How to set up Xiaomi to save everything to a memory card: 7 proven ways

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a shortage of internal memory — especially on budget models with 32 or 64 GB of storage. Even after cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary files, the system continues to issue overflow warnings. The solution seems obvious: install a microSD card and transfer all data to it. But here users are waiting for an unpleasant surprise: by default, MIUI saves files in internal memory, and the ability to transfer is limited.

The problem is compounded by the fact that Android has been since version 6.0 (and MIUI on its basis) blocks the full transfer of applications to SD-But there are workarounds, both official and hidden. In this article, we'll look at all the working ways to redirect file storage to an external drive, including settings for photos, videos, documents, and even parts of applications. MIUI 12–15 and Android 10–14.

It's important to understand that not all data can be transferred to a memory card without rooting permissions. For example, system applications and OS updates will always remain in internal memory. But for media files, downloads and some user programs, there is a solution. Next, step-by-step instructions based on the features of Xiaomi's firmware.

1. Memory card preparation: formatting and type selection

Before you set up file saving, you need to properly prepare the microSD card itself, and that depends on whether you can migrate applications to it and use it as an extension of internal memory.

In smartphones Xiaomi supports two modes of operation of the card:

• 📁 Portable storage is a classic way of using the card as a removable disk, suitable for photos, videos and documents, but does not allow you to port applications.
• 🔄 Internal memory – the card is formatted as part of the system (Adoptable Storage technology), allows you to transfer some applications, but binds the card to a specific device – once extracted, the data on it will not be available on other gadgets.

For most tasks, portable mode is enough, but if you are critical to porting applications, choose the second option, but take into account the risks:

⚠️ Note: If you format the card as internal memory, all data on it will be permanently deleted, and the card will become unreadable on other devices without prior formatting.

To select the mode:

1. Insert the card into the slot (some Redmi models require you to turn off the phone).
2. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
3. Click Format as internal memory (if you need app support) or simply Format for portable mode.
4. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take up to 5 minutes).

2. Transfer of files and media to SD-map MIUI

The easiest way is to change the default save location for photos, videos, and downloads, which won't migrate existing files, but new ones will be written to the map.

Instructions for MIUI 14 (on older versions, the path may differ slightly):

• 📸 For photos and videos: Open the Camera app → slip on ⚙️ Settings → Preservation site → select the Memory Card.
• 📁 For downloads: Go to Settings → Annexes → All applications → Downloads. → Memory. → Click Change and select SD-map.
• 🎵 For Music: In the Music app, open Settings → Download folder and point the path to the map (for example, /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Music/).

If there is no Memory item in the application list, it does not support porting to SD. In this case, only manual file transfer will help (see the next section).

For convenience, create folders on the memory card with names:

/DCIM/Camera/ - for photos and videos


/Download/ - for downloads




/Music/ - for audio files




/Documents/ - For documents

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To avoid confusion, use the Mi File Manager (preinstalled in MIUI) file manager, which automatically sorts media by type and shows how much space each type of data takes up.

3. Manual transfer of existing files to a memory card

If the internal memory is already clogged and the new files are saved to the map, the old data still takes up space. It can be transferred manually, which is safe and does not require root rights.

Modes of transfer:

1. Through Mi File Manager: Open the Files app (folder icon). Go to Internal Memory → select a folder (e.g. DCIM or Download). Press and hold the file/folder → select Cut. Go back to the root directory, select Memory Map → paste files (Enter here).

File Transfer (MTP)

Windows Explorer

Finder

Important nuances:

• 🚫 Don't move Android folders, MIUI or system, which can cause failures.
• 🔄 For the folder. DCIM (Photo / video) after transfer, update the save path in the camera settings, otherwise new pictures will be created in the old location.
• ⚡ When transferring large files (video) 4K, archives) connect your phone to charge - the process can take up to 30 minutes.

DCIM folder (photo/video)

Download folder (downloads)

Music folder (audio files)

Documents folder (PDF, DOCX, etc.)

