How to transfer the application from your phone to the memory card Xiaomi Redmi 7A

Owners of budget smartphones like the Redmi 7A often face critical shortages of internal memory, 16GB or 32GB of built-in storage is woefully short of modern “heavy” programs and games, and system files take up a significant amount of space, leading to constant notifications of space shortages and slowdowns of the MIUI operating system.

Fortunately, the 7A supports microSD card installation, which allows for more available storage. However, standard Android tools do not allow full-fledged applications to be ported due to security limitations and file system architecture. This requires a deeper approach, including the use of special developer modes or third-party software.

In this article, we will take a look at all the methods available, from simple settings to computer use, how to turn a memory card into a full-fledged extension of internal storage, what risks exist when formatting and how to avoid data loss.

Preparation of memory card and compatibility check

Before you start manipulating the file system, you need to make sure the quality of the drive used. To work as a memory extension, you need a card with a high write speed, preferably Class 10 or UHS-I. Slow cards will lead to an interface freeze and a long load of programs.

Put the card in the smartphone slot and wait for the notification to appear. MIUI will offer two use cases: as a portable storage or as internal memory. For our purposes, it is critical to choose the second option, although it can be hidden in the standard menu. If the system only offers formatting as a portable medium, this means that you will need to use ADB debugging.

Make sure to back up all the important data on the map. The process of adapting to internal memory involves complete formatting, which will destroy all photos, music and documents. Once the procedure is complete, the card will be encrypted and can not be read on other devices without re-formatting.

⚠️ Warning: After formatting the card as internal memory, it becomes tied to a particular smartphone. Removing the card without first turning off the settings will lead to read errors and potential loss of application data.

Make sure the battery is at least 50%, interrupting the formatting or data transfer process due to battery discharge can cause damage to the file table and the need to flash the phone.

Activation of the developer mode and debugging via USB

To gain access to hidden memory management functions, you need to activate the engineering menu, which is a standard procedure for Android devices to make changes to system settings, without which you can not transfer applications.

Go to the settings menu and select About Phone. Find Version MIUI" And press it fast. 7-10 After a few clicks, you'll see a pop-up saying you've become a developer. Now, in the main settings menu, in the "Advanced Settings" section, you'll see a new item for "Developers".

Inside this menu, find the USB Debugging switch and activate it. The system will give you a warning about potential risks, confirm the action, and it is also recommended to turn on the option "Do not turn off the screen" during charging, so that the process does not stop accidentally.

• 📱 Go to Settings. → About the phone and press 7 times on the firmware version.
• 🔧 Go to Advanced Settings → For developers.
• 🔌 Activate the tumbler Debugging by USB.
• 📲 Confirm the debugging permission when connecting to the computer.

After enabling debugging, connect the phone to the computer through a high-quality USB-You'll see a request on your smartphone for debugging permission from that computer, check the "Always Allow" box, and click "OK." Without that confirmation, the computer won't be able to send the required commands.

Using ADB for Forced Transfer

The most effective way to get around manufacturer restrictions is to use the command line ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is part of the SDK platform and allows you to directly interact with the shell of the operating system.

You'll need to download the minimum ADB toolkit to your computer. Once you've unpacked the archive, open the command line in the tool folder. Make sure the phone is connected and visible to the system. Enter the adb device command to check the connection. If all is right, you'll see the serial number of the device.

To change the default application installation policy, type the following command: adb shell pm set-install-location 2. The number "2" indicates the priority of the external memory card. If you want to return everything as it was, use the value "0" (automatically) or "1" (internal memory only).

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

This command does not move already installed applications automatically, but allows new programs to be installed immediately on the map, unless the developer has prohibited this from the application manifest.

⚠️ Note: The set-install-location team doesn't work with all apps. Many modern programs, such as WhatsApp or Telegram, may ignore this setting due to security and speed requirements.

Some users also use the adb shell sm partition command to create a mixed partition, but this requires unlocking the bootloader, which on Xiaomi devices is a complex and risky procedure leading to loss of warranty.

Transfer applications through standard settings

If you don't want to use a computer, you can try to move supported applications through the MIUI interface. This method is safe, but not available for all programs. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications.

Select the desired application from the list. If the program supports transfer, the button "Move to" SD-The map will be active. Otherwise it will be gray or absent. It depends on how the developer has written paths to the data in the application code.

When you transfer some of the data, including the cache and some libraries, will still remain in internal memory, which is normal for Android, since critical components must be loaded from a fast built-in drive to keep things running.

• 📂 Open the Application Manager in the settings.
• 📲 Choose a program that takes up a lot of space.
• 💾 Press the Move button if it is available.
• ⏳ Wait for the process to end without turning off the screen.

It is worth noting that after transferring the application icon remains on the desktop, but the files will be physically located on an external medium, the speed of launching such programs may be lower than those that are left in internal memory.

Application of specialized utilities

There are third-party applications that automate the transfer process or allow you to create virtual containers, and one popular solution is the App2SD app, which analyzes installed programs and shows which ones can be moved.

Another method involves using Link2SD functions. It's a powerful root-rights tool that creates symbolic links, and it allows you to "cheat" the system by making it think that the files are in internal storage, even though they are physically on the map.

These utilities often require root access, which can only be obtained on Xiaomi Redmi 7A after unlocking the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock service, which takes several days and requires an account to be linked.

Using third-party software always carries risks. Malware can access your personal data. Only download utilities from trusted sources, such as the official Google Play store.

Optimization of work after the transfer

Once you've re-engineered the applications, you need to optimize. The file system on the memory card fragments faster than on the internal chip. It's recommended that you defragment it periodically, although modern file systems do this automatically.

Watch the temperature of the device. Actively working with the memory card, especially when writing large amounts of data, can cause heating. If the phone starts to warm, take a break from using heavy applications.

Remember to regularly clean the cache of portable applications. Even when on a memory card, they accumulate temporary files that can slow down over time. Use the built-in MIUI cleaner or third-party utilities.

• 🧹 Regularly remove unused applications.
• 📸 Transfer photos and videos to cloud storage.
• 🔄 Update your phone’s firmware to improve memory management.

The correct organization of files on the memory card will help to keep the system running, try not to fill the external drive completely, leaving 10-15% free space for the recording algorithms to work correctly.

Possible problems and ways to solve them

Errors can occur during operation, and users often find themselves in a situation where applications from the card stop running, usually due to file system damage or poor card contact in the slot.

If the system says "Application not installed" when trying to port, check the file system format. To work as internal memory, the card must be formatted in ext4 (via ADB) or have the correct markup that Android itself creates when it is initially set up.

⚠️ Attention: Removing the memory card without first turning off the settings menu (Storage) → SD-map → Extract) may lead to data corruption and inability to run portable applications.

In some cases, re-formatting the card as an internal storage tool helps. Don't be afraid to experiment if you have a backup. Memory problems on budget models like the Redmi 7A are solvable, but they require patience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)