How to transfer games to SD-card in Xiaomi: all the ways and nuances

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a lack of internal memory, especially if they are actively installing games. 128 GB can fill up quickly – modern projects like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile take up the most important tasks. 10-15 GB each. Transfer of games to SD-The map seems to be a logical solution, but in MIUI This process has its own characteristics.

Unlike older versions of Android, where you could simply specify the memory card as the default installation location, Xiaomi’s new firmware (especially MIUI 14/15) has many features limited. This is due to Google’s security policy and app optimization. However, workarounds exist – from standard system tools to using ADB and third-party utilities. It’s important to understand that not all games support portability, and some after moving can work slower or with bugs.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer games to the SD-Xiaomi smartphone card including Redmi models, POCO We'll focus on the nuances of different versions. MIUI, Types of memory cards (microSD, SDXC) If you want to make room for internal memory without losing productivity, read on.

Why Xiaomi is limiting the transfer of games to SD-card?

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones don’t just make it harder to migrate apps, but there are several key factors:

• 🔒 Data security: Memory cards are easier to lose or damage, and games often store personal information (accounts, progress, payments).
• ⚡ Performance: Internal Memory (UFS or eMMC, which operates in 5-10 faster than the fastest microSD (class) A2 or UHS-II).
• 📱 Google policy: Starting with Android 9, Google has limited the ability to port apps to the Internet SD-map due to stability risks.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI: In new versions of firmware (MIUI 14+) Application portability can be completely removed or hidden.

However, the limitations don’t apply to all games, such as Unity or Unreal Engine 4/5 projects that often allow the transfer of cache (additional files) to a memory card, even if the APK itself remains in internal memory, and some games (such as Minecraft or Terraria) initially support storing worlds on an SD.

⚠️ Note: Transferring games to a memory card can cause them to run unstable, especially if you use a cheap or slow microSD (class below). A1 or UHS-I). In some cases, games may fail to start altogether, giving an error such as “Insufficient memory” or “Files corrupted".

Preparation SD-Maps: which class to choose and how to format

Before you can transfer games, you need to properly prepare the memory card, which depends on whether the games will work steadily or start to "lay."

• 📌 Minimum class: A1 or UHS-I (U1). For heavy games (e.g, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact is better for you. A2 or UHS-II (U3).
• 🔄 Formatting: The card must be formatted in the exFAT file system or FAT32 (but FAT32 Does not support files more than 4GB).
• 📲 Adaptation for Android: In the settings MIUI The card can be made "internal" (will expand the memory of the phone) or "portable" (will be a separate drive).

To format the card as an internal memory:

1. Insert the card into your smartphone and go to Settings → Memory.
2. Click on the title. SD-maps and select "Settings" (cog in the upper right corner).
3. Tap "Format as internal" and confirm the action.
4. Wait until the process is completed (it can take 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: If you format a card as internal memory, it cannot be retrieved and used on other devices without completely erasing the data!

Method 1: Standard transfer through MIUI settings (for supported games)

Some games MIUI allow some of the data to be transferred to SD-This is the simplest method, but it doesn't work with all applications. Here's how to apply it:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the right game in the list and tap it.
3. Go to the "Storage" section.
4. If the option is available, you will see the "Change" button next to the "Inner Memory" label.
5. Press "SD-map" and confirm the transfer.

This method works with games such as:

• 🎮 Minecraft (transfer of worlds)
• 🏰 Terraria (preservations and mods)
• 🚗 Asphalt 9 (texture cache)

However, most modern games (such as Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG) do not support this method, and then you will have to use alternative methods.

The game supports portability to SD (check in Google Play).

SD-The card is formatted as portable or internal

There is enough free space on the map (at least 20% more than the game weighs)

The smartphone is not discharged (the process may take time). 10-30 minute)-->

Method 2: Transfer over ADB (for power users)

If the standard method doesn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which is more complicated, but allows you to migrate almost any application as long as it supports storage on external media.

This will require:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell


pm set-install-location 2

This command forces the system to install applications on SD-It's the default card, but it doesn't work on all versions. MIUI and may reset after rebooting.

To transfer the already installed game, use:

adb shell


pm move-package com.example.game (replace with a game pack, for example com.tencent.ig for PUBG)

You can find out the game package through the App Inspector app or the Google Play website (in the address bar after id=).

⚠️ Note: Some games (such as Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings) block the launch from external media due to cheating protection. ADB It will not help – the game will either not start or will constantly fly out.

💡

If the pm move-package command is giving an error, Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_INSTALL_LOCATION]", The game does not support the transfer to SD. Try other methods, such as transferring only cache.

Method 3: Transfer the game cache to SD-map (bypass)

If the game itself cannot be moved, you can try to move its cache — additional files (textures, sounds, levels) that take up the lion’s share of memory. For example, in Call of Duty Mobile, the cache weighs ~ 2 GB, and in Genshin Impact — up to 15 GB.

This can be done in two ways:

Option 1: Through the game menu

Some games allow you to manually specify a folder for downloading the cache:

1. Start the game and find the "Storage" or "Downloads" section in the settings.
2. Select the option "Change storage location" or "SD-map".
3. Confirm the transfer and wait until it is completed (may take up to an hour for heavy games).

Option 2: Manually through the file manager

If there is no such option in the game, you can transfer the cache manually:

1. Install a file manager with access to root folders (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /Android/obb/ or /Android/data/ (most games are stored here).
3. Find a folder with the game name (e.g. com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact) and copy it to SD-map.
4. Return to the original folder and create a symbolic link (root rights required) or just leave an empty folder with the same name.

To create a symbolic link (if there is root), use the command in Terminal Emulator:

su


ln -s /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Android/obb/com.game.package /sdcard/Android/obb/com.game.package

Where XXXX-XXXX — identifier SD-maps (can be found through ls) /storage/).

Method 4: Using third-party applications (without root)

If previous methods have failed, you can use specialized utilities. They do not require root rights, but their effectiveness depends on the version of MIUI and the model of the smartphone.

Top.-3 play-port:

• 📌 AppMgr III (App 2 SD) — It shows you which games you can migrate, and it does it in one click. MIUI 12-14, It may not support new models (Xiaomi) 13/14).
• 🔄 Files by Google – has a built-in memory manager that offers to transfer rarely used games to the Internet SD. Disadvantage: only works with supported games.
• 📂 SD Maid clears the cache and offers options for memory optimization, including data transfer.

Instructions for AppMgr III:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to the memory.
3. Go to the "Movable" tab.
4. Select the game and click "Move to SD".
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

Important: Some apps (like AppMgr III) may show games as portable, but after trying to make a mistake, due to the limitations of MIUI.

💡

The application side cannot bypass the system limitations of MIUI. Unless the game is ported through ADB or settings, third-party utilities will not help either, in which case only transferring the cache or buying a smartphone with more internal memory remains.

Solving problems: Games don’t start or crash after transfer

If the game stopped working after the transfer, here are the typical reasons and their solutions:

If the game is unstable after the transfer, try the following steps:

1. Clean the game cache in Settings → Apps → [Game] → Storage → Clear the cache.
2. Reboot your smartphone.
3. Check if the power saving mode for this game is turned on (Settings → Battery → Applications selection).
4. If nothing helps, put the game back in your memory.

⚠️ Note: Some games (such as Genshin Impact or Lineage 2: Revolution) have built-in portability protection. SD-If you try to cheat, they can block your account for cheating or reset your progress!

FAQ: Frequent questions about SD gaming portability in Xiaomi