WhatsApp folders (Telegram, WhatsApp) – only if they support external memory-->

4. Transfer of applications to a memory card (with restrictions)

In modern versions of Android and MIUI portability SD-Even if the card is formatted as internal memory, not all programs can be moved:

Method 1: Through Application Settings

Method 2: With ADB (for advanced users)

If you don’t have a port option in the settings, you can try to force the app to move over Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This requires connecting to your PC and enabling Developer Mode:

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

This command sets the memory card as the default installation location for new applications. Use:

adb shell pm move-package com.example.app /sdcard

Replace com.example.app with a real application package (you can find out through App Inspector in the Developer Settings).

⚠️ Note: Transfer system applications (e.g. Google Play Services or Google Play Services) MIUI Launcher) may cause your phone to fail. Do not move programs marked "System"!

Application portability table:

5.Configure messengers to save on SD-map

Messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber, by default, store media in internal memory, quickly clogging it, and you can reconfigure this directly in the applications.

WhatsApp:

1. Open WhatsApp. → slip ⋮ → Settings → Memory and data.
2. Choose Media Preservation → point the way SD-map, /storage/XXXX-XXXX/WhatsApp/Media/).
3. Enable the option to Save in Gallery if you want to see files in the standard Gallery app.

Telegram:

1. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Telegram folder.
2. Click Change and select a folder on the memory card (for example, /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Telegram/).
3. To automatically save media from chats, turn on Autoboot in the Media section.

Viber:

Viber does not have a direct port option, but you can manually move the Viber Media folder:

1. Through Mi File Manager, find the Viber Media folder in your internal memory.
2. Cut it out and put it on. SD-map (e.g. in the /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Viber/).
3. In Viber, go to Settings → Media and update the save path.

6.Cache and temporary files optimization

Application cache and temporary files can take up gigabytes of memory. SD-map, but you can automatically clean or limit the size.

Methods of cache management:

• 🧹 Manual Cleaning: Go to Settings → Memory. → Clean up and select the app cache. Don't delete the app data, it will result in logging out of your accounts!
• ⚙️ Auto Clean: Enable Memory Cleanup option when locked in Settings → Battery and productivity → Cleaning up memory.
• 📱 Cache Limitation for Individual Applications: C Settings → Applications select the program → Memory. → Clear the cache (not data!).

For advanced users, there is a way to redirect the cache of some applications to SD-This requires root rights and execution of commands in Terminal Emulator:

su


ln -s /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.example.app/cache /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Android/data/com.example.app/cache

Replace com.example.app with an app package and XXXX-XXXX on ID yours SD-maps (you can find it through ls) /storage/).

⚠️ Warning: Misuse of symlink may result in data loss or app crashes.Before experimenting, back up!

7.Alternative solutions: cloud storage and OTG-drives

If the transfer is SD-The card does not solve the problem (for example, due to restrictions). MIUI), consider alternatives:

Cloud storage:

• 🌥️ Google Photos: Automatically uploads photos/videos to the cloud and allows you to delete them from your device (Settings) → Make room).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Embedded storage from Xiaomi (5GB for free) Included in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
• 📁 Yandex Disc./OneDrive: Support automatic uploading of photos and documents.

OTG-accumulator:

If your Xiaomi supports USB OTG, you can connect an external hard drive or flash drive:

1. Buy it. OTG-Adapter (for example, Baseus or original from Xiaomi).
2. Connect a flash drive or HDD to your phone.
3. In Mi File Manager, a new section will appear – move files there.

Memory management applications:

• 🔍 Files by Google: Helps you find and delete unnecessary files, duplicates.
• 📊 SD Maid: Deletes residual files after uninstalling applications (requires root).
• 🔄 AppMgr III: Allows you to transfer applications to SD-The map without the support of the developer.

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If the internal memory is 90%+ full, the phone starts to slow down, and the optimal level of filling is no more than 70-80%.

FAQ: Frequent questions about saving to a memory card in Xiaomi