Shutdown USB-The drive on Xiaomi smartphones is a seemingly simple operation, but if performed incorrectly, it can lead to file damage, data loss or even file system failures. Many users simply pull the flash drive out of the port without thinking about the consequences, especially if the device does not give clear signals about the ongoing recording. MIUI (Xiaomi firmware has its own nuances in the processing of external drives, which are important to consider.
In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to safely disconnect. USB-The storage device – from the standard interface MIUI You'll learn why you can't ignore the extraction procedure, how to check if the flash drive is being used by the system, and what to do if the smartphone doesn't see the command to turn off. OTG (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5, Xiaomi 13T where the risk of data corruption is higher due to high data transfer speeds.
Why can’t you just pull a flash drive out of Xiaomi?
The external drive file system (usually FAT32 or exFAT) is not designed to be hot-switched off. When writing or reading data, Android caches operations in memory, and if the process is interrupted, you may experience:
- 🔴 Damage to the file table – the smartphone will stop “seeing” part of the data on the flash drive.
- 🔴 Losing unsaved files – for example, if you copied photos but the process didn’t end.
- 🔴 Failures in operation MIUI — rare, but possible freezes on the next connection of the drive.
- 🔴 Reading errors on other devices (PC, TV) after incorrect extraction.
On Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 14+, the system automatically mounts external drives in read-only mode if detects are active write processes. However, this does not guarantee 100% protection - some applications (for example, file managers or media players) can block unmounting.
⚠️ Note: On models with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi) K60 Pro) due to high speed USB 3.2 the risk of data damage in abrupt extraction is higher than on budget devices with USB 2.0.
Method 1: Standard Disconnection through Notification
The easiest and most recommended method is to use the notification bar.It works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later:
- Wait for the message “Can remove the device” and physically disconnect the flash drive.
If no notice appears:
- 🔄 Reconnect the drive (sometimes) MIUI He doesn't recognize him the first time).
- 📱 Check if the power saving mode blocks access (disable it in Settings). → Battery).
- 🛠️ Update the firmware - in older versions MIUI (11) there may have been bugs showing notifications.
The flash drive does not flash the indicator (if any)
No active copying operations in the file manager
The connection notification is visible in the panel
The smartphone does not give errors when opening files-->
Method 2: Through "Settings" → "Storage"
If the notification has disappeared or is not displayed, use the storage menu:
- Open the Settings → Storage.
- Scroll down to the Portable Drive section (or «USB-accumulator»).
- Click on the name of your flash drive → in the upper right corner, tap on ⋮ (three-point) → select "Disable».
- Confirm the action and wait for the message of successful unmounting.
On some models (POCO X5 Pro, Redmi 12) the path may be different:
Settings → Additional → Storage → USB- Storage⚠️ Note: If the "Disable" button is inactive (grey), it means that the drive is used by the system or application. Close all programs that work with the flash drive (for example, Google Photos, VLC), and try again.
What to do if the “Disable” button is not pressed?
Method 3: Using the MIUI file manager
Xiaomi’s built-in file manager also allows you to safely extract the drive:
- Open the Files app (Folder icon).
- In the “Device” section, find your USB-storage device (usually displayed as USB storage or the name of the flash drive model).
- Tap on. ⋮ (three dots) next to the name → select "Disable».
If you use a third-party file manager (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Manager), the algorithm is similar:
- 📁 Open the side menu. → find a section «USB» or “External drives».
- 🔌 Select the option "Unmount" or "Eject" (in English versions).
💡
If the flash drive is still detected by the system after disabling through the file manager, try reconnecting it and using method 1 (through notification), which is due to the peculiarities of caching in MIUI.
Method 4: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)
If standard methods don’t work (e.g., a smartphone is “hang-up” or doesn’t respond to commands), you can unmount the drive via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires the developer mode on and is suitable for Xiaomi models with unlocked bootloader.
Instructions:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and activate debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap to turn on Developer Mode, then Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB).
- Open the command line on your PC and type: adb shell sm list-volumes Find your list USB-drive (usually marked as removable or usb).
- Unmount the drive with the command: sm unmount /mnt/media_rw/{ID_storage device} For example: sm unmount /mnt/media_rw/USB_Drive_A1.
- After successful execution, remove the flash drive.
| Team team. | Description |
|---|---|
| adb devices | Checking the connection of the device to the PC |
| sm list-volumes | List of all connected volumes (including USB) |
| sm unmount / path | Forced unmounting of the storage device |
| adb reboot | Reboot the smartphone (if the drive “hangs”) |
⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can lead to disruptions in work. MIUI. Do not unmount system partitions (for example, /data or /system) — This will put the smartphone out of action!
Through notice
Through "Settings" → "Storage"
Through the file manager
Never turn it off properly.
Another way.-->
Method 5: Forced shutdown when getting stuck
If your smartphone does not respond to disable commands (for example, after a failure when copying files), use the emergency method:
- Close all applications through “Recent” (swipe up and hold).
- Restart your smartphone without removing the flash drive:
only after a complete shutdown
Important: Forced retrieval without unwiring is the last resort.
- 🔍 Check the flash drive on another device (PC, TV) for errors.
- 🛠️ If necessary, format it (save the data beforehand).
💡
Rebooting a smartphone with a connected USB-The storage device often solves problems with “hang” unmounting, because MIUI Resets all locks of the file system.
Frequent mistakes and their solution
Even with the right shutdown, Xiaomi users may face problems. Consider typical situations and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The flash drive is not switched off ("Preparation is in progress") | The system or application blocks the drive | Close all programs, restart the smartphone |
| After extraction, the files became "broken" | Recording operation interrupted | Check the flash drive on PC with chkdsk /f |
| Smartphone does not see the flash drive after reconnecting | Damage to the file system | Format the drive in FAT32 or exFAT |
| The "Disable" button is missing | The drive is connected in MTP mode (as a media device) | Reconnect the flash drive by selecting the mode USB-accumulator |
Xiaomi models with MIUI 14+ (e.g. Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro+) have added automatic unmounting function at low battery charge. If the smartphone suddenly turned off the flash drive, check the charge level - it may be that the system prevented data loss due to the risk of a sudden shutdown.