How to transfer applications to the memory card in Xiaomi Redmi 7A: all the ways and nuances

Why Redmi 7A is missing memory and what to do about it

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 7A sooner or later face the same problem: the phone starts to slow down, gives notifications about the lack of memory, and installing new applications becomes impossible. The reason is trivial — only 16 or 32 GB of internal memory, of which the system takes the lion’s share. Even if you delete all photos and videos, there will still be catastrophically little free space.

The solution seems obvious: move applications to a microSD card, but here users are waiting for an unpleasant surprise - in the standard settings of Redmi. 7A It's not a portable option, and the manufacturer has limited the portability to just a few applications. Why did that happen? It's the Android Go architecture that runs this smartphone. It's optimized for weak devices, and it's portable to the app. SD-The card may cause slowdown of work.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can migrate apps to a memory card in Redmi 7A, from standard settings to hidden features and third-party utilities, which apps can be ported and which can’t, how to avoid errors, and what to do if the phone starts to slow down after the transfer.

What memory card to choose for Redmi 7A

Before you start porting apps, make sure your microSD card is right for the task. Not all memory cards are equally useful - some can not only slow down your phone, but also lead to data loss.

For Xiaomi Redmi 7A, the best cards will be microSDHC (up to 32 GB) or microSDXC (64 GB to 2 TB). However, keep in mind that the phone officially supports cards up to 256 GB, but in practice with cards over 128 GB can be problems. The speed class of the card should not be lower than Class 10 (or UHS-I U1), otherwise applications will launch with delays.

• 📌 Volume: 32–128 GB (optimally 64 GB)
• ⚡ Speed: Class 10 or UHS-I U1 (minimally)
• 🔄 Format: FAT32 (for cards up to 32 GB or exFAT (64 GB or more)
• 🛡️ Brand: Preference give to proven manufacturers - SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston

⚠️ Note: If you use a memory card as internal storage (Adoptable Storage), it cannot be retrieved without losing data.

Method 1: Transfer applications through standard Android settings

The easiest, but also the most limited, method is to use the built-in Android Go features. Unfortunately, this option is not available for all applications in Redmi 7A.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select the app you want to migrate (like Facebook or WhatsApp).
3. Click on Warehouse.
4. If the option is available, you will see the Change or Move button. SD-map.
5. Confirm the transfer and wait for the process to be completed.

It is important to understand that even if the transfer button is active, not all application data will be moved, most often only a part of the files (cache, media) is transferred to the memory card, and the main data remains in internal memory, this applies to most social networks and instant messengers.

⚠️ Note: After the application has been moved to SD-The card may be slower, especially if the memory card is low-end, and some applications (such as Google Play Services) can automatically return to internal memory after the update.

Method 2: Use a memory card as an internal storage device (Adoptable Storage)

If standard portability doesn't work, you can go a little bit more radical, formatting the memory card as internal storage, and then Android will treat it as part of the main memory of the phone, and the apps will be able to install directly on it.

• 🔒 The map cannot be removed without data loss (apps will stop working).
• 🐢 Application speed may decrease (depending on the card class).
• 📉 Some apps (like WhatsApp) won’t be able to migrate completely.

Instructions for Adoptable Storage:

1. Put the memory card in the phone.
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
3. Press on. SD-map → Three dots (menu) → Storage settings.
4. Select Internal Memory → Clean and Format.
5. Wait for the formatting to be completed (the data on the map will be deleted!).
6. Once the phone is restarted, the card will be displayed as part of the internal memory.

Now, when you install new applications, the system will suggest you choose a storage location, but even then, not all applications will be able to migrate, for example, the Google Play Store and other system utilities will remain in internal memory.

Method 3: Porting applications with ADB (for power users)

If the first two methods fail, the last option is to use them. ADB (Android Debug Bridge is an Android debugging tool that lets you manually specify which apps you can migrate to the system. SD-The method requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge.

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ It works even with applications that don’t support porting through settings.
• ✅ Does not require formatting a memory card as an internal storage.
• ✅ More flexible configuration (only selected applications can be ported).

