How to combine memory Xiaomi Redmi 8: the complete guide

Owners of budget smartphones often face a lack of space, and the Xiaomi Redmi 8 model is no exception. Despite the availability of a card slot, the standard Android system does not allow you to simply use microSD as an extension of the system partition. Users are forced to look for ways to combine internal and external memory on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 to install more apps and games.

There is a technical term for Adoptable Storage, which refers to making a flash drive an integral part of system memory. However, manufacturers like Xiaomi often hide this feature or block it at the software level for the sake of stability of the device, and in this article we will discuss the real ways to accomplish this task and assess the possible risks.

It is worth noting that the process requires care and understanding of the structure of the file system. Inept actions can lead to loss of data or the need to flash the device. Below are proven methods that will help expand the capabilities of your gadget without buying a new device.

Why Xiaomi is hiding the memory unification feature

Xiaomi, like many other vendors, has decided to disable native support for Adoptable Storage in the shell of MIUI. This decision is dictated by the desire to ensure stable operation of the operating system. Cheap memory cards often have low read and write speeds, which can cause "freeze" interface and crashes of applications.

Also, when you combine memory, the microSD card is encrypted and linked to a particular device, so it's impossible to retrieve it and read it on another phone or computer without formatting, and this is a inconvenience for users who are used to changing media often.

However, there are workarounds for the Xiaomi Redmi 8, which require a computer connection and debugging tools, and Android security requires permissions to be confirmed, so you can't just switch the switch in the settings.

⚠️ Attention: You make all manipulations with memory partitions at your own risk.Be sure to back up important photos and documents before starting the procedure.

Understanding the reasons for blocking helps you realize that the system is designed to protect against inexperienced actions, but advanced users can ignore these limitations for the sake of functionality, the main thing is to understand the consequences of formatting an external drive.

Tools and training required

Before you start activating hidden functions, you need to prepare the workplace and software. You will need a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux, as well as a high-quality computer. USB-A bad cable can interrupt data transmission at a critical moment.

The main tool will be ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a console utility that allows you to send commands to a smartphone from a computer, without it, you can not change the system settings of memory, and on the smartphone you need to activate the developer mode.

To activate the developer mode, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI Version. After that, a new section will appear in the menu, where the desired option is hidden. Don't forget to also allow debugging over USB in the menu that appears.

The quality of the memory card is critical, and it is recommended to use cards of UHS-I or higher from proven brands like SanDisk or Samsung. Slow card will turn the smartphone into anguish, as the system will constantly wait for a response from the drive.

Activation method through ADB commands

The most reliable way to combine memory on Xiaomi Redmi 8 is to use the command line. This method does not require root rights, but requires character input accuracy. First, connect the phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with the ADB installed.

Enter the adb shell command to log in to the device shell. If it goes well, you'll see the Android command line invitation symbol. Next, you'll need to find your memory card ID by running sm list-disks. disk:179,64.

Once the disk ID is received, a command is entered to format it. The syntax is as follows:

sm partition disk:XXX,YY private

Where XXX,YY is your drive ID, this command will completely destroy all the data on the card and create a secure partition, and after the reboot, the system will consider the flash drive as part of the internal memory.

It's important to understand that after this procedure, the card will no longer read like a normal drive, and all applications that support the port can be moved to it through the settings menu, but the system applications will remain on the built-in chip.

Alternative ways to expand storage

If ADB seems too complicated or risky, there are simpler ways to optimize, and you should use the memory card as a portable storage device, and even though you can't put applications on it, you can transfer media files to it.

In the camera settings Xiaomi Redmi 8 can specify saving photos and videos immediately on the camera. SD-To do this, open the Camera app, click on the three menu bars, and select the settings. There's a Save to Switch. SD-map".

Many modern apps, such as Telegram, WhatsApp and Spotify, have their own cache storage settings, and by redirecting the cache to an external medium, you can free up gigabytes in the internal partition.

Each user chooses a balance between convenience and functionality, for some people it is enough to simply store a photo on a flash drive, and for others it is vital to install heavy games, the choice of method depends on your technical skills.

Possible problems and solutions

When the memory is combined, unexpected situations may occur, such as the phone may start to run slower, which occurs if the write speed to the card is lower than that of the embedded memory eMMC or UFS, in which case the system will "choke" when accessing the data.

Another common problem is bugs when updating apps. Google Play may misidentify free space or refuse to download updates if the path to files has changed. The solution often lies in clearing the Play store's cache.

If the smartphone stopped booting or constantly writes about disk errors, you have to return everything back, you need to reconnect the device to the PC and type in the command:

sm partition disk:XXX,YY none

This will return the card to being a regular storage device, but it will delete all the data, so backup is a must before any experiment, and don't neglect this rule so you don't lose important contacts and documents.

⚠️ Note: If the phone goes into a cyclic bootloop after formatting, you may need to reset to the factory settings (Hard Reset) via the Recovery menu.

Stability is the key to measuring the success of an operation, and if you notice that the battery is running out faster, it could also be due to the system's active use of the external drive.

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Use a root-access file manager (if you have permissions) or a standard explorer to manually move the DCIM and Download folders to the card after formatting it.

Impact on productivity and battery

Using a memory card as a system affects the overall characteristics of the Xiaomi Redmi 8. The operating system constantly accesses the disk to read libraries and temporary files. If the interface of the card is slow, the lags will be noticeable when you start programs.

Energy consumption also increases. The memory controller must maintain a constant voltage to run the flash drive. In combined memory, this process is more intense than in simple storage of photos, which can reduce battery life by 10-15%.

However, for devices with a small amount of internal memory (32 GB), this is often the only solution.Short space leads to the inability to install security updates and new versions of applications, which makes the phone vulnerable.

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The best solution is to use a fast memory card (Class 10 UHS-I) with a volume of no more than 128 GB, so as not to overload the smartphone controller.

If you're using a navigator, messengers, and social media, free space is more important than a couple percent of your battery, but for heavy graphics games, you'd better leave it on your native drive.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions