How to transfer applications to a memory card in Xiaomi: all the ways (including MIUI 15)

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a lack of internal memory, especially if the device is equipped with only 32 or 64 GB of storage. SD-map, but in modern versions MIUI (14 and 15) this feature is either hidden or limited. Unlike older versions of Android, where the transfer was available in two clicks, now you will need to use workarounds.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to move applications to a memory card in Xiaomi, including:

• 📱 Standard method through settings (if available)
• 🔧 ADB-force-transfer
• 🛠️ Manual movement with file manager (for supported applications)
• 🔓 Root Access Methods (for Advanced Users)

You will also learn why some apps can’t be moved to SD-The instructions are valid for all Xiaomi, Redmi and other models. POCO base MIUI 12–15 and Android 11–14.

Why Xiaomi doesn’t have a “Move to” button SD-map"?

Since Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google has restricted the ability to migrate apps to external drives for security and performance reasons. In MIUI, these restrictions are even stricter: even if the feature is technically supported, it can be hidden or blocked by the manufacturer.

The main reasons for the lack of a button:

• 🔒 Security: Annexes to SD-It is easier to steal or replace the card.
• ⚡ Performance: Memory cards slower than internal memory (especially class) UHS-I vs UFS 2.2 in modern smartphones).
• 📦 Fragmentation: Android is not optimized to work with external drives as a primary storage.
• 📵 Xiaomi's policy: In MIUI Often remove "unnecessary" functions to simplify the interface.

However, workarounds do exist, for example, some applications (such as Google Maps or Spotify) allow you to save cache data to the Internet. SD-The map, even if the app itself cannot be moved, would have to be used for the rest. ADB root-access.

Method 1: Standard Transfer through Settings (if available)

In some Xiaomi models (especially on older versions) MIUI or Android Go) function of transferring applications to SD-The map can be accessed by default. It's easy to check:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as Facebook or Telegram).
3. Slip on Warehouse.
4. If there is a button, change or move to SD-map -- press it.

If there is no button, then your model or version of MIUI does not support this method, in which case move on to the next method.

⚠️ Note: If you are formatting SD-Card as internal memory (through Settings) → Warehouse → SD-map → Set it up as internal, all the data on it will be deleted! This mode allows you to install apps on the map, but it will become "tied" to the phone and will not be read on other devices.

Method 2: Transfer applications over ADB (without root)

If the standard method doesn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — a debugging tool that allows you to forcibly move supported applications to SD-This way, you don't need root access, but you need a computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and enable USB Debugging.
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Download ADB: For Windows: Platform Tools from Google. For Linux/macOS: install via packet manager (sudo apt install adb).

Open the command line.

adb.exe

adb shell


pm set-install-location 2

This team is setting up SD-map as the preferred installation site for new applications. To migrate already installed applications, use:

adb shell pm move-package com.example.app /sdcard

(Replace com.example.app with the batch name of the app, such as com.facebook.katana for Facebook).

If the pm move-package command returns the error [NOT_MOVED: Operation not allowed, which means the application does not support the transfer, and in this case, only root access or use will help. Link2SD (below).

💡

To find out the batch name of the application, install App Inspector from Google Play or use the command adb shell pm list packages | grep "name" (for example, grep "facebook").

Method 3: Use Link2SD (requires root)

If you have root access, the most powerful solution is the app. Link2SD. It not only allows you to transfer applications to SD-map, but also create symbolic links, saving space in the internal memory.

Instructions for setting:

1. Install Link2SD from Google Play.
2. Provide root access when requested.
3. Select the file system for the second partition SD-maps (recommended) ext4 or F2FS).
4. Reboot the phone.
5. In the list of applications, select the desired and tap Create a link (or Move to the SD-map).

Link2SD supports three types of transfer:

• 📁 Transfer APK — the application itself is moved to SD-map.
• 🗃️ Data transfer – cache and user data move.
• 🔗 Symbolic links – files remain on SD-The system "sees" them as internal.

⚠️ Note: Not all applications will work after the transfer through the Link2SD. For example, system applications (Mi Home, Security) or games with protection (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact) can give out errors. Make a backup before transferring!

Method 4: Manual transfer of application files (for experienced)

This method is suitable for applications that store large files (for example, maps in Google Maps or offline music in Spotify).It does not carry the application itself, but allows you to free up space in internal memory.

How it works:

1. Connect your phone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Go to the Android/data/[packet application name] folder (e.g. Android/data/com.spotify.music).
3. Copy the contents of the folder to SD-map (e.g. in the /storage/emulated/0/Android/data-2/[packet-name]).
4. In the application itself, specify a new path to the files (if there is such an option).

Example for Google Maps:

• Copy the folder com.google.android.apps.maps from internal memory to SD-map.
• In Google Maps settings, select Offline Maps → Settings → Storage folder and specify the new path.

This is not universal, but it works for many multimedia applications, and the main thing is not to move the folders of system applications (MiuiGallery, MiuiCamera), this can lead to failures.

Which applications cannot be transferred to SD-map?

Even with ADB or root, some applications do not support external memory, including:

If you try to move such an application forcefully, it will either not launch or it will work with errors, in some cases, creating a symbolic link (via Link2SD) will help, but this does not guarantee stability.

💡

Transfer of system applications or games with protection (for example, PUBG Mobile SD-The card almost always causes them to fail, and it's better to make room in other ways, by clearing the cache, deleting unnecessary files, or using cloud storage.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When transferring applications to SD-And these are the most common problems that people have with this map, and the ways that they can solve them:

• 🚫 "Not enough space on the device: even if the SD-The card has free space, Android can block the installation. Solution: format the card as internal memory (deletes all data!) or use it. Link2SD.
• 🔄 "The app is constantly reset": This happens if SD-Slow card (class) 4/6). Use the cards. UHS-I (U1/U3) or A2 steady-work.
• 📵 "The app doesn't start after transfer": Try clearing the cache or reinstalling the app. If it doesn't work, put it back in internal memory.
• 🔌 "SD-The card is not defined as internal after formatting: Reboot the phone. If it doesn't help, format the card again through Settings → Warehouse → SD-map → Format as portable and then again as internal.

If you are using Link2SD and see Mount script cannot be created, you can:

• Nana SD-There is no second partition (you need to create a MiniTool Partition Wizard on PC).
• The file system is not ext2/ext3/ext4.
• No root rights.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions