How to turn on and use the conductor on Xiaomi smartphones: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where the standard MIUISuddenly file explorer disappears from the desktop or does not open through the application menu. The reasons can be different: accidental removal of the shortcut, system failure after an update, or even intentional hiding of the application by a virus. Unlike many Android devices where the file manager is installed separately, in MIUI it is built into the system - it just needs to be properly "reached".

This article will not only show you how to turn on your Xiaomi Explorer through settings and alternative methods, but also explain why it might not work. We will analyze the features for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14), look at the problems with access rights, and even teach you how to restore a remote shortcut without resetting your phone. If you are using the Redmi Note 12, Poco X5 or the flagship Mi 13 series, the instruction will be suitable for all models.

Why did the conductor disappear from the screen Xiaomi and where to look for it?

Before you try to turn on a conductor, it's worth understanding that it doesn't turn off in the usual sense -- it's a com.android.fileexplorer system application that's always installed on the device, and the problem is usually one of three scenarios:

• 📱 The shortcut is removed from the desktop – the application is in the system, but its icon is accidentally moved to the folder or deleted.
• 🔍 The Explorer is hidden in the menu after the update MIUI The application can be “hidden” in the section All applications or tools.
• 🚫 Restrictions – If you gave permission to third-party cleaners (such as Security or Clean Master), they could have blocked access to files.

The first thing you need to do is check if the application is on the system.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter “Conductor” or “Files” (in English firmware).
3. If the application is found, tap it and select “Open”.

If the Explorer doesn’t open even through the settings, the problem may be that system files are damaged after a failed update or manual intervention (such as removing system APKs via ADB).

Method 1: Restore the conductor label on the desktop

The most common situation is that the conductor label is gone from the screen, but the app itself is working.

• 🔍 Open the menu of all applications (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
• 📂 Find the Explorer app (or Files) – it’s usually in the Tools or Utilities folder».
• 🖱️ Press the conductor icon and drag it to the desktop.

If the app is not on the menu, try an alternative path:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Systems tab.
2. Find the “File Manager” and tap it.
3. Click “Open” – this will launch the application, after which the shortcut can be fixed on the desktop.

Is there a guide in the Tools folder?

Are the system applications checked in the settings?

Have you tried the app menu search?

Did the phone reboot after the update?-->

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13 Global), the conductor may be called File Manager by Xiaomi. If you use custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU), the name may be different, look for an app with a yellow folder icon.

Method 2: Starting a conductor through storage settings

If the shortcut goes missing after each update, you can open the explorer indirectly through the memory management section, which works on all versions of MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → Memory (or Storage).
2. Scroll down and click on “Clear” or “File Management”.
3. The system will automatically open the built-in conductor in folder viewing mode.

This method is useful if:

• 🔄 You've recently updated. MIUI and the label disappeared.
• 📲 The phone has a lightweight firmware (for example, MIUI Lite where the conductor is integrated into the settings.
• 🛡️ Third-party applications (such as antivirus) block direct launch.

💡

If the explorer opens through settings but doesn’t start directly, try clearing its cache in Settings → Apps → Explorer → Clear the cache. This often solves the black screen problem when you open it.

On some models (e.g. Redmi 10A or Poco M4 Pro), this method can open a simplified version of the conductor without access to the root folders. To get full functionality, you will have to use the method with ADB (described below).

Method 3: Enabling a conductor through ADB (for power users)

If the conductor is not just hidden but deactivated at the system level (e.g., after manual removal or reset), it can be returned using the ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.

Command line.

Terminal

adb devices

(The name of your device should be displayed).

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.fileexplorer

After completing the command, restart the phone – the explorer should appear in the application menu.

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB This method can cause the system to be unstable if entered incorrectly. Do not use this method unless you are sure of your actions. In particular, never enter commands with pm uninstall for system applications - this can make the phone inoperable.

Method 4: Use of alternative file managers

If you can't restore the built-in Explorer, you can install a third-party file manager from Google Play.

To allow the third-party manager to access all folders:

1. Open the application and provide all the permissions requested.
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions → Manage all files.
3. Find your file manager and turn on the “Allow access to all files” switch.

Causes and solutions:

To access system folders without root:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and use ADB: adb shell sm set-disable-verity true reboot
2. After the reboot, some restrictions will be lifted (but this is a temporary solution).

💡

If you need constant access to system folders (for example, to modify firmware), the only reliable way is to obtain root rights through Magisk. However, this voids the warranty and may lead to the blocking of certain features (for example, Google Pay).

Frequent questions about the conductor on Xiaomi