Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to expand internal storage, especially on models with limited memory, such as the Redmi Note 9. Installing a microSD card solves the problem of space shortage, but the system limitations of Android 10 and MIUI shells can prevent the correct display of media content in standard applications.
To make matters worse, modern versions of Android have strict security policies that isolate applications from each other and restrict access to the file system, which is designed to protect data but often creates inconveniences when working with multimedia. To enjoy watching photos and videos saved on an external medium, you need to perform a number of specific settings that are not always obvious when you first get acquainted with the device.
In this guide, we will detail the algorithm that will allow you to correctly configure access to external storage, learn how to force scanning of media files, check access rights and avoid the typical errors that keep files hidden. Following the instructions will help restore the full functionality of your library without installing third-party software.
Preparation of the external storage device and compatibility check
The first and most important step is to physically install the memory card and prepare it. Redmi Note 9 supports microSD cards up to 512 GB, but for stable operation it is recommended to use the drive class of speeds Class 10 or higher. If the card was previously used in another device, for example, in a camera or tablet, the file system may not be compatible with the requirements of MIUI.
Once the sim tray is installed and the smartphone is turned on, the system will automatically prompt the storage drive to be formatted. Attention: formatting will completely remove all data from the memory card, so back up important files on your computer in advance. During the formatting process, the system will create the necessary folder structure, including hidden system directories, which allow Android to correctly manage files.
- 📀 Make sure the memory card is inserted before the characteristic click and fits tightly to the contacts.
- 📂 Select the “Use as portable storage” option to keep the ability to transfer the card to other devices.
- ⚡ Wait for the indexing process to be completed, the indicator of which is displayed in the notification panel.
If automatic formatting has not occurred or an error has occurred, you must perform this procedure manually through the settings. → The phone. → Storage. Here you'll see a list of connected media. Select yours. SD-You can find a menu item hidden in the drop-down list or indicated by a tripod, and you can have a formatting option, and when you're done, you can reboot or update the memory partitions.
⚠️ Note: Do not remove the memory card during the phone operation or data recording process.This may damage the file table and lose some of the photos that the Gallery will not be able to read later.
☑️ Checking the map's readiness
Configure access rights in the Android system
With the release of new versions of Android, the permission mechanism has become more granular.The Gallery app no longer has automatic access to all files on the external media by default. You will need to manually confirm this action when the system requests permission when you first start a scan or try to view.
Usually, the request appears as a pop-up with the text “Allow access to photos, media files and files on the device?” If you accidentally click “Disable” or the window does not appear, you need to check the settings manually. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find in the list “Gallery” (or “Photos” if you use Google Photos) and go to the “Permissions” section.
You need to activate the switch opposite Files and Media Content or Storage without this permission, the system scanner will not be able to read the directories on the external map. In some cases, especially on global MIUI firmware, you may need to additionally allow access to Device and Call History, since some albums sync with contacts or messages.
MIUI's Hidden Permits
Once you change your settings, be sure to close the Gallery app completely through Task Manager and run it again, ensuring that the new settings take effect. If the problem persists, check if you have any antivirus or file manager with Protect privacy that can block system applications from accessing external drives.
Forced scanning of the media library
Even with all the permissions, the files on SD-The map may not be displayed if the Media Storage database is not updated. Android does not always instantly respond to the appearance of new files, especially if they were copied through a computer in mode. MTP In such cases, compulsory indexation is required.
The easiest way to start a scan is to use the built-in system tools. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and click 7-10 times on the logo to open the developer menu (if it is not already on). Then, in the advanced settings, look for Processes or search by settings by entering Media.
However, a more reliable method is to clear the cache of the system storage service. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Click on three dots in the upper right corner and select “Show system processes.”
- 🗑️ Press "Clear» → «Clear cache” (do not delete all data unless you are sure of your actions).
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone completely by turning it off and on, not just restarting the screen.
