How to allow gallery access to SD-Xiaomi Redmi 9: 5 working ways

You've installed SD-map in your Xiaomi Redmi 9, But the Gallery app stubbornly ignores photos and videos stored on an external drive? MIUI This problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi smartphones - especially on models with a hybrid slot for two SIM-card or memory card. 90% cases the fault of this is not hardware malfunction, but the features of the Android licensing system and the corporate shell MIUI 12/13.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to return the gallery to the public. SD-map – from basic settings to hidden functions MIUI, You will learn how to get around the limitations of Android 10+, Why chmod doesn't always work, and what to do if the system requires formatting the card as an internal drive, and how to avoid data loss when you manipulate access rights.

Why the gallery doesn't see files on the SD-map: 3 main reasons

Before you start setting up, it’s important to understand the root of the problem. on Redmi 9 (and other Xiaomi-based smartphones) MIUI) access SD-The card may be blocked for the following reasons:

• 🔒 The Limitations of Android 10+: Since this version, Google has tightened its security policy, with apps being prohibited by default from writing files to external drives without the user's explicit permission. MIUI further complicate the process.
• 📱 Branded "chips" MIUI: Xiaomi shell can automatically hide files on the SD-card if they were created by another device or have "incorrect" attributes (e.g., rights 777 instead of 755).
• 💾 Incorrect file system format: Memory cards formatted in NTFS or exFAT, often causing reading problems in Android — FAT32 (despite the 4GB limit on the file).

Fun fact: Redmi 9 with MIUI 12.5 and later, the problem is compounded by the Privacy feature, which by default blocks access to external drives for all applications except system ones, which is done for security, but often leads to inconvenience.

Method 1: Allowing access through the Gallery application settings

The simplest method is to explicitly grant the gallery the right to work with the SD-It's a map through the settings menu. MIUI 12-14 and does not require root rights.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Gallery (or com.miui.gallery) and tap it.
3. Go to the Permissions section → Warehouse.
4. Activate file and media access sliders and Manage all files (if any).
5. Go back and select additionally. → Access to SD-map (on some firmware, the item is called External Storage).
6. Turn on the switch to allow access to SD-map.

If the access point SD-no card, so your firmware uses an alternative method of rights management (see Method 3).

Check that SD-card correctly inserted into the slot

Make sure the card is formatted in FAT32

Update the Gallery app to the latest version

Reboot your smartphone before changing your settings-->

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI 13 after granting access, the gallery may show empty folders on SD-This is due to metadata caching. To fix, clear the gallery cache in the app settings.

Method 2: Formatting SD-card-based

If the gallery stubbornly does not see files, and other applications (for example, the file manager) work normally - the problem may be in the separation of rights" SD-The card is part of the internal memory, but it has consequences:

• ✅ Pros: All applications will have access to the map without additional permissions.
• ❌ Cons: The card cannot be retrieved without data loss and it will be encrypted (not readable on other devices).

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory. → SD-map.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Storage Settings.
3. Click Format as an internal drive.
4. Confirm the action (the process will take 1-5 minutes).
5. After formatting, move files from internal memory to SD-Map through Settings → Memory. → Data portability.

⚠️ Note: After formatting as an internal drive SD-The card will not be used on other devices without completely erasing the data, and it can also slow down the card due to encryption.

Method 3: Using a file manager to manually provide access

If the standard settings didn’t work, you can get around the restrictions through the file manager. On Redmi 9, Xiaomi Files are installed by default, but you’d better use Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer – they can manage access rights SD-map.

Instructions for Solid Explorer:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and provide all the permissions requested.
3. Go to the root catalogue SD-cards (usually) /storage/XXXX-XXXX).
4. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Properties.
5. Click Change Access and activate Full Access slider.
6. Confirm the action (it may be necessary to enter a password or PIN-code).

Critical detail: After these manipulations, restart your smartphone.Without a reboot, the changes may not take effect and the gallery still won't see the files.

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If the Solid Explorer does not show SD-map, check if the "Show Hidden Files" option is enabled in the application settings. Sometimes the map is displayed as a hidden partition.

Method 4: Editing the platform.xml file (for advanced users)

This method requires root rights and is designed for users who are willing to work with system files. SD-map for all applications, but may disrupt the stability of the system.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer).
2. Go to /system/etc/permissions/.
3. Find the platform.xml file and open it in the text editor.
4. Find a line: <permission name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" > <group gid="sdcard_r" /> <group gid="sdcard_rw" /> </permission>
5. Add it after it: <permission name="android.permission.WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE" > <group gid="sdcard_r" /> <group gid="sdcard_rw" /> <group gid="media_rw" /> </permission>
6. Save the file and restart the device.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect editing platform.xml You can also make a bootloop before you change it, and you can also make a backup copy of the file after you update it. MIUI all the edits will fall off.

Method 5: Alternative Galleries with Support SD-map

If none of these things work, the radical solution is to install a third-party gallery that can work with external drives without additional permissions.

• 📷 Google Photos: Automatically scanning SD-It's a map, but it requires the Internet to index, which is good if you want cloud sync.
• 🖼️ Simple Gallery Pro: Lightweight, open source gallery. has a built-in file manager and supports exFAT.
• 🗃️ A+ Gallery: Optimized for Xiaomi, can bypass restrictions MIUI nucleus-level.

To transfer data from the standard gallery:

1. Install the selected application from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to the storage.
3. In the settings of the new gallery, find the Scan item SD-Map or Update the Media Library.
4. Wait until indexing is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes for 128+GB cards).

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The gallery side often handles the art better. SD-Maps are more than standard Xiaomi Gallery, as they are not subject to restrictions. MIUI. However, they may consume more battery due to background scans.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even after successful access to SD-The map may be missing. Let's look at the typical scenarios and how to fix them:

Particular attention should be paid to the error "SD-It often appears on Redmi 9 after the card is removed without being safely disabled:

1. Connect the card to the PC through the card reader.
2. Run chkdsk X: /f (where X is the drive letter) in the Windows command line.
3. If it doesn’t work, format the map in FAT32 with a cluster size of 32 KB.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions