How to Update Gallery App on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Many users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones periodically experience a malfunctioning standard media viewing app, which can manifest itself in the form of sudden freezes, refusal to open certain video formats, or even the complete disappearance of thumbnails, often caused by an outdated version of the software component, as developers regularly release security and optimization patches for the MIUI or HyperOS system.

Timely installation of the new version allows not only to eliminate software errors, but also to access new editing functions, improved artificial intelligence algorithms for sorting and faster rendering of heavyweights. 4K-Ignoring updates can lead to a buildup of system debris and conflicts with other services of the Android operating system.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to update software, from automatic notifications to manual installation through system files. You will learn how to properly prepare the device so that the process goes without losing personal data, and what to do if the standard app store is unstable. It is critical to use only official download sources to avoid introducing malicious code into the system area of the device.

Preparation of the device for the update procedure

Before you start searching and installing new versions, make sure that the smartphone is ready for this operation. Unstable Internet connection or critically low battery power can interrupt the download of files, which will damage the application cache or malfunction in the future.

It's also worth checking if there's space in the internal memory, and even if the application itself takes up a little space, you might need an extra buffer to decompress temporary files and back up your settings. If the memory is full, the system might just keep you from finishing the process.

Remember to back up important photos and videos if you plan to not only update but also reset your app settings in case of errors. Sync with Mi Cloud or Google Photos will be a reliable insurance against the accidental loss of valuable moments.

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Before starting the active update phase, turn off the Power Saving mode, as it may limit the background load of large data packets, which will cause a connection to time out.

Update via the built-in GetApps store (Mi Store)

The main and most preferred way to get updates for Xiaomi system applications is the GetApps branded store, formerly known as the Mi Store. It is through this distribution channel that the company distributes versions adapted to specific device models and shell versions. Open the GetApps app on your smartphone and go to the “My” or “Profile” section, which is usually located in the lower right corner of the screen.

In the menu that opens, look for App Updates. The system will automatically check for new versions for all installed programs. If an update is available for Gallery, you will see the corresponding button next to the name. Click on it to start downloading. In some cases, you may need to confirm access rights or log in to a Mi Account.

⚠️ Note: If the update button is inactive or the process freezes during the verification phase, try clearing the cache of the GetApps store itself through your smartphone settings. → Annexes → All applications → GetApps → Memory. → Clear the cache.

Once installed successfully, the system may request a device restart to apply the changes. Do not ignore this request, as some of the system libraries required for the new Gallery features to work are only loaded when the system starts, which ensures compatibility and stability.

Using Google Play Market for System Applications

An alternative source of updates is the standard Google Play Store. Although system applications are often updated through GetApps, Google also has rights to distribute and moderate versions for a wide range of devices, which is especially relevant if you are using a global firmware version or custom Android build.

Go to the Play Store app, click on your profile icon in the top right corner and select “Manage Apps and Device.” In the “Update Availables” section, find it in the “Gallery” list. If the app appears in the Update list, Google considers your current version obsolete.

Sometimes, when GetApps is newer than Google Play, or vice versa, it's due to different update certification schedules in different regions, if one store doesn't have an update, it makes sense to check the other, but you shouldn't force the Play Store version to be installed over the newer version from the Mi Store, because that might cause a version conflict.

Hand-mounted APK-files from official sources

In situations where automatic updates don’t take months and bugs interfere with work, you can resort to manual installation. This method requires more care. You will need to find the current APK installation file. It is strongly recommended not to download files from dubious sites, since the Gallery has access to all your media files.

A reliable source is the APKMirror portal or the official MIUI forum. Find a file that matches your version of Android and the processor architecture (usually arm64-v8a). Once the file is uploaded to the phone's memory, the system can block the installation from unknown sources. You will need to allow the browser or file manager to install applications.

Settings → Privacy Protection → Special Access Rights → Install Unknown Applications → Select a browser → Allow

Run the downloaded file and follow the installer's instructions. The system will alert you that the application will be updated. Confirm the action. If the version in the file is older than the one installed, the system will issue an error and refuse to install, which is a security mechanism.

Cleaning up data and resetting the settings of the Gallery

Sometimes, even after the update, the app still doesn't work properly, in which case the problem may be in the accumulated garbage or damaged thumbnail databases. Before drastic measures, try to clear the cache. This will not delete your photos, but will reset temporary files.

Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Gallery. Click on Clear and select Clear Cache. If that doesn't work, try Clear All Data. Attention: This action will reset the album hiding settings, sorting and other personalizations, but the photos and videos will remain in memory.

⚠️ Attention: Data cleanup of the Gallery app does not delete photos from the device's memory, but can delete the "Hidden Album" settings if they were not synced to the cloud.

Once cleaned, launch the app. It can think for a while, scanning the memory and rebuilding the media database, a normal behavior that can take anywhere from minutes to an hour depending on the number of files on the device.

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If the problem persists after cleaning the data and updating, the Media Storage file may be damaged and deeper system intervention or factory reset is required.

Diagnostics of Update Problems and Solving Them

Users often encounter errors when trying to update system components. One common problem is the download error in GetApps. This may be due to the wrong region setting in your smartphone. Try temporarily changing the region in settings (Settings → Additional settings → Region) to India or Singapore, check for updates, and then return your region.

Another common problem is not enough memory, even if there is space, the system reserves some space for its needs, free up an extra 1-2 GB by removing old videos or unwanted apps, and check the date and time: the wrong system clock can block the connection to update servers due to security certificate errors.

• 📱 Check if Wi-Fi Only is enabled for updates in GetApps settings if you are trying to upgrade via mobile internet.
• 🔄 Turn it off. VPN-services, as they can block the connection to local servers Xiaomi.
• 🔋 Make sure that the device does not activate aggressive power saving settings for system processes.

If none of these methods work, your firmware version may be too old to support newer versions of the Gallery, in which case it is advisable to consider upgrading your entire MIUI or HyperOS operating system to the latest available version via the About Phone menu.