How to create a new folder on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Creating folders on Xiaomi smartphones is a basic task that every user faces. But even such a simple task can raise questions for beginners, especially if it comes to different versions of the MIUI shell or non-standard scenarios. In this article, we will examine all possible ways to create folders, from a standard file manager to hidden system functions and third-party applications.

It is important to understand that the process may vary depending on the phone model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T) We'll take all the nuances into account and provide current instructions for the MIUI 14 and later, including the features of working with internal memory and SD-If you want to not just create a folder, but optimize file storage, here you will find useful tips on how to organize data.

Method 1: Create a folder through a standard file manager

The most obvious and universal method is to use the built-in File Application (or File Manager in global versions), which works on all Xiaomi devices regardless of the model and version of MIUI. The main advantage is that you do not need to install additional programs.

To create a folder:

1. Open the Files app (an icon with a blue folder on the home screen or in the app menu).
2. Go to Device or Internal Storage to work with internal memory.
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Create → Folder.
4. Enter the folder name (e.g. Documents 2026) and click OK.

If you use SD-map, first go to the section SD card in the same file manager. Note that some models (POCO F4, Redmi K50) When you first connect the memory card, it may be necessary to format it as an internal storage device.

The memory card is formatted in FAT32/exFAT|In the storage settings allowed to record SD|There is enough free space on the map (minimum) 100 MB)|The file manager has access to the storage-->

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13 and older when creating folders on SD-You may see a warning on the card about "slow media" because of Android's limitations on writing to external drives. A2 higher.

Method 2: Quickly create a folder on the MIUI desktop

The MIUI shell allows you to create folders right on the home screen for grouping applications, which is convenient if you want to organize icons, but has nothing to do with the file system, but many users confuse the two.

Instructions for creating a folder with applications:

• 📱 Drag one app icon to another and hold on 1-2 seconds.
• 📁 Automatically create a folder with the default name (for example, "Applications").
• 📝 Click on the folder name to rename it (for example, in "Social Network" or "Games").
• ➕ To add new apps, just drag and drop them into the created folder.

These folders exist only at the interface level and do not appear in the file manager. To remove such a folder, drag all applications from it back to the desktop - the folder itself will disappear automatically. On Xiaomi 12S Ultra and POCO F5 models, you can create nested folders (a folder inside the folder), but this requires activation in the launcher settings.

I'm creating folders on my desktop.|I'm using app search.|I'm alphabetizing it.|I don't want to sort it, it's on the main screen.-->

Method 3: Create folders through Windows Explorer (for advanced)

If your Xiaomi is connected to your computer in file transfer mode (MTP), you can create folders directly through Windows Explorer or Finder on Mac. This method is convenient for mass file organization, for example, when transferring photos from the camera.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
2. On your phone, select File Transfer Mode (not Charge Only).
3. On your computer, open this computer and find your device (usually Xiaomi [model]).
4. Go to the Internal Shared Storage or SD card folder.
5. Right-click on the mouse button → Create → folder.

With this approach, there are important nuances:

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware (especially Chinese versions) may require unlocking when connecting to a PC OEM Without this, access to the file system will be restricted.

Method 4: Using Third-Party File Managers

Standard file manager in MIUI Not always convenient for advanced users.Alternative apps like Solid Explorer, FX File Explorer or Total Commander, offer advanced features: creating encrypted folders, FTP-server, cloud synchronization.

Example of folder creation via Solid Explorer:

• 📲 Install the app from Google Play (free version with restrictions).
• 🔓 Provide all the permissions requested (storage, media files).
• 📁 Go to the appropriate section (internal memory or SD-map).
• ➕ Press the badge "+" bottom-line → New folder.
• 🏷️ Enter the name and select the color of the label (optional).

Advantages of third-party managers:

• 🔍 Built-in search for the content of files (including PDF and DOCX).
• 🔒 Ability to hide folders without additional applications.
• ☁️ Integration with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive.
• 📊 View hidden system files (required root on some firmware).

On devices with MIUI 14 and later, some third-party manager features may be limited due to Xiaomi's security policy, for example, access to the Android/data folder is often blocked without root rights.

Method 5: Automatic folder creation through scripts (for developers)

If you need to create multiple folders for a specific template (for example, to organize projects), you can use Termux or ADB. This method is suitable for advanced users familiar with the command line.

Example of creating a folder through Termux:

1. Install Termux from F-Droid (the version from Google Play is outdated).
2. Execute the command to update the packages: pkg update & pkg upgrade
3. Use the command to create a folder: mkdir -p /sdcard/My New Pope/Subfolder Flag -p Creates all the intermediate directories automatically.

For automation, you can create a script on bash:

#!/bin/bash


for i in {1..10}; do




mkdir -p "/sdcard/Projects/Project $i/{Documents, Images, Video}"




done

This script will create 10 folders with subfolders for each project.

⚠️ Note: When working with Termux on Xiaomi MIUI 13+ You may need to manually provide access to the storage via termux-setup-storage. /sdcard.

💡

To avoid manually entering long paths, use the ls command to view the current directory and pwd to display the full path.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even when doing simple things, Xiaomi users face typical problems.

1. You can't create a folder on SD-map

• 🔹 The card is formatted as internal memory (check in Settings). → Warehouse).
• 🔹 The card includes protection against recording (switch on the adapter).
• 🔹 File system NTFS Not supported – reformat to exFAT.

2.A folder is created but disappears after rebooting

This is typical of folders created in /storage/emulated/0 via root access.

• 🔹 Use standard folder creation methods.
• 🔹 If you need root, mount the partition in rw:mount mode. -o remount,rw /system

3. You can't rename system folders

Folders like DCIM, Downloads or Android are protected by the system, and renaming them can cause the camera or other applications to crash, and if you want to hide such folders, use third-party managers with the "exclude from display" function.

Storage optimization: how to organize folders on Xiaomi

Creating folders is just the first step. To effectively manage memory on Xiaomi, follow these guidelines:

1. Folder structure by file type

An example of logical hierarchy:

📁 Personal




├── 📄 Documents




│ ├── 📄 Passport scan.pdf




│ └── 📄 Treaties




├── 🖼️ Photo




│ ├── 🖼️ 2026_ Vacation




│ └── 🖼️ Family




└── 🎵 Music




├── 🎵 Playlists




└── 🎵 Podcasts

2. Use of cloud services

Xiaomi devices are integrated by default with Mi Cloud, but you can also connect other services:

• 🔗 Google Drive – for documents and backups.
• 📷 Google Photos – to automatically sort photos.
• 🎬 Mega or pCloud for large video files.

Automatic sorting

In the settings of the Gallery (Album) application on Xiaomi, you can include:

• 📅 Automatic grouping of photos by date.
• 🏷️ Facial recognition and making albums by people.
• 🌄 Classification by type (landscapes, food, documents).

💡

Clean Downloads folder regularly – temporary files accumulate here, which can take up several gigabytes of memory.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions