Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a lack of internal memory, especially in low-end and mid-range models. Modern apps, social networks and instant messengers grow in size with each version, taking up gigabytes of precious space. When the built-in drive overflows, the device starts to work slower, and the MIUI system can block the installation of new programs or updates already existing ones, at which point users think about moving some of the data to an external drive.
Using a microSD card is the most affordable way to expand the gadget without buying a new phone. However, the process of porting applications on devices with a MIUI shell has its own peculiarities and hidden settings, which are not known to everyone. Standard Android methods are often limited by the manufacturer for the sake of data security and stability of the system. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods, including the use of developer functions and specialized utilities.
Before you start taking action, you need to understand the difference between transferring multimedia files and themselves. APK-If photos and videos are transferred elementary through the file manager, the situation with applications is more complicated. The modern version of Android (10 and above) on Xiaomi by default does not allow you to transfer system applications to an external medium without special manipulation. This is because the speed of reading is SD-Cards are usually lower than internal memory, which can lead to unstable operation of programs.
Preparation SD-maps and choosing the right format
The first step is to properly prepare the external drive. Not every memory card is suitable for full operation with applications. To install programs, it is recommended to use cards of class speeds at least 10 or UHS-I. Slow cards can cause "freezes" and long loading of programs. Plug the card into the slot of your Redmi or Poco and wait for the notification of the system.
Once a new media is discovered, the system will offer several use cases. For our purposes, it is critical to choose the "Use as internal storage" mode (if this option is available in your version of MIUI) or simply format the card as a portable storage for manual configuration. When formatting, all data on the map will be destroyed, so save important files to your computer or to the cloud in advance.
The formatting process can be manually started through the settings. Go to the Settings menu. → The phone. → Storage. Here you'll see a list of available storage devices. Select yours. SD-You can click the Format button, and the system will alert you to the loss of data, confirm the action, and after the procedure is complete, the card will be ready to write the data.
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Use memory cards up to 256 GB for maximum compatibility. Larger ones (512 GB, 1 TB) can run unstable on older Redmi models.
And the important thing to note is that once formatted, the card is encrypted and linked to a particular device, and you can't just insert it into another phone and read the data without re-formatting it, which is an Android security measure to prevent data theft.
⚠️ Note: Do not remove the memory card while the applications ported to it are running, this can damage the program database and lose saves in games.
Activation of the function “By default set to SD-map»
In Xiaomi’s standard setting, the option to automatically install apps on an external medium is often hidden. To access it, you need to activate the developer mode. This is a secure procedure that opens access to advanced system settings. Go to Settings → About your phone and find the MIUI version.
Click on the build number. 7-10 Once in a row, until the notification "You became a developer" appears. Now, in the main settings menu, in the "Additional" section, a new "Developers" item will appear. Go there, scroll down to the "Applications" section. Find the "Default Install" switch. SD-map and activate it.
After enabling this feature, all new apps that you will download from Google Play or install via Google Play are available. APK-files that will try to fit on an external drive by default, but it is worth considering that some system services and heavy games may ignore this setting and require only internal storage to ensure performance.
You don't expect this setup to make room instantly. It only works on new installations. You'll need additional steps to move existing programs, which we'll talk about in the next sections. Also keep in mind that the locations of items may vary slightly on different versions of the MIUI (Global, China, EEA).
Manual transfer of installed applications through settings
Even if automatic portability didn’t work for all programs, many of them can be manually moved.This method doesn’t work for all applications, as developers can prevent porting their products. First, go to Settings → Apps → All apps.
In the list, find the program you want to move (such as a heavy game or a navigator). Click on its name to open the information page. If portability is possible, you will see an active button "Move to the information page". SD-If the button is grey or missing, it means that the application is rigidly tied to the system partition.
☑️ Manual transfer algorithm
The transfer process can take from a few seconds to several minutes depending on the size of the application. During this operation, it is not recommended to start other heavy tasks. After completion, the button will change to Move to device memory, which will confirm the success of the operation.
It's worth noting that it's not the entire app that moves, it's the bulk of the app. Some cache files and data can stay in internal memory. This is normal for the Android architecture. However, even a partial transfer allows you to win a few hundred megabytes of free space, which is essential for budget models with 32 GB of memory.
| Type of application | Possibility of transfer | Impact on speed | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social networks (VK, Telegram) | Partial | Minimum | Can be moved |
| The Hardest Games (Genshin Impact) | Depends on the version. | Noticeable when loading | Better leave it inside. |
| Office applications | Tall. | Absent. | Recommended |
| Google System Services | Impossible. | Critical | Don't touch it. |
Using ADB for Forced Transfer
For advanced users who aren’t afraid to use the command line, there’s a more powerful method: ADB (Android Debug Bridge) can force you to change the default location even for applications that don’t normally allow it, requiring a Windows, macOS, or Linux computer.
First, you need to enable USB debugging in the Developer menu on your Xiaomi. Then connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable. On your PC, you need to download the Android SDK Platform Tools. Open the command line in the tool folder and enter the command to check the connection: adb devices. On the phone screen, you will see a request for debugging permission - confirm it.
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2This command sets the priority of installing on an external drive (value 2). A value of 0 returns the default settings (internal memory) and 1 returns the default settings to the internal memory. Once you complete the command, try installing a new application. However, this method is not a panacea: many modern applications will still ignore the flag and install where the system decides.
What to do if the team is not working?
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Do not enter commands that you do not understand, so as not to disrupt the file system of the smartphone.
Working with cache and junk application files
Often, the problem of space shortage is not in the apps themselves, but in the bloated cache. Social networks such as Telegram or Viber can take up tens of gigabytes, saving all the photos and videos viewed. SD-The card will not reduce this volume, since the cache is written in internal memory by default.
To clean up, go to the specific application settings and select Memory Use or Storage, where you will see the Clear Cache button. A more effective way is to use the built-in features of the messenger itself. For example, on Telegram, you need to go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use and set up automatic cleaning or click Clear Cache.
You can also use the standard Xiaomi Security or Explorer app, which will analyze the device in the Cleanup section and suggest that you delete temporary files, and clean the cache regularly, keeping the system running faster and freeing up space without having to move apps.
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Clearing messenger cache often frees up more space than transferring 10-15 small apps to a memory card.
Remember to check the Android/media and Android/obb folder. Sometimes, after deleting a game, heavy files remain dead weight, and can be safely deleted through the file manager if you are sure that you no longer need the game.
Possible problems and solutions
During operation, there may be situations when the ported applications stop working correctly, most often due to poor quality of the memory card or its damage. If the widgets stopped updating and the games crash when downloading, try to remove the card, wipe the contacts and paste back, or replace the drive with a faster one.
Another common problem is that the app icons disappear after a reboot, which can happen if the system doesn't have time to mount. SD-map before the interface loads, in which case it will help to reconfigure the path to executable files or to refuse to transfer mission-critical programs (alarm clock, alarm clock, messengers).
If you've updated the firmware MIUI, You can get lost after a major update, always check the status of the "Default set" function. SD-map" in the developer menu. Also after the update, it is recommended to restart the device for correct indexing of files.