How to rename a folder to Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: the complete guide

Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 have become powerful mobile offices, where thousands of documents, photos and installation files are stored. Over time, the structure of the directories in the device’s memory can turn into a chaotic pile of data with strange names left behind by various applications. Navigating such a file system becomes a real test, requiring significant time to find the right item.

Fortunately, the MIUI-enabled Android operating system provides users with a wealth of personalization and data management skills, and one of the basic but critical skills is to structure storage by creating new directories and changing existing names, creating a logical hierarchy that you understand, not the software developers.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the ways you can change folder names on your device, look at standard system tools, third-party file managers, and also look at the nuances of working with system partitions, which are restricted by Google’s security policies.

Use of the standard application "Conductor"

The most obvious and frequently used way to manage files is the built-in application, which is installed by default on every Xiaomi smartphone, it is simply called “Conductor” and has an icon in the form of a yellow folder, which has enough functionality to perform 95% of the tasks of the average user, including renaming objects.

To get started, you need to open the app and go to the Folders or Files section, where you can see the root structure of the internal memory, find the directory you want to change, and note that system folders created by the operating system or mission-critical services can be protected from editing, and trying to change their name will not lead to anything.

To start the editing process, you need to make a long-term finger tap on the icon of the desired folder. After the object is highlighted (usually it is painted blue or green, and the toolbar appears on top), you should click on the “More” button or three dots in the upper right corner of the screen.

⚠️ Note: Do not try to rename folders with names like Android, System, DCIM or MIUI, If you're not 100% sure about the consequences, changing the name of the system directories can cause applications that expect to find data along the old path to malfunction.

Once you have selected the appropriate command, a virtual keyboard dialog box will appear on the screen, enter a new name using Cyrillic or Latin, and confirm the action with the OK button. The changes will take effect instantly, and the new label will appear in the file list.

Working with the application "Mi Conductor"

In some versions of MIUI firmware or when manually installed, a more advanced tool called “Mi Explorer” may be available to the user, with a more modern design and advanced sorting features that make working with more data more comfortable.

The interface of this file manager is slightly different from the standard one. Here, navigation is often done through the side menu or tabs at the top of the screen. The principle of highlighting objects remains the same: long pressing activates editing mode. However, batch processing is often available in Mi Explorer, allowing you to rename groups of files, although for folders this feature is usually limited to a single choice.

An important feature is that you can sort by content type. If you're in Images or Documents, you can hide the navigation of folders. To rename it, you need to go to Files or Folders View mode, where you can see the full tree structure of the drive.

• 📁 Open the app and select the Review tab to access all memory partitions.
• 📁 Find the target folder in the list of internal memory or on the map SD.
• 📁 Press and hold your finger on the icon until the action menu appears.
• 📁 Select the “Rename” option and enter a new identifier.

It is worth noting that Mi Explorer sometimes caches the display of files. If you do not see changes immediately after renaming, try to exit the folder and go back to it again or update the list with a swipe down.

Use of Third-Party File Managers

If Xiaomi’s standard tools don’t seem convenient or functional enough, Google Play offers dozens of alternative solutions, such as Total Commander, ES Explorer, Solid Explorer, and FX File Explorer, which often provide a more flexible interface and additional features such as dual-panel mode or FTP access.

So, if you look at the popular Total Commander, you'll see a list of directories when you install and launch the app, and the mechanics are similar to the system, where you can use a long press to highlight the object, and the difference is the location of the control buttons, and usually, when you select the bottom of the screen, you have an action icon bar where you can select a pencil symbol or a text field called "Reim."

Third-party managers have the advantage of more stringent name validation. They can alert you if you use prohibited characters that are not allowed by the Linux file system running Android. Also, many of them support batch renaming, which is useful when creating structured archives, although this is redundant for single folders.

⚠️ Warning: When installing third-party explorers, be sure to give them permission to access the storage. Without this critical permission, the application will only see files and will not be able to change folder names in shared memory.

Some advanced users prefer Solid Explorer for its support for Root. If your Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is unlocked and has superuser rights, this explorer will allow you to rename even protected system folders, but you should do this with extreme caution.

