Where to save personal files on Xiaomi: all folders, hidden directories and storage settings

You downloaded an important document, took a photo on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or saved a video from the messenger — but where now to look for this file? The MIUI system distributes user data across dozens of folders, some of which are hidden from view by default. Even experienced Xiaomi smartphone owners sometimes lose hours searching for the right file, especially if it comes to downloads from the browser, screenshots or backups.

In this article, we will not just list the standard storage paths (like /DCIM/Camera), but will reveal all the hidden MIUI directories, including the system folders for app cache, logs and temporary files. You will learn how to change the default save location, where to look for files after resetting, and why some data disappears after updating the firmware. And for owners of devices with hybrid storage (internal memory + microSD), we have prepared a separate section with the nuances of file transfer.

Standard folders for personal files on Xiaomi

MIUI follows Android logic, but adds its directories for specific features (e.g. MIUI/screenrecorder for screen recordings).

• 📷 Photos and videos: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera/ (main folder of the camera) and /DCIM/Screenshots/ (On new models (Xiaomi) 13T, Redmi Note 13 Pro+) screenshots can be duplicated in /Pictures/Screenshots/.
• 📄 Downloads: /Download/ — This includes files from browsers (Chrome, Mi Browser) and most messengers. Except that Telegram creates its own folder. /Telegram/.
• 🎵 Music and audio: /Music/ (for tracks) and /Ringtones/ (The recordings from the recorder are stored in /MIUI/sound_recorder/.
• 📁 Documents: /Documents/ — here PDF, Word files and other documents from office applications (WPS Office, Microsoft Office).

Important: the paths /storage/emulated/0/ are virtual representations of internal memory. In fact, files are in /data/media/0/, but access to it without root permission is limited. If you connect your smartphone to your PC over USB, you'll see a simplified structure without the prefix /storage/emulated/.

Hidden and System Folders: Where MIUI Hides Your Data

In addition to the obvious directories, MIUI creates dozens of hidden folders for business purposes, some of which contain your personal data, such as backups or messenger cache, to see hidden files:

1. Open Explorer (Files app from Xiaomi).
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner → Settings → turn on Show hidden files.
3. Root rights are required to access system folders (e.g. /data/).

Here are the key hidden directories with user data:

⚠️ Attention: Folder /Android/obb/ It contains additional data for games (e.g. graphics packages), deleting files from here will cause a game like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile to crash.

How to Change the Default File Save Place

MIUI allows you to redirect the storage of new files to a microSD card or to the Mi Cloud.

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Slip on the Depository by default (some models call the item Preferred Storage).
3. Choose a Memory Card or Internal Memory.

Limitations:

• 🚫 Not all apps respect this setting, for example, WhatsApp and Viber always store media in internal memory.
• 🔄 After changing the storage, old files are not automatically transferred – they need to be moved manually.
• ☁️ For the Mi Cloud, only automatic photo/video backup is available (in Settings). → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → gallery).

1. Insert microSD into the slot (up to 1TB cards are supported on new models)

2. format the card as an internal storage (all data on it will be erased!)

3. In Explorer, select files → Cut → Go to memory card → Insert

4. Check that files are opened from a new location-->

⚠️ Note: If you format a microSD as Internal Storage, it will become part of the system and will not be read on other devices.

Where to look for files after resetting or updating MIUI

After a hard reset or major update (e.g., from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), some files may disappear.

• 📂 Backups: If you have done backup through Settings → The phone. → Backup, files are in the /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/. Use the same function in the settings to restore.
• 🔍 Deleted files: MIUI has a basket (in the Files app) → The files are stored there for 30 days.
• 🔄 Updates OTA: After updating "over the air" old versions of the firmware remain in the air. /cache/ota/, but they're up to 2-3 GB space. They can be removed through Settings. → Warehouse → Clean up.

If the files are missing without a trace:

1. Check out Mi Cloud (maybe automatic sync enabled).
2. Use PC-based data recovery software (Recuva, DiskDigger) to connect your smartphone in MTP mode and scan internal memory.
3. For root users: check the /data/lost+found/ folder – this is where files get in after file system failures.

1. Remove updates for the Gallery app in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Gallery → Remove updates.

2. Reset the device.

3. Check the folder. /DCIM/.thumbnails/ — Sometimes the miniatures remain even if the originals are gone".-->

Features of file storage on models with hybrid storage

Xiaomi devices with a hybrid slot for SIM + microSD (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro or POCO X5 Pro) have the nuances of working with memory cards:

• 📱 Concurrent use restriction: If a memory card is inserted, the second SIM-On some models (for example, Xiaomi 12 Lite) the slot supports the card. SIM + SIM + MicroSD, but it's rare.
• 🔄 Application portability: Only a portion of applications can be transferred to a microSD (in Settings) → Annexes → Select an application → Warehouse → System applications (Gallery, Camera) cannot be ported.
• ⚡ Speed of operation: Class maps A1/A2 (For example, SanDisk Extreme speeds up the loading of applications with microSD. C10 Suitable only for media files.

To check the speed of the memory card:

1. Install the A1 SD Bench app from Google Play.
2. Run a reading/writing test.
3. If the write speed is below 10 MB/s, the card is not suitable for installing applications.

💡

On hybrid storage devices (internal memory + microSD), MIUI defaults to save files to internal memory even if the card is inserted. To change this, you need to manually select a save location in each application (camera, browser, etc.).

How to Clean Cache and Unnecessary Files Without Losing Data

MIUI accumulates gigabytes of garbage in cache folders, temporary files and logs. Cleanup will make room, but it's important not to delete the data you need. Here are the safe ways to do this:

• 🧹 Built-in cleaning: Go to Settings → Warehouse → Clean.The system will prompt you to delete the application cache, temporary files and empty folders.
• 🗑️ Manual cleaning: In the conductor (Files) delete the contents of folders: /Android/data/ → remote-app folder; /Download/ → arch-load; /MIUI/gallery/cloud/.thumb/ → thumbnail.
• 🔧 Specialized tools: Annexes SD Maid or Files by Google will find duplicate files and large data.

What can not be manually removed:

• /Android/obb/ and /Android/data/ folders for installed applications
• Files with the.odex or.vdex extension (system optimizations);
• folder /MIUI/backup/, If you are planning to restore data.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 13 Ultra, Redmi K60 Pro) MIUI Creates a virtual partition /product/ For system updates, deleting files from here will cause a device to blink (not turn on), which is not visible in standard Explorer, but can be displayed when you connect to a PC.

FAQ: Frequent questions about files on Xiaomi