How to Create a Folder on Xiaomi Redmi: 5 Ways to Create a MIUI 12/13/14

Creating folders on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a basic operation that helps organize files, applications and desktop. Despite the apparent simplicity, users often have questions: where to look for a file manager in the new version of MIUI 14, how to group icons on the screen or why you can not rename a folder. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to create folders, from the classic method through Explorer to hidden functions of the launcher.

The features of Redmi's interface (as opposed to pure Android) are the MIUI shell, which is regularly updated. For example, MIUI 14 changed the location of the "Create a folder" button in the file manager, and MIUI 13 introduced the feature of automatic sorting of files by type. We take all these nuances into account and show universal solutions that work on models from Redmi Note 10 to Redmi 12.

Important: If you use a custom-built smartphone (like Pixel Experience or LineageOS), some of the instructions may not work, so please refer to the alternative file managers section.

1. Create a folder through the MIUI file manager

The most reliable way is to use the built-in Explorer (aka File Manager or File Explorer), which is suitable for creating folders in internal memory, on the back of the file. SD-map or cloud storage Mi Cloud.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Files app (an icon with a blue folder) If it is not on the desktop, search the system (File Manager or Explorer).
• 📁 Go to the section where you want to create a folder (for example, Internal Storage). → download or SD-map).
• ➕ Press the badge "+" (or "New" in the lower right corner. MIUI 14 buttons can be hidden under the menu ⋮ → Create → folder.
• ✏️ Enter the folder name (e.g. Documents 2026) and click "Done" or "OK".

Tip: If the + button doesn't show, check the permissions of the Files app in Settings → Apps → Application Management → Files → Permissions. Make sure that storage access rights are enabled.

Files icon found on desktop

The required storage section (internal memory) is opened/SD-map)

The "Create" or "+" button is active

The folder name is entered without the forbidden characters (/, \, *,?)

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V MIUI 13 and newer folders are sorted alphabetically by default, but this setting can be turned off in the menu ⋮ → Sorting → Manually.

2. Grouping applications into folders on the desktop

If you need to organize application icons (such as combining messengers or games), use the folder function on the home screen. This method does not affect the file system, but only visually organizes the interface.

How to create a folder with applications:

1. Press the icon of any app on your desktop (such as WhatsApp).
2. Drag it to another icon (such as Telegram).
3. Release your finger and automatically create a folder called “Untitled”.
4. Tap the name of the folder to rename it (for example, "Social Networks").

Limitations:

• 🚫 No more than 16 applications can be added to one folder (in the MIUI 14 limit increased to 20).
• 🔄 Desktop folders are not synced to other devices via Mi Account.
• 📛 The folder name is displayed only in screen editing mode.

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To quickly add the application to the folder, drag it to the folder icon and hold on for 1 second - the list to select will open.

3. Creating folders via PC (USB-connection)

If you're more comfortable managing files through your computer, connect Redmi over USB and use Windows Explorer or macOS Finder, which is useful for mass folder creation or large amounts of data transfer.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
2. On your phone, select File Transfer (FTP) mode in the connection notification.
3. Open This Computer (Windows) or Finder (macOS) on your computer – your Redmi will appear as a removable drive.
4. Go to the desired section (for example, Internal Storage → Pictures) and create a folder through the context menu (PCM → Create → Folder).

Warnings:

⚠️ Note: If you connect Redmi to a Mac, install the Android File Transfer app – without it, macOS won’t see files on the device.

⚠️ Note: Do not create folders directly in the root directory (/) of internal memory, this can disrupt the system, DCIM, Documents).

Through the built-in conductor

With PC (USB)

I use third-party file managers (Solid Explorer, FX)

Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)

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4.Alternative file managers for Redmi

If Xiaomi’s standard Explorer seems uncomfortable, install a third-party app.

• 📂 Solid Explorer – supports dual-panel mode, cloud storage and FTP.
• 🔍 FX File Explorer – has a built-in text editor and archiver.
• 🌐 MiXplorer – free manager with support for Tab-interface and encryption.

How to create a folder in Solid Explorer:

1. Open the application and give access to the storage.
2. Go to the desired section (e.g. /storage/emulated/0/Music).
3. Click on the + icon in the lower menu and select Folder.
4. Enter the name and confirm the creation.

Advantages of third-party managers:

MiXplorer is the only manager on the list that does not require an Internet connection to work with the cloud (for example, Yandex.Disk can be connected via WebDAV without an official API).

5. Automatic folder creation through applications

Some applications (such as Gallery or Downloads) automatically create folders to sort files, such as screenshots saved to Pictures/Screenshots and files downloaded from the browser to Download.

How to set up automatic sorting:

• 🖼️ In the Gallery: Open the photo → ⋮ → Move it → New folder.
• 🌐 In Chrome or Mi Browser: Go to Settings → Downloads. → Download folder and indicate your path (for example, Download/Work_files).
• 📎 In Google Files: Enable Automatic Backup in Settings – Files will be grouped by date and type.

Example of the path for screenshots in MIUI 14:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

If the automatic folder is not created, check:

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 13 and later, the automatic sorting function only works when the settings option is enabled. → Warehouse → Automatic organization of files.

6. Hidden folders and system directories

MIUI has hidden folders that don't show up in Explorer by default, and they contain system files, application cache, and settings.

• 🔒.thumbdata - miniatures of images.
• 📱 Android/data — Application data (e.g. game saving).
• 🔧 MIUI/backup — backup.

How to see hidden folders:

1. Open the files. → press ⋮ → Settings.
2. Activate the option "Show hidden files".
3. Return to the root directory, and folders that start with the (.) point will be visible.

Changing or deleting files in Android/data can cause app crashes, such as cleaning the com.tencent.mm (WeChat) folder will delete chat history.

7. Solving problems when creating folders

If the folder is not created, check the following points:

Problem 1: The "Create a folder" button is inactive.

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes helps with conductor failures.
• 📱 Check the free space: it takes at least 1% of free disk space to create a folder.
• 🔧 Update Files via Play Market or App Store (if you use a global version) MIUI).

Problem 2: The folder is created, but disappears after the reboot.

• 🛠️ This may be due to file system corruption. Run the check through Settings → Memory. → Check and correct.
• 🔄 If the problem persists, back up the data and reset through Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.

Problem 3: You can't create a folder for SD-map.

• 📱 Make sure the memory card is formatted as internal storage (in Settings) → Warehouse → SD-map → Formatting as an internal).
• 🔧 Check the file system of the card: MIUI supportive FAT32, exFAT and NTFS, But internal storage is required ext4.

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If the folder is not created on SD-A card formatted as a portable storage, try moving it to internal memory and then dragging it back through the Explorer.

Frequently asked questions