How to rename a file on a Xiaomi smartphone: all ways of 2026

Renaming files on Xiaomi smartphones seems like an easy task – until you face restrictions MIUI, Unlike pure Android, Xiaomi's firmware has its own nuances, from the lack of editing rights in some directories to bugs encoding names in the explorer. This article will reveal all the current ways of renaming - from standard tools to advanced methods through the use of the Internet. ADB, It also explains why the system sometimes blocks change and how to get around it.

We tested the instructions on Redmi Note models. 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Ultra with the latest versions MIUI 14/15 Android-based 13/14. Particular attention was paid to problems with files in folders DCIM, Download and system partitions, where users are most likely to experience errors. If you tried to rename a file but received a message saying "failed to rename" or "no access rights" - here you will find a solution.

There is no water or general advice in this article, just specific steps to explain why a method works (or doesn’t work) in your case. For convenience, we have divided the methods by difficulty level, from basic for beginners to advanced for advanced users.

1. Standard method: through a conductor MIUI

The most obvious method is to use a built-in conductor. MIUI (It is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones and supports basic file operations. However, it has limitations: for example, it is impossible to rename files in system folders without root rights, and sometimes there are problems with encoding names (especially when using Cyrillic).

To rename the file through a standard conductor:

1. Open the Files app (an icon with a blue folder).
2. Go to the Device section and find the file you want.
3. Touch the file and hold your finger. 1-2 A few seconds before the menu appears.
4. Select "Rename" (pencil icon).
5. Enter a new name and press "OK".

⚠️ Note: If the Rename button is inactive or not, it means that you do not have editing rights in this folder:

• 📁 /system — System files (root rights required)
• 📁 /data — Application data (access restricted)
• 📁 Android/obb — Game cache files (sometimes blocked)

Also a conductor MIUI It can be “glutty” when working with files whose names contain special characters (for example.

2. Alternative Explorer: Google Files

If Xiaomi’s built-in Explorer refuses to rename files, you should try Google Files, Google’s official application that is often more stable than standard solutions, it’s free, advertising-free and supports all major operations, including renaming.

Advantages of Google Files over Explorer MIUI:

• 🔄 Best processing of Cyrillic file names
• 🛡️ Fewer bugs with access rights
• 🔍 Easy file search
• 📂 Support for cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive)

Instructions for renaming through Google Files:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to the files ("Storage permission").
3. Find the file you want in the Device or Downloads section.
4. Click on three dots next to the file → "Rename".
5. Enter a new name and save the changes.

⚠️ Note: If the file is in the folder DCIM/Camera If you don't rename it, try copying it to another directory (like Download), then renaming it, and then returning it back. MIUI editing.

3. Renaming through PC (USB-connection)

One of the most reliable ways is to connect a Xiaomi smartphone to a computer and rename files through Windows Explorer or Finder (to a Mac), which is especially useful if you need to process a large number of files or work with system folders that are not accessible through mobile applications.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-C cable (preferably original).
2. On the phone, select File Transfer Mode (or MTP) plug-in.
3. On your computer, open either “This Computer” (Windows) or “Finder” (Mac) – your Xiaomi will appear as a removable drive.
4. Go to the folder you want (for example, Internal Storage). → DCIM).
5. Right-click on the file → "Rename" (or press" F2).
6. Enter a new name and save it (Enter).

⚠️ Note: If you connect to the PC folder DCIM, Pictures or Download are empty, but the phone has files, follow the following steps:

• 🔌 Turn off and reconnect the cable.
• 📱 On your phone, go to Settings. → Additionally. → Developer and turn on "Debugging by" USB" (if not already included).
• 🖥️ On PC, install Xiaomi drivers (download from the official website).

Critical information: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) when connected via USB folder MIUI The root of the storage may contain hidden configuration files, renaming or deleting them will cause shell malfunctions! Do not touch files with.db or.cfg extensions.

4. Rename system files through ADB

If you need to rename files in secure folders (for example, /system or /data), Standard methods will not work – they will need to. ADB (Android Debug Bridge. It's a debugging tool that lets you execute commands directly on the device via a computer. ADB It can cause malfunctions in the smartphone!

