Owners of budget smartphones often face a critical shortage of built-in space. Xiaomi Redmi 5A, despite its popularity, was originally equipped with only 16 or 32 gigabytes of internal memory, of which the system has much less available. Once the main social networks, messengers and navigators are installed, the free space runs out, which leads to a slowdown in the interface and the inability to update programs. The only effective solution in this situation is to use an external drive to expand the functionality of the device.
Moving data to an external medium is a process that requires careful understanding of the architecture of the Android operating system. Unlike simply copying photos, migrating the applications themselves has its own technical limitations and features, depending on the version of the MIUI firmware. In this article, we will discuss all available methods, including standard settings and hidden developer capabilities, which will help you free precious megabytes.
Before you start active, you need to prepare the memory card itself. It is recommended to use a class of speeds at least Class 10 or UHS-I, as low read speed can lead to lags in the work of programs. Also remember to back up important data, since the formatting process, which is often required for proper operation, will completely clean the file system of the flash drive.
Preparation of memory card and compatibility check
The first step is to physically install the drive and set it up in the system first. Plug the card into the appropriate slot, which in the Redmi 5A model is combined with the second SIM cartridge. Once you turn on the smartphone, the system automatically detects the new media and prompts it to configure. If no automatic notification appears, go to Settings, then select Advanced Settings and find the Memory subsection there.
Here you will see detailed statistics on space usage. The system will show how much space is occupied by the system, applications and media files. Many modern programs require formatting the map to the exFAT or FAT32 file system to work correctly, but porting applications often requires deeper integration. Click on the menu button (three dots in the corner) and select Storage Settings to see the management options available.
It’s important to understand that not all memory cards work equally well with a smartphone. Cheap drives of unknown brands can quickly fail when actively writing data, which is typical for applications. If you plan to use the internal memory expansion feature, make sure that your drive has a high rate of random read and write.
- 📱 Make sure the card is inserted before clicking and is determined by the system.
- 🗑️ Save all important files from card to computer as it will be formatted.
- ⚡ Check the speed class of the card, it must be at least 10 for comfortable work.
- 🔒 Unlock the smartphone screen before starting any memory operations.
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Use the SD Insight utility from the Play Market Store to check the actual volume and speed of your memory card before buying or using it.
Standard method of transfer through MIUI settings
The MIUI Operating Shell provides basic functionality for managing applications. Not all programs support portability, but many games and utilities can be moved without using third-party software. To do this, open Settings, scroll down to the App section and select All apps. In the list that opens, find the program you want to move.
Once you select a particular application, a page will open with information about it. If you can transfer it, you will see an active button Move to the next one. SD-If you click on it, you start the file migration process, the system will copy the data and change the paths to it, but if the button is missing or inactive, it means that the application developer has banned such an operation or the system does not see a suitable storage.
It's worth noting that even after the transfer, some files will still remain in internal memory, which is a system limitation of Android, which guarantees the stability of the critical components. It will not be possible to completely free the built-in storage, but you will feel significant relief immediately.
⚠️ Note: When you transfer large games, the cache files may remain in internal memory, in which case only part of the space occupied by the installation package will be freed up. APK.
The process of moving can take from a few seconds to several minutes depending on the size of the application, during which time it is not recommended to open other heavy programs or play games, so as not to create additional load on the processor and disk controller.
☑️ Pre-transfer check
Activate Adoptable Storage Mode for Full Merger
For those cases where the standard method is not available, there is a more advanced method known as Adoptable Storage.This feature, introduced in Android 6.0, allows the system to perceive the memory card as an extension of internal memory. 5A This option is often hidden by the manufacturer, but it can be activated through the developer menu or by using the manufacturer’s device. ADB-team.
To activate this feature without a computer, go to Settings -> About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI Version. This will open the Developer Menu in advanced settings. Find the Forced Application Portal Resolution and activate it. After that, when formatting the card in the memory partition, the Use as Internal Storage option may appear.
If you can't activate the settings, you'll need to connect to your computer. You'll need to install drivers for Xiaomi and the ADB platform. After connecting the phone in USB debugging mode, you type a command into the computer's command line:
adb shell pm set-force-installable trueThis command compulsorily permits the application to be installed on an external drive, but the most effective method is to format the card completely through ADB, which will turn it into a system partition, which is irreversible without losing data on the card and requires high skill.
Risks of using Adoptable Storage
Using third-party utilities for memory management
When built-in tools are scarce, specialized applications come to the rescue from the Google Play Store. One of the most popular utilities is App2SD. It scans the device and shows which apps can be moved and which are system-based. The interface is simple and understandable even for beginners.
Another powerful tool is Files2SD, which allows you to transfer not only the applications themselves, but also their cache, as well as large data files, which often occupy the lion's share of memory. The application automatically identifies the largest folders and suggests moving them to an external medium, creating symbolic links.
When using third-party software, it is important to give the necessary permissions. Without file system access rights, the program will not be able to move. In some cases, root rights may be required, which gives full control of the system, but deprives of guarantees and may not be safe for inexperienced users.
| Name of utility | Root presence | Functional | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| App2SD | Not required | Basic APK transfer | Low. |
| Files2SD | Preferably. | Cache and data transfer | Medium |
| Link2SD | I'll be sure. | Complete merging of sections | Tall. |
| SD Maid | Not required | Cleaning and analysis | Low. |
The choice of tool depends on your goals. If you just want to flip a couple of games, you can use a standard App2SD. For deep optimization, more complex solutions are better, but they require caution.
Common Errors and How to Resolve Them
Users often experience errors in data transfer, the most common being the message “Not enough memory,” even if there are a few gigabytes of free memory on the card, which may be due to the fact that the card’s file system is fragmented or has errors, and the solution lies in fully formatting the drive through the computer using the SD Formatter utility.
Another common problem is that apps stop working after a map is removed or the phone is restarted, which happens if the file paths are changed incorrectly or the map is mounted for too long, and in such cases, it is recommended not to move Google's system applications and services, as this can lead to a cyclical reboot of the device, known as bootloop.
Also, the speed of the ported applications depends on the quality of the memory card. Cheap cards can become a bottleneck, which will open programs longer than usual. If you notice a strong performance drop, it makes sense to return the applications to internal memory.
⚠️ Warning: Never remove a memory card while the phone is on and running if it has active applications installed.This will damage databases and lose progress in games.
If after the transfer, widgets disappeared or notifications stopped coming, try to clear the cache of the transferred application or reinstall it by selecting the memory card as the main storage when installing (if such an option is supported by the installer).
Optimization of the system after the transfer
Once the apps are successfully moved, it is recommended to reboot the smartphone, allowing Android to re-index files and build the right paths to data, and in the first minutes after turning on, the phone can run slower than usual, which is a normal background optimization process.
To keep your speed up, check your memory card periodically for errors. Settings -> Memory is available for verification. It is also useful to transfer photos and videos from the card to your computer every few months so that you don't clog it completely, as the full drive is slower.
Keep an eye on system updates MIUI. In new firmware versions, Xiaomi often improves the algorithms for working with external memory and fixes bugs associated with the transfer of applications.
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Regular cleaning of the memory card and defragmentation (via PC) prolong its life and maintain high speed of downloading applications.
Proper memory management on the Redmi 5A allows you to significantly extend the life of this popular budgetary, using the methods described above, you can install more programs and enjoy the comfortable operation of the device without constant notifications about the shortage of space.