Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones sooner or later face a shortage of internal memory — especially if the device from the budget line with 32 or 64 GB on board. The microSD card seems to be the obvious solution, but here’s the problem: the MIUI system does not always allow you to transfer applications to an external drive as easily as files. Why this happens and how to circumvent restrictions — we will examine in this guide.
Let’s warn you right away: portability depends on the Android version (9 to 14), the MIUI shell (12 to 14) and the smartphone model. For example, on the Xiaomi Mi A2 (with pure Android), the algorithm is one, and on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with MIUI 14 – a completely different one. We have collected current methods for devices in 2020-2026, including workarounds for cases when standard settings do not work.
Why Xiaomi restricts the portability of applications to SD-card?
The manufacturer is not just making life difficult for users, but there are technical and safety reasons behind the limitations.
- ⚡ Performance: Memory cards (even class) A2) They are slower than the built-in memory. eMMC/UFS. Transfer of applications to SD It can cause lags, especially in games or heavy services.
- 🔒 Security: MIUI It encrypts application data, and it's harder to do it on external drives.
- 📱 Android architecture: Starting with Android 9 Pie, Google has tightened its rules for external drives. Many features (like Adoptable Storage) have been stripped down.
- 💾 Fragmentation of files: Frequent recordings/deletions SD-The map leads to its rapid wear and decrease in speed.
However, for most user applications (messengers, social networks, utilities), transfer is possible - the main thing is to know where to look for settings. OBB-Files will require workarounds.
Method 1: Standard Transfer through MIUI Settings
This is the easiest method, but it doesn't work on all models. Check if your smartphone supports the function:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the application you want (such as Telegram or VK).
- Put it on the Memory (or Warehouse) item.
- If the option is available, you will see the Change or Move button. SD-map.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13/14 Android 12+ This is often missing. The manufacturer removes it to optimize the system. If there's no button, move on to the next way.
Make sure that SD-The card is formatted as a portable storage (not internal)|
Check the free space on the map (need at least 10% of the application volume)|
Close the application you are going to port |
Connect the charger (the process can take 5-10 minutes)-->
Method 2: Formatting SD-maps as internal memory
This method works on Android 6-9 and some firmware MIUI 10-12 The point is to trick the system into perceiving it. SD-Important: once formatted, the card will not be used on other devices without being cleaned!
Instructions:
- Put it in. SD-smartphone-card.
- Go to Settings. → Warehouse → SD-map.
- Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Storage Settings.
- Click Format as Internal Storage (or Internal Storage).
- Confirm action. The system will warn you that all data from the card will be deleted.
- After formatting, restart the device.
- Now in the application settings there will be an option to transfer to SD-map.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI 13/14 Android 10+ This method may not work, because the manufacturer blocks Adoptable Storage at the firmware level, and once formatted, the map cannot be retrieved without data loss.
What if the system does not allow you to format the card as an internal one?
Method 3: Transfer over ADB (for advanced users)
If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a computer debugging tool that requires command line skills, but allows you to migrate even those applications that MIUI blocks.
What you need:
- 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
- 📱 Cable USB (preferably original).
- 🔧 Installed Xiaomi drivers and package ADB Tools.
- 🔓 Included debugging by USB smartphone.
Step-by-step:
- Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
- Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
- Open the command line (or Terminal) and type: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This command forces the system to install new applications on the computer. SD-default-card.
- To transfer an already installed application (such as WhatsApp), use: adb shell pm move-package com.whatsapp (replace com.whatsapp with the desired application package).
⚠️ Note: Not all applications support portability ADB. If you see a Failure error after the team [NOT_MOVED: Package couldn't be moved, which means the application is blocked by the developer or system, and after the transfer, some functions (such as notifications) may not work correctly.
adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"
For example, for Instagram, it would be com.instagram.android.-->
Method 4: Manual transfer of cache and application data
If the application itself cannot be transferred, you can free up space by moving its cache and data (for example, downloaded files from instant messengers or games).
- Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
- Open the phone’s internal memory and find the Android/data folder.
- Copy the folder with the data of the desired application (for example, com.whatsapp) on SD-map.
- Remove the original folder from your phone.
- In the application itself (such as WhatsApp) specify a new path to the files: → Warehouse → The way SD-map.
This method works for:
- 📸 Photos and videos in the gallery (folder transfer) DCIM).
- 🎮 OBB-game files (folder) Android/obb).
- 💬 Media files from messengers (Telegram, Viber).
⚠️ Attention: Some apps (e.g. Google Play Store or Mi Video) don't allow you to change the path to data. Trying to do this manually can lead to crashes. Always back up before experimenting!
Comparison of transfer methods: what to choose?
To make it easier for you to determine, we have collected the key pros and cons of each method in the table:
| Method | Suitable models | Pluses | Cons | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard transfer through MIUI | Xiaomi to 2020, MIUI 10-12 | Quick, no PC required. | It doesn't work on all apps. | ⭐ |
| Formatting SD as an Internal | Android 6–9, Redmi 4X–Note 8 Pro | Almost all applications are transferred | The card is tied to the device, the risk of data loss | ⭐⭐ |
| Transfer through ADB | Any models with debugging over USB | It even works on new firmware. | Requires PC and team knowledge | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Manual data transfer | All models. | Frees up space without risk for applications | Not all apps support changing paths | ⭐⭐ |
If your smartphone is released after 2021 (for example, Redmi Note 11 or the Redmi Note). POCO X5), You're probably just gonna be fine. ADB For older models (Redmi 5, Mi 8) you can try formatting. SD-maps as internal.
💡
On devices with MIUI 14 Android 13/14 standardization SD-The card is most often blocked. ADB or optimize storage in other ways (cleaning cache, transferring media files).
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When migrating applications, users often face problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:
- 🚫 Move button is inactive: Reason: App is system or does not support portability. Solution: try it. ADB Or make room in other ways.
- 🔄 App moved but not working: Reason: SD-The card is too slow (a class is needed). A2). Solution: Return the app back or use a faster card.
- ⚠️ After the transfer, notifications disappear: Reason: Android restrictions on working with external drives. Solution: leave critical applications (messengers, banks) in internal memory.
- 📉 Phone brakes: Reason: memory card overloaded. Solution: port only light apps (not games!) and keep an eye on the vacant space.
If the application starts to crash or doesn’t update after the transfer, return it to internal memory. Some programs (such as Google Maps or Mi Fit) require mandatory placement in the main storage.