How to transfer applications to a memory card in Xiaomi: all the ways and nuances

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a lack of internal memory, especially if the device is equipped with a modest 32 or 64 GB. One solution to this problem is to transfer applications to a microSD card. However, in modern versions of MIUI (12-14), the standard function of porting applications may be hidden or completely absent.

It is worth noting that not all applications can be transferred to the SD-Many manufacturers (including Xiaomi) limit this capability due to the specifics of the Android operating system.However, there are several proven ways to free up your Redmi’s internal memory, POCO Mi without loss of functionality. In this article, we will look at both official methods and workarounds for power users.

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

Starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google introduced Adoptable Storage, which allowed you to format SD-The card is an internal memory, but in later versions MIUI (Xiaomi has dropped this feature since 9th for several reasons:

• 🔹 Productivity: SD-cards (even class) A1/A2) They are slower than the built-in memory. eMMC/UFS, which can lead to lags and slowing down applications.
• 🔹 Security: Storing application data on removable media increases the risk of information leakage if you lose your card.
• 🔹 Compatibility: Not all applications work with external memory correctly, especially if they use external memory. OBB-file.
• 🔹 Google policy: With Android 10, Adoptable Storage has been deactivated for most devices due to frequent crashes.

However, MIUI still has the ability to transfer some of the application data (cache, media files) and also to fully transfer some applications, if the developer has intended it, and then we will discuss how to do this in practice.

Method 1: Standard Transfer through MIUI Settings

If your application supports the transfer to SD-map, you can do this through the settings menu. This method works on most Xiaomi devices with a different set of devices. MIUI 12-14, but not available for all applications.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want to migrate. Please note that if the port option is not available, the button will be inactive.
3. Click on Warehouse (or Memory in some versions).
4. If the option is available, change or move to SD-Map, tap on it and confirm the action.

Important: Even if the transfer button is active, some data (e.g, OBB-game files) may remain in internal memory, and after transfer, the application may run slower, especially if SD-The card has a low speed class (Class) 4/6).

Format the map in FAT32/exFAT (not NTFS)|

Check the speed class (recommended) A1/A2)|

Create a backup copy of data from the map |

Make sure the card is not more than 80%|

-->

Method 2: Use the Default Storage function (for media files)

If the application itself cannot be transferred, you can at least direct its cache and media files to the app. SD-For this purpose in MIUI There is a function of changing the storage default.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Select the default storage (or default memory).
3. Indicate. SD-Card instead of Internal Memory.
4. Confirm the change. Now, new photos, videos and downloads will be saved to the map.

This method does not carry the applications themselves, but helps to free internal memory from junk files, for example, Telegram or WhatsApp cache can take several gigabytes, its transfer will significantly unload the system.

⚠️ Note: Some apps (e.g. Google Photos or Gallery) MIUI) They can ignore this rule and keep saving files to internal memory, so you have to manually specify the way to save them in each application settings.

Method 3: Transfer over ADB (for power users)

If the standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — a debugging tool that allows you to manually specify to the system which applications can be transferred to SD-This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and basic knowledge of working with the command line.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on the Developer Mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC, install ADB drivers (if necessary), and open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux).
4. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is displayed, go further.
5. Find out the batch name of the application (for example, for Facebook it is com.facebook.katana).
6. Move the app to SD-Map command: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 After that, all supported applications will be installed on the map by default.

To return the settings back, use the command:

adb shell pm set-install-location 0

⚠️ Note: Not all applications will work correctly after the transfer through the ADB. For example, system applications MIUI (com.miui.home, com.android.settings can not be transferred – this can lead to malfunctions in the smartphone.

Method 4: Manually move application files (for games and heavy programs)

Some apps (especially games) store basic data in folders Android/obb and Android/data. These files can be transferred to SD-manually, but this will require root access or a file manager with support for working with system folders (for example, FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).

How to transfer OBB and data:

1. Connect. SD-Smartphone card and make sure there is enough space on it.
2. With the file manager, go to /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb and copy the folder with the game (e.g. com.gameloft.android.ANMP.GloftA9HM for Asphalt 9).
3. Insert the copied folder into /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Android/obb on SD-map (where) XXXX-XXXX — ID of your card).
4. Remove the original folder from your internal memory.
5. Reboot your smartphone and check the game performance.

In the same way, data from Android/data, But note: some apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) may not see files on the app. SD-And they'll recreate it in the internal memory, and then only a symbolic link will help, but you need a root to create it.

💡

If the game doesn't start after the OBB transfer, try clearing its cache in the settings (Settings → Apps → [game name] → Clear the cache). Sometimes it helps to re-upload additional files through the game menu.

Method 5: Formatting SD-The card is an internal memory (adoptable storage)

Old versions. MIUI (9th, there was a possibility to format SD-The card is called Adoptable Storage, which is hidden in modern firmware, but can be activated through the use of a computer. ADB or third-party utilities like App2SD.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 Applications are installed on the map automatically.
• 🔹 Application data is also stored on SD.
• 🔹 No manual file transfer required.

Disadvantages:

• 🔸 The map becomes "tied" to the device and is not read on other gadgets.
• 🔸 Productivity may fall (depending on class) SD-map).
• 🔸 When you remove the map, the applications will stop working.

How to activate Adoptable Storage:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and activate ADB (as in Method 3).
2. Enter the command to check supported media: adb shell sm list-disks You should see something like disk:179,XX.
3. Format the card as internal memory with the command (replace XX with your identifier): adb shell sm partition disk:179,XX private
4. After formatting, restart the smartphone.

⚠️ Note: This method irreversibly deletes all data from the SD-It makes it incompatible with other devices without formatting again, and once you activate Adoptable Storage, you can't retrieve the card without resetting your smartphone settings.

What applications cannot be transferred to SD-map?

Even if you use ADB or Adoptable Storage, some applications do not support external memory, including:

• 🔴 System applications (MIUI Launcher, Settings, Phone, Messages).
• 🔴 Applications with high performance requirements (e.g, PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact – They can slow down or fly off).
• 🔴 Banking applications and wallets (Sberbank Online, Google Pay, Tinkoff) – for security reasons.
• 🔴 Annexes with DRM-Protection (Netflix, Disney)+, Skyeng – They require internal memory to work with licenses.
• 🔴 Widgets and services (e.g. Google App, MIUI Weather – They should always be available to the system.

If you try to migrate an application like this, it either won't start or it will crash, and at best, the system will simply ignore the port command.

💡

Before you transfer any application, check it after you reboot your smartphone. If the application crashes or doesn't open, return it to internal memory.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring applications to SD-map