How to create a folder on your phone Xiaomi Redmi: a complete guide with pictures and tips

Why you need folders on Xiaomi Redmi and what will happen if you do not use them

Xiaomi Redmi smartphone owners often face chaos in the device’s memory: hundreds of photos in a shared gallery, documents scattered across different directories, and downloads turn into a digital dump. Foldering is not just a way to clean up, but a key tool for optimizing the phone. Without structured file storage, you risk losing important data, slowing down the system and spending time searching for the right file manually.

The feature of MIUI firmware (even in the latest versions based on Android 13/14) is that by default it does not always offer intuitive ways to manage files. For example, in the standard Gallery application you can not create a folder directly - you need to use Files or third-party managers. And in some Redmi Note 10/11/12 models, the path to creating a folder is hidden behind additional settings. This article will reveal all the nuances, including hidden MIUI functions for working with folders that are not written in the official instructions.

Method 1: Create a folder through a standard MIUI file manager

The fastest and safest method is to use the built-in Files app (an icon with a blue folder) preinstalled on all Redmis, from Redmi 9 to the flagship Redmi K60.

1. Open the Files app (if you don’t find it, check the Tools folder or search the system).
2. Go to the Device tab (or Local Storage in older versions of MIUI).
3. Select the section where you want to create a folder: Downloads, Documents, Images or the root directory /storage/emulated/0/.
4. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Create a folder (or New folder).
5. Enter the title (e.g., Work Papers 2026) and click OK.

⚠️ Note: If the Create folder option is inactive, check if you are in the system partition (e.g., Android or Android). MIUI). It is forbidden to create folders there - it can disrupt the work of the firmware.

Check the available space on your phone (minimum 500 MB)

Close all applications that work with files (Gallery, Music)

Turn off VPN (it can block access to storage)

Make sure your phone is not connected to your PC in file transfer mode-->

Method 2: Organize folders through the Gallery app (photo and video only)

Many users are unaware that MIUI allows you to create folders directly in the Gallery, but with reservations. This method only works for media files (photos, videos, GIFs) and is not suitable for documents or APK.

• 📷 Open the gallery and go to the album All photos.
• 🔍 Click on the search icon (magnifying glass) and enter the name of the future folder (for example, Holiday Turkey).
• ✅ Select the necessary files with a long tap (a tick will appear).
• 📁 Click on the three dots at the bottom and select Move to the album. → Create a new album.

Important: The albums in the Gallery are not physical folders, but virtual collections. The files remain in the original directory (usually DCIM/Camera), but are displayed in a separate section. To create a real folder, use method 1 or 3.

Method 3: Using third-party file managers (for power users)

If standard MIUI tools seem limited, install an alternative file manager.The best options for Xiaomi Redmi are:

Instructions for Solid Explorer (similar to other managers):

1. Open the application and give access to the storage.
2. Go to the internal memory section or SD-map.
3. Click on the + icon in the lower menu and select Folder.
4. Please specify the name (you can use Latin, numbers and symbols, -).
5. To encrypt the folder, hold its name and select Encrypt (available in the paid version).

Standard Files from MIUI

Solid Explorer

FX File Explorer

MiXplorer

Another (I will write in the comments)-->

Method 4: Create folders via PC (for mass file organization)

If you need to transfer or sort a large number of files (for example, after backup), it is more convenient to use the computer. USB-cable and follow instructions:

1. Unlock your phone and connect it to your computer.
2. On your phone, select File Transfer Mode (not just Charging!).
3. On PC, open This Computer → find a Redmi device (usually displayed as Xiaomi [Model]).
4. Go to the Internal Storage folder and create a new directory with the right mouse button → Create → Folder.
5. Drag files with the mouse or use Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V combinations.

⚠️ Note: Do not create or change folders in Android directories, MIUI or data, which can cause firmware to crash, and avoid using Cyrillic characters in folder names if you plan to connect your phone to MacOS or Linux.

1. Reconnect the cable (use the original from Xiaomi).

2. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (tap 7 times, then return to Additional → For Developers).

Install drivers MIUI for your model.-->

Method 5: Automatically create folders with Google Photos and other cloud services

Cloud services can automatically sort files by folder based on date, geolocation, or content type, such as Google Photos making albums of Videos, Screenshots, Animations, and Mi Cloud creating Documents, Audio, to enable this feature:

• 📱 Install Google Photos (unless preinstalled).
• 🔄 Log in to Google account and enable Backup and Sync.
• 📁 Go to the Library. → Utilities. → Albums and click Create an album.
• 🤖 For automatic sorting, turn on Settings → Grouping by person/place.

Limitation: files sorted in the cloud are not always duplicated into local folders on your phone. To physically create a folder on Redmi, you need to manually download files from the album through Save to your device.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced Xiaomi users make mistakes when working with folders, and here are the most common problems and solutions:

⚠️ Warning: If after creating the folder, the phone starts to slow down or give errors to com.android.systemui, check if you have created a folder in the system partition. Delete it through Files or reset the cache to Settings. → Annexes → All applications → Files. → Clear the cache.

💡

Before mass moving files, always back up! Use Settings → System → Backup or cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Redmi Folders