How to check if the memory card is connected to the Xiaomi smartphone: all ways

The microSD card in Xiaomi smartphones is a convenient way to expand memory for photos, videos and applications. But sometimes users face the problem: the device does not see the card, although it is inserted into the slot. The reasons can vary from improper installation to software failures. In this article, we will discuss how to check the connection of the memory card on Redmi, POCO and other Xiaomi models, and what to do if the system does not recognize it.

It is important to understand that the verification procedure depends on the version of MIUI and the model of the smartphone. For example, in Xiaomi 13 Pro, the microSD slot may not be available (a hybrid slot for the second SIM), and in Redmi Note 12 it is supported separately.

1. Verification through phone settings

The fastest way to know if a smartphone recognizes a memory card is to look at the storage settings, which require no additional applications and works even without an Internet connection.

Open the Settings menu → About Phone → Memory (or Settings → Memory depending on the version of MIUI) and you will see two sections here: Internal Memory and Memory Map (if connected). If the microSD partition is missing, you will see:

• 🔌 The card is not inserted or inserted incorrectly (check the slot).
• 🔄 The map is not formatted (see section 4).
• 🚫 There is no memory card slot (relevant for Xiaomi flagships) 12/13).
• 🐞 There was a software failure (reboot will help).

If the card is displayed but the size is incorrect (e.g. 32GB instead of 128GB), this may mean that:

• 📁 The map is formatted in the file system FAT32, which does not support large volumes.
• 🔍 There are hidden sections on the map (relevant for Adoptable Storage cards).
• 🛠️ Card damaged (check on another device).

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If the memory settings show "Memory card corrupted," don't format it right away. Try retrieving and pasting it back, sometimes that solves the problem.

2. Verification through the file manager

The second way is to use standard Explorer (or Files by Google, if installed), which not only helps confirm the connection, but also checks the availability of files on the map.

Open the Explorer app (the folder icon on the desktop) and the top of the screen should show two sections:

1. Internal memory (usually referred to as internal storage).
2. Memory card (may be called a memory card) SD-map or External Storage).

If the card is visible, but when you try to open the files, the error "No access" appears, or "SD-The card is not supported, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔒 The card is encrypted by another device (e.g. Samsung or Huawei).
• 📱 In the settings MIUI Application card access is disabled (see Section 5).
• 🦠 Card infected with virus (check with antivirus).

If the card does not appear in the explorer, but is visible in the settings, try:

1. Reboot the phone.
2. Remove and repaint the map.
3. Clear the Explorer app cache (Settings → Applications → Explorer → Clear the cache).

Verification through Device Manager (ADB)

For advanced users, there is a way to check the memory card through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is useful if the card is not defined by standard means, but physically healthy.

Connect your smartphone to your computer, enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB) and execute in the command line:

adb shell sm list-disks

If the card is connected, you will see a line of the form:

disk:179,64

This means that the system recognizes the physical device. To know its status, do this:

adb shell sm list-volumes

In the output, look for a section with the type public:179.64 (where 179.64 is the ID from the previous command). If it is not, the card is not mounted. To mount it manually, use:

adb shell sm mount -o rw -f vfat /dev/block/mmcblk1p1 /sdcard/external_sd

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB It can lead to data loss if it's not done correctly. Don't use this method unless you're sure you're doing it. It's best for ordinary users to limit the first and second ways.

4. Memory card formatting in Xiaomi

If a memory card is defined but does not work correctly (e.g., files are not written or errors occur), it may need to be formatted. Xiaomi supports two types of formatting:

1. As a portable device, the card will be available on any device, but applications cannot be installed on it.
2. As internal memory (Adoptable Storage) – the card becomes part of the system, but will work only on this smartphone.

To format the map:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
2. Click Format → Format as internal memory or Format as a portable device.
3. Confirm the action (all data will be deleted!).

⚠️ Note: If you format a card as internal memory, it can’t be simply removed and pasted into another phone or computer, which requires resetting Xiaomi to factory settings, POCO X3) They may not support Adoptable Storage.

5. Set up access rights to the memory card

Sometimes a memory card is connected, but applications (such as a camera or messengers) cannot write files to it, due to the limitations of Android and MIUI.

To allow access:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Camera or Telegram).
3. Go to Permits → Memory and enable access to the map.

If the option is not available, try:

• 🔄 Reinstall the application.
• 📁 Manually specify the path to the map in the application settings (for example, in Google Camera).
• 🔧 Use a file manager with root rights (for experienced users only).

Starting with Android 11, Google has tightened its memory card access policy, with some apps (like WhatsApp) able to refuse to work with external drives even if the rights are given, in which case only transferring chats to internal memory will help.

6.Applying the memory card slot

If neither of these methods worked, the problem could be the physical microSD slot. Xiaomi smartphones use two types of slots:

• 🔌 Hybrid slot - combined with a tray for SIM-In this case, you have to choose the following card (for example, in Redmi Note 10). SIM memory-card.
• 🔌 A separate slot is found in budget models (for example, in the budget model, POCO M3).

To check the slot:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Remove the tray for SIM-paper-card.
3. Check the slot contacts for contamination or damage.
4. Carefully clean the contacts of the card and slot with dry soft cloth.

If the map is still undetected after cleaning, try:

• 🔄 Insert another memory card (knowingly working).
• 📱 Connect the card to another device (phone or computer).
• 🛠️ Contact the service center – perhaps the slot is damaged.

7.Diagnostics of a faulty memory card

If the card doesn't work on any device, it's likely to be corrupted. Here's how to check this:

Connect the card to your computer via a card reader and follow the following steps:

1. Open Disk Management (Win + R → diskmgmt.msc).
2. If the card is displayed as “Not distributed”, you can try to restore it.
3. If the card is not displayed at all, it is physically damaged.

To restore data, use the following programs:

• 🔧 Recuva – Recovery of deleted files.
• 🔧 TestDisk – to restore partition.
• 🔧 SD Card Formatter – for low-level formatting.

If the card is detected but is not running smoothly (e.g., it disappears when writing files), it is a sign of wear and tear on the memory cells.

• 🚫 Don't store important data on it.
• 🔄 Replace the card with a new one (we recommend SanDisk Ultra or Samsung). EVO).
• 📉 Check the card speed with CrystalDiskMark – if the write speed is below 10MB/s, the card is worn out.

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If the memory card often turns off on its own, it can be a sign not only of wear and tear, but also of problems with the phone's power controller, in which case a diagnosis is required at the service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cards in Xiaomi