How to go to the Explorer on Xiaomi: all the ways for MIUI 12, 13, 14 and 15

The file manager (conductor) on Xiaomi smartphones is the standard MIUI application that allows you to manage files, folders, internal memory and external drives. However, many users face the problem: the Suddenly Explorer icon disappears from the desktop, and it is not always possible to find it through search, especially after updating the firmware or resetting.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can run your Explorer on Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark devices, from basic to hidden methods for older versions of MIUI. You’ll learn where to look for a file manager on the menu, how to return it to the home screen, and what to do if an application has been disabled or removed. We’ll also look at alternative guides from Google Play and explain why the standard manager sometimes “hides” from the user.

1. Standard method: Search through the application menu

The easiest way is to find a conductor in the general list of installed programs.

• 📱 Swipe your finger up from the bottom edge of the screen to open the app menu.
• 🔍 At the top of the screen will appear search bar – enter the request: Explorer, Files or File Manager (in English firmware).
• 📁 Among the results, look for an icon with a folder image (usually blue or white) and the name Explorer (or Files).

If the search does not yield results, try alternative queries:

• 📂 File Manager
• 🗃️ Explore (on global firmware)
• 📎 Mi File Manager (old name)

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware POCO The conductor can be called File Manager by Xiaomi and hide in the Utility folder. Check it in the application menu!

2. Quick access via the phone's "Settings"

If the search fails, you can open the Explorer through system settings, which works on all versions of MIUI, including HyperOS:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. In the top line of the search, enter the Explorer.
4. In the results, select Explorer (or Files) and click Open.

If the application is disabled, you can turn it on here (on button will appear instead of Open). This is true for devices where the conductor has been deactivated through Settings → Battery and Performance → Autostart.

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If the settings do not include “App Management”, try the path: Settings → All settings → Applications → Show all applications.

3. Return the conductor icon to the main screen

Often users accidentally remove the Explorer shortcut from the desktop, thinking they have deleted the app itself.

• 📱 Open the menu of all applications (swipe up from the bottom edge).
• 🔍 Find the Explorer in the list.
• 🖱️ Press the icon with your finger and drag it to the main screen or in the dock panel (bottom band).

If the label doesn’t want to drag you, check:

• ❌ Is not activated mode Easy mode (in settings Special. possibilities).
• ❌ Is there a third-party launcher installed (for example, Nova Launcher or Apex).
• ❌ Is the guide hidden through the settings? → Main screen screen → Hide applications.

Make sure the conductor is not turned off in the settings|Check the folder "Utilities" in the application menu|Disable the third-party launcher (if used)|Update. MIUI last-minute-->

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware POCO You can't drag and drop system application shortcuts, so create a conductor widget, and you can squeeze the blank space on the screen. → Widgets → Find the guide and add it.

4. Hidden Methods: Launching through System Commands

If the Explorer is missing after updating or resetting, it can be run through hidden system commands, which work even if the application is not displayed in the menu:

Method 1: Through dialing (USSD-code)

Open the standard Phone app and type in:

##4636##

From the menu that appears, select Phone Information → scroll down and find Launch Explorer (or File Manager).This method doesn’t work on all devices, but it can help on older Redmi Note 4/5s.

Method 2: ADB (for advanced users)

If you have access to ADB (for example, via a computer), follow the command:

adb shell am start -n com.android.fileexplorer/.FileExplorerActivity

For MIUI 14+, use:

adb shell am start -n com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer/.FileExplorerTabActivity

On devices with HyperOS (MIUI 15), the path to conductor has changed: now the com.mi.android.globalminimal package with the activity of.fileexplorer.FileExplorerActivity is used.

5. Install Explorer via Mi App Store (GetApps)

On some firmware (especially POCO and Black Shark), the conductor is not installed by default, in which case it can be downloaded from the official Xiaomi store:

• 📱 Open the GetApps app (icon with shopping bag).
• 🔍 Enter the Explorer or File Manager.
• 📥 Select the official app from Xiaomi Inc. and click Install.

Notice the versions:

• 📌 Mi File Manager – Standard Conductor for the MIUI 12-14.
• 📌 Files by Xiaomi – Updated version for HyperOS.
• 📌 File Manager Pro - Extended version (paid, but with a trial period).

⚠️ Note: Do not install guides from third-party developers (for example, ES File Explorer or Total Commander, which is not absolutely necessary, can contain ads or ask for unnecessary permissions, the official application from Xiaomi is safer and better integrated into the system.

6.Alternative conductors: what to choose if the standard one does not work

If none of these methods worked, consider alternative file managers. We tested the best options for Xiaomi:

When choosing an alternative, pay attention to:

• 🔒 Permissions: A good conductor should not request access to the SMS or call.
• 📥 Application weight: for weak devices (e.g. Redmi) 5A) Choose options up to 10 MB.
• 🌐 Support MIUI: Some managers conflict with the shell of Xiaomi (for example, do not display internal memory).

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If you use an alternative conductor, disable the standard through Settings → Applications → Explorer → Disable to avoid conflicts.

7 Why the conductor disappears and how to prevent it

The conductor can go missing for a number of reasons.

• 🔄 Update MIUI: after major updates (for example, with MIUI 13 by 14) system applications are sometimes reset.
• 🧹 Cache Clearing: If You Cleaned Your Phone Through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup, label could have gone.
• 🛠️ Resetting: After Hard Reset (Settings) → The phone. → Reset) the conductor is not always automatically restored.
• 📦 Removal through ADB: Some “optimizers” remove system applications by pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer.
• 🤖 Launcher conflict: Third-party shells (like Nova Launcher) can hide system applications.

To prevent the disappearance of the conductor:

1. Disable its optimization in Settings → Battery → Applications selection.
2. Add a shortcut to the folder on the home screen (such as Utilities).
3. Check the conductor regularly after updates.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the conductor on Xiaomi