How to transfer games to a memory card in Xiaomi Redmi: all the ways of 2026

Xiaomi Redmi smartphone owners often face a shortage of internal memory, especially if they are actively installing games. Even 128GB models are quickly clogged with projects like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG, which take 2-5GB each. The solution seems obvious: transfer games to a microSD card. But in MIUI, this process has nuances, from the limitations of Android to the features of Xiaomi firmware.

In this article, we will discuss all the working methods of transferring games to the SD-map 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10, POCO X3/X4 And other models. Let's look at the standard tools. MIUI 12–14, We will also focus on the memory card requirements (speed class, file system format) and typical errors that may cause games to fail to start after moving.

Why the games are not transferred to SD-map

The main problem lies in the policy of Google and Xiaomi:

• 📱 Limitations of Android 6.0+: Starting with Marshmallow, Google has banned apps from writing data to external drives without explicit permission.This is done for security, but makes it harder to port games.
• 🔧 MIUI Blocks the transfer: In the firmware Xiaomi disabled Adoptable Storage (conversion) SD-Maps to part of internal memory that was in pure Android.
• 🎮 Many modern games (such as Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings) use the same. OBB-Files and anticheat systems that don’t work with external drives.

Also, not all memory cards are suitable for gaming, and if you use a cheap microSD Class 4, the games will slow down or not start at all.

Important: UHS-II or UHS-III maps will not give you any speed boost in Xiaomi smartphones – their controllers do not support these standards.

Method 1: Transfer over MIUI settings (for supported games)

Some games (usually old or simple) allow you to transfer some data to the Internet. SD-map straight from the menu MIUI. This method works for applications that support external drives themselves.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose the game you want to migrate (such as Clash of Clans or Brawl Stars).
3. Slip on Warehouse.
4. If the option is available, click Change and select Memory Card.
5. Confirm the transfer and wait until it is completed (may take a few minutes).

⚠️ Warning: Do not remove the memory card after transfer without first returning the game to internal memory. Otherwise, the next start of the game may give an error "Files are corrupted".

Memory card formatted in exFAT (if the game weighs) >4GB)|

There is enough free space on the map (minimum) +20% of the game size)|

The game supports portability (check in Google Play in the section "Permissions")|

Smartphone is not in power saving mode (can interrupt the process)

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Method 2: Use of an internal memory card (Adoptable Storage)

In pure Android there is a feature Adoptable Storage, which allows you to "tether" SD-The card as part of the internal memory. MIUI It is disabled, but it can be activated through ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Games and apps are automatically installed on the map.
• 📈 Increases the total amount of memory for installing applications.
• 🛡️ Data is encrypted (like in internal memory).

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ The map cannot be retrieved without data loss.
• ⚡ Resetting is required if the card is then deleted.
• 🐢 Speed is lower than that of internal memory (especially on cheap cards).

Instructions for activation:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
2. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder.
3. Put it in. SD-card to your phone and format it as a portable storage (not as an internal storage device!).
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) in the folder with ADB and type: adb shell sm list-disks Remember the disk ID (e.g., disk:179.64).
5. Enter the command to link the card (replace the disk:X,X with your ID): sm partition disk:179.64 private
6. Reboot your smartphone. Now the card will be displayed as part of the internal memory.

⚠️ Note: After this operation, the card will not be used on other devices without full formatting, and not all games will work correctly - some (for example, Free Fire or Mobile Legends) may give errors due to cheat protection.

Method 3: Transfer OBB-manually

Many games (especially heavy ones) store basic data in a folder. Android/obb. These files can be transferred to SD-The method works for Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, Asphalt. 9 and other projects with OBB.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install a file manager with access to root folders, such as File Manager+.
2. Go to /sdcard/Android/obb and find the folder with the game name (e.g. com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact).
3. Copy this folder on SD-map /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Android/obb (where XXXX-XXXX — ID your card).
4. Remove the original folder from your internal memory.
5. Create a symbolic link (root rights or terminal required): su ln -s /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Android/obb/com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact /sdcard/Android/obb/com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact
6. Reboot your smartphone and check the game performance.

💡 Useful tip: If you do not have root rights, you can use the FolderMount application, which creates virtual links between folders without root access.

SanDisk Extreme|

Samsung EVO+|

Kingston Canvas|

Another (write in the comments)|

I don't use it.

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Method 4: Install the games directly to SD-map (through APK)

If the game is not yet installed, you can immediately indicate the path to the game. SD-It works for the map. APK-Files that are not downloaded from Google Play.

How to do this:

1. Download the APK games from a trusted source (e.g. APKCombo or APKMirror).
2. Connect. SD-map and create a folder on it APK.
3. Move the downloaded APK there.
4. Install any file manager (such as FX File Explorer) and open the APK directly from the memory card.
5. When installing, select Set to SD-Card (if the option is available).

⚠️ Attention: Installation APK It can be dangerous from unknown sources. Before installing, check the hash of the file on sites like VirusTotal.

Solving problems after transferring games

Even if the transfer is successful, the games may not work properly, and consider the common mistakes and ways to correct them:

If the game after the transfer began to slow down, try:

• 🔄 Disable background optimization in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.
• 🚀 Enable performance mode in Settings → Special facilities → Game mode.
• 🗑️ Clear the game's cache in Settings → Annexes → [Game] → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

💡

If the game is transferred to SD-The card is slower than before, because there's a problem with the speed of reading/writing the card. A2 (Application Performance Class 2, which are optimized for running applications.

Alternative solutions: cloud storage and external SSDs

If the transfer is SD-The card didn’t help or your Redmi model doesn’t support external drives, consider alternatives:

• ☁️ Cloud-based saves: Many games (such as Clash Royale or Among Us) sync progress with your Google Play account or social media accounts. Delete the game, free up space, then install again and restore data from the cloud.
• 💾 Outside SSD-drive: Through USB OTG You can connect the external SSD (for example, Samsung T7 Shield) and run games from it. You need root or special applications like DriveDroid.
• 🔄 Cache Clearing: Clean the games cache regularly through Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning, like in the PUBG Mobile cache can take up to 1-2 GB.

💡 Gamer Tip: If you play Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail, use the official launcher miHoYo – it lets you choose the installation path during the boot phase.

FAQ: Frequent questions about porting games to SD in Xiaomi Redmi