Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the problem of lack of built-in space, especially on models of the budget and mid-price segment. MIUI system, like any modern Android shell, requires a significant amount of memory for cache, updates and background services. When internal storage is filled, the device starts to work slower, and installing new programs becomes impossible.
Unfortunately, in the latest versions of the firmware MIUI Xiaomi, following Google’s policy, by default hides the possibility of full use of the memory card as part of the system partition, this is done to ensure stability and data security, since external drives are less reliable. However, there is a proven method called Adoptable Storage that allows you to bypass this restriction and make the phone count. SD-card.
Before you start taking action, you need to understand the risks and prepare the device. The process requires care, because all the data on the map will be irretrievably deleted during the formatting. It is important to use only high-quality and high-speed drives, so as not to slow down the entire smartphone. Next, we will discuss in detail all the stages of preparation, setting up through ADB and possible alternatives for space optimization.
Preparation of memory card and smartphone for work
The first and most critical step is to choose the right drive. Not every microSD card is suitable for internal storage. Cheap cards with low write speed (class 4 or 6) will cause applications to load for eternity, and the system interface may begin to twitch. It is recommended to use UHS-I cards with a speed class of at least 10, but preferably 3, and a volume of 32 to 128 GB, as large volumes may be incorrectly defined by some models.
The second step is to create a complete backup of all the important data. During the setup process, the phone will format the card into a special file system, and it will not be possible to read it on a computer or other phone without re-formatting it. Save photos, contacts and documents to the cloud or on a PC. Also make sure that the smartphone is debugging over USB if you plan to use computer activation methods.
⚠️ Warning: Formatting a memory card as an internal storage device will tie it to a particular device, so you can't just take out the flash drive and paste it into another phone or computer, the data will be encrypted.
To check the speed of your card, you can use specialized utilities, such as A1 SD Bench. Run the test and make sure that the read and write rates meet the manufacturer's stated. If the speed drops below 10 Mb / s, it is better to refrain from using this card for installing applications, as this will negatively affect the performance of the entire MIUI system.
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Use memory cards labeled “Application Performance Class” (A1 or A2) – they are optimized to run applications and provide better performance than conventional cards.
Compatibility check and hidden MIUI settings
Not all Xiaomi models support Adoptable Storage at the software level. In global firmware versions, this option is often cut out, while in Chinese versions or custom builds it may be present by default. To check for hidden settings, you can try to go to the developer menu. To do this, go to Settings → About the phone and quickly click on the MIUI version several times.
Once you activate the developer menu, go to Advanced Settings → Developer. Scroll down to Forced permission to write or Force allow apps on external. If such a switch exists, activate it. However, 90% of the time on modern Android versions, this is not enough, and deeper intervention through the ADB command prompt is required.
Android version is also worth considering. Android 6-9 implementation worked more stable, while Android 10-13 has stricter security restrictions.However, the ADB method remains a working tool for most devices, including the Redmi Note, Poco and the flagship Mi series.
Why is Xiaomi hiding this feature?
Activation of the function through ADB: step-by-step instructions
To activate the internal storage mode, we will need a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux), USB-cable and installed drivers ADB. The only reliable way to force MIUI Take the map as a system partition. First, download the Platform Tools package from Google's official website and unpack it. Connect your smartphone to your PC in debugging mode. USB.
Open the command line in the ADB folder and type in the adb device command. The phone screen will see a request for debugging permission — click "Allow." If the device serial number appears in the console, the connection is established. Now you need to find out your memory card ID by entering the command:
adb shell sm list-disksYou'll get a disk ID, like disk:179.64. Remember or copy these numbers, they're unique to each device. Next comes a command that directly formats the card and creates an encrypted partition. Be very careful when you type in, because a digit error can lead to the formatting of the internal memory.
☑️ Checklist before launch ADB
Run the formatting command by substituting your ID:
adb shell sm partition disk:XXX,XX privateOnce the command is executed, the phone can restart or sound, a message will appear in the notification curtain about the storage setting, and now the system believes that the memory card is part of the internal drive, and applications can be installed on it.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone went into a bootloop after the command, the memory card may be too slow or damaged, in which case you will need to reset the phone's settings (Wipe Data) via Recovery mode.
How to Move Already Installed Applications
Once the map is successfully formatted to Internal Storage, the system will automatically start to transfer some of the data, but not all applications will move by themselves. You need to manually specify to the system what programs you want to see on the flash drive. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications.
Select the desired application (for example, a heavy game or a navigator). Find Memory or Storage. If the function is activated correctly, the button "Change" or "Move to" will appear. SD-Press it and wait until the process is complete. The transfer time depends on the size of the application and the speed of the map.
- 📱 Navigators: offline maps of Yandex.Navigator or 2GIS They take up a lot of space and are ideal for transfer.
- 🎮 Games: Cache of heavy games (PUBG, Genshin Impact can be moved by freeing up gigabytes of internal memory.
- 📸 Telegram and WhatsApp can be transferred partially, but media files are better redirected in the settings of the applications themselves.
It's worth noting that system applications and some Google services don't support portability, which is a limitation of the Android operating system itself, which is impossible to get around without root rights and deep modification of the system, which is not recommended for ordinary users.
Comparison of data storage methods on Xiaomi
It is important for users to understand the difference between memory card modes to choose the best option for their needs. Below is a table comparing standard mode and internal storage mode.
| Parameter | Portable storage (Standard) | Internal storage (Adoptable) |
|---|---|---|
| Access to PC | Full access without restrictions | Only through the phone (encrypted) |
| Installation of applications | Impossible (Photo/Video only) | Perhaps recommended. |
| Speed of operation | Depends on the card. | High-speed card (A1/A2) |
| Security | Data available on retrieval | Data protected by encryption |
As you can see from the table, internal storage mode gives you more freedom to manage space, but it makes the memory card less mobile. If you change your phones often or connect your flash drive to your computer to reset your photos, this method can be inconvenient, so you should use cloud services or portable storage mode.
Alternative ways to clean memory without transfer
If messing with ADB and formatting seems too complicated or risky, there are safer ways to free up space. MIUI has a powerful built-in cleaning tool. Launch the Security app and click Cleanup. The system will find garbage, cache and unnecessary APK installation files.
Another effective method is to use the Memory Cleanup feature in storage settings, which often contains large videos that you have forgotten, or duplicate photos, and it is also recommended to regularly clean the cache of messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber), as they tend to accumulate gigabytes of temporary files.
- 🗑️ Download Delete: The Download folder is often crammed with old documents and pictures.
- 📺 Offline Video: Check YouTube and Netflix for downloaded videos that are no longer needed.
- ☁️ Cloud Sync: Enable Google Photos with Free Space to delete local copies of already saved images.
⚠️ Note: When clearing your messenger cache, make sure that important files are saved to the cloud, otherwise you may lose your correspondence history or sent documents.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
It can be difficult to use, for example, a phone may stop seeing a card or apps will start to fly out, most often due to poor quality of the memory card itself or its physical wear and tear, microSD cards have a limited overwriting resource, and in internal storage mode they wear out faster.
If you notice a slowdown in the interface after you migrate the applications, try to put it back together. ADB and enter the command adb shell sm forget ID_The card can then be formatted back into portable mode via the phone settings.
There are also cases where the settings are reset after the MIUI update, in which case the ADB procedure may have to be repeated. Always keep the instructions and necessary files on hand to quickly restore the device to work in the event of a software failure.