How to open access to the gallery SD-Xiaomi Redmi map: all working methods

Why Xiaomi Gallery Can't See Files SD-map?

You put a microSD in your Xiaomi Redmi, you copied photos, but the gallery stubbornly ignores them? This problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones with MIUI, the brand shell of Xiaomi. The reasons can be different from the banal lack of permissions to the system limitations of Android.

Most often to blame: (1) Privacy settings MIUI — the system by default blocks applications from accessing external drives. 2) Formatting a card - if SD formatted as internal memory, the gallery may not see its contents. 3) App cache - clogged gallery cache prevents scanning new files. 4) MIUI — into MIUI 12–14 logic of working with SD-The cards have changed and the old methods have stopped working.

In this article, we’re looking at the latest 2026 models that work on all Redmi models (from Redmi Note 4 to Redmi Note 13 Pro+).Some of the methods are universal for all Android smartphones, but we’ll focus on MIUI features.

Method 1: Access permission in MIUI settings

The easiest way is to give the gallery an explicit permission to work with the SD-It's a map through system settings. MIUI 12, 13 and 14, but the path to settings may be slightly different.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Gallery app (or Google Photos if you use it) in the list.
3. Slip it on the Permit. → Memory.
4. Select Allow Access to SD-Map (or Allow management of all files in new versions) MIUI).
5. Confirm the action if there is a request for rights.

If the Memory item is not in the gallery permissions, try an alternative path:

• 📁 Settings → Confidentiality → Special permits → Access to memory
• 🔍 Find the Gallery in the list and turn on the slider.

Check that SD-card correctly inserted into the slot

Make sure the card is not damaged (try reading it on PC)

Update the Gallery app on Google Play

Reboot your smartphone before changing your settings-->

Important! On some models (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro), you need to manually update your library after you have given permissions. To do this, open the gallery, pull the screen down and click Update.

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If the gallery still doesn't see files after changing the permissions, try moving a few photos from the map to the internal memory and then back again, which sometimes wakes up the media scanner.

Method 2: Formatting SD-card as a portable storage device

If you SD-The card is formatted as internal memory, Android restricts access to it only for system applications, the gallery can not see the files or see them partially.

Warning: formatting will remove all data from the card! make a backup of important files on your PC before you start.

How to change the format:

1. Go to Settings → Memory (or Storage).
2. Tap your name on it. SD-maps (e.g. SanDisk) 128GB).
3. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Storage Settings.
4. Select Format as a Portable (or Portable) Drive.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

After formatting, restart your phone and check if the files have appeared in the gallery. If not, try method 3.

Method 3: Clearing cache and gallery data

Clogged cache or corrupted Gallery app data may interfere with correct scanning SD-Clearing cache is a safe way to restart the app without losing your photos.

How to clear the cache:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Gallery (or Media Storage on some models).
3. Slip it on the Warehouse.
4. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – this will remove all app settings!).
5. Reboot the phone.

If cleaning the cache didn't work, try a more radical way, which is to reset the gallery data. SD-The map will remain intact.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI The reset of gallery data could cause the miniatures in the album Recent to disappear.They will recover after being re-scanned, but the process can take up to 10 minutes.

Alternatively, use a third-party gallery (like Simple Gallery or Google Photos) that often works better with the user. SD-Install it from Google Play and allow access to memory in the settings.

Method 4: Manual scanning of media files

Sometimes the system does not update the library automatically after adding new files to the library. SD-In this case, you can manually run the scan.

Methods of forced renewal:

• 🔄 Through the Gallery: Open the app, pull the screen down and click Update (or update icon).
• 📱 Enter the phone number dialer ##4636##, select Phone Information → Run a ping test (this indirectly updates the media scanner).
• 🤖 Through ADB: Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MEDIA_MOUNTED -d file:///storage/XXXX-XXXX (substitute XXXX-XXXX on ID yours SD-The card can be found through adb shell ls. /storage).

If you don’t want to use ADB, install Rescan SD or Media Rescan from Google Play, which automates the scanning process.

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Forced scanning helps if there are files on the map, but the gallery doesn't see them, and if there are no files even when you connect the card to a PC, the problem is with the card itself or its file system.

Method 5: Using a file manager to transfer files

If the gallery does not want to show files from SD-So you can do a decoupling thing, temporarily transfer the photos to your internal memory, and then bring them back.

How to do this:

1. Open the standard File Manager (or install Solid Explorer/FX File Explorer).
2. Go to the folder. DCIM or Pictures on SD-map.
3. Select the files you want (or the entire folder) and click Copy.
4. Go to the phone’s internal memory (Internal Storage) and paste the files into the same folder (DCIM/Camera).
5. Wait 1-2 minutes – the gallery should update and show the copied files.
6. Delete files from SD-maps and move them back.

This method works because Android automatically scans internal memory for new media files, and once files are registered on the system, they can be returned to the system. SD-Maps: The gallery will continue to see them.

⚠️ Warning: Do not copy files to the Download folder or the root directory of internal memory - the media scanner can ignore them: DCIM, Pictures or Movies.

Method 6: Update MIUI or rollback to previous version

If the problem occurred after the firmware update, the fault may be a bug in the new version of MIUI.

1. Update to the latest stable version (bugs are often fixed in the following patches).
2. Reverse to the previous firmware if the problem began after the update.

How to update MIUI:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔍 Click Check Updates and install the latest version available.
• 🔄 After the update, reset the gallery cache (see Method 3).

If you want to roll back:

1. Download the desired firmware version from the official Xiaomi website (choose Stable, not Developer).
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root of internal memory.
3. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update system, press three dots (⋮) and select Select a firmware file.
4. Confirm the installation and wait for the reboot.

Running back firmware is a last resort, as it will reset all the phone settings. Before the procedure, make a backup of data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users make the same mistakes when working with the same person. SD-These are the most common maps on Xiaomi Redmi:

Another common problem is corrupted files on SD-If the gallery sees only a portion of the photo or video is not playing, check the map for errors:

• 🖥️ Connect the card to the PC through the card reader.
• 🔍 Right-click on the disk in Explorer, select Properties → Service → Check (in Windows).
• 🛠️ On Mac, use the Disk Utility (First Aid).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions