: Frequent questions about formatting flash drives on Xiaomi Redmi 7