How to combine phone memory and memory cards on Xiaomi Redmi 7: a detailed guide

Xiaomi Redmi 7 owners often face a shortage of internal memory, especially if the device is used to store photos, videos or heavy applications. One effective solution to this problem is to combine the built-in drive with a microSD memory card. However, the process has its nuances: wrong actions can lead to data loss, system slowdown or even card failure.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to combine memory on Redmi 7 (including the Redmi 7A and Redmi Note 7 models), their pros and cons, and give you a guide to choosing a memory card, pay special attention to the risks that are often missed in standard instructions, and explain how to avoid typical errors. If you want to increase storage without buying a new phone, this guide is for you.

Why Redmi 7 is running out of memory and will it help you to combine your SD-card?

Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 7 was released with two options of internal memory: 16 GB and 32 GB. Even in the version with 32 GB is really available to the user about 24-26 GB - the rest is the MIUI system and pre-installed applications. With active use (social networks, messengers, games), free space ends in a few months.

Combining memory with microSD solves the problem in part:

• 📱 Applications can be installed on a map (but not all – many games and system utilities require internal storage).
• 📁 Photos, videos and documents are automatically saved to the SD, freeing up internal memory.
• ⚡ Speed depends on the class of the card – cheap models can slow down the system.

It is important to understand that system-level memory integration (via Adoptable Storage) is not officially supported by Xiaomi on Redmi 7. However, there are workarounds that we will discuss below. Also note that once combined, the card cannot be retrieved without losing data - it will become part of internal storage.

Which memory card to choose for Redmi 7: technical requirements

Not every microSD is suitable for combining with internal memory. Xiaomi Redmi 7 supports microSDXC cards up to 256 GB, but other parameters are important for stable operation:

To combine memory, you should choose a card with a high read/write speed (from 80 MB/s). For example, SanDisk Ultra A1 or Samsung EVO Plus. Avoid cards marked "For App Performance" (A1/A2) - they are optimized for applications, but in practice often run slower than conventional UHS-I.

⚠️ Note: If you bought a memory card in the market or in an unofficial store, check it for authenticity using a utility. H2testw (Windows or F3 (Linux/Mac). Fake cards can have real volume in the 2–4 less than the stated, which will lead to data loss when combining.

Method 1: Memory integration via MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI features. It does not require superuser rights, but has limitations: applications will still be installed in internal memory, and only media files and some data can be transferred to the map.

Instructions:

1. Insert the memory card into the Redmi 7 slot (hybrid slot is supported – you can use either a second SIM or a microSD).
2. Go to Settings. → Memory.
3. Click on the Memory Card, then select Format as internal memory.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (may take 5-10 minutes).
5. After formatting, go to Settings → Annexes → All applications, select the desired and click Move to SD-map (not available for all applications).

Insert the memory card into the slot (check that it is determined by the system)

Backup important data from the card (it will be formatted)

Charge your phone at least 50% (the process may take time)

Disable antivirus or optimizers (they can interrupt formatting)-->

This method is suitable for:

• 📸 Photo and video storage (camera will save files to the computer) SD).
• 🎵 Music and documents.
• 📱 Some light applications (messengers, social networks).

⚠️ Note: Once formatted as internal memory, the card cannot be used in other devices without completely erasing the data, and some applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) may refuse to work with transferred data. SD data.

Method 2: Completely combine with Adoptable Storage (ADB required)

For those who are willing to take risks, there's a more radical method, Adoptable Storage, which allows you to make a memory card a full extension of the internal storage on which you can install applications, but it requires you to connect to a PC and work with ADB.

Advantages of the method:

• 📲 Applications are installed on the card by default (if you select the appropriate setting).
• 🔄 The card is encrypted and becomes part of the system – the data is protected.
• 🚀 Speed is higher than normal file transfer.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ The card cannot be removed without resetting the phone to the factory settings.
• 🐢 Cheap cards will slow down the system.
• 🔧 A PC and basic knowledge of working with ADB.

Instructions:

1. Install on your PC ADB and Fastboot (part of the Android SDK).
2. Turn on the developer mode on the phone (go to Settings → About phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version).
3. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
4. Connect Redmi 7 to your PC and type in the command line: adb shell sm list-disks Remember the disk ID (e.g., disk:179.64).
5. Enter the command to format the card as internal memory (replace the disk:179.64 with your identifier): adb shell sm partition disk:179.64 private
6. Wait until the process is complete (the phone can restart).

⚠️ Note: After this procedure, the card will be encrypted and linked to your phone, and if you decide to retrieve it, all data will become unavailable, and some banking applications (such as SberBank Online) may refuse to work on the transferred card due to security restrictions.

Method 3: Transfer applications to SD manually (without memory combination)

If you don't want to be fully integrated, but you want to free up your internal memory, you can transfer some of the applications to the map manually, and this method doesn't require formatting, and you can retrieve the SD at any time.

How to move applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications.
2. Select the app you want to migrate (like Facebook or VK).
3. Click Warehouse, then Change and select SD-map.
4. Confirm the transfer and wait until it is completed (may take a few minutes).

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Not all applications support portability (especially games and system utilities).
• 📉 Some of the data may remain in internal memory.
• ⚠️ When you remove the map, the transferred applications will stop working.

💡

Before you move the app, clear the cache (Settings → Applications → Storage → Clear the cache) and this will reduce the amount of data you carry and reduce the risk of errors.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When combining memory on Redmi 7, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common errors and solutions:

If the memory is combined, the phone starts to overheat or run out quickly, it's probably the cheap card that's to blame.

1. Turn off the card in Settings → Memory → Memory Map → Remove.
2. Transfer important data to the PC.
3. Format the map and check it for errors.

💡

If Redmi 7 is slower after memory is merged, reset to Settings → Memory → Memory Map → Format as portable, which will remove all data from the card, but restore it to normal operation.

Alternative ways to free up memory on Redmi 7

If memory consolidation seems too risky, consider alternative ways to free up space:

Cleaning up cache and garbage:

• 🧹 Use the built-in cleaning utility in MIUI (Settings → Memory. → Clean up).
• 🗑️ Remove the cache of individual applications in Settings → Annexes → Warehouse.

2. Transfer files to the cloud:

• ☁️ Upload photos and videos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud (free 5GB available).
• 📎 Use Dropbox or Yandex Drive for documents.

3. Removal of unnecessary applications:

• 📱 Check the list of installed programs in Settings → Annexes.
• 🔍 Remove pre-installed applications MIUI, which you do not use (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music).

4. Use of an external storage device:

• 💾 Connect. OTG-cable and flash drive for temporary storage of files.
• 🖥️ Regularly transfer data to a PC or laptop.

💡

To find the heaviest files on your phone, install the Files by Google app from the Play Market, which will show you which folders take up the most space and offer cleanup options.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions