How to make a folder on Xiaomi: all the ways for MIUI 14/15 and older versions

Creating folders on Xiaomi smartphones is a basic feature that helps keep the system in order. But even experienced users sometimes face the non-obvious nuances of where the option of grouping applications in new versions of MIUI is hidden, how to create a folder in the Photo Gallery, or why you can not rename the directory in Files. This article covers all the current ways, from classic folders on the desktop to working with system directories through ADB.

Xiaomi’s feature is that it regularly changes the layout of the controls in the shell. For example, in MIUI 14 the application grouping algorithm differs from MIUI 12, and in Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5 there may be different versions of the file manager. We will analyze universal methods that work on 90% of the brand’s devices (including Black Shark and Pad 6), and also point to “pitfalls” that are not written in the official guides.

1. How to create a folder on the Xiaomi desktop (for applications)

The most popular scenario is the grouping of application icons. In MIUI 14/15, the algorithm has changed: you can't just drag and drop one application onto another, like in the old versions.

1. Press and hold the icon of any application on the desktop.
2. At the top of the screen will appear a panel with options – select “Create a folder”** (or New folder in global firmware).

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO X5 Pro) The Create folder option only appears after you drag the icon to the top of the screen and hold it there. 1-2 If the menu doesn't appear, check if the light mode is activated (Settings) → Special opportunities → Easy regime).

Unlock the screen

Hold the app icon for 2 seconds

Select "Create a folder" in the top menu

Drag other icons into a folder

Rename the folder (optional)-->

In MIUI 12 and below, the algorithm is simpler: just drag and drop one icon to another and hold until the folder frame appears. If you have an old version of the shell, but this method does not work, update the firmware or use an alternative method through the launcher settings:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Launcher.
2. Select Desktop Settings → Editing Mode.
3. Activate the app grouping option and follow the prompts on the screen.

2. Create folders in Xiaomi file manager (for documents and downloads)

In the standard File Manager application, you can create folders to organize documents, uploads, downloads, and other data. The manager interface depends on the version of MIUI, but the general logic is maintained:

• 📁 Internal Memory: Open the Device or Internal Drive section, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Create → folder.
• 💾 SD-map: Go to section SD-map, then use the same Create option on some devices (e.g. Redmi). 10C) First you need to click Edit in the top menu.
• 🔒 Secure folders: To create a folder with a password, go to Settings → Confidentiality → Secure folder and follow the instructions.

⚠️ Note: If the option to Create a folder is inactive, check the memory access rights. on Xiaomi with Android 11+ You may need to manually allow access to files for the Files application in Settings → Annexes → Management of rights → File permissions.

MIUI 15 has a feature called Smart Folders, which automatically sort files by type (photos, videos, documents) and do not require manual creation, but these folders can not be renamed or moved — they are virtual.

3. Grouping Photos and Videos in the Xiaomi Gallery

In the Gallery (or Mi Gallery) application, folders are created automatically by date and album, but you can also manually organize media files.

1. Open the Gallery and select the Albums section.
2. Click on + (creation icon) or Edit → Create an album.
3. Select a photo/video to add and name the album.

🔹 nuance:

• 📸 Albums in Xiaomi Gallery are virtual folders. They don't create physical directories in the memory of the device.
• 🔄 If sync with Mi Cloud is enabled, albums are automatically backed up in the cloud.
• 🚫 You can’t create nested albums (album inside album).

⚠️ Note: When you delete an album from the Gallery, the files remain in the device's memory. To completely erase the media, delete them through Files. → DCIM or Pictures.

By date (automatically)

I'm making albums by hand.

Using Google Photos.

I keep everything in one folder.

Another option-->

4. Create folders via PC (USB or Mi Share connection)

If the smartphone lacks the functions of the file manager, you can connect Xiaomi to your computer and create folders through Windows Explorer or macOS Finder.

1. Connect your phone with a USB-C cable (or Micro-USB for older models).
2. On the smartphone screen, select File Transfer (or MTP) mode.
3. On PC, open This computer – your Xiaomi will appear as a removable drive.
4. Go to the Internal Storage or SD card folder and create a new directory through the context menu (right mouse button → Create → Folder).

🔹 Important points:

• 🖥️ Mac may require Android File Transfer installation (official software from Google).
• 🔌 If your computer can’t see your phone, check the cable (should support data transmission) and try another one. USB-port.
• 📂 Do not create folders in system partitions (Android, MIUI, data – this can lead to failures.

An alternative way is to use Mi Share (wireless file transfer):

1. On your smartphone, open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Mi Share.
2. On PC, open your browser and go to the address listed in the Mi Share app on your phone.
3. Upload files to the desired folder or create a new one right in the web interface.

💡

If the folder is not created through a PC, try formatting. SD-Map in the phone: Settings → Memory. → Format SD-This will delete all the data, but it will eliminate file system errors.

5. Work with folders through ADB (for experienced users)

If standard methods don’t work (for example, on custom firmware or after resetting), you can create a folder through ADB, a debugging tool for Android.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux) and type:

adb shell mkdir /sdcard/ New folder

🔹 Explanation to the team:

• Adb shell – call the shell of Android.
• mkdir is the folder creation command.
• /sdcard/ — The path of internal memory (for the SD-use the cards /storage/XXXX-XXXX/, where XXXX — ID map).

⚠️ Attention: Do not use ADB to create folders in system partitions (/system, /vendor), If you don't understand the consequences, it can lead to a device blink (completely inoperable).

💡

ADB allows you to create folders even on locked or corrupted devices, but it requires caution. Always check the paths before executing commands.

6. Problems and mistakes when creating folders on Xiaomi

Sometimes users find that folders are not created or disappear, and consider the typical causes and solutions:

🔹 Additional advice:

• 🔄 If folders are not displayed in the Gallery, update the media base: open the Gallery → Settings → Update media files.
• 📱 In some models (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi K50) post-update MIUI 14 resets folder display settings. Restore them to Settings. → Display. → Desktop style.
• 🗑️ If the folder is “ghost” (visible but not open), try rebooting your phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button). → Restarting in Safe Mode).

7. Third-party folder management applications

If you don't like Xiaomi's standard tools, you can use alternative file managers, and they offer advanced features like cloud sync, folder encryption, FTP-server.

• 📂 Solid Explorer: Support for two panels, archiver, access to network folders (SMB, WebDAV. Link to Play Market.
• 🔐 FX File Explorer: Built-in text editor, support for root access (Root), plugins for cloud services.
• 🌐 MiXplorer: Lightweight, open source manager, works without the Internet. XDA.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party managers, turn off battery optimization for them (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications), otherwise they may not work properly in the background.

🔹 Comparison of opportunities:

FAQ: Frequent questions about folders on Xiaomi