Owners of the popular budget smartphone Redmi 7 often face a lack of built-in storage, especially in versions with 32 GB of memory. MIUI operating system, taking up a significant part of the space, leaves the user only a small share for installing programs and multimedia. When notifications about the lack of space begin to appear too often, the only logical solution is to expand the available volume through microSD.
However, the standard shell MIUI, Unlike pure Android, it doesn't allow you to simply move installed applications to an external drive through standard settings, and it's done by developers for the sake of system stability and speed, because the read speed is very fast. SD-But there are proven ways to get around this limitation by using root rights or debugging. USB.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, their pros and cons, and the risks you may face, learn how to turn a memory card into a full-fledged extension of internal memory or transfer a cache of heavy games to it, and be prepared for the fact that some methods will require careful and accurate follow the instructions.
Features of working with memory in MIUI
Understanding the MIUI file system architecture is the first step to successful modifications. Unlike older versions of Android, where Force Allow Apps on External worked out of the box, modern versions of MIUI tightly control installation paths. The system seeks to keep application data on a fast internal drive to ensure that the interface runs smoothly.
When you try to migrate data using standard means, you'll see that the Move button is either missing or inactive. SD-The card is a portable storage device, not a system partition, and changing this behavior requires tampering with system settings or using special utilities.
⚠️ Warning: Forced transfer of system applications or mission-critical services to Google may cause Redmi 7 to run unstablely, cause cyclical reboots, or cause the system to fail to boot.
The internal eMMC memory in Redmi 7 provides significantly higher IOPS (I/O operations per second) than most microSD cards. The portability of heavy applications can lead to longer loads and periodic friezes.
Preparation SD-maps and backups
Before you start any manipulation, you need to properly prepare the external drive. Using a poor-quality or damaged card can nullify all efforts and even lead to data loss. It is recommended to use Class 10 or UHS-I cards from trusted manufacturers such as Samsung, SanDisk or Kingston.
The first step is to format the card directly in your smartphone, which ensures the correct file system and compatibility. Go to Settings → About Phone → Storage, select your card and click Format. Remember, this process will completely delete all files from the media.
☑️ Preparation for data portability
Make sure to back up your important data. Even if you plan to only port games, there is always a risk of accidentally resetting your settings or damaging your file system. Use Xiaomi Cloud or Google Drive cloud services to save contacts and notes.
It is also worth checking the status of the memory card itself, and if it has already been used in other devices, it is advisable to complete the formatting on a computer with the choice of the FAT32 or exFAT file system, although the phone will still reformat it to suit its needs when it first connects.
Method of formatting as internal memory (without Root)
One way to make the system count SD-The card is part of the internal storage - using the hidden function Adoptable Storage. MIUI This functionality is often hidden, but it can be activated through commands. ADB (Android Debug Bridge from a computer.This method does not require superuser rights, making it relatively secure.
To start, you need to enable USB debugging. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI Version seven times until the notification “You are a developer” appears. Then, in the Advanced Settings menu, find Developer For” and activate the USB Debugging Switch.
| Parameter | Meaning/Action | Note |
|---|---|---|
| USB mode | File Transfer (MTP) | Required to communicate with PC |
| Debugging | Included. | Allow access on the phone screen |
| ADB Team Team | sm partition | Performed on PC |
| Risk of data loss | High-pitched | The map will be formatted |
After connecting your smartphone to your computer and installing ADB drivers, run the command to determine the disk ID: adb shell sm list-disks. In response, you will receive an identifier, for example, disk:179.64. Next, use the command adb shell sm partition disk:179.64, where the numbers are your ID. This action will combine the memory.
⚠️ Note: After executing the command sm partition, the memory card will be encrypted and tied specifically to this Redmi 7. Insert it into another phone or read it on a computer without resetting will not work.
This method is effective, but has its limitations in MIUI. The system may incorrectly display volume or refuse to install some applications even on a "virtual" combined memory. In addition, the speed of the interface may decrease if the memory card does not have a high write speed.
What if the ADB can’t see the phone?
Use of root rights and Link2SD application
The most flexible and reliable way of transfer is to use the rights of the superuser (Root) in conjunction with the utility. Link2SD. This method allows you to create symbolic links, so that the system “thinks” that the application is in internal memory, although the files are physically located on the computer. SD-map.
Root rights to Redmi 7 are usually obtained by unlocking the bootloader and installing a modified TWRP bootloader, through which Magisk is already installed. The unlocking process requires waiting 168 hours (7 days) after submitting an application on the Mi Unlock service.
After successful root rights, install Link2SD from Google Play. When you first start, the program will ask you to select the file system of the second partition of the memory card. For maximum compatibility, you should use EXT4 or F2FS, but to create them, you will have to split the map into sections through a computer utility, for example, MiniTool Partition Wizard.
- 📱 Create a second section on SD-map EXT4 size 1-2 GB.
- 🔒 Provide the app Link2SD Superuser rights when requested.
- ⚙️ In the settings Link2SD Turn on the "Auto-link" to automatically transfer new applications.
- 🔄 Restart the device and select the file system type of the second partition.
The main advantage of this method is the ability to transfer not only data, but also data. DEX-files (optimized application code), which frees up a significant amount of internal memory, Link2SD Freeze system applications that cannot be removed by standard means.
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For stable operation of Link2SD, use memory cards with a high rewrite resource, as frequent access to system files can quickly wear out a cheap drive.
Transferring cache and game data manually
If you're not ready to root or unlock the bootloader, you can manually transfer the heavy cache of games and instant messengers. Many modern games, such as PUBG Mobile or Asphalt 9, store gigabytes of graphics in the folders Android/obb and Android/data.
To transfer, use a file manager with access to system folders, for example, MT Manager or standard Explorer with Android 11 access rights+. Copy the folder with game data (e.g. com.epicgames.fortnite) from internal memory to the corresponding directory on the site. SD-After deleting the original, create a symbolic link or simply move the data if the application allows you to choose the path in your settings.
However, Android 11 and higher have limited access to the Android/data folder, which can be avoided by connecting the phone to your computer in MTP mode or using special plugins for file managers, a method less reliable because app updates can reset data paths.
Some games, such as the TapTap directory or the Chinese versions, allow you to choose the way to install additional resources on your first run. Always check the settings inside the application before you start downloading.
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Carrying the game cache is the safest way to free up space without risking damage to the system, but it requires manually checking the paths for each application.
Possible problems and solutions
In the process of modifying the storage, users may encounter a number of typical problems, most often due to the fact that the application stops starting or crashes immediately after the transfer, which is a signal that the memory card read speed is not enough for the software to work.
Another common problem is that widgets or shortcuts disappear after the application is migrated, in which case it will help to restart the device or re-installe the widget on the desktop, if the problem persists, the application is better returned to internal memory through the Link2SD or ADB settings.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone starts to run slowly, warms up or discharges quickly after transferring data, immediately return all changes to the memory controller.
There are also possible errors when updating apps through Google Play, and the store may try to download the update to internal memory without finding space, in which case you have to temporarily disable the portability or manually manage updates.
In rare cases, a full Wipe Data reset may be required if the system stops mounting partitions correctly, which is why having an up-to-date backup is a must before any experimentation with the file system.