How to set up photo saving on a memory card in Xiaomi Redmi 9: all ways

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is equipped with a microSD card slot, which allows you to expand the internal storage to 512 GB. However, by default, all photos and videos are stored in the internal memory of the device, quickly filling it. If you are actively photographing or shooting videos, transfer media files to the device. SD-The map will be the best solution to save space.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to configure photo saving to an external drive: from standard options in the Camera application to manual transfer through Explorer and changing the default settings in the camera. MIUI. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances of working with the Gallery application, formatting the map and solving typical problems (for example, when the smartphone does not see the image» SD-the card or does not offer the option of saving it).

Preparation: compatibility check and memory card formatting

Before setting up your photo save, make sure your microSD card meets Redmi 9’s requirements:

• 🔹 Type of card: microSD only (not miniSD or miniSD) SD). Class maps are supported UHS-I, Class 10 and above.
• 🔹 Maximum volume: up to 512 GB (up to 256 GB cards were officially tested).
• 🔹 File system: for maps of volume >32 GB is required to be formatted in exFAT or NTFS (into MIUI recommended exFAT).

If the card is new or has been used in other devices, you should format it directly in your smartphone.

1. Insert the card into the slot (when the phone is turned off, if the card is the first).
2. Turn on Redmi 9 and wait for the card to be identified.
3. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
4. Click Format as internal (if you want to expand memory) or Format as portable (if the card is only used for media files).

⚠️ Note: Formatting will remove all data from the card! If it has important files, pre-copy them to the computer. Also note that formatting as internal memory will bind the card to this smartphone, on other devices it will have to be formatted again.

Method 1: Configure photo saving in the Camera application

The easiest way is to change the save location right in the Camera app, which is suitable for new photos and videos, but does not transfer existing files.

Instructions:

1. Open the Camera app on Redmi 9.
2. Touch the badge. ⚙️ Settings (cogs) in the upper right corner.
3. Scroll down to the Save Place section.
4. Select a Memory Card (if the option is inactive, check that the card is pasted and formatted).
5. Confirm your choice by pressing OK.

All new photos and videos will be automatically saved to the SD-Note: This parameter is reset after the update. MIUI, So after updates, check the settings again.

⚠️ Note: If the camera settings do not have a Memory Card option, then yours is yours. SD-The card is formatted as a portable, not as an extension of internal memory. To fix this, go to Settings. → Memory. → Memory map → Formatted as internal (data will be deleted!).

Method 2: Transfer existing photos through the Gallery

If you already have photos in your internal memory, you can transfer them to a map through the standard Gallery app, which does not require a PC connection and works directly on your smartphone.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Gallery and select an album with a photo (for example, Camera or Screenshots).
2. Press and hold your finger on any photo to activate the selection mode. tick any files you want to transfer.
3. Touch the badge. ⋮ (three dots) in the upper right corner and select Move.
4. In the window that opens, select Memory Map → DCIM/Camera folder (or create a new one).
5. Confirm the transfer by clicking Move here.

To speed up the process, you can transfer photos in packs of 50-100 pieces. If the gallery “hangs” during the operation, do not interrupt the process - wait for completion (it can take several minutes with a large amount of files).

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If the transfer is interrupted, check if the smartphone overheated. At temperatures above 45°C, MIUI can suspend operations with files. Let the device cool for 10-15 minutes and try again.

Method 3: Change the default save location in MIUI

MIUI has a hidden setting that allows you to make the memory card the main storage for all media files (including downloads from the Internet and screenshots), which is more versatile than configuring only the camera.

How to activate:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
2. Press on. ⋮ (three dots) in the upper right corner and select Storage Settings.
3. Activate the option to save new media files to the memory card.
4. Reboot your smartphone (required!) to make the changes take effect.

After that, all new photos, videos, screenshots and uploaded files will be automatically saved to the user. SD-Important: This option is only available if the card is formatted as internal memory (see Preparation section»).

Method 4: Manually manage folders through Explorer

For advanced users who want complete control of files, a method using Explorer (or a third-party file manager, such as Solid Explorer) is suitable, which allows not only to transfer files, but also to customize symbolic links (if you have root rights).

Instructions for the standard MIUI Explorer:

1. Open Explorer (the folder icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Internal Memory section → DCIM → Camera (the photo is stored here).
3. Click Select in the upper right corner and mark the desired files.
4. Touch it. ⋮ → Copy (or Cut if you want to delete the originals).
5. Return to the root directory, select Memory Map → DCIM → Camera and click Insert.

To automate the process, you can create a task in the Automation application (available in MIUI), which will transfer new photos to the map on a schedule, for example, every evening at 22:00.

⚠️ Note: Do not use the option Cut for a large number of files (more than 500) - this can cause Explorer to fail.

Solving the problem: the map is not defined or proposed as a conservation site

If Redmi 9 doesn’t see the memory card or the camera settings don’t have an SD save option, check out the following:

• 🔌 Physical connection: Remove the card and re-paste it (when the phone is off) and check if there is any damage to the contacts.
• 📱 Compatibility: maps in volume >128 GB may not be recognized if the firmware MIUI Update your smartphone to the latest version.
• 🗃️ Formatting: If the card has been previously used in a camera or other device, format it in Redmi 9 (see Preparation section»).
• 🔧 Developer Settings: Enable Debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times and restart the device.

If the card is defined but not displayed in the camera settings as a save location, reset the Camera app settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Camera.
2. Click Warehouse → Clear the data and Clear the cache.
3. Reboot your smartphone.

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If the memory card is formatted as a portable memory card, the Camera app will not offer it as a place to save it, but the solution is to reformat the card as internal memory (with loss of data!).

Additional tips: optimization of work with a memory card

To avoid problems with saving photos on SD-Map, follow these recommendations:

• 📸 Clean the Camera app cache regularly (once a month) to avoid crashes when saving files.
• 🔄 Use quick class cards UHS-I U3 or V30 videotape 4K — This will reduce the risk of recording failure.
• 📁 Create separate folders for different file types (e.g. Photos, Videos, Screenshots) – this will make navigation easier.
• 🔋 Keep an eye on battery power: at levels below 15% MIUI can block the entry to the card to avoid damaging files.

If you shoot videos frequently, turn on the option to split files in the camera settings (in the Video section), which will allow you to break long videos into segments of 2-4 GB, which is convenient for further processing and reduces the risk of data loss in case of a crash.

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To speed up your memory card, turn off battery optimization for Camera and Gallery applications. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization and select All Applications → Do not optimize for specified programs.

FAQ: Frequent questions about saving photos to a memory card in Redmi 9