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

Why Xiaomi users want to combine memory with SD-card

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a shortage of internal memory, especially on budget models with 32 or 64 GB of storage. Even after cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary files, the system can show warnings about overflowing storage. In such cases, the logical solution seems to be using a microSD card - but simply inserting it into the slot is not enough. By default, applications are installed only in internal memory, and the card is used only for storing media files.

Memory Combination (or Adoptable Storage) – Android feature that allows you to “tether» SD-And this is a card to the internal drive, and it's part of a single storage unit, and it has a few key benefits:

📱 Install apps on the map: even heavy games and programs will be saved to extended storage.
🔄 Automatic file allocation: the system decides where to store data – for internal memory or for the system. SD.
📂 Single space: no need to manually transfer files between drives.

But there is a downside to this approach: once combined, the map cannot be retrieved without data loss, it will become an integral part of the system. In addition, not all Xiaomi models support this feature out of the box. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways of combining memory on Xiaomi smartphones, including hidden MIUI settings and bypassing restrictions through ADB.

📊 What Xiaomi model do you use?

Redmi Note 10/11/12

POCO X3/X4/X5

Redmi 9/10/11

Mi 11/12/13

Another model

What Xiaomi models support memory integration

Adoptable Storage technology was officially introduced in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but many manufacturers, including Xiaomi, have limited or removed this feature in their shells.

Series of smartphones	Adoptable Storage Support	Notes
Redmi Note 8/9/10/11/12	✅ Yes. ADB)	In standard settings, the option is hidden, but is available through the sm set-force-adoptable true command.
POCO X3/X4/X5	✅ Yes. MIUI 12.5+)	Pre-formatting the card as an internal drive is required
Mi 10/11/12/13	❌ No (officially)	On flagships, the function is blocked, but it is possible to bypass through Magisk
Redmi 7/8/9A	⚠️ Partially.	It only works on firmware below MIUI 12. In newer versions, it only works via ADB.

It is important to consider that even if your model theoretically supports unification, the manufacturer can block the feature in a particular firmware version. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with MIUI 13 global version, the option is not available, whereas on the Chinese firmware of the same device it is available.

Before starting the procedure, check:

🔍 Android version (must be at least 6.0).
📱 Smartphone model (on Mi flagships often block the function).
💾 Type of memory card (recommended) UHS-I Class 10 or higher).

💡

If you use an A1 or A2 class memory card, the read/write speed will be higher and the lags when working with applications will be less.

Preparation of a memory card before the merger

Before you start combining, you need to properly prepare the microSD card, and failure to follow these steps can lead to formatting errors or data loss.

1. Checking the card for errors

Use the built-in Android utility to diagnose:

Connect the card to your smartphone.
Go to Settings → Memory → SD card.
Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Storage Settings.
Check and fix (if the option is available).

Data backup

All the data on the map will be deleted when formatted! Copy important files to your computer or the cloud.

🖥️ Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB (Select the File Transfer Mode).
📁 Open the memory card folder and copy the data to a safe location.
☁️ Alternative: Upload files to Google Drive or Mi Cloud.

3. Selection of the file system

To merge the memory, the card must be formatted in ext4 or f2fs, but you don't have to manually choose the file system, the system will do it automatically, and the main thing is that the card meets the requirements:

🔢 Volume: from 16 GB (64 GB and higher recommended).
⚡ Speed: class UHS-I (U1/U3) or A1/A2.
🛡️ Manufacturer: SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston are preferred (cheap no-name cards can cause lags).

What happens if you use a slow memory card?

When combined with a slow card (class 4 or 10 without A1/A2), you will encounter delays when you start applications, interface brakes and even occasional reboots. The system will constantly wait for a response from the drive, which is critical for background processes. In the worst case, the card can fall off and the data will be lost.

Method 1: Connecting through standard MIUI settings

On some Xiaomi models (mainly the Redmi and POCO budget series), the memory merge option is available directly from the menu.

Insert the memory card into the slot (if a hybrid slot is used, make sure the second one is used). SIM-map extracted).
Go to Settings. → Memory.
Slip on the SD card (or the name of your card).
In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select Storage Settings.
Choose Format as an internal drive.
Confirm the action and wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).

After formatting, the system will suggest moving data from the internal memory to the map, which we recommend later, as the transfer can take a long time and battery power.