- ⏳ Wait after you turn on. 5-10 minutes without active actions, so that the system indexes files.
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Forced reboot and waiting for background indexing is the most effective way to get the Gallery to “see” new files on the site. SD-card without using third-party software.
If that doesn't work, you can use the Explorer app. Open any folder on the SD-This writing operation often triggers a system scanner that checks for changes to the file system and updates the thumbnail database.
Solving problems with displaying albums
A common problem for Xiaomi users is the presence of empty albums or duplicate folders in the Gallery. This is due to the peculiarities of the structure of Android folders, where screenshots, downloads and photos from cameras can lie in different directories, and on the Internet, the user can use the same file. SD-And the map creates a copy of them when you transfer them, and the gallery sees all these folders and displays them as individual albums.
To solve this problem, you can use the album hiding feature. Open the Gallery, go to the Albums tab and click three dots in the corner of the screen. Select Hide/Show Albums. Here you will see a list of all the folders you found. Disable those that do not contain the photos you want, such as.thumbnails system folders or instant messenger files.
It is also worth checking if the.nomedia file is in the root directory of your memory card or in specific folders with photos. This hidden file is a command for the Android system to ignore the contents of the folder when scanning media files. If you want the Gallery to see the photo, this file must be deleted.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Method of decision |
|---|---|---|
| Albums are empty | File.nomedia | Delete the hidden file through Explorer |
| Photo not in the tape | Scanning's not running. | Clear the Media Service cache |
| Double folders | Different path structures | Hide the extra albums in the settings |
| Format error | Incompatible FS | Format in exFAT/FAT32 |
Sometimes renaming folders helps. System folders often have English names (DCIM, Pictures), while custom folders can be called in Russian. Make sure that folder names do not have special characters that can be handled incorrectly by the MIUI file manager.
Use of third-party galleries and guides
If the standard Xiaomi Gallery continues to work incorrectly with an external drive, it makes sense to consider alternative solutions.The Android app market offers many galleries that have their own crawling mechanisms and often work better with large amounts of data on the Internet. SD-card.
One of the best solutions is Google Photos, which automatically indexes all media files on your device, regardless of where they are located, and it can back up in the cloud, which frees up space on your memory card, and it just allows the app to access the storage when it first starts to work with local files.
Another great option is specialized galleries like A+ Gallery or Simple Gallery, which often have more flexible display settings and allow you to manually add paths to folders that are ignored by the system, and they also create previews for heavy video files recorded in high resolution faster.
⚠️ Warning: When installing third-party galleries, carefully monitor the permissions requested. Avoid apps from unknown developers that require access to contacts or location without an obvious need.
To manage files when the Gallery is not working, use advanced file managers, such as MiXplorer or FX File Explorer, which allow you to work directly with the file system, rename hidden files and force you to run media scanning through built-in plugins.
Optimizing work with large amounts of data
When SD-The map accumulates thousands of photos, the Gallery's performance can decrease, the scroll becomes ragged, and the search for photos takes a long time. eMMC/UFS, redmi note 9.
To optimize, it's recommended that you clean the.thumbnails folder regularly. This folder stores thumbnails of all images. Over time, it can grow to several gigabytes, taking up space and slowing down. Cleaning this folder will cause the system to recreate thumbnails, which can temporarily load the processor, but in the long run will speed up work.
Also worth considering is the physical wear and tear of the memory card: Cheap MicroSD cards have low write life and random read speed. If the card is old or low quality, it can cause "fries" of the interface when you try to open a heavy photo. In such cases, replacing the drive with a model rated A1/A2 (Application Performance Class) will give a noticeable increase in speed.
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Use A2-marked memory cards to install applications or actively work with photos, which provide faster I/O operations, which is critical for smooth operation of the Gallery.
Don't store thousands of files in one folder on a single memory card. Break archives by year or event, creating a new folder for each month, which will make it easier for Android's sorting algorithms to work and speed up navigation through albums.