How to transfer everything to Xiaomi memory card: apps, photos, files

Xiaomi smartphone users often face a shortage of internal memory, especially on budget models of Redmi or the Redmi. POCO It's a 32-64 GB drive, and even after you clear the cache and delete the files, the system still issues overflow warnings, and the solution is to transfer the data to a microSD card, but the question is, can you transfer all the data, including the applications? Why do some files not want to be copied? and how to avoid errors when working with the computer SD-card?

In this article, we will provide step-by-step instructions for different types of data (photos, videos, apps, documents) relevant to MIUI 12-14. We will discuss official and alternative methods, and explain why some files cannot be migrated to an external drive. Importantly, not all Xiaomi models support porting applications to the map, it depends on the version of Android and the manufacturer’s policy.

If you are using Xiaomi with a hybrid slot (like the Redmi Note 10 or the Redmi Note). POCO X3 Pro, where the memory card takes the second place SIM, note: when extracting SD-Some of the data may become unavailable, but it's also worth remembering that the speed of applications from the memory card is lower than from the internal drive, which is due to the limitations of the microSD interface.

1.Preparation: Which Memory Card to Choose for Xiaomi

Not every microSD is suitable for data transfer. Xiaomi recommends using cards of class UHS-I (U1 or U3) with a write speed of at least 10 MB / s. For recording video in 4K or installing applications, it is better to choose a U3 or A2 card - they are optimized for random read / write operations.

Pay attention to the size of the map:

• 📱 32GB is the minimum option for storing photos and music, but not enough for applications.
• 📱 64-128 GB – the best choice for most users (enough on photos, videos and 10-15 applications).
• 📱 256 GB and above – relevant for shooting video in 4K or storage of large collections of media files.

⚠️ Attention: Maps SDHC (up to 32 GB and SDXC (64GB) formatted in different file systems. Xiaomi will automatically offer to format the card when you first connect – agree, otherwise there may be read errors.

If you plan to port apps, be sure to choose an A2-marked card — it's optimized for random access, which is critical for software operation. Maps without this tag can cause lags and errors.

2. How to transfer photos and videos to a memory card

Media files are the easiest type of data to transfer, and MIUI has built-in tools to automatically save photos and videos to a memory card.

Method 1: Setup of the camera

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Tap on. ⚙️ Settings → Preservation site.
3. Select a Memory Card (if the option is inactive, check that the card is pasted and formatted).

Method 2: Transfer existing files

1. Open Files (app) MI File Manager).
2. Go to the DCIM or Pictures folder.
3. Select the files → press Move Move Move → choose SD-map.

Backup important photos on PC

Check the free space on the memory card

Format the card in FAT32/exFAT (if required)

Close all applications that use files (e.g. gallery)-->

⚠️ Note: When transferring the video to 4K or HDR There may be errors if the memory card is slow (such as Class 4), in which case the files may get damaged. A1 SD Bench.

A critical feature of MIUI is that when you remove a memory card from your smartphone, the paths to the files in the gallery are reset. To avoid losing thumbnails, reboot the device after you transfer it.

3. Transfer of applications to a memory card: limitations and workarounds

This is where the challenges begin. Starting with Android 6.0, Google has limited the ability to migrate apps to the Internet. SD-The card due to performance and security issues. MIUI This function is retained, but with reservations:

• 📱 Not all applications are portable, only those that support this feature (usually games and lightweight utilities).
• 📱 System applications (Google Play, Settings) cannot be moved.
• 📱 After the transfer, the application may run slower or give errors.

Instructions for transfer:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application → Warehouse.
3. If the Change option is active, tap on it and select Memory Card.

If the option is inactive, try an alternative method using ADB (power users only):

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

This command forces the system to install applications on SD-Default card. Dangerous: could cause malfunctions!

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 or X-ray) POCO F4) The option to transfer applications to a memory card is completely blocked by the manufacturer.

4. Automatic file transfer with MIUI

MIUI has a built-in Cleanup feature that can automatically transfer rarely used files to a memory card to activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Cleaning.
2. Tap on. ⚙️ top-right → Autocleaning.
3. Turn on the option to transfer files to the memory card.

The system will analyze the files and suggest transferring them to the SD-- Take note of the map:

• 📱 Only media files (photos, videos, music) are transferred).
• 📱 Documents (.pdf,.docx) and archives are not affected.
• 📱 The function only works when connected to a charge (to save battery).

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If the auto-clean feature doesn't offer to move files, check if there's enough space on the memory card.MIUI requires at least 10% free space for the operation.

5. Transfer of documents, downloads and other files

Files from Download, Documents or Bluetooth folders are manually transferred through MI File Manager:

1. Open Files → select a category (such as Downloads).
2. Click Select → Mark files → Move.
3. In the list of locations, select SD-map and specify the destination folder.

For convenience, create folders on the memory card by category:

• 📁 Documents - for.pdf,.docx,.xlsx.
• 📁 APK — backup.
• 📁 Backups – for backups WhatsApp, Telegram.

⚠️ Note: When transferring.apk files (application installation packages) to a memory card MIUI It can block installation for security reasons. To unlock the installation, go to Settings. → Confidentiality → Special permits → Install Unknown Applications and Allow Installation for File Manager.

Errors when working with a memory card and their solution

Even after successfully migrating data, Xiaomi users are facing challenges.

If the memory card is no longer defined, try the following steps:

1. Remove the card and check the contacts for contamination.
2. Connect the card to your PC via a card reader – if it is not readable, the file system may be damaged.
3. In MIUI, go to Settings → Storage → Click on the memory card → Format (all data will be deleted!).

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If the memory card is often turned off or gives errors, this can be a sign of wear and tear. MicroSDs have a limited resource of records (especially cheap models). For long-term use, choose cards with a warranty from the manufacturer (for example, SanDisk or Samsung).

7.Alternative ways to free up memory on Xiaomi

If transferring to a memory card doesn’t solve the problem of space shortage, consider other methods:

• 🔄 Cache cleanup: Settings → Cleanup → Clear cache (up to several gigabytes can be removed).
• ☁️ Cloud storage: Automatic upload photos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud (gives 5 GB for free).
• 🗑️ Removing duplicates: Apps like Files by Google or CCleaner find duplicate files.
• 📦 Archiving rarely used files: Pack old documents into.zip and transfer to the map.

For advanced users, there is a radical method of linking the memory card as internal storage (Adoptable Storage in Android), but Xiaomi blocks this option in MIUI because of the risk of data loss. If you are willing to go for an experiment, you can try activating it through ADB:

adb shell sm set-force-adoptable true


adb shell sm partition disk:179,64 private

⚠️ Warning: This procedure erases all the data on the card and makes it tied to a single device!

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability to Xiaomi