How to allow Xiaomi Gallery access to the SD-map: all ways and solutions to errors

You put it in. SD-a map in Xiaomi, but photos and videos in the gallery are not displayed? or the app asks for permission to access an external drive, but nothing changes after they are provided, POCO and Mi, especially after updating to MIUI 14 or new HyperOS. The reasons may lie in the security settings, features of the file system of the card or even in the limitations of the firmware itself.

In this article, we will discuss all working ways to provide gallery access to the gallery. SD-From basic permission settings to hidden developer settings, you'll learn why. MIUI By default, it blocks access to external drives for some applications, how to circumvent this restriction without root rights, and what to do if the memory card is defined by the system but not visible in the gallery. 12/13, POCO X5/F5, Xiaomi 13/14 and other Android-based devices 12–14.

Why Xiaomi Gallery Can't See Files SD-map?

The problem with accessing an external drive on Xiaomi is usually due to one of three reasons:

• 🔒 Limitations MIUI/HyperOS: The firmware blocks access to applications SD-Default card for security reasons (especially relevant for the MIUI 12+).
• 📁 Wrong File System: Maps with NTFS or exFAT may be incorrectly installed, while FAT32 stable.
• 🔄 Cash and gallery data: Damaged temporary application files interfere with external storage scans.

Less often, the fault is physical damage to the card (for example, a malfunction of the controller) or conflict with other applications that have “captured” monopoly access to the drive (for example, file managers like Total Commander or FX File Explorer).

Before you go to the settings, check the basics:

⚠️ Attention: If SD-The card is formatted as an internal storage (the Adoptable Storage option in older versions of Android), its contents are encrypted and become inaccessible on other devices, in which case the gallery will see the files only after reformatting the card as a portable drive (with loss of data!).

Method 1: Manually grant permissions

The easiest method is to explicitly allow the gallery access to the SD-map through the app settings. MIUI 14/HyperOS This process is different from standard Android:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Gallery app (or Google Photos if you use it).
3. Go to the Permissions section → Warehouse.
4. Activate the switches to access the SD-Map and Manage all files (if any).
5. Return to the gallery and wait for the media files to be re-scanned (it can take up to 5 minutes).

If the access point SD-The card is not on the permission list, so your firmware uses an outdated control mechanism.

Method 2: Configure with File Manager

Xiaomi has a built-in File Manager that can unlock access to all files. SD-map for other applications. Here's how to do this:

1. Open the All Files application (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. In the top menu, click on three dots (⋮) and select Settings.
3. Activate the option to show hidden files (optional, but useful for diagnosis).
4. Go back to the root directory and find the folder. SD-map external_sd).
5. With a long press, select a folder with media files (for example, DCIM or Pictures), then click Share → Gallery.

This method forces the system to index the contents of the map, and if the files do not appear in the gallery, try to manually update the media base:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode)


Settings → Additional → For developers → Update the media base

Method 3: Change the settings for developers

If the standard methods don't work, you'll have to use hidden options, so you can activate the developer mode first.

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Click on MIUI 7 times in a row until you become a developer!
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

Now find and enable the following options:

• 🔓 Debugging by USB (not necessary, but useful for diagnosis).
• 📂 Don't turn it off. SD-card when connecting to the PC (if any).
• 🔄 Update the media base (starts re-scanning files).
• 🚫 Disable permissions for USB (If the gallery does not see the card when connecting to the computer).

Once you activate these settings, restart your device. If the problem persists, check if the gallery is conflicting with other apps (like Google Photos or QuickPic).

Method 4: Formatting SD-Maps to the correct file system

If SD-map NTFS exFAT, MIUI It may not be properly installed. The best option for Xiaomi — FAT32, despite the 4GB limit per file, to reformat the card:

1. Connect. SD-card to the computer through the card reader.
2. Copy all important data to your hard drive (formatting will delete everything!).
3. Open Disk Management (Windows) or Disk Utility (macOS).
4. Choose. SD-map, click Format and specify the file system FAT32.
5. After formatting, insert the card back into the phone and wait for automatic mounting.

If the card is larger than 32 GB, standard Windows tools may not offer FAT32, and use utilities like GUIFormat or Fat32Formatter.

⚠️ Note: If the map is still undetectable after formatting, check it for physical damage using CrystalDiskInfo (Windows) or Disk Utility (macOS.

Method 5: Use of alternative galleries

If the built-in gallery Xiaomi stubbornly refuses to see SD-map, install a third-party app:

• 📸 Google Photos: Automatically scans external drives, but requires access to Warehouse and Contacts.

After installing an alternative gallery:

1. Open the application settings.
2. Find the Folder or Warehouse section.
3. Manually add the path to SD-map (usually) /storage/XXXX-XXXX, where XXXX — unique ID).
4. Start re-scanning the media files.

If that didn’t work, the problem may lie in hardware incompatibility — some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro) have bugs with the work. SD-Cards from certain manufacturers (e.g. SanDisk Ultra) In this case, try a card from another brand.

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Before buying a new one SD-Check its compatibility with your Xiaomi model on the forums (for example, the map is compatible with the map, 4PDA or Mi Community. Class cards A1/A2 (for example, Samsung EVO Plus) usually work more stable.

Solving problems with HyperOS

The new HyperOS firmware that replaced MIUI has made changes to permission management. If you have a Xiaomi 14, Redmi K70 or other HyperOS device, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings → Privacy → Permits.
2. Select the Warehouse and find the Gallery in the list.
3. Activate the switch to allow access to SD-Map (in HyperOS, it can be called External Storage).
4. If you don’t have an option, go back to Privacy → Special Access → Access to all files and turn it on for the gallery.

HyperOS also introduced a feature called Protected Folders, which can block access to media files to disable it:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Secure folders.
2. Turn off the option or add the gallery to the list of Trusted Apps.

If, after these actions, the files SD-The map is still not displayed, try resetting the gallery settings:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Gallery → Storage → Clear data

⚠️ Warning: Cleaning up the gallery data will delete all the albums and settings, but it won't affect the media files on the map.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If none of these things work, the problem could be deeper.

• 🔌 Slot problems SD-Cards: Try inserting the card into another device. If it is not readable, the slot may have failed (relevant to the card). POCO X3 Redmi 9, where the contacts are often oxidized).
• 🛠️ Conflict with Magisk/root: If you have root or custom restoration installed (TWRP), Some modules (e.g. Xposed) may block access to the SD-map.
• 📱 Hardware reset: In extreme cases, reset to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings), but pre-copy data from the map.

If you suspect a hardware malfunction, check:

• 🔍 Visually inspect the slot SD-Cards for dirt or damaged contacts.
• 🔋 Try another memory card (preferably a class) A1 or A2).
• 📡 Connect your phone to your PC and check if the card is visible in Device Manager (Windows) or Disk Utility (macOS).

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If SD-The card is determined by the computer, not the smartphone — the problem is the firmware or slot. If it's not detected anywhere, the card is faulty.

FAQ: Frequent questions about access to SD-map