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, Mac or Linux
• 📱 Included “Debugging of the USB" Xiaomi
• 🔌 Cable USB-C (preferably original)
• 🛠️ Installed drivers ADB (download SDK)

Instructions for renaming through ADB:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable debugging. USB (In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and enable the option).
2. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on the Mac/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
3. Enter the command to rename (example for the file oldname.txt in newname.txt in the folder) /sdcard/Download): adb shell mv /sdcard/Download/oldname.txt /sdcard/Download/newname.txt
4. If you want to rename a file in the system folder, first get root access through: adb root Then repeat the mv command with the full path (for example, repeat the mv command with the full path, /system/etc/hosts).

⚠️ Warning: Rename system files without understanding the consequences can make the phone inoperable! /system/bin or /system/lib Often leads to a "bootloop" before experimenting, back up through the:

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab

5. Rename files in the cloud (Mi Cloud, Google Drive)

If a file is uploaded to cloud storage (Mi Cloud, Google Drive, OneDrive), it can be renamed right there — it’s convenient when you need to change the name on multiple devices at once. However, this method has limitations: for example, Mi Cloud does not support renaming files larger than 50 MB via a web interface.

How to rename a file to Mi Cloud:

1. Open your browser on your PC or phone and go to i.mi.com.
2. Sign in with the same Xiaomi account as you do on your phone.
3. Find the file you want in the Files or Gallery section.
4. Click on three dots next to the file → "Rename".
5. Enter a new name and keep it.

Comparison of the capabilities of cloud services for renaming:

⚠️ Note: When you rename files in the cloud, changes may not immediately appear on the phone due to caching:

• 🔄 In the Mi Cloud app, pull down for an update.
• 📱 Reboot the phone.
• 🌐 Check your internet connection (synchronization only works with a stable connection).

💡

If you want to rename a lot of files in the cloud, use Google Drive on PC: highlight a few files → right-click → "Rename. The service supports batch renaming with templates (for example, add a prefix or counter).

6 Advanced methods: Root access and Total Commander

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can get root rights and use advanced file managers like Total Commander or Root Explorer, which gives you full control of the file system, but takes away your warranties and can disrupt your work. MIUI.

How to rename files with root access:

1. Get root rights through Magisk (instructions for Xiaomi are available on the website) XDA Developers).
2. Install Total Commander with the Root Access plugin.
3. Open the application, go to / (root directory).
4. Find the file, hold your finger. → "Rename".
5. Enter a new name and keep it.

⚠️ Note: After obtaining root rights:

• 🚫 Don't rename files into /system or /vendor backup.
• 🔧 Turn off automatic updates MIUI (They can root out).
• 🛡️ Install MagiskHide to hide root from banking apps.

On Xiaomi models with MediaTek processor (for example, Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) Getting root rights is fraught with a "brief" due to a blocked bootloader. Before the procedure, check the compatibility of your model on the forums!

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you may encounter errors, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

Error 1: "Failed to rename" or "File used"

• 🔹 Close all applications that may use the file (gallery, music player).
• 🔹 Reboot the phone.
• 🔹 Try renaming a file via PC (method 3).

Error 2: “No permissions” (even in regular folders)

• 🔹 Check if the "Guest" mode is included in the user settings.
• 🔹 Turn off "Privacy Protection" in Settings → Confidentiality.
• 🔹 Reset the storage access rights in Settings → Annexes → Permit management → Warehouse.

Error 3: File name resets after renaming

• 🔹 It's a bug. MIUI Cache the files, clear the cache of the Gallery and Files app".
• 🔹 Move the file to another folder, rename it, then return it back.

Mistake. 4: You can't rename files to Android/obb

• 🔹 These files are protected to prevent piracy. ADB (method 4) or root access.
• 🔹 If it's a game file, renaming it can break its work.

💡

If none of the methods work, check the file system for errors: connect your phone to your PC. → open the command line → enter the chkdsk X: /f (X is the drive letter of your Xiaomi. This will fix the possible damage that prevents renaming.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions