Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a shortage of internal memory, especially if a device from the budget line of Redmi or POCO with 32/64 GB of storage. The microSD card seems to be the logical solution - cheap storage expansion to 1 TB. But here's the problem: MIUI by default does not allow you to transfer applications to the USB drive as easily as some other Android devices. Why is this and how to get around the restrictions?
It's about the Android architecture and Xiaomi's policy: starting with MIUI 12, the manufacturer blocks the Adoptable Storage feature, leaving it for specific regions only. However, there are workarounds, from manual cache transfer to the use of hidden developer settings. In this article, we will discuss all the working methods, their pros and cons, and explain why some applications fundamentally do not want to move to the memory card.
Why Xiaomi is blocking the transfer of applications to the flash drive?
The main reason is performance and security. MicroSD cards, even class memory cards. A2, work 5–10 time-slower than the built-in memory eMMC/UFS. It means:
- 🐢 Slowing down the launch of apps (especially games and social networks).
- 🔄 Frequent errors when updating programs through Google Play.
- 🛡️ Data loss risk – flash drives more likely to fail when recording intensively.
Xiaomi also follows Google’s guidelines: with Android 9, Adoptable Storage is officially out of date, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to port, it just needs to use alternative methods.
⚠️ Note: Transfer system applications (e.g. Google Services or Google Services) MIUI Launcher on the flash drive can cause the phone to reboot cyclically.Do not touch programs marked "System" in the settings!
Method 1: Transfer through MIUI settings (official method)
This is the easiest way, but it doesn’t work for all applications, and it’s suitable for MIUI 12-14 on most models (Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11 Lite, etc.).
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the application you want (such as Telegram or VK).
- Press Warehouse. → Move it to SD-card (if the button is active).
If the transfer button is inactive or absent, it means:
- 🚫 The app does not support portability (such as WhatsApp or Google Maps).
- 📱 Your Xiaomi model doesn’t allow you to do that (relevant for Mi flagships) 12/13).
- 🔧 You need to turn on the developer mode (see Method 2).
☑️ What to check before transferring
Method 2: Using the Developer Mode
If standard portability is not available, you can try to force the installation of applications on the USB drive through hidden settings.
- Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)
- Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
- Find the option Forced to allow transfer to an external storage and turn it on.
- Reboot the phone.
After that, the button is moved to SD-The map may appear for some applications, but this method does not work on all firmware. MIUI 14 Global is often absent.
Method 3: Formatting a flash drive as an internal memory (Adoptable Storage)
This method only works on older versions of MIUI (before MIUI 12) or custom firmware like Pixel Experience, which allows you to trick the system into thinking of the flash drive as part of internal memory.
- Insert microSD into your phone.
- When a notification is received, a new SD-map press Set up Set up → Internal memory.
- Confirm the formatting (all data will be deleted!).
- Wait until the process is completed (it can take 5-10 minutes).
| Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|
| ✅ Applications are installed on the flash drive automatically. | ❌ The card becomes tied to the phone. |
| ✅ You can transfer more applications than through MIUI. | ❌ The speed of the work is low (even with the A2). |
| ✅ Suitable for older models (Redmi) 4X, Mi A1). | ❌ Not working. MIUI 13/14 rootless. |
⚠️ Attention: If you pull out such a flash drive without first "unmounting" in the settings, the phone can freeze on the boot! Always use safe extraction: Settings → Warehouse → Extract SD-map.
Method 4: Transfer over ADB (for advanced users)
If previous methods didn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool for PCs, to force the system to specify that the flash drive is internal memory.
You'll need:
- 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
- 🔌 USB-TypeC Cable (Original!).
- 🛠️ Utility. ADB Tools by Google.
Instructions:
- Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → Developer).
- Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with ADB.
- Enter the commands in order: adb shell sm list-volumes Remember the flash drive ID (e.g. 179:177).
- Do: sm partition 179:177 private (replace 179:177 with your ID).
- Reboot the phone.
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
Which apps can be ported and which ones can’t?
Not all programs are willing to work with external memory.
| Can be moved | You can't carry it. | Reason. |
|---|---|---|
| 📱 Messengers (Telegram, Viber) | 🔒 Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) | Security requirements (data storage only in internal memory) |
| 🎮 Candy Crush (Subway Surfers) | 🎮 The Hard Games (Genshin Impact, PUBG) | Low reading speeds with microSD cause lags. |
| 📺 Media players (VLC, MX Player) | 🔄 System updates (MIUI Updater) | System files must be in the internal memory. |
| 📁 File Managers (Solid Explorer) | 🤖 Widgets and Launchers (Nova Launcher) | They work in the background and require quick access. |
Exception: Some apps (like Spotify or Netflix) allow you to transfer only cache, but not the cache itself. APK-To do this, go to the program settings and find the Warehouse item. → Memory for downloads.
💡
Before you transfer the game, check its memory requirements. If the game weighs more than 2 GB, it is better to leave it in internal memory, otherwise there will be slowdowns when loading levels.
What to do if the transfer does not work?
If none of these solutions worked, try these alternative solutions:
- 🔄 Clear the app cache: sometimes this will unlock the transfer button. → Annexes → [Select the application] → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
- 📲 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version – in new firmware sometimes return hidden functions.
- 🛠️ Use third-party launchers (such as Nova Launcher), which allow you to hide the icons of “unbearable” applications, freeing up space.
- ☁️ Transfer media files (photos, videos) to the flash drive manually through the Gallery or Explorer.
- 🔧 Install Lite versions of apps (e.g. Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite) that take up less space.
If you are critically short of memory, consider alternative options:
- 🔍 Remove unused applications through Settings → Annexes → Unused.
- 🗑️ Clean up garbage files with the help of MIUI cleaner SD Maid.
- 📥 Transfer files to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).
💡
Moving apps to a flash drive in Xiaomi is always a trade-off between free space and performance. If the phone slows down after transferring, return critical programs to internal memory.