Managing internal smartphone storage is a skill that greatly enhances the comfort of daily use of the gadget. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi Note devices often face the need to organize chaoticly scattered files created by various applications. The standard Android file system, especially in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS, offers flexible tools for organizing data, but they are not always obvious to the average user.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can change directory names, from simple methods through built-in Explorer to advanced techniques for power users. You will learn not only to rename folders, but also to understand the logic of the file system, which will help you avoid errors in the future. Proper directory structure speeds up the search for documents, photos and downloaded files.
It’s worth noting that the renaming process on Xiaomi Redmi Note devices is almost identical on most Android versions, but the interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. We’ll look at the nuances of working with both system and user folders. It’s important to understand the difference between them so that you don’t disrupt the installed applications.
Basic principles of working with files on MIUI and HyperOS
Before you start taking action, you need to understand how your smartphone's file system works, based on the standard Linux hierarchy adapted for mobile devices, and the user has full access to the /storage/emulated/0 section, which is often displayed as "Internal Drive," and this is where your personal data, downloads and media files are stored.
The MIUI shell or the new HyperOS provides its own file manager, which by default hides some system directories to protect against accidental removal of critical components. However, custom folders such as Download, DCIM or Music are completely open to editing.
⚠️ Warning: Never try to rename folders with system application names (e.g. com.android... or com.miui...) unless you are 100% sure of their purpose.
For effective file management, it is important to understand the concept of paths. The file path is the address where the system finds the object it wants to go. For example, the /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots path points to the screenshot folder. By changing the name of any part of that path, you change the address where applications are looking for content. Some programs can "lose" files if you rename the parent directory in which they store their data.
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Use the Latin alphabet to name folders if you plan to transfer files between different operating systems to avoid character encoding problems.
Using the built-in conductor to rename
The easiest and fastest way to change the folder name is to use the standard Explorer app, which is preinstalled on every Xiaomi smartphone, which requires no additional software installation and is suitable for 95% of all cases, and the algorithm of actions is intuitive even for beginners who first took up an Android smartphone.
To start, open the Explorer app (folder icon) and you'll see a list of the main categories (Images, Videos, Documents) and the folder section. Click on Folders to go to the full list of directories in internal memory. Find the right folder in the list or search if there are too many directories.
☑️ Algorithm of renaming
Once you have found the object, you can click on the icon for a long time, and the action bar will appear at the bottom of the screen, and the options available (Copy, Move, Delete) are to find the "More" button (three dots) or immediately see the "Rename" item, and clicking on it will open the keyboard and the field for entering text.
Enter the desired name. It is important to follow the naming rules here: avoid special characters such as /, \,:, *,?, ", <, >, |, as they are reserved by the system. Once you enter a new name, click "OK." The system will instantly update the display, and the folder will receive a new ID.
| Action. | The result | Risks. |
|---|---|---|
| Rename the user folder | Change of name in the file list | Minimum |
| Rename the system folder | Application failure | Tall. |
| Use of special symbols | Input error or incorrect display | Average. |
Advanced File Managers: Total Commander and Solid Explorer
Staffing is sometimes not enough, especially if you need to rename or work with hidden files, in which case third-party applications from the Google Play Store come to the rescue, with Total Commander and Solid Explorer already leading the niche, providing enhanced access rights and a more user-friendly interface for working with the file system.
Total Commander is known for its austere design and high speed. The dual-panel mode allows you to see the source and destination at the same time, which is convenient when moving files. To rename the folder, you just select it (long press) and select the corresponding function from the menu or use hotkeys if you have an external keyboard.
Solid Explorer offers a modern Material Design-style interface and cloud storage support. Its built-in name editor allows you not only to change the name, but also to add prefixes or suffixes to many files at once (a batch renaming feature), which is extremely useful for photo archives. The application requests permission to access all files on the first run - this is the standard security procedure for Android 11 and above.
Why are third-party managers better than full-time managers?
