How to transfer applications to the memory card on Xiaomi: all the ways and nuances

Xiaomi smartphone owners (including the Redmi line and the POCO) Often face a lack of internal memory, especially if the device is equipped with only 32 GB or 64 GB of storage. MIUI This feature doesn't work as straight as it does on pure Android, depending on the shell version, the smartphone model and the type of device. SD-The available methods can be radically different.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to transfer applications to an external drive in Xiaomi, including official tools. MIUI, You'll also learn which applications should never be ported to the old versions and solutions for cases where the system blocks the transfer. SD-map (even if the system allows it), and how to avoid errors that lead to malfunctions in the operation of programs.

Why Xiaomi restricts the portability of applications to SD-card?

Unlike Samsung or Huawei, where porting apps to a memory card is often done out of the box, MIUI places strict restrictions on this feature, for reasons rooted in Android architecture and Xiaomi policy:

• 🔧 Productivity: SD-cards (even class) A2) They are slower than the built-in memory. eMMC/UFS. Transfer applications to them can cause lags and hangings.
• 🛡️ Security: MIUI Blocks the transfer of system applications and services of Google to avoid failures in the Android.
• 📱 Optimization MIUI: The shell actively uses cache and background processes that are poorly compatible with external drives.
• 🔄 System Updates: After Updating MIUI Ported applications may stop working if the path to them has changed.

However, the limitations are not absolute: In some versions of MIUI 12-14, the portability function is available for individual applications, and in older versions (before MIUI 11), it can be activated through the Developer Settings.

Official method: transfer via MIUI settings

If your Xiaomi smartphone runs MIUI 12, 13 or 14, try the standard method.It doesn't work on all models, but it's tested on most Redmi Note and POCO devices:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want to transfer (such as Telegram or VK).
3. Slip on Warehouse.
4. If the option is available, a button will appear to Move to SD-Change or change the card (in some firmware).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (may take up to a few minutes).

⚠️ Note: After porting, some features of the application (such as notifications or widgets) may not work correctly, and not all applications support portability - the list will not include system utilities, games with high performance requirements and programs that use the portability of the application. OBB-files (e.g. Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile).

Buy it. SD-class A2 (SanDisk or Samsung recommended)|Format the map in FAT32/exFAT smartphone|Create a backup copy of important data|Check the free space on the map (at least) 2–3 GB)|Close all background applications before transfer-->

Alternative method: formatting SD-maps as internal memory

If there is no transfer option in the settings, you can try to combine SD-This is a card with internal memory. This method works on Android 6.0.+, But it has serious flaws:

• ⚠️ Once formatted, the map cannot be removed – it will become part of the system.
• ⚠️ Application speed may drop (depending on the card class).
• ⚠️ When you remove the map, the applications will stop working.

Instructions:

1. Put it in. SD-smartphone-card.
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse → [Name of name SD-map] → Three dots (menu) → Storage settings.
3. Choose internal memory (or format as internal memory).
4. Confirm the action – all data on the map will be deleted!
5. After formatting, restart the device.
6. Now, when installing new applications, the system will prompt you to choose a storage location (internal memory or storage). SD-map).

🔹 Important: This method is only suitable for memory cards UHS-I/UHS-II It's very fast, read/write. It's cheap. SD-class C10 marking A1/A2 lead to brakes.

Transfer applications over ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer, but allows you to transfer even those applications that MIUI blocks.

Step 1: Preparation

• 🖥️ Install. ADB-PC drivers.
• 📱 Turn on Debugging. USB on a smartphone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times to activate Developer Settings, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
• 🔌 Connect your phone to your computer and confirm your trust in the device.

Step 2. Transfer through ADB command:

1. Open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with the platform-tools.
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
3. Find out the batch name of the application (for example, for WhatsApp it is com.whatsapp). You can do this through the command: adb shell pm list packages | grep "name app"
4. Transfer (replace package.name with the real name of the package): adb shell pm set-install-location 2 adb shell pm move-package package.name

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Google Play Services) MIUI System Launcher will not be able to move through ADB. Trying to do this could lead to the collapse of the system.

💡

If the pm move-package command returns the error [INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_INSTALL_LOCATION], So the application doesn't support portability. Try an alternative method using app2sd (see next section).

Applications for forced transfer (App2SD, Link2SD)

If none of the above methods worked, you can use third-party utilities such as App2SD or Link2SD. They allow you to create symbolic links (symlink) to application files, in fact “cheating” the system.

How Link2SD works:

1. Install Link2SD from Google Play.
2. Give the app root rights (if you have root access) or use ADB to unlock additional features.
3. In the list of applications, select the one you want to transfer.
4. Click Create a link and select Application Data, Cash or APK-file.
5. Confirm the action and restart the device.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ It works even with applications that MIUI block.
• ✅ No formatting required. SD-maps as internal memory.
• ✅ Individual components can be transferred (e.g., only cache).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Requires root rights for full-fledged work (on some firmware you can do without them, but the functionality will be limited).
• ❌ If you do not do it correctly, you can damage system files.
• ❌ Not all applications will work consistently after the transfer.

What applications cannot be transferred to SD-map?

Even if the system allows you to move the application, some programs are strongly discouraged from moving to an external drive.

• 🚫 Failures in operation (the application will constantly fly out).
• 🚫 Data loss (for example, in messengers or banking applications).
• 🚫 Update issues (the app will stop updating through Google Play).

List of "prohibited" applications:

🔹 Exception: If you use SD-class A2 And with high read/write speeds, some of these limitations can be circumvented.

💡

Transfer of banking applications and messengers to SD-The card can lead to the blocking of the account on suspicion of hacking, especially WhatsApp and Sberbank Online, which are actively scanning the environment for modifications.

What to do if the transferred application does not work?

If the application crashes, doesn’t start, or doesn’t work properly after the transfer, try the following steps:

1. Clear the cache: Go to Settings → Apps → [App name] → Storage → Clear the cache.
2. Move it back: Return the app to internal memory through the same settings.
3. Reinstall the application: Delete it. Clean the folder. Android/obb and Android/data on SD-Map (if any) Reinstall from Google Play.
4. Check it out. SD-Error map: Adb shell fsck /dev/block/mmcblk1 (root).
5. Format the card in exFAT (if you have used FAT32).

⚠️ Note: If the application after the transfer asks to re-enter the login / password (for example, VK or Instagram, do not enter data until you return it to internal memory, this may be a sign of damage to the configuration files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving apps to Xiaomi