Features of renaming on the SD memory card

Redmi Note 7 supports microSD memory card installation, which greatly expands the storage capabilities. Files on an external drive has its own nuances related to access rights and read/write speed. In new versions of Android (starting at 10 and above), access to the data is available to users. SD-The map is strictly regulated.

When you first try to change a file or folder on an external drive, the system may request additional confirmation, and you will be prompted to go to the storage settings and allow access to the card's root directory, an Android security measure that prevents malware from modifying the data unsank.

The process of renaming to SD is not technically different from working with internal memory, but takes longer because of the slower response speed of the external drive. Once you enter a new name, the system can process the request for several seconds before updating the display.

The table below compares the renaming possibilities depending on the type of storage:

It is important to understand that if an application (such as a camera or voice recorder) is configured to save data to a specific folder on the SD-Once the folder is renamed, the application will stop working correctly, it will not find a way to write, and it may give an error or stop saving new files.

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Use short and clear folder names in Latin for maximum compatible naming. Some old apps or car radios may not display Cyrillic folder names correctly on external drives.

Access and rights issues in Android 10/11/12

With the release of new versions of the Android operating system, which is based on MIUI for Redmi Note 7, Google has tightened its security policy by implementing the mechanism Scoped Storage, which means that the applications no longer have free access to the entire file system, and work only in their “sandbox”.

This can cause users to experience a situation where the Rename button is inactive or gone, often when trying to change the folder name in the system partition /Android/data or /Android/obb. Starting with Android 11, access to these directories for third-party file managers is completely closed without special permissions through ADB or Root permissions.

If you are not allowed to rename, check if the folder is part of the system process. Also make sure that the file or folder is not currently open by another application. For example, you can not rename the folder with music if the track from it is played in the background.

In some cases, cleaning the cache of the Explorer app itself helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Explorer → Memory → Clear the cache. This won’t delete your files, but it can fix interface display errors.

⚠️ Note: Attempts to circumvent the limitations of Scoped Storage with special scripts or modified versions of conductors can lead to unstable system operation.

Frequent mistakes and ways to solve them

Even when performing simple operations, users often face unexpected difficulties. One of the most common mistakes is using reserved characters in a name. Although Android is less demanding than Windows, using characters like /,,:, *,?, ", <, >, | can cause a crash. The system simply does not take the new name and will give an error.

Another problem is duplication of names: you can't have two folders with the same name in the same directory, and if you try to rename a folder to a name that's already occupied by another object in the same place, the system will suggest adding a numerical index or deny operations.

Also worth mentioning is the problem of encoding: If you rename a folder using rare characters or emojis, some applications may stop "seeing" its contents, and it is recommended to use a standard set of letters and numbers for maximum compatibility.

• ❌ Error: "Not enough rights." Solution: Check the permissions in the app settings or connect your phone to your PC.
• ❌ Error: "The name already exists." Solution: Choose a unique name or delete the conflicting folder.
• ❌ Error: "Inadmissible symbol." Solution: Remove special characters from the title.

If none of these methods work and the phone is acting strangely (hangs when renaming), it may be that the file system is damaged, in which case it is recommended to back up important data and reset or check the disk through the computer.

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Compliance with naming rules and understanding access restrictions is key to successfully managing files without the risk of data loss or system disruption.

Alternative methods through the computer

Sometimes it’s more convenient and reliable to manage the file structure of a smartphone by connecting it to a personal computer. For Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, this is done through a phone. USB-cable, after the connection, you need to select the mode of operation. USB in the notification curtain (file transfer mode) or MTP).

In Windows, the phone will appear as a removable drive, so you can open it, find the folder you want, press F2 (or right-click → “Rename”) and type in a new name, which is especially good when you need to rename multiple folders at once, or when the phone’s touch screen is not responding well.

The main advantage of the method is the ability to use powerful PC tools to sort and rename. However, remember that when working through a cable, the risk of accidental deletion or damage to files is higher if you do not use caution. Always use safe extraction of the device before turning off the cable.