When using third-party software on Xiaomi Redmi Note, there may be restrictions related to Android security policy. Android/data. To circumvent this restriction in Solid Explorer, you need to go on the way to this folder and click the "Use this folder" button in the system window that appears, confirming access.
Working with system restrictions Android 11, 12, 13 and later
Since Android 11, Google has implemented Scoped Storage, which significantly limits applications’ access to the file system, but it has made life harder for users who are used to managing files freely. On Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12.5 and later, these restrictions are also active.
The main problem is /Android/data and /Android/obb. It stores game caches and application data. A standard Explorer may not show the contents of these folders or prevent them from renaming. Trying to rename the data or obb folder itself will cause all applications to stop finding their files and may require re-downloading resources.
⚠️ Note: Change the structure or folder names inside /Android/data It can lead to loss of progress in games or reset application settings. Do this only if you understand the consequences.
If you need to access secure areas critically, you can use a computer. Connect your smartphone to your PC via a computer. USB-cable, select file transfer mode (MTP). On a computer, Scoped Storage restrictions often work softer, and you can rename the folder through a standard Windows Explorer or macOS. However, after disabling the cable, changes may not be immediately visible without restarting the device.
An alternative method for experienced users is the use of ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This tool allows you to send commands directly to the system without going through the GUI. USB" In the "Developers" menu, the adb shell mv command. /sdcard/oldname /sdcard/newname perform the renaming, but requires caution in syntax.
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The Android/data folder access restrictions are system protection, not bugs. Only avoid them when you need them.
Mass renaming and automation of processes
When it comes to hundreds of folders, like sorting photos by date or project, manual renaming becomes ineffective. In these situations, automation tools come to the rescue. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note, you can use specialized scripts or batch processing functions in advanced file managers.
ReNamer (or its Android counterparts) allows you to create renaming rules, so you can set a mask, like replacing all spaces with underline, adding a date to the beginning of a name, or numbering folders in order, especially for those who use a smartphone to work with documents or media content.
- 📂 Search and Replace: Automatically changes part of the name in all selected folders (e.g., "Photo 2023" to "Archive 2023").
- 🔢 Numbering: Adds the serial number to the name (Vacation 01, Vacation 02, etc.).
- 📅 Date and time: Inserts the folder creation date in her name, which is convenient for systematizing backups.
Also worth mentioning is the possibility of using Tasker or MacroDroid, which can track the appearance of new folders in a particular directory and rename them according to a given algorithm, for example, when you create an "IMG" folder at the root, the script can automatically move it to "Pictures" and rename it to the current date.
To implement complex scripts, you can write a simple script in Python (using the Termux terminal) or use shell scripts. This requires programming knowledge, but gives absolute control over the file system of your Redmi Note. Remember that automatic actions need to be tested on unimportant files.
Recovery of names and access issues
What if, after renaming the folder, the apps stopped opening or the files disappeared? The first and most important recommendation is not to panic. Data rarely disappears without a trace, most often the problem lies in the access paths. If you renamed the folder where the program expected to find its files, it simply can not locate them.
The easiest way to fix this is to get the original name back. If you remember the name of the folder before the change, just rename it back. If the name is forgotten, try to analyze which program stopped working, and look online for standard ways for it. Often, reinstalling a problematic application helps: the first time it starts, it will create a new folder with the correct name and structure.
⚠️ Note: If files are gone after renaming, check the Recycle Bin in Explorer.Some Xiaomi file managers have a function to restore deleted objects within 30 days.
If the folder is no longer read or writeable (No Rights error), check the permissions in the settings. Go to Settings → All Apps → All Apps → Explorer (or your file manager) → Access Rights. Make sure you allow access to Files and Media. New versions of Android may require special permission to Access All Files.
If the problem is systemic and a simple name return doesn’t help, you may need to clear the media scanner cache, either via the Recovery Mode menu or with ADB, the adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.media.module command, and then the smartphone will re-index all files and folders, and they should be displayed correctly.