How to transfer applications to Xiaomi smartphone SD-map: all ways

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a lack of internal memory, especially if the device is equipped with a modest 32 or 64 GB. One obvious way to free up space is to transfer applications to the mobile phone. SD-However, in modern versions of Android and the corporate shell MIUI This feature is either hidden or limited. In this article, we will discuss all current methods of migrating applications to external drive, including official and alternative solutions.

It is important to understand that portability depends on the Android version, smartphone model and type. SD-For example, on devices with MIUI 12/13/14 Android-based 11-14 Standard transfer through settings can be blocked, and on older models (up to Android) 9) We'll look at the options for different scenarios, and we'll also explain why some applications are fundamentally impossible to migrate to a memory card.

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

Modern versions of Android (starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow) support Adoptable Storage, which allows you to format SD-The card is part of the internal memory, but Xiaomi is in the shell. MIUI This option is often turned off for several reasons:

• 🔒 Security: Annexes to SD-It is easier to steal or replace the card, especially if the card is retrieved.
• ⚡ Productivity: SD-cards (even class) A1/A2) They are slower than the built-in memory. eMMC/UFS, slowing down applications.
• 📱 Google’s policy: With Android 9, Google recommends developers block the transfer of applications to external media.
• 🔄 Stability: When you remove the card, the applications installed on it can crash.

However, there are workarounds, such as some apps (like Google Maps or Spotify) that allow you to store cache or offline data on your computer. SD-hand-held map, but for full transfer APK-Files will require additional manipulation.

⚠️ Note: Transfer of system applications (e.g, MIUI Launcher or Google Services on SD-The card may cause your smartphone to fail. Do not try to move apps marked "System" or "System Update".

Official method: Transfer via settings (for older versions of MIUI)

If your smartphone is running Android 8.1 Oreo or older (e.g. Redmi Note 5, Mi A1/A2), the standard port function may be retained in the settings.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as Facebook or Telegram).
3. Press Warehouse.
4. If there is a button, change or move to SD-map -- press it.

If the button is not there, then your version of MIUI has hidden it, in which case you can move on to alternative methods.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with MIUI Global Transfer Functions can be blocked even if they are available in the MIUI China. This is related to localization policy.

Method 1: Formatting SD-The card is an internal memory (adoptable storage)

This method is suitable for smartphones on Android 6.0-9.0 and allows you to use it. SD-The card is part of the internal storage, and all the data on the map will be deleted, so back up first.

Instructions:

1. Put it in. SD-Card to smartphone (class recommended) A1 or A2).
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
3. Click on the title. SD-maps, for example, SD-map: 64GB).
4. In the upper right corner, tap on three dots and select Storage Settings.
5. Click Format as internal.
6. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take 5-10 minutes).

Once formatted, the system will suggest that you transfer the data to the map. Choose Move it now. Now, when you install new applications, they will default to the map. SD-Card (if the developer allows it).

Make a backup copy of data from the card|Check the speed class (recommended) A1/A2)|Charge your phone at least to 50%|Use the original card reader (if the card is external)-->

Limitations of the method:

• 🔄 The map cannot be extracted; it becomes part of the system.
• 📉 Application speed may decrease.
• 🚫 Not all applications support installation on external storage.

💡

If after formatting applications are still installed in internal memory, try in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times) to enable the option Forced to allow recording on external drives (if any).

Method 2: Transfer over ADB (for power users)

If you don’t have a port option in the settings, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which works on most Xiaomi devices, but requires a connection to a computer.

Steps:

1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Additional settings → For Developers).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder.
4. Open the command prompt in this folder (Shift + right mouse button → “Open PowerShell window here”).
5. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
6. Find out the batch name of the application (for example, for WhatsApp it is com.whatsapp). This can be done through the App Inspector app or by commanding: adb shell pm list packages
7. Move the app to SD-Map by command: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This command installs SD-Map as the default installation location for new applications.
8. To transfer the already installed application, use: adb shell pm move-package com.whatsapp (replace com.whatsapp with the desired package).

If the move-package command returns the error [NOT_MOVED: Operation not allowed means the application does not support portability.

Method 3: Application Managers (AppMgr III, Link2SD)

If the previous methods did not work, you can use third-party utilities.

• 📱 AppMgr III (App 2 SD) — Shows you which apps you can transfer, and does it in one tap.
• 🔗 Link2SD — creates symbolic links for transferring part of the application data to SD-card (requires root rights).
• 📂 Files by Google – allows you to manually move cache and media files of applications.

Instructions for AppMgr III:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to the storage.
3. In the list of applications, find those that have in the column "SD-map is worth a checkmark ✅.
4. Tap on the app and select Move to SD-map.

Link2SD is more powerful, but requires root access.

1. Open the application and select the file system (ext2) recommended.
2. Reboot the phone.
3. In the list of applications, select the desired one and click Create a link.
4. Choose which data to transfer (APK, DALVIK-cache, libraries).

⚠️ Attention: When in use Link2SD Do not tolerate Google system applications and services. This can lead to a bootloop ( looped reboot) of the smartphone.

Method 4: Manual transfer of cache and application data

If the app itself cannot be moved, you can free up space by moving its cache or downloaded data (for example, maps in Google Maps or music in Spotify).

How to do this:

1. Open the app settings (e.g. Settings → Apps → Google Maps → Storage).
2. Click Clear cache (this is secure, data will not be deleted).
3. If you have the option of Space Management or Offline Maps, select it.
4. Indicate. SD-map as a save location (e.g. in Spotify: Settings) → Sound quality → Save music on the device → SD-map).

Some apps (such as Netflix or YouTube Premium) allow you to download content directly to the Internet. SD-This is the map:

• 🎬 At Netflix: Profile → Application settings → Downloads. → Memory of the device → SD-map.
• 🎵 YouTube Premium: Library → Downloads. → Settings → Save it on. SD-map.

Important: Applications that use OBB-files (such as games) often allow you to transfer only additional data, but not the data itself. APK. To do that, copy the folder. Android/obb/[name-packet SD-manually through the file manager.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When transferring applications to SD-Xiaomi users face typical errors. Consider the most common:

If the app stopped updating through Google Play after the transfer, try:

1. Transfer it back to your internal memory.
2. Update through Play Market.
3. Move it back to SD-map.

💡

If your smartphone is on MIUI 12+ does not support application portability, the only working way is to use ADB for new installations or manual movement of cache/data. APK-Files are only available on older versions of Android or with root rights.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions