How to check the presence of a memory card in Xiaomi Redmi 9: from settings to disassembly

Have you bought a used Xiaomi Redmi 9 or just forgotten if it has a memory card installed? Or maybe the phone started to brake and you suspect that a malfunctioning microSD is to blame? In this article, we will analyze all possible ways of checking, from basic (via the phone menu) to advanced (using a computer or even partial disassembly). It is important to understand that Redmi 9 supports cards up to 512 GB, but not all users know how to correctly diagnose them.

We're not going to limit ourselves to standard tips like "get in the settings," but instead, you'll get 7 proven methods, including those that work even if the phone doesn't turn on or the system is stuck, and we'll also tell you what hidden MIUI features allow you to check the health of your memory card without third-party apps -- a unique feature of Xiaomi's firmware that few people know about.

1. Check through phone settings (the fastest way)

So, to start with the obvious, the built-in MIUI tools, which is a good way to do this if the phone turns on and responds to touch. In Redmi 9, the memory information path is standard, but there are some nuances:

Open the Settings menu → About phone → Memory. Here you will see two sections:

• 📱 Internal memory is a built-in phone drive (usually a phone drive). 32/64/128 GB depending on the modification).
• 💾 Memory card — if it's installed, it's going to be the size of the card and the space it's occupied, and if there's no partition, there's no card in the slot or it's not recognized.

⚠️ Note: If this menu shows a map but is not visible in the file manager, the problem may be formatting. Redmi 9 does not support the exFAT file system out of the box - only FAT32 or NTFS (restrictively).

2.Physical inspection: Where is the card slot in Redmi 9

If the phone doesn't turn on or the settings menu isn't available, there's a mechanical way. In Xiaomi Redmi 9, the memory card slot is combined with a tray for the memory card. SIM-It's on the left end of the body, to open it:

1. Turn off the phone (if it is on).
2. Find a small hole on the left side next to the volume buttons.
3. Insert a paper clip or a special key (comes in the kit) before clicking.
4. The tray will be pushed out – check if it has a microSD installed (usually it is located under the top). SIM-card).

🔍 What does a memory card look like? It's a small plate (usually black or silver) with contacts on the bottom. It might have a sign on it. SDHC or SDXC, and the logo of the manufacturer (Samsung, SanDisk, etc.).

3. Verification through the file manager

Another reliable way is to use standard Explorer (or any other file manager, like Solid Explorer). Open the app and look at the top panel: if the memory card is installed, there will be a section called SD-card.

📂 What to do if there is a partition, but the files are not displayed?

This could mean:

• 🔄 The card is formatted in an incompatible file system (e.g, ext4).
• 🛠️ The file table is damaged (you need to check on the PC via chkdsk).
• 🚫 The card is locked (check the Lock switch on its case).

⚠️ Warning: If you connect the card to your computer and you see a message that says "Put the disk in," it's a sign of hardware damage, and you can try to recover it with programs like Recuva or PhotoRec, but the odds are low.

Connect the card to the computer through the card reader

Check the "This Computer" menu

Run the chkdsk X: /f command (where X is the disk letter)

Try formatting if the data isn't important-->

4.Using Engineering Mode (hidden menu for diagnosis)

MIUI has a hidden mode for engineers that allows you to check hardware components, including a memory card slot, to get there:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code ##4636##
3. Select Hardware Testing (or Hardware Testing).
4. Find the SD Card Test section and run the check.

📊 What do results mean?

• ✅ Pass – the card is correct and recognized by the system.
• ❌ Fail – problems reading/writing (maybe the card is damaged).
• ⚠️ Not Detected – no cards in the slot or contacts oxidized.

⚠️ Note: Do not change other settings in Engineering Mode unless you are sure of their purpose. For example, changing Band Mode settings may result in network loss.

💡

If the engineering menu does not open, try entering the code through the Calculator application: type the sequence +=+= and hold the last = 3 seconds.

5. Check through ADB (for advanced users)

If the phone is turned on but the screen is not working (or the sensor is not responding), you can use it. ADB (This method requires a computer and USB-Instructions:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Connect Redmi 9 to your computer and enable USB Debugging (in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version, press 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
3. Open the command line and type in: adb shell ls /storage If the card is installed, the list will contain a folder with the name XXXX-XXXX (where X is a random symbol).

🔧 Transcription of teams:

• ls /storage – shows all connected drives.
• df -h - displays information about free and occupied space.
• mount | grep sdcard – checks whether the card is mounted in the system.

💡

ADB is the only way to check the memory card if the phone screen crashes, but the device itself is turned on and determined by the computer.

6. Diagnostics on the computer (if the phone is not turned on)

If Redmi 9 doesn't respond to the power button, but you suspect it has a memory card, you can take it out and check it on another device.

1. Get the card tray (as described in Section 2).
2. Insert a microSD into the card reader and connect to a computer or other phone.
3. If the card is not determined: 🔌 Try another card reader (sometimes the problem is in the USB-port). 🧹 Clear the contacts of the card with a brush (no fanaticism!). 🔄 Restart the computer.

📌 Table: Symptoms and their meanings

7. Phone disassembly (extreme case)

If all previous methods have failed and the memory card is critical (e.g., it stores only copies of a photo), it remains to disassemble the phone. In Redmi 9, it is relatively simple to do this:

1. Turn off the phone and remove the tray for SIM-map.
2. Heat the back cover with a hairdryer (temperature not higher than 70 ° C) - this will soften the glue.
3. Push the lid with a plastic card or mediator, starting at the bottom corner.
4. Unscrew 10 screws (cross screwdriver PH00).
5. Carefully raise the fee – the memory card slot is located next to the battery (see photo below).

To enable this mode, go to Settings → Memory → [Map Name] → Triple → Settings → Internal Memory.