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Requires the inclusion of the developer mode and debugging by USB.
• ⚠️ If used incorrectly, the system can be damaged.
• ⚠️ Some applications may not work after the transfer.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version.

USB-debugging

• Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
• Turn on USB debugging.
• Connect the phone to the computer and install it. ADB-driver.
• Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure your phone appears in the list.
• Enter the command to port the application (replace com.example.app with your application’s batch name): adb shell pm set-install-location 2 adb shell pm move-package com.example.app
• Reboot the phone.

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

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

For WhatsApp, it would be com.whatsapp.

⚠️ Note: Not all applications support portability ADB. Some (like Google Play Services) may start to work incorrectly or stop running altogether.

💡

If the application stops working after the transfer, return it back with the command adb shell pm move-package com.example.app 0, where 0 is internal memory.

What applications can not be transferred to the memory card in Redmi 7A

Even with the use of ADB Adoptable Storage or Adoptable Storage: Some applications cannot be transferred to the main SD-This is due to the limitations of developers or the peculiarities of Android:

• 🔒 System applications (Settings, Phone, Messages, etc.).
• 🛡️ Google Play Services (Google Play Services, Gmail).
• 📱 Apps with a widget (such as Weather or Watch).
• 🎮 Online-authorized games (Clash of Clans, Brawl Stars) can block entry).
• 💳 Banking applications (SberBank Online, Tinkoff – for security reasons).

If you try to force an application to move it (for example, through ADB), it will either return to internal memory after the update, or stop working.

It is also important to remember that not all games support the transfer of the game to the SD-Like a map, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile allows you to transfer only additional files (updates, maps), but not the main file. APK. This is due to protection against cheating and piracy.

💡

If the application is transferred to SD-The card starts to slow down or fly out, put it back in the internal memory. UHS-I Fail to speed the built-in memory eMMC.

What to do if after transfer applications are slowed down or do not work

Transfer of applications to SD-The card is always a trade-off between space and performance:

• 🐢 Apps open long time.
• 🔄 Frequent departures or errors occur.
• 📱 The phone began to warm up and discharge faster.

So something went wrong. Here's what you can do:

1. Return problematic applications to internal memory. Go to Settings → Applications. Select application → Storage → Transfer to internal memory.
2. Check the speed class SD-If the card is slower than Class 10, replace it. Use utilities like this. SD Card Tester for Speed Checking.
3. Clear the app cache. In Settings → Apps, select the problem app. Click Clear the cache.

Format the memory card.

• If the card was used for a long time, errors could accumulate on it.
• Make a backup copy of the data and format it in exFAT.

If the problem has not gone away, it may be yours. SD-You can try to test it on another device or replace it with a new one, and you can also check if the card is fake, and you can use a utility to do that. H2testw (Windows or F3 (macOS/Linux).

Alternative ways to free up memory in Redmi 7A

If the applications are transferred SD-The card is not helped or impossible, there are other ways to make room in the internal memory:

• 🗑️ Cleaning cache and garbage. Use the built-in Cleanup utility in Settings → Storage. Remove the cache of individual applications manually.
• ☁️ Transfer media to the cloud. Upload photos and videos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud. Enable automatic download so that new files don't take up space.
• 🎵 Change the default save location. → Select the vault. SD-map as default save for photos, videos and downloads.
• 📦 Remove unnecessary applications. Check the list of installed applications and remove those you don't use. Disable preinstalled system applications (if you don't need them).
• 🔄 Using Lite versions of apps, replacing Facebook with Facebook Lite, Messenger with Messenger Lite, and these versions weigh several times less.

You can also use third-party utilities to clean up memory, for example:

• CCleaner – Deletes temporary files and cache.
• Files by Google helps you find and remove duplicate files.
• SD Maid is a deep cleaning of the system from debris.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use memory optimizers or speed boosters from unknown sources, many of which contain adware or viruses.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring applications to SD-map 7A