Xiaomi Redmi 6A is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its main drawback is only 16 GB of internal memory. Even after installing a micro-SD card with 32 or 64 GB, users face a problem: applications are still installed in internal memory, quickly clogging it, the solution is to combine internal and external memory into a single partition.
In this article, we will discuss 3 official and semi-official methods of combining memory on Redmi 6A (including Android Adoptable Storage and MIUI proprietary chips), their pros and cons, and give a checklist for safely performing the procedure. Importantly, not all methods are equally effective — some can lead to data loss or slow down the smartphone, if you do not take into account the nuances.
Why Xiaomi Redmi is on the run 6A You can't just transfer applications to the SD-map
Many users are trying to solve the memory problem through the standard feature of porting applications to Settings → Apps. However, on Redmi 6A (and other budget Xiaomi on Android 8.1 Oreo), this works with serious limitations:
- 🔄 Only parts of the data are transferred – the application itself remains in internal memory.
- 🚫 Many system and popular apps (such as WhatsApp, Facebook) do not support portability.
- ⚡ After the transfer, the applications work slower — SD-cards (even class) A1) Fail to perform in the speed of the built-in memory eMMC 5.1.
So the only reliable way is to combine memory at the system level so that Android can perceive the system. SD-It's a map as part of the internal storage, but there are pitfalls:
Method 1: Adoptable Storage (official Android method)
Adoptable Storage (or “Internal Storage”) is coming to Android 6.0 Marshmallow and allows formatting SD-It's a card as part of the internal memory. 6A s MIUI 9/10 This method works, but with reservations:
⚠️ Note: Once formatted as an internal storage card, it will not be read on other devices (PCs, cameras, etc.) without completely erasing the data.
Step-by-step:
- Put it in. SD-Card to smartphone (class recommended) A1 or A2, 32GB).
- Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
- Tap by name. SD-map → Three dots (menu) → Storage settings.
- Select Internal Storage → Clean and Format.
- Confirm action. The system will restart and start transferring data (may take up to 30 minutes).
Use a memory card not lower than Class A1
Backup the data from the card (they will be deleted)
Charge your phone at least 50%
Disable two-factor authentication in applications (during the procedure)
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After the merger:
- 📱 Annexes will be installed on SD-Automatically (if the developer allows).
- 📁 Files (photos, videos) will be saved to the map by default.
- ⚠️ Speed may drop if the card is slow (class) C10 without A1).
What if the internal storage button is inactive?
Method 2: MIUI's proprietary function "Transfer to memory card"
Xiaomi added to MIUI own function of transferring applications to SD-A card that works differently than Adoptable Storage, which doesn't merge memory at the system level, but allows you to move some of the data:
How to turn on:
- Open the Settings → Applications.
- Select an app (such as Telegram) → Storage.
- Click Change. → select the Memory Card.
- Confirm the transfer. Some data (cache, settings) will remain in the internal memory.
| Criteria | Adoptable Storage | Moving to MIUI |
|---|---|---|
| Formatting of the map is required | ✅ Yes. ext4) | ❌ No. |
| Support for all applications | ✅ Yes (if Android allows) | ❌ Only selectively |
| Speed of operation | ⚠️ Depends on the class of the card. | ✅ No change. |
| Compatibility with other devices | ❌ The card becomes "tied" to the phone. | ✅ The map can be extracted. |
This method is less efficient than Adoptable Storage, but it is safer — it does not require formatting and does not affect the stability of the system.
Method 3: Combining memory via TWRP and Link2SD (for advanced)
If the first two methods didn’t work, you can go further by using custom TWRP recovery and Link2SD. This method requires unlocking the bootloader and installing TWRP Recovery, which deprives you of warranty and can lead to a “brick” of the device when errors occur.
⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 6A s MIUI 12+ Unblocking the bootloader can block access to the Mi Account for 72 hours, and some banking applications (for example, Sberbank Online) will stop working due to the lack of SafetyNet.
Step-by-step:
- Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (instructions on the official Xiaomi website).
- Install TWRP Recovery for Redmi 6A (the version must match the model - cactus for global firmware).
- Download and install the Link2SD zip file via TWRP (e.g., with XDA Developers).
- In the annex Link2SD choose ext4 division SD-map and transfer application data there.
Advantages of the method:
- 🔧 Full control over what data to transfer (cache, libraries, APK).
- 🛠️ The ability to create a swap partition to increase RAM (but it’s risky on Redmi) 6A with 2GB of RAM).
Disadvantages:
- 🔓 Loss of warranty and risk of phone ‘filling.
- 🔄 Regular updates are required TWRP and Link2SD.
- 🛑 Some apps (like Google Pay) will not work because of the lack of SafetyNet certification.
💡
If you decide to use Link2SD, buy SD-High speed card (e.g. Samsung) EVO Plus A2). This will reduce the lags when working with portable applications.
Comparison of methods: which to choose for Xiaomi Redmi 6A
The choice of method depends on your goals and willingness to take risks.
- 🔹 Adoptable Storage is the best balance between efficiency and security, which is suitable if you want to free up internal memory as much as possible and you are willing to sacrifice the card’s compatibility with other devices.
- 🔹 Transfer to MIUI — It's the easiest and safest way to do this, but it's a little space free, perfect for a temporary solution.
- 🔹 Link2SD + TWRP — For experienced users who want full control and are not afraid to lose the warranty.
If you are in doubt, start with the second method (transfer through the MIUI). If that's not enough, go to Adoptable Storage. TWRP leave it to the last resort.
💡
On the Redmi. 6A s 16 GB of Adoptable Storage memory gives the largest increase in free space (up to the previous one) 70–80% volume-wise SD-card, but requires a class card A1/A2 steady-work.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When combining memory on Redmi 6A, users often face typical problems.
- Mistake "SD-Card damaged": Reason: Map formatted in NTFS Or exFAT. Solution: Format it into FAT32 via PC (use) SD Formatter, then repeat the Adoptable Storage procedure.
- Applications not installed on the map: Reason: Developer blocked installation on external media.Solution: Use Link2SD or install the application manually through ADB: adb install -s package_name.apk
- Phone brakes after combining: Reason: Slow SD-map C10 without A1). Solution: Buy a card with a marking A1 or A2 (For example, SanDisk Ultra A1).
Another common problem is that data disappears after you extract the card, which happens if you've been using Adoptable Storage and you're trying to read the map on another device, and you can only recover it by formatting the map back to FAT32 (but all the files will be deleted).