Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones often face a critical shortage of free space in internal storage. MIUI 12 or newer version takes up a significant amount of space, and modern applications require more resources for their work, in which case the only right solution is to expand the physical amount of memory with a microSD card.
Unfortunately, the standard Android interface on Xiaomi devices does not provide a direct “Move to SD” button for all installed programs, but it is done by developers for the sake of stability and speed of the interface, but there are proven methods to circumvent these restrictions and free up precious gigabytes.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods of data transfer: from regular system tools to the use of ADB debugging tools. You will learn which applications can be moved without risk to their functionality, and which are better left on the internal drive to ensure maximum speed.
Preparation for memory expansion and choice of storage device
Before you start manipulating the file system, you need to make sure the medium you use. The speed of reading and writing a map directly affects the speed of displaced applications. The use of cheap and slow maps can lead to "hangs" of programs and long loads.
It is recommended to use Class 10, UHS-I or higher cards. be sure to back up important data, as the formatting process can in some cases lead to a complete card cleanup. Make sure your Redmi 9 battery is at least 50-60%.
⚠️ Warning: Before starting any memory operations, be sure to remove the card from the device (if it is already inserted) and copy all important photos and documents to your computer or cloud storage to avoid accidental loss of information.
Insert the memory card into the smartphone slot. It's usually located on the bottom of the device, next to the charging connector. Use a special clip that comes with the kit or a thin needle to remove the tray. Once installed, the system must automatically identify the new drive.
📊 How much memory is your Xiaomi Redmi 9?
32GB
64GB
128GB
Other
Standard method of transfer through Android settings
The first and most secure way that doesn’t require superuser rights or a connection to a computer is to use the built-in application management feature, which doesn’t work for all programs, but allows you to move some data, such as cache and additional resources.
Go to the settings menu of your smartphone. Find the section that manages installed programs. In the MIUI shell, the path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same.
Choose an application that takes up a lot of space, often social networks, navigators or games. If the system allows you to move the program, the button will be active. If the button is missing or inactive, then the application developer has forbidden the transfer to external drives.
And it's worth noting that even after the transfer, some of the files will remain in the internal storage, which is the system libraries needed to run the code of the program, and you can't completely free the internal memory in this way, but it's quite possible to win a few hundred megabytes.
Use of the regime USB-debugging ADB
Deeper file system interference requires activating developer mode, which allows Android Debug Bridge (ADB) commands to be used to force data transfer, a method that is considered more advanced and requires a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux.
You first need to unlock the developer menu. Find the About Phone option in the settings and quickly press 7-10 times on the MIUI version. After that, a new section will appear in the settings menu, "Additional" or "Extended settings", where the desired switch is hidden.
Activate the item. USB-Debugging. Connect your smartphone to your computer with a high-quality cable. You'll see a request for debugging permission on your phone screen, and you'll be sure to check it out by ticking the box "Always Allow from this computer".
adb shell pm set-install-location 2
Executing this command in the computer's command line shifts the preferred location of new applications to an external map, however, for programs already installed, a command may be required:
adb shell pm move-package name packet external carrier id
⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB Incorrectly entering the packet name or media ID can lead to a transfer error, after which the application will stop running until the changes return.
Find out your ID. SD-You can use the adb shell sm list-volumes command. public:179,64 or similar combination of numbers. Be careful not to confuse internal memory with external memory.
What to do if your computer can’t see your phone?
If the cable is connected by the computer makes a connection sound, but the device is not in the list, check the mode of operation. USB. Click on the Connection Notification on the phone screen and select the File Transfer Mode" (MTP). Drivers may also be required. ADB for your surgery-- Adoptable Storage: You can turn a memory card into a full extension of internal memory, called Adoptable Storage, and it formats, encrypts, and becomes an integral part of the system. All new apps and their data will be written there by default. On Xiaomi devices, this feature is often hidden by the manufacturer. ADB. After the successful execution of the command, the map will be formatted, and all data on it will be destroyed, so backups are mandatory. The advantage of this method is that it's transparent to the user, because it decides where to store the data, but there's a big disadvantage: you can't extract the map without losing the functionality of the applications, and if the map fails, the programs will stop opening. Portable storage option Internal storage (Adoptable) Access from PC Seen as a separate drive Not visible (encrypted) Application port Only by choice Automatic Data Security Data available Device Linked Speed Depends on card Depends on card (risk of lags) For The command is used: adb shell sm partition public:179,64 privately public:179,64 is your card ID, which you received earlier, and when you restart, the system will treat the card as internal memory. Not all data needs to be migrated by emulation or through application settings. Photos, videos, music and documents take up the lion's share of space, and moving them is not only safe, but recommended to optimize the file system. Use a standard conductor MIUI Or a third-party file manager, like Total Commander or Files by Google. DCIM (where the camera photos are stored) and Pictures. Select all files and select Move, with the goal of the folder on the SD-map. 💡Use the Cleanup feature in Xiaomi’s Security app, which automatically finds large files and prompts you to move them to a memory card, saving you time manually sorting. Many applications, such as Telegram or WhatsApp messengers, allow you to change the way you save downloaded files in your internal settings. Go to the settings of a particular application, find the item "Data and memory" or "Storage" and point the way to an external map. This action will free up gigabytes of internal space, leaving only executable programs. Multimedia will lie quietly on the map, taking up the place that was originally intended. Possible problems and ways to solve them In the process of transferring data, users can encounter various errors. Most often they are associated with a low speed of the memory card or damage to the file table. If the application crashes on startup, try to return it to internal memory. Sometimes the system stops from the format to the storage after this storage. ⚠️ Note: If you notice a significant decrease in smartphone autonomy after transferring applications, it is possible that background processes are constantly turning to a slow memory card, in which case it is better to return heavy applications (navigators, social networks) to internal memory. Another common problem is the emergence of duplicate files. When you move folders manually, make sure you don't copy data, but move it around. Duplicate media can quickly fill even a three-dimensional map. 💡The stability of the smartphone with portable applications depends on the speed class of your device. SD-Savings on the media can lead to constant slowdowns in the interface (FAQ) Can you transfer Xiaomi system applications to the SD Transfer of system applications is highly discouraged. This can lead to unstable operating system operation, cyclical reboots or complete failure of the smartphone. System components must remain on a fast internal drive. What happens if you remove the memory card after transferring applications? Applications transferred to the card will stop running, and their shortcuts may disappear from the desktop or be marked with an error icon. Data inside these applications will become unavailable until the card is re-installed in the same smartphone. Does the transfer of applications affect the speed of their operation? Yes, the internal memory of the smartphone (especially UFS standards) works much faster than most applications, if the card runs less quickly, the card is running, the card is less fast, the card is running, the card is running from the card is slow card, the card is running, the card is the card is running card is less fast. No, application data, including counters, game saves, and authorization, is saved when properly transferred through system settings or ADB. However, when manually copying folders without using system tools, data can be lost.