Put the card in the slot|Make a backup copy of the data|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Connect to Wi-Fi (for downloading driver updates)-->

⚠️ Warning: If the card does not appear as part of internal memory after formatting, restart the smartphone.

Method 2: Combine through ADB (for hidden options)

If your Xiaomi settings don’t have the option of formatting your card as an internal drive, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which works on most Android 6.0+ devices, but requires a computer connection.

Step 1: Install ADB on your computer

1. Download Platform Tools from the official Android website.

2 Unpack the archive in the root of the C:\platform-tools disk.

3. Open the command prompt in this folder: press Shift + right mouse button → Open the PowerShell window here.

Step 2: Connecting your smartphone

On the phone:

Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
Turn on USB debugging.
Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.

Step 3: Execution of ADB commands

In the command line (on PC), enter alternately:

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed.)

adb shell


sm list-disks

(Remember the card ID, such as disk:179.64.)

sm set-force-adoptable true


sm partition disk:179,64 private

(Replace disk:179.64 with your ID.)

After completing the commands, restart the smartphone. The memory card should appear as part of the internal storage.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI after-boot settings ADB If the card is not combined, repeat the command sm set-force-adoptable true and restart the process.

💡

Using ADB is the only way to combine memory on Xiaomi’s flagship models (like the Mi 11 or Mi 12), where the feature is hidden by the manufacturer.

Solving problems after memory consolidation

Even after successful integration, Xiaomi users may encounter errors, and here are the most common problems and solutions:

1.The memory card is not defined as internal

Reasons and methods of correction:

🔌 Bad contact: Remove the card and re-insert it. If the slot is hybrid, check if it's in the way. SIM-map.
🛠️ Incompatible file system: format the card into FAT32 through the computer, then repeat the process of combining.
📱 Limitations MIUI: some firmware requires a rollback to an older version or the installation of custom recavery.

2. Applications are not installed on the map

If, after combining, applications are still stored in internal memory:

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Select the desired application and tap the Warehouse.
Click Change and select the SD Card.

If the option is inactive, then the application does not support transfer to external drives.

Brakes and lags after joining

Slow system operation after memory consolidation is usually associated with:

🐢 Low speed maps: replace the class card A2 or UHS-I U3.
🗑️ Data Fragmentation: Optimize through Settings → Memory. → Optimization.
🔋 Lack of RAM: Close background applications or restart the device.

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
Map is not formatted	Protection against recording or damage	Check the Lock switch on the map or test it on another device
Apps fly out	Incompatibility with ext4/f2fs	Reinstall applications or roll back to separate memory
The system asks for a map formatting	Damage to the file system	Make a backup and format the map again

💡

If the smartphone starts to warm or discharge quickly after the combination, check the card for authenticity. Fake drives (especially "swelled" up to 128/256 GB) often cause such symptoms.

How to cancel the merger and return the card to its original state

If you decide to split the memory back or the card starts to work incorrectly, it can be returned to normal mode.

Method 1: Through the MIUI settings

Go to Settings → Memory → SD card.
Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Storage Settings.
Click Format as a portable drive.
Confirm the action.

Method 2: ADB (if the option is not available)

Connect your phone to your computer and do:

adb shell


sm unmount-force disk:179,64




sm forget disk:179,64

(Replace disk:179.64 with your card ID.)

After that, the card will be formatted in FAT32 and ready to use as a removable drive.

⚠️ Note: If you extract the card without canceling the combination, the smartphone may stop booting or constantly require to insert the drive.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory integration on Xiaomi

Can I combine memory on Xiaomi without losing data?

No. When you combine, the map is formatted, and all the data on it is erased.

Will the combined card work on another phone?

No. Once formatted as an internal drive, the card is tied to a particular device and becomes unreadable on other smartphones.

Why are some applications not transferred to the map after the merger?

Some applications (e.g. system or high-performance) block the transfer to external drives for security reasons.

Can I use the card as an internal memory and simultaneously as a removable disk?

No. Once combined, the card becomes part of the system and is not available for direct read via USB (for example, for transferring files to a PC).

What if the phone stopped after the phone was combined?

Probably the problem is the slow card. Try: Replace the card with a faster one (class A2/UHS-I U3); disable the automatic installation of applications on the card; return separate storage.