How to transfer files from internal memory to SD- card in Xiaomi: all ways

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones sooner or later face a lack of internal memory — especially if the device is equipped with a modest 32 or 64 GB. The solution seems obvious: transfer files to a microSD card. But here users are waiting for nuances: from the limitations of the MIUI shell to the peculiarities of working with applications. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of moving data — from photos and videos to games and instant messengers — and explain why some files can not be transferred and how to circumvent these restrictions.

It's important to understand that the procedure depends on the version of MIUI (12, 13 or 14), the model of the smartphone and even the type of memory card. For example, on the Xiaomi 12T with MIUI 14, the algorithm will differ from the Redmi Note 8 to MIUI 12.5. We took these differences into account and prepared universal instructions that will suit most of the brand's devices. If your model supports memory expansion, we will separately tell you how to use it to transfer applications.

Before you start, check two things: 1 Make sure the microSD card is formatted as portable storage (not as internal memory, that’s another mode, we’ll talk about it below). 2 Use A2 or UHS-I cards for stable operation – cheap cards can slow down your smartphone when writing files.

1 Preparation: how to properly insert and configure the SD- card in Xiaomi

Before transferring files, the memory card must be properly installed and configured, and errors at this stage will result in the system not seeing the drive or allowing data to be written to it.

In most Xiaomi models, the microSD slot is combined with the slot for the second SIM- card (hybrid slot), except for flagship devices like Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5 Pro, where the slot is allocated separately.

• 📱 Turn off your smartphone (required! Hot replacement can damage your contacts).
• 🔧 Use a paper clip or special key to remove the tray.
• 📤 Place the microSD card in the appropriate groove (contacts down).
• 🔄 Turn on the phone and wait for the card to be identified (notification will appear in the curtain).

If the map is not determined:

• 🛠️ Check if your card model supports more than 256GB of capacity (e.g., Redmi 9A only works with cards up to 512GB, and POCO X3 Pro only works up to 1TB).
• 🔄 Try formatting the card in FAT32 or exFAT via a computer (but note that MIUI may require re-formatting).
• ⚠️ If the card was previously used as internal memory on another device, it should be formatted in the Xiaomi settings.

⚠️ Warning: Do not remove the memory card while writing files, as this may result in data loss or file system damage.MIUI14 will be alerted when trying to retrieve during an operation, but in older versions (e.g. MIUI11), the system may "hang."

After installing the card, we recommend checking its speed.

1. Download the A1 SD Bench app from Google Play.
2. Run the write/read test.
3. If the write speed is below 10 MB/s, the card is not suitable for installing applications (for storing media files only).

2. Method 1: Transfer files through the "Conductor" (media, documents, downloads)

The easiest method is to use Xiaomi’s built-in File Manager, which allows you to move photos, videos, music and documents without additional applications. Instructions are relevant for the MIUI 12-14.

How to transfer files:

1. Open the Explorer app (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Device section → Internal memory.
3. Find the folder with the files you want to transfer (for example, DCIM for photos or Download for downloads).
4. Long press on the file / folder → highlight the necessary elements.
5. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Move.
6. Select SD- card → specify the destination folder (or create a new one).
7. Confirm the transfer.

Features of the method:

• 📁 You can transfer entire folders (e.g. Camera or Screenshots).
• ⏳ Speed depends on the card class: on A1 transfer 10 GB photo will take ~ 15 minutes, on A2 ~ 5 minutes.
• 🔒 Some system files (e.g., from an Android folder) cannot be moved without root rights.

If the error "Not enough space" appears when transferring, although there is free space on the map:

• Check if the card is filled with hidden files (such as an app cache).
• Format the card in exFAT (supports files >4 GB).
• Reboot your smartphone – sometimes MIUI will not display the available space correctly.

⚠️ Warning: When transferring files from the DCIM folder (photo/video) Xiaomi Gallery may temporarily not display media. To fix, open the Gallery → three dots → Update Media Library.

3 Method 2: Transfer applications to the SD- card (selected models only)

Unlike media files, it is more difficult to transfer applications to the SD- card. Xiaomi limits this function because of the risk of performance loss. However, on some models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 NFC) it is possible to use the card as an extension of internal memory (Memory Extension).

How to check the support function:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Press on. SD-map.
3. If you have the option “Use as internal memory” – your device supports application portability.

