How to switch Xiaomi to a memory card: full instructions with nuances

Xiaomi smartphones are known for their functionality, but limited internal storage is often a problem for users. A microSD card can solve this problem, but not everyone knows how to set it up correctly. Unlike older versions of Android, modern devices require a special approach to data portability — especially when it comes to applications.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways Xiaomi uses a memory card as its primary storage, including hidden settings, restrictions, and workarounds, how to migrate photos, videos, music, and even some apps, and what to do if the system can’t see. SD-The map or refuses to format it. The material is relevant for all models based on the map. MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS.

Preparation of a memory card: selection and formatting

Before you switch Xiaomi to a memory card, you need to prepare it correctly. Not all microSDs are suitable for expanding storage — especially if you plan to port applications. The best choice is UHS-I U3 or A2 cards with a capacity of 64 GB. Cheap cards without marking can work slowly or cause errors.

Modern Xiaomi smartphones support two modes of card use:

• 📁 Portable storage for photos, videos and documents (without transferring applications).
• 🔄 Internal Storage – the card becomes part of the system (you can transfer some applications, but not all of them).

For formatting:

1. Insert the card into the slot (in models with a hybrid slot you will have to choose: the second SIM or SD).
2. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
3. Click Format as internal (Warning: All data will be deleted!).
4. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take up to 10 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: Once formatted as internal storage, the card will not be read on other devices without being completely erased, and it will be encrypted, so that when you reset your phone, the data on it will become unavailable.

Transfer files to a memory card manually

The easiest way to free up internal memory is to transfer media files.

1. Open the Files app (or Photo Gallery).
2. Select the desired files (long press → tick).
3. Click Move and select the folder on SD-map (e.g., map, /storage/XXXX-XXXX/DCIM).

To automatically save new photos and videos to the map:

• 📸 In the Chamber: Settings → Preservation site → Memory map.
• 🎵 In Music or Downloads: Show the Way to the SD appliance.

Some system applications (like Screen Records) don’t allow you to choose a memory card as a place to save, and third-party software like Screen Recorder with SD support will help.

Photos and videos from Gallery | Music and podcasts | Uploaded files (PDF, APK, archives) | Titanium Backup applications

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Transferring applications to a memory card: limitations and workarounds

MIUI and HyperOS don't have a full-fledged Adoptable Storage feature (as in pure Android), so you can't transfer all the apps to the map.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Telegram or Spotify).
3. Click Warehouse → Change → Memory Map.

This method has limitations:

• ❌ Not all applications support portability (especially system and games with mobile devices). OBB-file).
• ⚠️ After the transfer, the application can run slower (depending on the speed of the card).
• 🔄 When the map is retrieved, the transferred programs will stop working.

For advanced users, there is a workaround through ADB:

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

This command will force the system to install applications on the map by default (but does not guarantee that all programs will work), after completing the command, a reboot is required, and some applications (for example, banking) may refuse to start.

Setting up a memory card as a default storage

To save new files automatically to SD, you need to change the default settings:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
2. Press Three dots (⋮) → Storage settings.
3. Select Memory Map as the default storage location for multimedia.

Some apps (like WhatsApp) will require manual configuration:

• 💬 On WhatsApp: Settings → Warehouse → The Road to Media → Memory map.
• 📥 In Chrome or Mi Browser: In the download settings, specify the folder on the SD.

Note that even after these settings, some files (such as screenshots or recordings of conversations) may be saved to internal memory, depending on the policy of the particular application.

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If the memory card is not identified, try formatting it on your PC in the exFAT file system (for cards >32 GB), and then reconnect to the phone, sometimes rebooting the device with the card inserted helps.

Memory card problems in Xiaomi and their solution

Frequent errors and ways to eliminate them:

If the card is no longer defined after the MIUI update, try:

1. Remove and re-insert it.
2. Clear the Storage app cache (Settings → Apps → All Apps → Storage → Clear the cache).
3. Reset your phone settings (pre-reverse!).

⚠️ Note: In Xiaomi models with HyperOS (e.g. Redmi Note 13 Pro)+) There may be no option to format the card as an internal storage, and that's a firmware restriction, and you can only get around it through custom recovery like this. TWRP (requires unlocking the loader).

Optimizing the use of a memory card

To make the most of the SD:

• 📂 Create separate folders for different file types (e.g. Music, Documents, APK).
• 🔄 Clean the cache of apps transferred to the map regularly (they can take up a lot of space).
• 🛡️ Use cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Drive) to back up important data from the card.

To speed up the map:

• Turn off autosynchronization for applications installed on the SD.
• Do not store files on the map that you often access (for example, live wallpaper or widgets).
• Periodically check the card for errors through the PC (the chkdsk utility in Windows).

If you use the card as an internal storage, keep an eye on the vacant space -- when you fill it up by more than 90%, the write speed drops dramatically, and the optimal way to do that is to leave 10 to 15 percent of the free space.

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Class A2 memory cards are optimized for application and provide a random read/write speed of at least 4000 IOPS. This is critical for program transfer, but does not affect the storage of media files.

Alternative ways to expand memory in Xiaomi

If porting to SD doesn’t solve the problem, consider other options:

• 🖥️ USB-OTG drive: Connect the flash drive via the adapter (works with files, but not with applications).
• ☁️ Cloud storage: Mi Cloud (5GB free), Google Drive (15GB) or Yandex Disk.
• 🔄 Clean up the system: Remove cache, duplicate photos and unused applications through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup.
• 📦 Transfer to PC: Regularly copy files to your computer via MTP Mi Drop.

For models that support NFS or SMB (such as the Xiaomi Pad 6), you can connect network storage (NAS) and mount it as a local drive, which is more difficult to set up, but gives unlimited memory.

If you're critically short of space, consider buying a smartphone with large built-in storage.Redmi Note 13 and the Redmi Note lineups POCO X6 There are models with 512 GB of memory, which eliminates the need for a new model. SD-card.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cards in Xiaomi