Transfer applications to memory card in Xiaomi Redmi 9: the complete guide

Owners of the popular budget smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 9 often face a lack of built-in storage, especially in the basic versions with 32 or 64 gigabytes. MIUI system, although one of the most functional shells, by default limits the ability to install programs on an external drive, this is done for the sake of security and stability of work, but for the user it means fast filling the system partition.

The solution requires a comprehensive approach, because standard settings menu tools do not always fully transfer a working application. You will not only need to insert a MicroSD, but also to properly configure the developer settings or use a special storage mode. Ignoring these steps will lead to the fact that the card will be used only as file storage for photos and music.

In this article, we’ll look at all the available methods, from simple menu settings to more complex manipulations with USB debugging. You’ll learn which types of applications are migrating and which are best left in your phone’s memory to save performance. Proper data distribution will significantly extend the comfortable use of your device without having to buy a new model.

Preparation of memory card and smartphone for work

The first and most important step is to choose a quality storage device. Cheap memory cards of unknown brands can have low write speeds, which will lead to lags in the work of the applications that you try to move there. For Xiaomi Redmi 9, it is recommended to use Class 10 or UHS-I cards with a volume of at least 32 GB.

Once you put the card into a slot (which is paired with a second SIM tray), the system will suggest formatting it, and here's the first important thing: by default, the phone will suggest using the card as Portable Storage, in which you can store files, but you can't install programs directly on it through the standard interface.

⚠️ Note: Formatting a memory card will completely delete all data on it. Be sure to back up important photos and documents to your computer or cloud before starting the procedure.

If your goal is to maximize your capabilities, you may need to use Internal Storage, but in modern versions of MIUI, this feature is often hidden or removed by developers. So we'll focus on methods that are guaranteed to work on current firmware. Proper file system preparation is key to avoiding errors when writing application cache.

Standard method of transfer through MIUI settings

Start with the simplest and most secure way to do this, which doesn't require a computer connection. Some versions of the MIUI shell still allow individual application data to be manually moved unless the developer has banned this action. First, make sure that the memory card is system-defined and displayed in the File Manager.

Go to the smartphone settings menu, find the Apps section, and select All Apps. In the list, find the program you want to move, such as a heavy game or social network. If portability is possible, the App Management menu will activate the Change or Move to button. SD-map".

However, it is worth considering that system applications and some critical services of Google are not subject to migration, a limitation built into the Android architecture to avoid operating system failures when the drive is removed, and some of the application data will still remain in internal memory.

For easy status checks, use built-in diagnostics, and here is a table showing which data types usually occupy the most space and whether they are migrating:

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To shoot the camera directly to the memory card, open the Camera application, click on three strips in the corner, select Settings and activate the item "Save to the memory card". SD-map".

Using a Developer Mode for Forced Transfer

If the standard menu doesn’t work, you can try activating the hidden Android feature, which allows you to install applications on external drives by default, which requires you to turn on the developer mode, which gives the user access to advanced system settings.

To activate, go to "Settings" → "About the phone" and quickly press 7 times on the item "Version MIUI". After the message “You became a developer” appears, go back to the main settings menu, select “More" → "For developers. Find the "Default Record" (or "Preferred Installation Location") option and select "SD-map".

It's important to understand that this is not a panacea. Many modern applications, especially banking and instant messengers, have strict restrictions in the manifest and will ignore this setting, continuing to install in internal memory.

⚠️ Warning: Enabling the developer mode opens access to sensitive system settings. Do not change the values of parameters whose purpose you do not know, so as not to disturb the stability of the Xiaomi Redmi 9.

Transferring the cache of games and heavy files manually

The most efficient way to free up space on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is to manually transfer the cache of heavy games. Often the game itself weighs 100 MB, but additional data (maps, textures, sounds) can take 2-3 GB. This data is stored in the Android/obb or Android/data folder.

Using a file manager, such as a standard Explorer or a more advanced MI File Manager, you can move folders with data to a memory card. Create a folder structure on the memory card similar to the internal one (for example, Android/obb/com.game.name) and move the relevant files there. Some games automatically pick up data from a new location, others may require creating a symbolic link, which requires root rights.

This method is especially relevant for owners of budget devices, where every gigabyte counts. By transferring only media content and game data, you leave fast internal memory for the system and applications, which positively affects the overall performance of the smartphone.

Using ADB for Advanced Users

For those who are not afraid of the command line, there is a method of using the ADB toolkit (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to force the attributes of installing applications, making the system consider the memory card the main storage for new programs, which is the most powerful, but also the most difficult method.

You'll need a computer, USB-cable and installed Xiaomi drivers. After connecting the phone in debugging mode USB, You can use the command line on your PC to type in the adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2 command, where "2" stands for external memory. "0" returns default settings (internal memory), and "1" leaves the system to choose.

adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2

It’s worth noting that even after using this command, some applications may be unstable, widgets may stop updating and notifications may stop arriving with a delay if the memory card is slower than internal flash memory, so you should use this method with caution when testing each critical application.

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The ADB team changes the global preference for the system, but does not guarantee compatibility of all applications, since the final decision is made by the program developer.

Possible problems and ways to solve them

In the process of memory optimization, Redmi 9 users may encounter a number of typical problems. It often happens that after transferring an application, it stops starting or crashes immediately after opening, this may indicate file corruption during transfer or insufficient speed of reading the memory card.

Another common problem is the disappearance of widgets from the desktop, which occurs when the application is moved to an external medium, since the Android system only loads the widgets from internal storage until the external devices are fully initialized, in which case the application is better returned back.

If you notice that your phone is running slower, check the status of the memory card. File fragmentation or sector errors can cause delays when the system accesses application data. Check the drive regularly and replace it with a faster version if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)