Today’s smartphone users take hundreds of pictures every day, and the Xiaomi Redmi 5 is no exception. However, built-in storage of 16 or 32 gigabytes quickly fills up, causing the system to slow down and inability to take a new frame, at which point the owner is faced with the question of how to move the photo from the phone to the memory card to free up precious internal space for the application to work.
The process of transferring media files to an external MicroSD drive does not require complex technical knowledge, but requires attention to detail. The correct organization of the file system will allow you to save all memories in high quality and not worry about the messages "Memory is full." In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways of moving data.
It's worth noting that using an external drive is not just a way of storing it, it's also a way of backing up. If something happens to your smartphone's internal memory, your photos will stay safe on a removable medium. Let's look at how to prepare your device for new data sets.
Preparation of memory card and smartphone for work
Before you start transferring files, you need to make sure your MicroSD card is working properly and installed correctly in the device slot. Xiaomi Redmi 5 features a hybrid slot, so it’s important to insert the drive so that it doesn’t conflict with the second one. SIM-If you use two numbers, the system must automatically recognize the new media after the physical installation.
If the card is being used for the first time or has previously worked on another device, Android may require formatting. Formatting is the process of creating a file system that the phone understands. Note that this procedure will completely delete all data that may already be on the USB drive, so pre-copy it to your computer if it is important.
⚠️ Warning: Before formatting, make sure that the battery of the smartphone is at least 30%. interruption of the formatting process due to discharge can damage the file system of the card and it will stop reading.
To check the status of the drive, go to the settings menu. The path usually looks like this: Settings → Storage. Here you'll see the total amount of internal memory and connected memory. SD-If the system offers to select mode of operation (for example, Portable storage or Internal memory), for the purpose of transferring the photo, it is better to choose the first option so that you can easily retrieve the card on other devices.
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Use UHS-I speed memory cards (U1 or U3) to quickly record high-resolution photos. Cheap cards can slow down the camera.
Use of the standard MIUI conductor
The easiest and most affordable way to move photos is to use the built-in Explorer app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones and has a user-friendly interface. Open the app and you'll see partitions that display internal memory and SD-map.
To get started, go to internal memory. You need to find the folder where the images are stored. By default, the camera stores them in the DCIM → Camera directory. Also, photos from messengers can be stored in the Pictures or MIUI → Gallery → cloudcache folders.
Once you've highlighted one or more images, you'll see a toolbar at the bottom of the screen, and click on the "More" icon (three dots) and select the "Move" action, and the system will prompt you to select destination, in this case, it's yours. SD-Create a new folder for order or select an existing one.
☑️ Algorithm of moving through a conductor
It's important to understand the difference between Copy and Move. When you copy, the originals stay in the phone's memory, taking up space, and a duplicate appears on the map. When you move the files, you physically transfer them, you vacate the space immediately after you complete the operation. When you free up the space, use the movement.
Transfer through Gallery settings
The Gallery app in the MIUI shell also allows you to manage files, although the functionality of moving there may be less obvious than in Explorer. When you open an album, you can select a few shots, click on the More button and find the move option, but often this method works slower when processing a large number of files.
The advantage of working through the Gallery is visual control, you see what kind of photos you're sending to the store, and you can immediately delete duplicates or failed shots, which is especially useful if you're going through the archives of the past month or year.
Some firmware versions allow you to set up automatic saving of new images immediately to the memory card. To do this, go to the settings of the camera itself (the gear icon in the shooting interface). SD-Now all new photos will be written directly to the external drive, bypassing the internal memory.
Why can’t new photos be written on the map?
Keep in mind that moving existing photos through Gallery settings sometimes requires additional security confirmations, as Android protects system folders.
Use of the Files app from Google
If Xiaomi’s standard interface seems uncomfortable, you can use a third-party file manager like “Files by Google,” which is often already installed on Redmi 5 or can be downloaded for free from the Play Store, and is clean and smartly sorted.
Launch the app and go to the Overview tab, and the devices are clearly separated: Internal Storage and yours. SD-The transfer mechanics are similar to the computer: go to the source folder, allocate files, select Move, and specify the destination folder on the external media.
One of the useful features of this app is that you can sort files by type, so you can select the Images category, and the app will show all the photos on the device, no matter what folder they are in, which makes it easier to transfer disparate files by mass.
| Parameter | Internal memory. | SD-map | Cloud storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed of access | High (UFS/eMMC) | Medium (depending on class) | Depends on the Internet. |
| Reliability | Tall. | Average (loss risk) | Very high. |
| Cost of GBB | Included in the phone price | Low. | Monthly subscription |
| Portability | Only with a phone. | You can move it to a PC. | Access from any device |
Setup the camera to automatically record on SD
In order to avoid overflowing internal memory in the future, it is advisable to set the camera to automatically record all new materials immediately on the MicroSD, which eliminates the need to clean the phone regularly.
Open the Camera app and click on the menu (three bars or gears). In the settings list, find the "Save to" switch. SD-Activate it. From now on, all the images and videos will be sent by default to the external drive.
However, there is a caveat: some system screenshots or photos taken in certain modes (such as Panorama or Slow-Shoot on older versions of the software) may still be stored inside.
⚠️ Note: When recording video in high resolution (1080p Slow memory card can be desynchronized with audio and video or stop recording. Use only high-speed cards of class 10 and above.
Also keep in mind that when the memory card is overflowing, the camera will automatically switch to internal memory if there is space there, or stop shooting if it is also busy.
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Automatic recording SD-The map is the best preventive solution, but it can’t stand old photos taken before the feature is turned on.
Clearing the cache and freeing up the space
Once you have moved the main arrays of photos, it is recommended to audit the remaining files. Often the memory is filled not only with the photo, but also with the cache of applications, downloaded documents and forgotten video files from messengers.
The Security app (standard for Xiaomi) has a Cleanup tool that will find temporary files and suggest that they be deleted, and it’s worth checking the Download folder, which often includes files from browsers and chat rooms.
Remember, the deleted photos end up in the Gallery's basket, where they're stored for 30 days, and they're still in space, so to finally free up your memory, you have to go to the Deleted album and clean it up completely.
Regular file system maintenance helps your phone run faster. Take 5-10 minutes a month to sort and remove unnecessary content, and your Redmi 5 will be a solid experience.
Possible problems and solutions
During operation, users may encounter card read errors or inability to write a file. Most often this is due to the file system. Android prefers the format exFAT or FAT32. If the card is formatted in NTFS (Windows standard), the phone can only read files, but not write them.
Another common problem is damage to the media database. If photos are missing from the Gallery after transferring but remain in the Explorer, try clearing the Gallery app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Gallery → Clear → Clear cache.
If the phone stops seeing the memory card after transferring a lot of data, it may be that the contacts have oxidized or the card has failed. Try re-extracting and pasting the card after turning off the smartphone.