If the option is available, follow the instructions:

• 📱 Click "Use as internal memory" → Format (all data from the card will be deleted!).
• 🔄 After formatting, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
• 📤 Select the application → Storage → Change → Specify SD- card.

Important nuances:

If your model doesn’t support Memory Extension, there are workarounds:

• 📲 Use applications like App2SD (requires root rights).
• 🖥️ Move the game cache (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) manually through Explorer to the folder on the SD- map, and then specify the new path in the game settings.
• ☁️ Install "light" versions of apps (e.g. Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite).

💡

Before transferring applications to the SD- card, check their compatibility: some games (for example, PUBG Mobile) refuse to work with external memory due to cheat protection.

Method 3: Automatic transfer of photos and videos through the "Gallery"

The MIUI shell allows you to automatically save new photos and videos directly to the SD- card, eliminating the need to manually transfer files after each shot.

How to turn on autosave:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Press on. ⚙️ Settings (cog in the upper right corner).
3. Select a Retention Site → SD-map.
4. Confirm your choice.

After that, all new images and videos will be saved directly to the memory card.

• 📸 Old photos will remain in internal memory – they must be transferred manually (see Method 1).
• 🔄 If you retrieve the SD- card, the camera will automatically return to internal memory.
• 📱 On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 11T), the Save Place option is hidden in the additional camera settings – scroll through the menu to the end.

There are additional restrictions for video:

• 🎥 Videos at 4K or 8K resolution may not be saved to the SD- card due to write speed limits (UHS-II card required).
• 🔊 If Dolby Atmos audio recording is enabled (on flagships like the Xiaomi 13 Pro), auto-save on the SD- card can be blocked.

5. Method 4: Transfer files over a computer (for large amounts of data)

If you need to move tens of gigabytes of data (like backups or large music collections), it’s easier to use a computer, faster than moving through a smartphone, and avoids copying failures.

Step-by-step instructions for Windows/macOS:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
2. On the phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode (notification will appear in the curtain).
3. On your computer, open "This Computer" (Windows) or Android File Transfer (macOS).
4. Copy files from the Internal Memory folder into the folder SD-map.

Tips for speeding up the process:

• 🖥️ Use it. USB 3.0 (blue port) and high speed cable.
• 📂 Transfer files to archives (ZIP/RAR) – this will reduce copying time.
• ⚡ Disable the antivirus for the duration of the transfer (it can slow down the process by scanning files).

If the computer can't see SD-map:

• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and PC.
• 🛠️ Update the drivers MTP via Device Manager (Windows).
• 📱 In Xiaomi settings, go to Additional → For Developers → Configuration USB and select MTP (if available).

⚠️ Warning: When you connect to macOS, you may experience a "Device Not Supported" error. Solution: install the official Android File Transfer software from Google and restart the Mac.

6. Method 5: Using third-party file managers (for advanced features)

Xiaomi’s built-in Explorer isn’t always convenient, for example, it doesn’t show hidden files or support cloud storage.

• 📁 Solid Explorer - Supports FTP, clouds and dual-panel mode.
• 🔍 FX File Explorer – shows hidden system files (useful for backup transfers).
• ☁️ Files by Google is a simple interface with a memory cleaner feature.

Example of transfer via Solid Explorer:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to the storage.
3. In the left panel, select Internal Memory, in the right — SD-map.
4. Long click on files → Copy / Move → specify the target folder.

Advantages of third-party managers:

• 🔄 You can configure automatic synchronization between the internal memory and the SD- card.
• 📂 Support ZIP/RAR – you can archive files before transferring them.
• 🔒 Access to root folders (if root rights are available).

Important: Some managers (e.g. ES Explorer) contain ads and may request unnecessary permissions.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When transferring files, Xiaomi users face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

If, after transferring applications to the SD- card, they start to fly out or slow down:

• 📱 Return them to internal memory (in the application settings).
• 🔄 Try another SD- card (class A2 or higher).
• 🛠️ Clear the app cache in Settings → Apps.

Another common problem is that files disappear after the card is extracted, and this happens if:

• The files were copied, not moved (the originals remained in the internal memory).
• The card was retrieved without "Safe Retrieval" (in the notification curtain).
• The file system of the card is corrupted (check through the SD Card Formatter on PC).

💡

If the smartphone slows down after transferring the applications to the SD-, return them back to internal memory. Memory cards (even the A2 class) are slower than the built-in drive, which is critical for games and heavy applications.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions