How to give MI browser access to device memory on Xiaomi: full instruction

Why MI browser requests memory access and whether it is worth providing it

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face notifications from the browser’s MI to allow access to files and memory, a requirement that comes with a reason: the browser needs permissions to download media files, save web pages offline or work with local documents, but many users fear that such permissions may threaten privacy.

In fact, MI browsers request memory access for functional purposes only — without these rights, you can't download pictures, videos or use Read Later mode. But it's important to understand that by giving access, you allow an application to interact with /storage/emulated/0/ and external drives. In this article, we'll discuss how to properly configure rights, what risks exist and how to minimize them.

The thing about MIUI is that it separates permissions into "normal" and "special" permissions. Memory access is in the second category, so it's different from standard Android confirmation. If you've previously denied those permissions to your browser, you'll now have to manually activate them through the security menu -- more on that.

Preparation: checking the version of MIUI and smartphone model

Before you change your settings, make sure your device supports the required functionality, because the permission management interface varies significantly depending on the version of MIUI:

• 📱 MIUI 12/13/14 — Modern versions with a unified security menu (Settings) → Annexes → Application management).
• 🔄 MIUI 11 and older – the “Permissions” section may be in Settings → Confidentiality.
• 🛡️ Smartphones for the global market (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro – often have a simplified menu.
• 🇨🇳 Chinese firmware versions – may require additional steps due to local law restrictions.

To find out the MIUI version, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If you have POCO or Black Shark, the path may be slightly different, but the essence remains the same. Also note the device model - some budget devices (for example, Redmi 9A) have stripped down security settings.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI European market (EEA) After upgrading to Android 13+ Additional confirmation may be required through Settings → Google → Account management, due to the tightening of privacy policies in the EU.

Step-by-step: how to allow access to memory in the MI browser

Now, let’s get to the point. Below is a general guide that will work for most Xiaomi devices on current firmware versions. If your model uses outdated MIUI, please refer to the “Features for older versions” section.

Step 1: Open the security settings

Launch the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen) and follow the following steps:

1. Go to the Appendix section.
2. Select Application Management.
3. In the list, find the MI browser (or Browser in English firmware) and tap it.

Step 2: Configure permissions

In the appendix menu:

1. Select the permissions (or app permissions).
2. Find the Memory section (may be called Files and Media or Storage).
3. Activate the switch Allow access to memory.

If the option is inactive or not, you are using an alternative rights management method on your device (see the next section).

Step 3: Additional settings for Android 11+

Starting with Android 11, Google introduced the concept of Coped Storage, which means that even after you have access to the memory, the browser will only be able to work with certain directories, to extend the rights:

1. Return to the browser's MI permissions menu.
2. Select Files and Media → Select folders.
3. Check the folders that the browser should have access to (for example, Download, Pictures).

Features for older versions of MIUI (11 and below)

If your smartphone is running MIUI 11 or earlier, the process of granting rights may be different, but the main difference is that there is no centralized Application Management menu.

1. Open Settings → Privacy → Application permissions.
2. Select the category Memory.
3. In the list, find the MI browser and activate the switch.

Some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 7 on MIUI 10) may require additional confirmation via Settings → Additional → App Permissions. If the option is not available at all, try updating your firmware or using an alternative browser (e.g. Google Chrome) that has more flexible settings.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi smartphones with Chinese firmware (China) ROM) Access to memory for the browser can be blocked at the system level, in which case it will be necessary to unlock the bootloader and install global firmware, which voids the warranty.

Problems and Errors: What to Do When Access Is Not Provided

Even after you've done all the steps, you may encounter errors, and let's look at the most common scenarios and their solutions.

1. The "Allow" button is inactive.

Reasons:

• 🔒 Corporate Policy Limitations (if the device is linked to a work account).
• 📵 Childhood or parental control is active.
• 🛡️ Antivirus blocks changes (e.g. Mi Security or Avast).

Solution: Disable parental controls in Settings → Accounts → Family Security or temporarily deactivate antivirus.

2 The browser does not see files after providing access

This is a typical problem for Android 11+ due to Scoped Storage.

• 📁 Manually specify folders to access (see Step 3 in the instructions above).
• 🔄 Restart the device after changing permissions.
• 📥 Use the Mi File Explorer file manager to move files to authorized directories.

3. Continuous requests for access

If the browser continues to ask for permission after they have been granted:

• 🧹 Clear the browser data in Settings → Annexes → Browser → Memory. → Clear the data.
• 🔄 Update. MI browser via Mi App Store.
• 🛠️ Reset permissions settings for all applications in Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset application settings.

💡

If the MI browser still doesn’t save files, try using the Download As feature and manually select the destination folder. This bypasses the Scoped Storage limitations for individual files.

Security: Risks and how to minimize them

Providing memory access to any application, including the MI browser, carries potential risks.

• 🕵️‍♂️ Personal data leakage – the browser can scan files on the device (for example, for targeted advertising).
• 🦠 Malware Infection – If the browser downloads the infected file, it will gain access to other data.
• 📊 Gathering statistics – Xiaomi can analyze what files you open through the browser.

To reduce the risks:

1. Limit browser access to only the necessary folders (e.g. Download and Pictures).
2. Turn off the synchronization of browser data with the Mi Cloud cloud in the browser settings → Account.
3. Use separate folders to download from your browser (e.g., create /storage/emulated/0/BrowserDownloads/).
4. Check permissions regularly in Settings → Privacy → Permit Manager.

If you often work with sensitive documents, consider using Firefox Focus or Brave – these browsers have stricter privacy settings and don’t require full memory access for basic functionality.

💡

MI If your device stores sensitive data (such as document scans), it is better to use specialized applications with encryption support, such as Cryptomator or Solid Explorer.

Alternative ways to download files without accessing memory

If you don’t want to give MI browser access to memory, but need to download files, there are a few workarounds:

1. Use of cloud services

Download files directly to Google Drive, Mi Cloud or Dropbox:

1. In MI browser, click on the link to download.
2. Select the Save to the Cloud option (if available).
3. Open the file through the appropriate cloud application.

2. forwarding files to another device

To transfer files without saving to a smartphone:

• 📤 Use Mi Share (Xiaomi’s built-in feature) to send a file to a PC or other phone.
• 📧 Send the file to yourself via Gmail or Outlook.
• 🔗 Generate a temporary download link through services like WeTransfer.

3. Application of third-party loaders

Install specialized applications for downloading files:

• 📥 Download Manager (requires minimum permissions).
• 🌐 1DM+ (Supports multithreaded boot without memory access).
• 📁 Files by Google (allows you to selectively access folders).

These methods will help bypass the limitations, but keep in mind that some features of the browser’s MI (for example, offline mode) will not work.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions