Owners of budget but reliable smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 7A often face a situation where, after installing a new memory card, Android security blocks direct access to files from applications. This is the normal behavior of the operating system to protect user data from unauthorized reading by third-party programs.
Without special permissions, you will not be able to view photos taken earlier or delete old video files while taking up space in the internal drive. The system will constantly issue a notification of authorization, which may appear at the most inopportune time. In this guide, we will detail how to properly configure access so that applications can work with external storage without errors and failures.
The process of access authorization requires care, because the folder selection window in MIUI File Manager has its own navigation features. The key is choosing the root directory of the memory card, rather than the individual folder with photos. If you choose the wrong folder, the system will give an error, and access will not be provided, which will lead to a cyclic request.
Why does the system require permission to access files?
Since Android 10 and up, Google has implemented a Scoped Storage policy that isolates app data from each other, preventing arbitrary access to the file system. For older models like Redmi 7A, which received the MIUI shell update, this has become a new reality requiring manual rights settings.
When you start the Gallery for the first time after you install a microSD card, the application tries to scan the library, at which point the operating system blocks the request and outputs the system dialog box, which is not a firmware error, but a security mechanism that the user must confirm.
Ignoring this request will result in the functions of sorting, creating albums and syncing with the cloud will not work.The application will see only internal files, leaving gigabytes of content on the memory card unavailable for viewing.
- 🛡️ Data security: Protection against viruses that may try to break files on a flash drive.
- 📂 Folder Structure: Apps only access media files without touching system partitions.
- ⚙️ User control: You decide which app to entrust your personal photos and videos to.
⚠️ Note: If you accidentally click Cancel in the system window, the application may stop requesting permissions again, in which case you will have to clear the application data through the smartphone settings to reset this status.
Step-by-step instruction: granting rights through a system request
The most common scenario is that a pop-up will appear immediately after the Gallery opens, and it will have text like, "Allow access to the Gallery." SD-And the action button. Press the button, which is usually called "Allow" or "Configure».
Once you click, the built-in File Manager will open, and it's important to not get confused and choose the right directory. You need to go to the root of the memory card. In MIUI, this often looks like a folder with a card name (such as an SD Card or letter designation).
At the bottom of the screen, you will have a button called "Use this folder" (or "Select"), and by clicking on it, you will confirm that you have read and write rights for all the contents of the drive, and the system will warn you about access to photos and media files - agree.
☑️ Algorithm of actions when requesting
Once you do this, the Gallery will restart or update the album list, and all the photos and videos that are saved to the external media will be visible, and if that hasn't happened, check if the folder is selected correctly.
Manual settings through the Files menu and Settings
If an automatic request does not appear, you can manually grant rights through the File Manager system application. Go to the settings of the Files application itself through the smartphone menu and find the Permissions section.
Make sure the Files and Media Content switch is activated, but some Android 10+ versions of MIUI don't do that enough, requiring access to be initiated by attempting to copy or move the file.
Try to copy any file from internal memory to a card, and the system will call up a rights request window similar to the one described above, which is a powerful method of "forced" access activation for system components.
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
- 🔍 Find in the list "Gallery" or "Files».
- 🔓 Go to “App Permissions” and enable memory access.
It is important to understand that simply enabling the switchboard in Android settings is often not enough due to the features of the file system implementation in MIUI.
Why does the switchboard not work in the settings?
Common mistakes when selecting an access folder
The most common problem is choosing the wrong folder in the dispatcher window. Users often choose a DCIM or MIUI folder, thinking they are giving access to the photo, but the system requires you to choose the parent directory - the memory card itself.
If you select a nested folder, the "Use this folder" button may be inactive or alert, in which case click on the "bread crumbs" (the path at the top of the screen) and go up to the level to the root of the drive.
Another mistake is trying to choose internal memory over external memory, so you have to look at the amount of space and the name of the drive, so you don't confuse Internal Storage and SD Card.
| Situation | Right action. | The error |
|---|---|---|
| DCIM folder selected | Going back to the root of SD | Access to the camera only, no access to other photos |
| Internal memory selected | Switch to SD card | Gallery doesn't see files on flash drive |
| Click "Cancel" | Clear the application data | The rights request no longer appears |
| Selected SD root | Click "Use this folder" | Full access to all files (correct) |
💡
To find the root of the memory card in the dispatcher more quickly, look for the hamburger icon (three stripes) in the upper left corner of the selection window. There's often a quick transition to the main storage.
Problems with the file system format of the map
Sometimes the rights request appears in a cyclical fashion because of the card file system. If Redmi 7A sees the card but can't write the data to it, it may be formatted in NTFS. Android natively works better with FAT32 or exFAT.
Formatting a card directly in your smartphone will solve the compatibility problem. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone → Storage, select a map and click “Clear” or “Format”.
Remember, formatting will delete all the data. If there are important files on the card, copy them to your computer first, format the card on your phone, and then return the files back.
- 💾 FAT32: Maximum compatibility, but no support for files larger than 4GB.
- 🚀 ExFAT: Supports large files and works well with Android 10+.
- ❌ NTFS: Often requires superuser rights or works only on reading.
After formatting, the system will recreate the folder structure, and a request for rights will appear automatically when the Gallery first accesses the new directories.
Features of the Gallery on MIUI 11 and 12
Redmi 7A often has MIUI 11 or 12 versions based on Android 9 or 10, and these versions have a feature: The gallery may not update the thumbnails immediately after the rights are granted.
You need to start scanning media files manually or restart the device, and after the reboot, the system will index new paths to the files, and the photos will appear in the shared feed.
It's also worth checking the energy saving settings, and if the Gallery has a background activity restriction, it won't be able to scan the map in the background. Set "No Limits" mode.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI The aggressive energy saving mode can kill the process of scanning the Gallery halfway, which leads to the fact that part of the photo is in the gallery. SD-The map will never appear on the album.
💡
The main reason for the problems with access to Redmi 7A is the incompatibility of older versions of the Gallery's apps with new Android security requirements. Updating the application through GetApps or Google Play often solves the problem without complex settings.