How to download and transfer applications to SD-Xiaomi map: Complete guide 2026

Xiaomi smartphone owners (including the Redmi series) POCO) Often face a lack of internal memory, especially if the device is equipped with only 32 GB or 64 GB of storage. SD-Not only do you have a photo or video card, but you also have a standard setting. MIUI not always allow you to do it in one click – you need to properly configure or bypass the system limitations.

In this article, we will discuss all working methods for transferring and installing applications on the SD-Maps in Xiaomi smartphones, including:

• 🔹 The official method through settings MIUI (restrictively).
• 🔹 Forced transfer with the help of a developer (for advanced users).
• 🔹 Use of the SD-Cards as an internal storage device (formatted in Adoptable Storage).
• 🔹 Bypassing restrictions for applications that do not support portability.

You will also learn which Xiaomi models support these features, where they are locked, and how to avoid common memory errors.

Why Xiaomi is limiting the installation of applications SD-map?

Modern versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 12) severely limit the ability to migrate applications to external memory, due to several factors:

• 📱 Productivity: SD-cards (even class) A2) They are slower than the built-in memory. eMMC/UFS, What can cause lags in applications.
• 🔒 Security: Android prohibits storing data of some applications (bank, messengers) on removable media due to the risk of leakage.
• 🔄 Stability: When extracted SD-Application cards installed on it may crash or require reinstallation.

However, for most games, media players and utility transfers to SD-The key is to set up the system correctly and select the right memory card.

⚠️ Warning: Forced transfer of system applications (e.g. Google Play Services) can lead to unstable smartphone performance or update errors MIUI.

Method 1: Transfer applications through MIUI settings (official method)

It's the easiest way, but it doesn't work for all applications. MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to migrate (like Spotify or Netflix).
3. Click Warehouse → Change (if the option is active).
4. Choose. SD-map and confirm the transfer.

If the Change button is inactive, the application does not support the transfer or has already been installed on the SD-default-card.

Memory card formatted in FAT32 or exFAT|

SD-Card inserted into the slot (not via adapter)|

There is enough free space on the map (minimum 1 GB)|

The application is not system or secure

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Method 2: Formatting SD-Cards as an internal storage device (Adoptable Storage)

This method allows us to use SD-The card is part of the internal memory, but has irreversible consequences:

• 🔄 The card will be encrypted and will not be read on other devices.
• 📉 After extracting the map, the application will stop working on it.
• 🚫 Not all Xiaomi models support this feature (e.g. Mi 11 and newer models – no).

Instructions:

1. Put it in. SD-smartphone-card.
2. Go to Settings. → Memory.
3. Press on. SD-map → Three dots (menu) → Storage settings.
4. Select Internal Memory → Clean and Format.
5. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take up to 10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: Once formatted in Adoptable Storage, the card will not be used in other devices without completely erasing the data.

💡

Before formatting SD-Cards as an internal drive check its speed using the application A1 SD If the write speed is below 10 MB/s, the card is not suitable for installing applications.

Method 3: Forced transfer via ADB (for advanced users)

If the application does not want to be ported through the settings, you can use ADB commands. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and enabling debugging over USB.

Steps:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux).
4. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices (should display the name of your device).
5. Run the command to port the application (replace package.name with the real name of the package): adb shell pm set-install-location 2 (this will set the set-install-location). SD-map as default installation location).

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

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

Which applications cannot be transferred to SD-map?

Even with ADB, some applications cannot be transferred to external memory, including:

• 🏦 Banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff, VTB).
• 💬 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) – due to data encryption.
• 🎮 Anticheat games (PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, Genshin Impact).
• 🔐 Annexes with DRM (Netflix, Disney+, Spotify in offline mode).

If you try to move such an application, the system will either block its operation or it will constantly fly out.

💡

Forced transfer of secure applications (such as banking) can lead to account lockdown or data loss.

How to optimize the use of SD-card in Xiaomi?

To make external memory work better, follow these tips:

• 🔋 Use class memory cards A2 (For example, SanDisk Extreme or Samsung EVO Plus – they are optimized for applications.
• 📂 Regularly clean the cache of applications installed on SD-map, through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup.
• 🔄 Do not remove the card while the applications are running – this can lead to data loss.
• 📱 If your smartphone is slowing down, try transferring heavy games back to your internal memory.

Important: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 12 Pro+) When using a hybrid slot under two SIM-card SIM + SD-The speed of reading/write may fall on the 30-40%.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When working with SD-Xiaomi users often face the following problems:

⚠️ Note: If, after transferring applications to SD-The smartphone has started to slow down a lot, return the most resource-intensive programs (for example, games) to internal memory.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions