The lack of space on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a problem that thousands of users of budget and mid-budget models face. When the built-in storage is filled, the device starts to work slower and installing new applications becomes impossible. In such situations, many owners think about how to make the flash drive an internal memory of the android xiomy Redmi to expand the useful volume without buying a new gadget.
Standard function of moving applications to SD-shell-card MIUI It is often limited or incorrect, allowing only media files to be stored, but there is a proven method known as Adoptable Storage that allows the system to perceive an external drive as part of the system partition. This requires careful preparation and precise execution of the steps described below.
It's important to understand that this process will irreversibly change the structure of your drive's file system, that all the data on the drive will be deleted, and the card will be encrypted and linked to this particular smartphone, and you won't be able to use it on another device without formatting, so copy all the important photos and documents to your computer in advance.
Preparation of equipment and selection of the right storage device
The success of the operation depends on the quality of the operation. USB-Cheap memory cards with low read and write speeds can cause the smartphone to start working even slower than before the expansion, the system will constantly wait for a response from the slow drive, which will cause interface lags and malfunctions in applications.
To complete the task you will need OTG-cable (advancer) or flash drive with connector Type-C/Micro-USB. Make sure your Xiaomi Redmi supports the feature OTG, Although modern models include it by default, check compatibility through the settings menu or using specialized utilities.
The best choice will be Class 10 or UHS-I drives with a capacity of 32 to 128 GB. The use of cards with a capacity of 256 GB and above can be unstable on older versions of Android or entry-level Snapdragon processors.
| Parameter | Minimum requirement | Recommended value | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading speed | 40 MB/s | 90 MB/s and above | Application loading speed |
| Class speed | Class 10 | UHS-I / U3 | Stability of video recording |
| Memory capacity | 16GB | 64-128 GB | Number of games installed |
| Interface. | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0/3.1 | General responsiveness of the interface |
⚠️ WARNING: Using fake memory cards from AliExpress or questionable brands can cause data loss and damage to the smartphone file system.
Activation of the developer mode and debugging via USB
Before you can connect external devices to modify the system, you need to get advanced access rights. In the shell of MIUI hidden menu developer, which allows you to manage deep settings Android. Without this mode, ADB commands will not work.
Go to Settings → About your phone and find the MIUI version line. Click on it 7-10 times in a row until a pop-up message shows that you have become a developer.
Go to Settings. → Additional settings → For developers, find the debugging switch. USB You can activate it. You can alert the system to the risks, you can confirm the action. USB-Debugging (Security settings) if available in your firmware version.
- 📱 Make sure the screen is unlocked when you first connect to your PC.
- 🔒 Allow access for the computer in the pop-up window on the smartphone screen.
- 🔋 Connect the device to a stable power source during setup.
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If the "Developers" item is missing after the reboot, re-click 7 times on the MIUI version. In some MIUI builds, this reset occurs automatically for security purposes.
Installation of ADB drivers and tools on your computer
To interact with a smartphone at the system level, you will need a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux. On a PC, you need to install a minimum set of Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tools.
Download the current Platform-tools package from the official Android developer site. Unpack the archive to the root of the disk, for example, in the C:\adb folder, so that the path is short and does not contain Cyrillic, which will make it easier to enter commands in the future.
Drivers are also critical for your device. Xiaomi is best suited for Google’s universal USB Driver or the specialized drivers that come with the Mi PC Suite. Without the right driver, the computer will only see the phone as a charger.
adb devicesOnce you've connected the cable, type the command in the command line, and if you see a list of devices with serial number and device status, that means that the connection is established. If the status is unauthorized, look at the phone screen and confirm the debugging.
☑️ Checking readiness ADB
Formatting a flash drive through ADB commands
This is the most critical stage where the physical transformation of the drive takes place. The standard Xiaomi menu means to make the flash drive internal memory is not, so we use the hidden command sm (storage manager). USB-storage.
Connect the flash drive through OTG-Make sure the system detects it, and the storage menu may notify you of a new one. USB-Ignore the suggestion to format it through the interface. We need to know the disk ID.
Type in the command adb shell sm list-disks. You will see a list of disks, for example, disk:179.64. Write down these numbers, they are unique to your device and drive. Next, execute the formatting command:
adb shell sm partition disk:XXX,XX private 100Instead of XXX,XX, substitute your ID. Private means you create a private partition, and 100 indicates you use 100% of the USB drive, and it takes a few minutes before the USB drive disappears from the list of available drives and appears as part of internal memory.
⚠️ Attention: sm partition completely destroys all data on the flash drive. Re-restore files after this action is impossible by standard methods. Make sure you choose the right drive, otherwise you can format the internal memory.
What happens if the team returns a mistake?
Setup of data and application transfer
Once formatted successfully, the system will offer migrate data. You can agree to free up space on the built-in chip. Now, when installing new applications, Android will default to installing the combined volume.
However, not all applications support movement, and developers can prohibit installation of their products on external drives for security or performance reasons, and check this in the application management menu.
Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Select the program you want. If the Change button is active, you can move the application to the flash drive. If the button is grey or missing, you can't transfer without root rights.
- 📸 Camera and voice recorder often require high recording speeds, leave them on the built-in memory.
- 🎮 Heavy games with cache is better to move if the flash drive is fast (UHS-I).
- 💬 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) take up a lot of space, their transfer is desirable.
It is important to note that widgets and some system functions can be unstable if their data is on an external medium. If you notice periodic drops of applications, try to return them to internal memory.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Xiaomi Redmi owners can face a number of specific bugs: The MIUI shell is known for its aggressive memory optimization, which sometimes conflicts with Adoptable Storage.The system can periodically turn off the flash drive to save power.
If the flash drive is permanently disabled, try turning off battery optimization for system processes related to storage. OTG-cable that does not provide sufficient power to the storage device.
In the case of a cyclic smartphone reboot after connecting the flash drive, immediately remove the drive. The system will not be able to boot if critical files are on an inaccessible external drive, in this situation only reset to factory settings (Wipe Data).
⚠️ Note: When you reset your phone's settings, the encrypted flash drive will also be cleared. The encryption keys are stored in a secure area of the smartphone's processor.
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The stability of extended memory depends on the quality of the flash drive, and cheap memory cards are the main reason for the unstable operation of the system after modification.