How to transfer applications to SD-Xiaomi map: Complete guide 2026

Why Xiaomi restricts the portability of applications to SD-card?

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, Poco and Black Shark lines) often face the problem of lack of internal memory. SD-map, but in modern versions MIUI (Especially on Android 10.+) It's all about Google policy: starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, porting apps to external drives has been significantly curtailed for security and performance reasons.

However, there are several working ways to get around these limitations – from standard tools to tools. MIUI beforehand ADB (It is important to understand that not all applications support portability: some (such as messengers or games with protection) may not work correctly. MIUI 14+ Android 13+ Transfer through system settings is often blocked completely, leaving only methods for power users.

In this article, we will discuss:

• 🔍 How to check if your device supports the portability of applications to SD-map
• ⚙️ Standard method through settings MIUI (if available)
• 💻 Extended method with the use of ADB forced transfer
• ⚠️ Risks and Limitations: What Apps Cannot Be Ported
• 📱 Alternative solutions: cache cleaning, media file transfer, use SD-maps as internal memory

Preparation: compatibility check and selection SD-map

Before trying to migrate apps, make sure your device and memory card meet the requirements:

🔹 Important: If you plan to use SD-The card is an internal memory (Adoptable Storage function), note that the card can not be retrieved without loss of data. A2 (For example, SanDisk Extreme A2 Samsung EVO Plus A2).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi devices with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi Note 11 or Poco) M4 Pro) portability of applications through ADB It can lead to disruptions in work. MIUI. Before starting, create a backup copy of the data!

Method 1: Standard portability through MIUI settings (if available)

On some Xiaomi devices (especially Android devices) 8-9 and MIUI 10-11) portability SD-The map is still saved. You can check it for it:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (like Facebook or Spotify).
3. Slip on Warehouse.
4. If there is a button, move to SD-You're lucky, you press it and wait for the process to be completed.

🔹 Limitations of method:

• 🚫 Not all applications support portability (especially system and piracy protection).
• 🔄 After updating MIUI function may disappear.
• 🐢 Annexes to SD-The card is slower than in the internal memory.

If the buttons are moved to SD-No card, move on to the next method.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC| Enable debugging over USB in settings | Download ADB Tools (platform-tools)| Connect your phone to your PC via USB| Allow debugging on your phone-->

Method 2: Forced transfer via ADB (for power users)

If the standard method is not available, you can use ADB, the Android debugging tool, which works on most Xiaomi devices, but requires a connection to a computer.

Step 1: Enable debugging over USB

Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version and tap it 7 times to activate Developer Mode. Then go back to Settings → Additional → Developer Version and turn on:

• 🔧 Debugging by USB
• 🔄 Allow unlocking OEM (if)

Step 2: Connect your phone to your PC and check the connection

Download ADB Tools (platform-tools) and unpack the archive. Connect your phone over USB, select File Transfer Mode, and do:

adb devices

If the device is displayed in the list, the connection is established.

Step 3: Transfer of the application to SD-map

Find out the package name of the application you want (for example, through App Inspector or the adb shell pm list packages command).

adb shell pm set-install-location 2


adb shell pm move-package com.example.app /sdcard

Where com.example.app is the name of the application package.

⚠️ Note: Some apps (such as WhatsApp or Google Pay) refuse to work after the transfer to the Internet. SD-This method can also be reset after the device is rebooted to the map. MIUI 13+.

Method 3: Use SD-The card is an internal memory (adoptable storage)

If your device supports Adoptable Storage (available on Android) 6-8), formattable SD-It's a card as part of internal memory, and it allows you to install applications directly on the map, but it's very limited:

• 🔒 The card will be encrypted and linked to the device – it will not be used on another phone.
• 🚫 After the map is removed, the applications will stop working.
• ⚡ Class card required A2 (Otherwise, the system will slow down).

How to activate:

1. Put it in. SD-phone-card.
2. When a notification is received, a new SD-Slip the card on it and choose Use as internal memory.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen (the process will take a few minutes).

🔹 Important: MIUI 12+ This function is often hidden. You can use it to get it back. ADB-team:

adb shell sm set-force-adoptable true

But it doesn't work on all devices.

💡

Before formatting SD-Cards as internal memory check its speed using the application A1 SD If the random recording speed is below 10 MB/s, the card is not suitable for applications.

What applications cannot be transferred to SD-map?

Even if you manage to migrate the app, some of them will not work properly or even refuse to start.

🔹 Exceptions: Some apps (such as Spotify or Netflix) may work with SD-cards, if their data (cache, downloads) are stored separately. Check the configuration of the Storage in each application individually.

Alternative ways to free up memory in Xiaomi

If the applications are transferred SD-The card is impossible or ineffective, try these methods:

• 🧹 Cache Clearing: Go to Settings → Warehouse → Clean.Delete unnecessary files and app cache (especially from Google Play Services and social media).
• 🗑️ Remove duplicates: Use applications like Files by Google or MIUI Cleaner to find duplicate files.
• ☁️ Cloud storage: Move photos and videos to Google Photos, Mi Cloud or Yandex Drive. Set up autoload to Settings → Google → Backup.
• 📁 Media transfer: Music, movies and documents can be manually moved to SD-A card via any file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager).
• 🔄 Resetting the cache of the section: In Settings → Memory. → Clean up select Clear cache section (does not delete personal data, but releases up to 1-3 GB).

🔹 For Poco and Black Shark owners: These lines often pre-installed many junk apps, and can be disabled (but not removed!) through Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Choose unnecessary → Shut down.

💡

If the internal memory is filled with 90%+, The system is starting to slow down. Try to keep it free at least. 10-15% total.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring applications to SD-map