Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 7A often face a shortage of internal memory, especially if the model is purchased with a minimum volume (16 GB). Even after cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary files, the system can give a notification “Memory is full”, blocking the installation of new applications. The solution is to combine internal memory with a microSD card, but there are nuances: not all cards support this mode, and improper actions can lead to data loss.
In this article, we will discuss the official method through MIUI (Adoptable Storage), alternative ways of transferring data and risks that are not warned about in standard instructions. Separately, we will discuss the differences between MIUI 10 (the original firmware for Redmi 7A) and new versions where the algorithm has changed. If you have already tried to combine memory and got an error, at the end of this article there is a section on solving problems.
⚠️ Warning: Memory Combination formats a microSD card, deleting all data. If it stores important files, pre-copy them to a computer or cloud. Also note that once combined, the card cannot be retrieved without losing data, it will become "tied" to the phone.
1.Preparation: Which memory card is suitable for combining
Not every microSD is compatible with Adoptable Storage (the name for Android’s memory pooling technology). 7A Three parameters are critical:
- 🔹 Speed class: minimum UHS-I Class 10 (or A1/A2 Class maps for applications 4 or 6 The phone will not work, and it will make a “Low recording speed” error».
- 🔹 Volume: from 16 GB to 256 GB. Optimally 64-128 GB: smaller volume will fill up quickly, and larger may not be supported by firmware.
- 🔹 Format: The card must be formatted as exFAT or FAT32 (But the phone itself is reformatting it into ext4 unionize).
The card maker doesn't matter, but it's better to choose proven brands: SanDisk Ultra, Samsung EVO, Kingston Canvas. Cheap no-name cards often have understated real-world write speeds, leading to post-merger lags.
⚠️ Note: If you have previously used the card in portable storage mode (like a removable disk), remove it before combining and paste it again. Otherwise, the option "Internal memory" in the settings may not appear.
Step-by-step: how to combine memory through MIUI
The process takes 5-10 minutes, but requires careful attention.
- Insert a microSD card into a Redmi slot 7A. If the phone is notifying you, “New” SD-map," click "Configure».
- Go to Settings → Memory (or Settings → Additional → Memory in older versions of MIUI).
- Tap on the name of your card (for example, «SD-map: 64GB»).
- In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select "Storage settings».
- Select “Inner Memory” (not “Portable Storage”!).
- Read the formatting warning and confirm the action with the “clean and format” button.
- Wait until the process is complete (the phone can restart) and then the card will become part of the internal memory.
☑️ Preparation for memory consolidation
⚠️ Note: If the phone fails to connect the storage after formatting, it is likely that the card is not compatible in speed. Try another microSD or check for authenticity (many cheap cards have understated characteristics).
3.What happens after the merger: pros and cons
Once you've successfully combined, the memory card becomes an integral part of the system, and here's what's going to change:
| Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|
| 📈 Increased memory for installing applications (up to 256 GB). | 🚫 The card cannot be removed without resetting the phone to the factory settings. |
| 🎮 Games and heavy apps (such as Genshin Impact) can be installed on the map. | ⚠️ The speed of applications from the card is lower than from the internal memory (depending on the microSD class). |
| 📁 Files are automatically distributed between the built-in memory and the card. | 🔄 When resetting the phone, the card will have to be formatted again. |
| 🔄 You can transfer some of the installed applications to the map through Settings → Annexes. | 📵 Some apps (such as WhatsApp or banking) are not portable to the map. |
Critical information: Once combined, the card is encrypted with a unique key attached to your phone. If the Redmi 7A breaks or you forget the screen lock password, the card data will not be available even on another device.
If you plan to sell your phone or change memory cards frequently, it’s best to use alternative memory expansion methods (discussed in the next section).
4.Alternative ways to expand memory without combining
Memory integration via Adoptable Storage is not the only option. If you don't want to tie the card to your phone forever, consider these methods:
- 📱 Transfer applications to the map manually: Go to Settings → Apps. Select the app you want (e.g. Telegram). Click on Storage» → «Change» → choose SD-map.
⚠️ Not all applications support portability: System programs and some games (e.g, PUBG Mobile) remain in the internal memory.
Use of the card as a portable storage:
Format the card as FAT32 or exFAT and store photos, videos, music on it. Install the applications in the internal memory, and save the cache and media files to SD.
Cloud services:
Move your photos to Google Photos, your documents to Mi Cloud or Yandex Drive, and it won’t solve the problem of installing apps, but it will free up space.
💡
If you often shoot high-resolution video, in camera settings (Settings) → Camera. → Select the place of preservation SD-It's the default storage card, and it saves the memory.
5. Typical errors and their solutions
When you combine memory on Redmi 7A, users face a few common problems.
- 🔧 Low write speed error: Reason: card doesn't meet speed requirements.Solution: buy class card UHS-I Class 10 or A1. If the card is suitable but the error remains, check it for authenticity using the utility. H2testw (You can download it on the official website).
- 🔄 Phone doesn't see the card after you combine: Reason: formatting failure. Solution: retrieve the card, insert it again, and repeat the process. If it doesn't work, format the card on a PC in the computer. FAT32 (use the utility SD Formatter, then repeat the combination.
- 📵 You can't transfer applications to the map: Reason: developer blocked the transfer (typical for banking applications). Solution: use the function 2ndSpace into MIUI (see the section below) or install App2SD Google Play (root rights required).
⚠️ Attention: 2ndSpace It doesn't increase the total memory of the phone, it just divides it between two profiles.
💡
2ndSpace is useful if you want to separate work and personal applications, but does not solve the problem of lack of memory for installing new programs in the main profile.
7 How to Get It Back: Undoing Memory Combination
If you decide to abandon the combined memory, you can cancel the process in two ways:
- 🔄 Through Settings: Go to Settings → Memory. → SD-map, press three dots (⋮) and select "Format as portable storage." All data from the map will be deleted, but it can be retrieved.
- ⚙️ Through Settings Reset: If the first method doesn't work, reset your phone to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting the settings. The card is automatically formatted as a removable disk.