How to combine internal memory and memory card on Xiaomi Redmi 4: the complete guide

Xiaomi Redmi 4 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its 16GB of internal memory is often not enough for modern applications and media. The solution is to combine the built-in drive with a microSD card, which allows you to expand the available space to 128GB or more. However, not all users know how to perform this procedure correctly without the risk of data loss or device malfunctions.

In this article, we’ll break down all the current ways to combine memory on Redmi 4 (including the Redmi 4 Pro and Redmi models). 4X), Distinguish between portable and internal format SD-maps, and also provide step-by-step instructions taking into account the features of the firmware MIUI. We will focus on common mistakes, such as "SD-The card is damaged" or "Can not be formatted", and how to fix them.

Why you should combine memory Xiaomi Redmi 4

The main reason is the lack of space to install applications, and even after cleaning the cache and deleting unnecessary files, users are faced with a notification "Memory is full." Combining with a microSD solves this problem by transferring some of the data to an external drive.

• 📱 The ability to install applications directly to SD-map (when properly configured).
• 📸 Automatic saving of photos and videos on an extended drive.
• 🔄 Increased lifetime of internal memory due to load distribution.
• 💾 Support for cards up to 256 GB (assuming compatibility with the device).

But there are limitations. SD-The card can't be retrieved without losing data, it's going to be part of the system, and the speed of applications from the external drive can be lower, especially if you're using a cheap Class 4 or Class 6 card.

Requirements for SD-memory-card

Not every microSD is suitable for use as an internal drive. Xiaomi Redmi 4 supports FAT32 and exFAT cards, but combining will require reformatting to EXT4 or F2FS, a file system optimized for Android.

Important: Low quality cards (such as no-name brands) can cause data write errors or sudden unmountings. Before buying, check for model reviews on forums such as 4PDA or XDA Developers.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using SD-card as a portable storage device (for example, to transfer files between devices), after combining with internal memory, all data on it will be deleted!

Method 1: Connecting through MIUI (Adoptable Storage)

The easiest method is to use the built-in Adoptable Storage feature available in MIUI based on Android 6.0 and higher. Xiaomi Redmi 4 out of the box runs on MIUI 8 (Android 6.0), so this method is suitable for most users.

Save all data from SD-computer-card

Charge your phone at least 50%

Make sure the card is inserted into the slot (not via an adapter)

Check the space on the internal drive (needed) ≥1GB)-->

1. Insert a microSD into the smartphone slot. If the card has already been used, remove it and insert it again, this will cause a notification of the new drive.
2. Open the notification "New" SD-map" or go to Settings → Memory.
3. Press the item "SD-map (or your card name), then select Set up → Internal memory.
4. The system will suggest formatting the card. Confirm the action, wait for completion (may take 5-15 minutes).
5. After formatting, select Transfer Data if you want to move some files to SD-map.

Now the microSD is displayed as part of the internal memory. To check the result, go to Settings → Memory, and you'll see the combined volume.

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If, after combining, applications are still installed on internal memory, go to Settings. → Annexes → Application settings → Default location and select "SD-map".

Method 2: Manual formatting via ADB (for power users)

If MIUI does not have an internal memory option, you can use manual formatting via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your phone to your computer and working with the command line, but gives you more control over the process.

First of all, make sure that the computer has:

• 🖥️ Xiaomi Drivers (download from the official website).
• 🐍 ADB Fastboot (part of Android) SDK).
• 🔌 Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Follow the instructions:

1. Connect Redmi 4 to your PC via USB-cable and select the "File Transfer" mode" (MTP).
2. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd) and execute: adb devices If the device appears in the list, type: adb shell
3. Check the ID. SD-Team Cards: Sm List-Disks Usually disk:179,XX (where XX — number).
4. Format the card as internal memory: sm partition disk:179,XX private Replace XX with the current number from the previous step.

After the commands are executed, the phone will automatically restart and SD-This is a way to get around the limitations of the card. MIUI, But it requires caution – incorrect commands can lead to data loss on the main drive.

Typical errors and their solutions

When combining memory, users of Xiaomi Redmi 4 often face problems. Let’s consider the most common and ways to eliminate them:

If after the combination of the smartphone began to slow down, the likely reason is a low read / write speed. SD-The decision:

• 🔄 Replace the card with a model with a class UHS-I U3.
• 📉 Transfer to internal memory the most resource-intensive applications (games, instant messengers).
• 🧹 Clean the cache regularly through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup.

⚠️ Note: If you decide to take out SD-card after combining, transfer all data back to internal memory and format it through Settings → Memory. → SD-map → Format it as a portable phone, otherwise it might stop loading!

How to transfer applications to SD-post-community

Even after successful integration, some applications are installed on internal memory by default, and to change this, follow the following steps:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as WhatsApp or Google Maps).
3. Press Warehouse. → Change. → SD-map.
4. Confirm the transfer. The process may take a few minutes.

Note that not all applications support external storage portability, such as system utilities (MIUI Security, Google Play Services remain on internal memory, and some games (e.g., Google Play Services) remain on internal memory, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact can work unstable when installed on the device. SD-map.

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Transfer of applications to SD-The card does not always improve performance. Tests show that the download speed of applications from internal memory Xiaomi Redmi 4 is 1.5-2 times faster than from a class card. UHS-I U1.

Alternative ways to expand memory

If memory integration is not possible for some reason (for example, due to incompatible firmware), consider alternative options:

• 📁 Use of the SD-Maps as a portable storage device: Save photos, videos and music to it, and leave the applications on internal memory. → Select the place of preservation "SD-map".
• ☁️ Cloud storage: Mi Cloud, Google Drive or Yandex Disk allow you to automatically back up photos and documents.
• 🔌 OTG-Driver: Connect the flash drive through OTG-adapter (port) USB Type-C on Redmi 4 supports OTG). Suitable for temporary memory expansion.
• 🔄 Cleaning the system: Delete cache and unnecessary files through Settings → Memory. → Cleaning or annex MIUI Cleaner.

For users who are ready for radical measures, there is another way to replace the internal drive with a more capacious one, but this requires disassembling the phone and risks losing warranties, the average cost of replacing an eMMC chip by 64 GB in service centers is 3-5 thousand rubles.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory integration on Xiaomi Redmi 4