Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face the need to change the mode of operation of the external drive. SD-The card is not only a storage for photos and music, but also as a full extension of the internal memory of the device. However, this configuration is not suitable for all users and can cause malfunctions in the gadget.
If your phone is slowing down or your apps are not running properly, it may be time to turn off the internal memory function for the card. In this article, we will discuss all available methods for returning the drive to portable storage mode. You will learn how to safely conduct the procedure without losing important data and system errors.
Before you start, you need to understand the difference between modes of operation. Portable storage allows you to freely retrieve the card and transfer files to the computer. Internal memory mode encrypts data and binds it to a particular device, making the card useless without a phone. Choosing the right mode is critical to the stability of MIUI.
Why is it necessary to turn off the internal memory mode?
The main reason users want to cancel the memory expansion is a decrease in overall system performance. Cheap or old memory cards have significantly lower read and write speeds compared to the built-in flash module of a smartphone. When the system starts writing app cache or temporary files to a slow drive, Xiaomi's interface may start to slow down.
Another important aspect is compatibility and stability. Some versions of the MIUI shell do not work properly with the Adoptable Storage function, which can lead to periodic launcher freezes or misidentification of the amount of free space, in which case returning to standard mode is the only effective solution to the problem.
⚠️ Warning: Forced retrieval of a card formatted as internal memory without first switching mode can lead to data loss and errors in the operation of installed applications.
Also consider the limited resource of overwriting memory cells. Constant work with system files wears out budget microSD cards faster. If you use the drive to store media files that rarely change, the internal memory mode will be redundant and even harmful to the longevity device.
Often users are faced with a situation when after updating the firmware system ceases to correctly recognize the card in the extended mode, in this case, formatting and returning to the factory settings of the drive help restore the normal operation of the gadget without the need for complex manipulations with the rights of the superuser.
Device preparation and data backup
Before you start any file system operations, you need to secure your data. Because the mode switching process requires formatting, all information on the map will be permanently deleted. Pre-copy photos, contacts and documents to your computer or Google Drive cloud storage.
Make sure your smartphone battery is at least 50-60%; interrupting the formatting process due to battery discharge can damage the file table; at best, the phone will not see the card; at worst, you will need to flash the device.
☑️ Preparation for change of memory mode
It is also recommended to remove all applications that have been transferred to the memory card. Even if you plan to just format it, having active processes working with an external drive can block access to the settings menu. Close all background programs through the Task Manager Xiaomi.
If the device has encryption enabled, make sure you remember the password or pattern lock. Once the card is formatted, the system may require proof of identity to complete the new storage mode setting. Without this step, access to the phone's core features may be restricted.
Standard method of disabling through Android settings
The safest and most appropriate way to disable internal memory is to use the operating system's regular tools, which do not require root permissions and ensures that the integrity of system files is maintained, a process that takes only a few minutes and is understandable even to an inexperienced user.
To start, go to your Redmi's settings menu. Find the partition that controls your device's memory. In different versions of MIUI, it can be called "Memory," "Storage" or "Advanced Memory," usually in the About Phone group or in a separate system settings menu.
In the list that you have opened, find yours. SD-Click on it to open the control menu. If the card is used as internal memory, you'll see a button called "Change" or "Format." Select the formatting option. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted.
Once confirmed, the system will prompt you to select a new mode of use: select "Use as portable storage" (or "Use as portable storage"). The phone will automatically format and create a new file structure suitable for storing media files.
⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI The mode change button may be hidden. If you don't see the "Change" option, try the formatting command first, and the mode choice will appear during the setup process.
Once the procedure is complete, the smartphone can restart, which is the normal behavior of the system needed to apply the new parameters of the file system, and check in the settings that the card is now displayed as an external device, and its volume is not subtracted from the internal memory.
What to do if the "Change" button is inactive?
Using Developer Mode for Memory Management
In situations where the standard menu doesn't provide the right options, you can use the hidden developer menu, which allows you to force the default settings for external drives, but it requires caution, because it affects the system settings of Android.
To activate the developer mode, go to About Phone and quickly press 7 times the build number (MIUI version). After the message "You became a developer" return to the main settings menu, there will be a new item "Developers" or "Extended settings".
Inside the menu, look for the Memory or Storage section, and it may be the default storage mode option. Change the value from Internal Memory to External Storage. Note that this will only change behavior for new cards or once they are formatted.
| Parameter | Portable storage | Internal memory. |
|---|---|---|
| Access to PC | Direct access via USB | Only through the phone. |
| Transfer to other devices | Possible without limitations | Impossible (encryption) |
| System speed | Doesn't affect the system. | Could slow down the phone. |
| Installation of applications | Limited or impossible | Full support |
After changing the settings in the developer menu, be sure to reboot the device, which is necessary in order for the system demon of memory management to correctly redistribute resources and apply new rules for working with external drives.
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If you change memory cards frequently, leave the developer mode on, but check the "Confirm actions when connecting USB" box, which gives you control over each connection.
Forced formatting through a computer
If the software methods inside the smartphone don't work, you can use your computer to completely clean the map structure, which is effective when the drive's file system is damaged or contains errors that interfere with normal mode switching.
Remove the memory card from your smartphone using a special device or a paper clip. Plug it into the card reader of your computer. Open "My computer" (or "This computer"), find a removable disk corresponding to your card. Right-click and select "Format".
In the formatting window, select FAT32 for cards up to 32GB or exFAT for larger cards. These formats are native to Android in portable storage mode. Make sure you tick the Quick Formatting box, although you can unset it for a full reset.
The process of formatting via the Windows command line (for advanced):
1. diskpart
2. list disk
3. select disk X (where X is your card number, be careful!)
4. clean
5. create partition primary
6. format fs=exfat quick
7. exitOnce you have finished formatting on your computer, paste the card back into Xiaomi Redmi. The system will notify you of a new drive and suggest you configure it. Select the option "Use as a portable storage." The phone will format the card again to suit your needs, but in the correct mode.
This method is especially useful if the card has been used in other devices before or has been installed on non-standard partition markup. Complete cleaning of the partition table ensures that the phone recognizes the drive as a clean device ready for initial setup.
Solving Typical Problems and Errors When Disabling
Users often encounter a message "SD-The card is corrupted" or "Formatting required" immediately after trying to change mode, which may mean that the encryption process has been interrupted, in which case only full formatting through the computer, as described in the previous section, will help.
Another common problem is that you can't delete apps that have been transferred to the map, and once you turn off the internal memory mode, shortcuts can stay on the desktop, but when you try to run, you'll have to reinstall those apps from Google Play or GetApps.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to use third-party programs to unlock the card if the phone can't see it.
If after all the manipulations the phone continues to consider the card as internal memory, check for system updates MIUI. In newer versions of the firmware, the algorithms for working with external drives have been improved, and the bug with the "stick" mode can be fixed with a security patch.
It's also worth checking the memory card itself for physical damage, contacts may have oxidized, or the controller may have failed, try inserting the card into another smartphone, and if it's also defined as internal and not formatted, it may be the chip itself that's the problem.
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The most reliable way to return the card to the status of a regular flash drive is to format it through the computer to the exFAT or FAT32 file system before re-installing it into the phone.