How to rename a folder on your Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Order in the digital space of a smartphone is not just a matter of aesthetics, but a need for quick access to the right files. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often face the need to structure the accumulated during the use of the gadget: photos, documents, downloaded installation files and archives. The standard Android file system allows you to create a hierarchy, but basic names like “New Folder” or “Folder 1” do not carry any semantic load.

Changing the directory name on devices of this brand has its own peculiarities, depending on the version of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS. Unlike desktop operating systems, here the process can be hidden in the context menu or require transition to a special editing mode. Understanding the logic of the work of the regular File Manager or third-party analogues like Google Files will help to avoid confusion and data loss.

In this article, we will discuss all the possible ways to rename, discuss the technical limitations of the file system, and provide solutions for cases where standard methods do not work.

Preparing the File Manager for Work

Before you start editing names, make sure you’re using the current version of the regular app. On Xiaomi smartphones, the Files system component is responsible for this. In some regions or firmware, it may be called Mi File Manager. Outdated versions may not support certain renaming functions or work incorrectly with long file names.

Open the app and look at the top toolbar, and that's where the basic navigation tools are. For directory experience, you'd better switch to folder or internal drive viewing, where you can see the full tree structure of the directories, and that gives you an overview of the entire file system.

⚠️ Note: If you plan to rename system folders (e.g. Android, MIUI, DCIM), Do this with extreme caution. Changing the names of service directories can cause app malfunctions, photos disappear from the gallery, or the inability to save new data.

It's also worth checking if there's any RAM space in the device. While renaming is easy, the background file manager processes require resources. Close heavy applications if the smartphone is slow so that the interface responds to your actions instantly.

The basic way to rename after a long press

The most common and intuitive method, which works 95% of the time on current firmware versions, is based on long-press mechanics, and it's the same approach for most file operations in an Android environment. SD-mapping through a standard conductor.

Find the target folder you want to change, tap its icons or names, and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds, and visually signal a successful selection will be a tick on the icon and change the color scheme of the top panel (usually it turns blue or orange, depending on the topic), at which point multiple selection mode is activated.

After highlighting, look at the bottom of the screen or the three-dot menu (hamburger menu) in the top corner. Among the actions available (Copy, Delete, Properties), find Rename, and clicking on it will open the dialog box for text entry.

• 📂 Select the desired folder with a long tap until the tick appears.
• ✏️ Click on the “More” button (three dots) or find the pencil icon in the bottom menu.
• 🔤 Enter a new name using the on-screen keyboard.
• ✅ Confirm the action with the “OK” button or tick.

In the window that opens, type the name you want, and the standard naming rules are in place, you can use letters, numbers, and most special characters. After you type, press the confirmation button, and the system will instantly update the shortcut in the interface.

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Use prefixes at the beginning of the folder name (e.g., " Work», «01_Photo Photo», «Z_Archives) to sort them in a particular order, as file managers often sort objects alphabetically or ASCII-symbol-code.

Alternative methods through the property menu

If the long-press method doesn't work for some reason or the interface is unstable, you can use an alternative route through the properties of the object, which is especially relevant when you need to not only rename, but also check the path or size of the folder before making changes.

Singlely click on the folder to enter it if possible, or use the long-click again to call the menu. From the list of options, select "Properties» (Details/Properties). The information window that opens often has a name edit button located next to the current name or at the top of the screen.

Another option is available in some versions of HyperOS: clicking on three dots in the top right corner of the file list can give you the option to edit or manage, which allows you to quickly rename several objects in a row without having to call the context menu each time.

Remember that once renaming through properties, the changes take effect immediately.However, if you are inside the folder, you may need to go to a higher level (clicking the "Back" arrow) to see the updated name in the shared list.

Working with a limited set of symbols

The file system of modern Xiaomi smartphones is based on Linux (usually ext4 or f2fs), which imposes certain restrictions on the permissible characters in names. Unlike Windows, where the list of prohibited characters is large, Android rules are softer, but they still exist and breaking them can lead to errors.

The main forbidden character is the direct slash /, as it is used by the system to divide paths to files. There can also be problems when using a zero byte. Although the phone interface may allow you to enter these characters, when you try to save the system will give an error or automatically replace them with secure counterparts.

It is recommended to avoid using emoji in the names of systemically important folders. Although modern file managers display them correctly, some older applications or backup programs on the PC may not properly handle such names, turning them into a set of question marks or cracosabre.

For maximum compatibility, when transferring files between Android and your computer, use only Latin, numbers, underline and hyphens - this ensures that the folder opens on any device without distortion.

⚠️ Note: Do not try to rename a folder if the file is uploading to it or background sync is running (e.g. Google Photos or cloud service) at this point, which can cause the file to be corrupted or synced to a halt.

Rename externally SD-map

Working with external drives on Xiaomi has its own specifics due to the enhanced security measures Android has implemented in the latest versions of the OS. If your folder is on the memory card, the process may require additional permissions.

When you first try to change a file or folder to SD-The system can redirect you to the system menu, or request permission to access the storage, which is normal behavior designed to protect user data from malware. You will need to find your card in the list and click “Allow” or “Use this folder».

The process of renaming the memory card is technically identical to working with internal memory: long press -> menu -> rename. However, the response rate may be lower, especially if the card is low speed class or damaged. If the operation takes too long, do not interrupt it abruptly, wait for the system to respond.

For example, the FAT32 file system, often used on small-volume cards, does not support names longer than 255 characters and is less letter register sensitive than Linux partitions.

Problem Solving: When the folder is not renamed

It's rare, but it's possible, because most of the time, a file or folder is locked by a process, like trying to rename a folder that has the cache of an active application that's currently running.

The first step in diagnosing is to reboot your smartphone, which will kill all the hanging processes and free up the file descriptors. Once turned on, try to repeat the operation. If the problem persists, check if the folder is system. Directories like /data, /system or /vendor are protected from writing even for a user with superuser rights without special modifications.

Another cause is file system damage, and if the disk has logical errors, it can go to Read-only mode, in which case it will not be possible to rename, create or delete files, and you can run the diagnostics in the engineering menu or through the storage settings to check.

• 🔄 Restart the device to reset process locks.
• 🔍 Check if the folder is being used by another application in the background.
• 💾 Make sure there is free space on the drive (at least a few megabytes for metadata).
• 🛡️ Check if the recording protection mode is enabled for the selected directory.

If nothing works, you can use a third-party file manager with extended rights, such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer, which often have their own mechanisms to bypass locks or report the cause of the error in more detail.

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If renaming is impossible by any method, most likely, the folder is occupied by the system process or the file system of the media is damaged.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)