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

Xiaomi smartphone owners are facing a shortage of internal memory sooner or later, especially if the device is budget or released a few years ago. Even after cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary files, the system stubbornly says, "Memory is full." The solution seems obvious: move applications to a microSD card. But here users are waiting for pitfalls: not all applications support portability, and in new versions of MIUI this feature may not be at all.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of transferring applications to SD-Smartphone card Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO — From standard system tools to manual methods using ADB. You will learn which applications can be transferred and which will remain in internal memory, how to avoid errors when working with the card and what to do if the port function is blocked. MIUI (12 to 14) and smartphone models.

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

Many users wonder why MIUI doesn’t have an easy way to transfer all apps to a memory card, as it did in older versions of Android.

• 🔒 Data security: Annexes to the SD-It is easier to steal or replace cards, especially if the cards are retrieved and used on other devices.
• ⚡ Performance: Memory cards (even class) A1/A2) They are slower than the built-in memory. eMMC/UFS, what might cause the lags.
• 📱 Google Policy: Starting with Android 6.0, migrating apps to Android SD Becomes limited – developers must explicitly allow this feature in the application manifest.
• 🔄 System Stability: When Removing SD-Maps “moved” applications will stop working, which can violate the logic of the OS.

However, some applications (such as instant messengers, map cache games, or utilities) can still be ported, and for system applications and most Google services, this option is not available.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi smartphone is working on MIUI 12.5+ Android 11+, standard function of transferring applications to SD-The card may be hidden or disabled, in which case alternative methods will be required (see sections below).

Preparation: Which memory card is suitable for transferring applications?

Not every microSD card is suitable for porting applications, and to avoid errors and slowing down your smartphone, note the following parameters:

If you plan to port games (such as Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile) or applications with large cache (such as Telegram, YouTube), it is better to choose a card marked A2 - it is optimized for random recording of small files, which is critical for the operation of applications.

⚠️ Note: Class Memory Cards 4/6 or without class speed markings are not suitable for porting applications, they can cause freezes or errors during installation APK.

Method 1: Standard portability through MIUI settings (for supported applications)

If your application supports the transfer to SD-The easiest way to use a map is to use built-in tools. MIUI. This method works for most Xiaomi, Redmi and other smartphones. POCO firmware-to- MIUI In newer versions, the function may be hidden (see Method 3).

Make sure the memory card is formatted as internal storage (if required)

Battery charge >50% (in case of long-term operation)

Close the application you are going to transfer

Make a backup copy of important data-->

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to migrate (such as WhatsApp or Spotify).
3. Put it on the storage (or memory) item.
4. Click the Change button (or Move to) SD-map).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (may take a few minutes).

If the button is moved to SD-The card is inactive or not, which means that:

• 🚫 The app does not support portability (most system and Google applications).
• 🔧 The memory card is not formatted as an internal storage (see Method 2).
• 📱 Your version. MIUI This function is blocked (relevant to the MIUI 13/14).

💡

If the transfer button is gray, try clearing the app's cache (Settings → Apps → [name] → Clear the cache).

Method 2: Formatting SD-maps as internal storage

If standard transfer is not available, you can try combining SD-So, if you have a card with internal memory, then the system will perceive it as part of the main storage, and some applications will be able to install there by default.

How to do this:

1. Put it in. SD-smartphone-card.
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse → [Your name is yours. SD-map].
3. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Storage Settings.
4. Click Format as Internal (or Internal Memory)
5. Confirm the action. All data on the map will be deleted!
6. After formatting, select Transfer Data if the system offers.

Now, when installing new applications, the system can offer to save to the SD-But this method has limitations:

• ⚠️ Not all applications will work correctly (especially system applications).
• ⚠️ The card cannot be removed without resetting to factory settings.
• ⚠️ Application speed may decrease (depending on class) SD-map).

Method 3: Transfer applications over ADB (for power users)

If standard methods do not work (for example, on MIUI 14 or Android 12+), you can use the ADB debugging bridge. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer, but allows you to transfer even those applications for which the transfer button is blocked.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB smartphone.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
2. Enable USB Debugging: Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB
3. Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with ADB and type: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This command forces the system to install applications on the SD-default-card.
5. To migrate an already installed app (e.g. Facebook), use: adb shell pm move-package com.facebook.katana (replace com.facebook.katana with your app's batch name).

To find the batch name of the application, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | find "appendix name"

⚠️ Note: Not all applications can be moved through ADB. If the team returns a Failure error [INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_INSTALL_LOCATION], This means that the transfer is blocked at the application or system level.

💡

The pm set-install-location 2 command only works until the phone restarts, and to make the change permanent, you need to write it into the autoload script (requires root rights).

Method 4: Transfer the cache and application data to SD-map

If the app itself cannot be moved, you can free up space by moving its cache or user data (such as uploaded files to Telegram or music to Spotify). Many applications allow you to manually specify a folder to store files.

Examples:

• 📸 Google Photos: Settings → Backup and synchronization → Device folder.
• 🎵 Spotify/Yandex Music: Settings → Warehouse → Download folder.
• 🎮 Genshin Impact: Transfer of the game is possible through the launcher (move button in the game settings).
• 📱 WhatsApp: Chat and media files can be moved through Settings → Warehouse → Change.

For applications where there is no built-in port option, you can use symbolic links (requires root):

ln -s /sdcard/ExternalPath /data/data/com.package.name/files/InternalPath

However, this method is risky – if the application fails, it may stop working.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When transferring applications to SD-Xiaomi users often encounter errors. Let's consider the most common and ways to fix them:

If the application does not start or crash after the transfer, try:

1. Reboot the smartphone.
2. Clear the app cache (Settings → Apps → [name] → Clear the cache).
3. Transfer the application back to internal memory.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions