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

Folding on Xiaomi smartphones is a basic feature that helps you organize files, apps, and even desktops. But despite the apparent simplicity, many users face difficulties: where to find the right options in MIUI, why you can’t rename a folder or how to transfer several files to it at once. This article covers everything from standard methods to hidden firmware chips.

We’ll explore not only the obvious ways (via file manager or desktop), but also lesser-known tricks like how to create a folder right in a photo gallery or how to automate the process with Google Files. We’ll also focus on the nuances for different versions MIUI (12 to 15) and models from budget Redmi to flagship Xiaomi 14.

If you’ve ever lost important documents in the chaos of downloads or spent minutes searching for the right screenshot, this is the guide for you. After reading it, organizing files on your Xiaomi will take no more than a minute.

1. Create a folder on the Xiaomi desktop

The fastest way to organize apps is to group them into folders right on the home screen, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones, regardless of the version of MIUI.

Instructions:

1. Press and hold your finger on any application on your desktop until it “rises” and the cross appears to remove it.
2. Drag the application to another (which you want to put in the same folder) and automatically create a folder with the default name (for example, "Folder 1").
3. Tap the folder name to rename it (for example, “Social Network” or “Games”).
4. To add more apps, just drag them into the created folder.

⚠️ Warning: On some models (e.g. Poco F5), after upgrading to MIUI 14, the folders on the desktop can automatically sort alphabetically. To disable this, go to Settings → Desktop → Application Sort and select Manual.

Make sure apps are not blocked in Settings → Apps → Blocking apps

Check if the “Light Desktop” mode is included in Settings → Special.

Turn off automatic sorting if it interferes (see warning above)

Free space on the screen – the folder will take up the cell 2×2 or 4×4 (depending on the subject matter)-->

Tip: If the folder is too big (more than 12 apps), its contents will scroll. To speed up access to frequently used programs, place them at the top of the list — just drag them to the left in the open folder.

2.Working with folders in the MIUI file manager

The MIUI file manager (Files app) is the main tool for working with documents, downloads and media, where you can create folders, move files and even configure the Mi Cloud cloud storage.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Files app (yellow folder icon).
2. Go to the section where you want to create a folder (for example, "Inner Memory" or "Memory Card").
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Create a folder".
4. Enter the title (e.g., “Working Papers” or “Photos from a Holiday”) and click “Done”.

To transfer files to a new folder:

• 📁 Press the file with your finger until the tick appears.
• 🔘 Mark other files (if you need to move more files).
• 📥 Click "Move" in the bottom menu and select the target folder.

⚠️ Warning: If you create a folder on a memory card, make sure it is formatted as an internal storage (in Settings → Memory → Memory Map). Otherwise, some applications (such as a gallery) will not see the files in this folder.

💡

To quickly find the folder later, add it to Favorites in the file manager: press the folder → three dots → Add to Favorites.

3.Creating folders in the Xiaomi Gallery

Many people don't know, but in the standard Xiaomi gallery you can create albums — it's the same as folders, but only for photos and videos. This is convenient if you want to separate, for example, screenshots and personal photos.

How to make an album:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Click on the three horizontal lines (menu) in the lower left corner.
3. Select "Albums" → "Create an Album".
4. Enter the title (such as "Documents" or "Memes") and click "Done".
5. Now you can add a photo to the album: open the image → three dots → “Add to the album”.

⚠️ Warning: Gallery albums are virtual folders. They don't create physical directories in your phone's memory! If you delete a photo from an album, it stays in the main gallery. To delete the file completely, do it through the file manager.

Advantages of albums over regular folders:

• 🔍 Quick tag search (e.g., "beach" or "2026").
• 🎨 Automatic face and seat recognition (if enabled in gallery settings)
• 🔒 Ability to hide albums through Gallery Settings → Hidden Albums.

4. Automatic folder creation with Google Files

If you are too lazy to manually sort files, use the Google Files app (formerly Go Files), which automatically groupes files by type and even suggests removing unnecessary ones.

How to set up auto sorting:

1. Install Google Files from the Play Market.
2. Open the application and allow access to the files.
3. Go to the "Cleanup" tab → "File Categories".
4. Click on the category (e.g., “Screenshots” or “Downloads”) → “Move”.
5. Select or create a new folder (e.g. Screenshots/2026).

The advantages of this method:

• 🤖 Automatic file type recognition (PDF, APK, ZIP, etc.).
• 📊 Visualization of the occupied space (which takes up the most memory).
• 🗑️ Smart cleaning suggestions (e.g. old memes or duplicates).

⚠️ Warning: Google Files may not see files on a memory card if it is encrypted through Settings → Security → Card Encryption. In this case, use the standard file manager MIUI.

Manually creating folders

I use the albums in the gallery.

I use Google Files or another manager.

I don’t search, I search through search.

Other-->

5. Hidden folders and system directories

MIUI has hidden folders that are not displayed by default, which are needed for the system to work, but sometimes useful to the user, for example, for backups or logs.

How to turn on the display of hidden folders:

1. Open the Files file manager.
2. Click on three → Settings points.
3. Activate the option "Show hidden files".

Useful system folders:

• 📁 MIUI — Themes, wallpapers and system settings.
• 📁 Android/data — Application files (caution: Deletion can break programs!)
• 📁 DCIM/.thumbnails - Photo thumbnails (can be cleared to make room).
• 📁 Download is a standard folder for downloads from the browser.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change files in the system or vendor folders - this can result in loss of warranty or phone "brick" (firmware breakage). If you need to edit system files, first make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup.

💡

Hidden folders take up to 1-3 GB of space. Clean.thumbnails and Download regularly - this is safe and frees up memory.

6. Problems and solutions when working with folders

Sometimes creating or editing folders on Xiaomi is accompanied by errors, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

If none of these methods worked, try:

1. Update MIUI to the latest version (in Settings → About Phone → System Update).
2. Reset the file manager settings (in Settings → Applications → Files → Reset).
3. Install an alternative manager (e.g. FX File Explorer or Total Commander).

⚠️ Warning: On some models (like Black Shark 5), system folders may disappear after root access (root), so to return them, restore the rights through Magisk or reflash the phone.

7 Storage optimization: how to name folders correctly

The correct folder names save time when searching. Here are some tips:

• 📌 Use the Year Theme format (e.g. 2026_Taxes or 2023_Turkey Vacation).
• 🔤 Avoid the gaps, replace them with an emphasis ( ) or a dash (-).
• 📂 For media files, add a type prefix (e.g., VID_Wedding for video, PIC_Photo cat).
• 🔢 Number folders if there are many (e.g., 1_ Work, 2_ Study).

Examples of structure:

Internal memory/


├── Documents/




│ ├── 2026_ Tax declaration/




│ └── 2023_ Treaty/




├── Media/




│ ├── PIC_ Vacation/




│ ├── VID_ Family holidays/




│ └── MUSIC_Playlists/




└── Annexes/




├── APK_ Standby/




└── OBB_ Games/

⚠️ Warning: Do not use special characters (*,?,:, ", <, >, |) in folder names, otherwise files may not open on other devices (for example, when connecting to a PC).

💡

To quickly navigate to the folder by name, use a file manager search (magnifying icon). In MIUI 15, search works even on the content of text files!

FAQ: Frequent questions about folders on Xiaomi