How to transfer applications from internal memory to SD-Map in Xiaomi smartphones: all ways of 2026

The internal memory of the Xiaomi smartphone is full of applications to capacity, and the system constantly issues warnings about the shortage of space? SD-But it's not that simple: since Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google has restricted this feature, and manufacturers (including Xiaomi) have made adjustments. In this article, we'll look at how to get around the restrictions, which models support out-of-the-box portability, and what to do if the right option is not in the settings.

Not all applications can be migrated, but system services, widgets and high-rights programs (bank clients, encrypted messengers) usually remain in internal memory, games, multimedia players and utilities are often migratory, the main thing is to properly prepare the microSD and follow the instructions for your version of MIUI.

If you use a Xiaomi smartphone based on Android 10+ (like the Redmi Note 11 or POCO X5), the chances of a successful transfer are lower — the manufacturer removed this option from the interface. But there are workarounds: from formatting the card as an internal drive to manually transferring through ADB.

What Xiaomi models support the transfer of applications to the SD-map

Functionality depends on the version of MIUI and hardware limitations.

• 📱 Old models (up to) 2019 of the year: Redmi 4/5/Note 4/5, Mi A1/A2 (on pure Android) – supports portability through application settings. → Annexes → Select a program → Warehouse → Change.
• 📱 Smartphones 2019–2021 d.: Redmi Note 8/9 Pro, POCO X3 — function is hidden, but works through ADB or formatting the card as an internal drive.
• 📱 New Devices (2022–2026): Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13T, POCO F5 — The only way to do this is to use the card as a portable media storage device.

The problem is compounded by the fact that Xiaomi is actively removing this option from new versions. MIUI. For example, in MIUI 14 (Android-based 13) portability SD-The card is completely missing even for older models, and the reason is performance: microSD (especially class). A1) It is slower than the built-in memory UFS 2.2/3.1, slowing down applications.

If your model didn’t make it to the table, check the support experimentally: paste it. SD-Map and try to find the option to transfer to SD in the settings of any installed application (for example, Google Maps or Spotify).

Preparation SD-maps: selection and formatting

Not every microSD is good for porting applications, but here are the criteria.

• 🔹 Speed class: minimum A1 (optimally A2). Class cards C10 or U1 They are not suitable – they are too slow for applications.
• 🔹 Volume: 32 GB (64-128 GB recommended) Cards less than 16 GB may not be recognized as internal storage.
• 🔹 Brand: Preferably SanDisk, Samsung EVO, Kingston Canvas – Cheap no-name cards are often forged to indicate overrated features.

Before you use the card, you need to format it. There are two options:

1. As a portable drive: files and some application data (cache, downloads) can be stored on a map, but the programs themselves are not. → Warehouse → SD-map → Formatting as portable.
2. As an internal drive, the card becomes part of the system, you can transfer applications to it. Attention: after that, the card can not be used in other devices without completely erasing the data! → Warehouse → SD-map → Settings (⋮) → Internal memory.

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Before formatting, copy all data from SD-Cards to the computer - the process erases all information without the possibility of recovery.

If there is no internal memory option, then your Xiaomi model does not support this mode. ADB-The method (described below) or buying a smartphone with a large amount of internal memory.

Method 1: Transfer through application settings (for older models)

This method works on devices with MIUI 10-12 and Android 8-10.

1. Put it in. SD-map and format it as an internal drive (see previous section).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select the app you want to migrate (like Facebook or VK).
4. Slip on Warehouse.
5. Click Change and select SD-map.
6. Confirm the transfer and wait until it is completed (may take a few minutes).

If the Change button is inactive or absent, it means:

• 🚫 The app does not support portability (such as WhatsApp or Google Play Services).
• 🚫 The card is formatted as a portable drive.
• 🚫 Your version. MIUI block.

After porting, some applications may run slower — which is normal, as the read/write speed of the microSD is lower than that of the internal memory. If the brakes are critical, return the program back to internal memory.

Method 2: Transfer over ADB (for new models)

If you don’t have portability in your settings, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that works on most Xiaomi devices, but requires a computer and minimal technical skills.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📦 Installed Xiaomi drivers and package ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB smartphone.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Open the Terminal command line on your computer and type: adb devices Make sure the device is identified (serial number should appear).
4. Enter the port command (replace com.example.app with the application package): adb shell pm set-install-location 2 adb shell pm move-package com.example.app To find out the application package, use the command: adb shell pm list packages | grep "application name"
5. Reboot the smartphone after the transfer.

If the pm move-package command returns the error [INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_INSTALL_LOCATION], signifier:

• 🔸 Application does not support transfer.
• 🔸 The card is not formatted as an internal drive.
• 🔸 There's not enough space on the map.

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The pm set-install location 2 command sets SD-The map is the default installation location for new applications. To return everything back, use pm set-install-location 0 (internal memory) or 1 (automatic selection).

Method 3: Use SD-The card is an internal memory (adoptable storage)

This method makes microSD part of the system partition, allowing you to port applications without ADB. However, it has serious limitations:

• ⚠️ The card will be encrypted and tied to the device, and once it's extracted, the data on it will become inaccessible.
• ⚠️ Application speeds can drop by 30-50% (depending on the card class).
• ⚠️ Not all Xiaomi models support this mode (see table above).

How to activate:

1. Put it in. SD-smartphone-card.
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse → SD-map → Settings (⋮) → Internal memory.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen, and the system will suggest formatting the map and transferring some of the data to it.
4. After formatting, restart the device.

Now, when you install new applications, the system will ask you to choose a storage location, so you can transfer the programs that are already installed:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select the app and tap the Warehouse → Change.
3. Indicate. SD-map and confirm.

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If after transferring the application began to lag, try to clear its cache: Settings → Applications → Select the program → Clear the cache.

What to do if transfer is not possible

If none of these methods worked, consider alternative ways to free up memory:

• 🗑️ Cache Cleanup: Remove Unnecessary Data in Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning up. This is especially true for instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) and social networks.
• ☁️ Cloud Storage: Move photos and videos to Google Photos, Mi Cloud or Yandex Drive.
• 🔄 Media transfer: Music, movies and documents can be manually moved to SD-A card via any file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager).
• 📦 Lite versions of applications: replace "heavy" programs with lightweight analogues (for example, Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite).
• 🛒 Buying a smartphone with more memory: If internal storage is constantly lacking, it may be time to upgrade the device.

You can also use cleaning apps like CCleaner or Files by Google, but be careful - they sometimes delete important files.

Common mistakes and their solutions

When transferring applications to SD-We're going to have a lot of problems with the map:

If the application stopped working after the transfer, try:

1. Clear its cache (Settings → Applications → Select Program → Clear the cache).
2. Reinstall the app.
3. Put it back in your inner memory.

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If after formatting the card as an internal drive, the smartphone started to slow down, return the settings to the factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Resetting). The card will have to be formatted again as a portable drive.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring applications to SD-map