Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a shortage of internal memory, especially when shooting high-resolution video. Modern cameras record 4K videos that take up gigabytes of space, quickly filling the available volume of the device. Transferring media files to an external drive is the most efficient way to free up space without deleting important data.
The process of moving files SD-shell-card MIUI HyperOS has its own features, which depend on the version of Android and the model of the gadget. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from the standard setup of the camera to manual transfer through the system file manager. You will learn how to format your drive correctly and avoid common mistakes.
Using external storage not only solves the problem of space shortage, but also allows you to keep backup copies of important documents. However, it is worth considering that the speed of some applications may depend on the class of memory card used.
Preparation of the memory card for work
Before you start moving files, you need to make sure your memory card is properly installed and formatted.Put the microSD card into the tray of the smartphone, observing the position of contacts, and wait for the system to notify you of the connection of the new device. If the card was used previously on other devices, Android may require its formatting to work correctly with the file system.
The formatting process cleans the drive completely, so make sure it doesn't have any important data to save. The system will offer two uses: as a portable storage or as part of internal memory. For transferring videos and photos, it's better to choose the first option to avoid compatibility issues when connecting to a computer.
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Use UHS-I or higher memory cards to record 4K video to avoid delays and frame skips when shooting.
Once the drive has been successfully installed and validated, the system will assign it a letter or name that will be displayed in the file manager, and now the device is ready to receive data, and you can start setting up ways to save for new images or transfer an existing archive.
- 📱 Insert the card into the phone turned off or use a hot replacement through the settings.
- 💾 Select the option “Use as a portable storage” when you first start.
- 🔍 Wait for the File System Error Check to be completed by Android.
- ⚙️ Make sure that the status bar has an icon of the connected drive.
Set up automatic saving in the Chamber
The easiest way to free up internal memory is to set up automatic saving of new photos and videos immediately to the external drive. To do this, open the standard Camera application and go to the settings menu by clicking on three bars or a gear in the corner of the screen. Find a save item that can be called “Save in” SD-map" or "Path of conservation».
Activating this switch ensures that all future shots and videos are automatically sent to the memory card.This is especially convenient for users who shoot a lot of content and do not want to constantly monitor the filling of internal memory. Note that some shooting modes, such as slow-motion video or high-resolution timelapse, may still be stored inside the device due to the requirements for write speed.
⚠️ Note: If you remove the memory card without first turning off the settings, new photos may not be saved or damaged.
It's important to understand that this setting does not affect files that have been made before. Old videos will remain in internal memory, and to transfer them will require manual actions through the explorer. Also, it is worth remembering that when you reset the camera settings or reinstall the application, the parameter may get lost, so periodically check its status.
Manual transfer of files through the Explorer
To move existing videos and photos, you’ll need the File Manager app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones, which lets you view folder structure and perform copying or moving between different memory areas. Open the app and go to “Internal shared storage” or “Device memory.”
Find the DCIM folder that stores the camera by default and the Camera folder inside it. Select the desired video files with a long press, then select the option to Move or Copy from the bottom menu. After that, go to the root of the memory card (usually denoted as sdcard or the name of the card manufacturer) and create a new folder there or select an existing one to paste files.
☑️ Algorithm of file transfer
The process of moving large video files can take some time, depending on the speed of writing the map and the amount of data. During the operation, it is not recommended to run heavy applications or interrupt the work of the conductor, so as not to disturb the integrity of the files. Once completed, check that the videos are being played from a new place, and only then delete the originals if you used the copy function.
- 📂 Open Explorer and go to the device’s internal memory.
- 🎬 Find the file. DCIM/Camera videotaped.
- ✂️ Select files and select the “Move” action».
- 💽 Go to the memory card and paste the files into the desired directory.
Use of the Cleanup App
The MIUI shell has an integrated optimization tool that can help with memory management. The Security app contains a Cleanup module that analyzes the device and suggests freeing up space, including by transferring large files. Run a scan, and the system itself will find large videos that can be moved to an external drive.
This method is convenient because it doesn't require manual file search by folder, and it will suggest the categories that occupy the most space, like Video or Big Files, and you can select specific videos and specify the memory card as a targeted storage in one click.
However, be careful when using automatic cleaners, as they may suggest removing the app cache or temporary files you may need. read carefully what exactly the system is going to do before confirming the action.
| Method | Difficulty | Speed. | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup of the camera | Low. | Instantly. | Minimum |
| Conductor (Hand) | Medium | Depends on the volume. | Low. |
| Annex Cleaning | Low. | Tall. | Medium. |
| Connection to PC | Tall. | Tall. | Low. |
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Automatic tools are convenient, but manual transfer through Explorer gives you complete control over which files will be moved and where.
Working with files through a computer
If there's not enough space on the phone to do the operations, the most efficient solution is to use a computer. USB-cable, select file transfer mode in the phone menu (MTP) And you can wait for the device to appear in My Computer, and this method allows you to work with files like you would with a regular folder on your hard drive.
Open the phone's internal memory, find the videos you want, and just drag them into the folder on your computer or straight into the memory card window if it's displayed as a separate drive. The data transfer speed over USB 3.0 is significantly higher than when you wirelessly transfer or work directly with the phone interface.
The advantage of this method is the ability to audit the archive: delete unnecessary, sort the video into folders and rename the files. In addition, you can back up important moments on an external hard drive, protecting yourself from data loss in the event of a smartphone breakage or damage to the memory card.
What to do if your computer can’t see your phone?
Possible problems and solutions
When moving a video, users may encounter various errors, such as “The file is too big” or “Not enough rights.” Often the problem lies in the file system of the card: if it is formatted in the file system of the card. FAT32, You can not write a file larger than 4 GB to it. To solve, you need to format the card in exFAT or NTFS (The latter requires support from Android).
Another common problem is file corruption when you abruptly extract a map. If the video stops playing or is lost, try to restore data using specialized programs on your PC, but do not write anything new to the map before recovery. Also make sure that the application from which you are trying to open the video has permission to access the storage.
⚠️ Note: Do not remove the memory card during the process of writing or reading data, this can lead to irreversible loss of information and damage to the file table.
If the phone has stopped seeing the card or files, try restarting the device. In rare cases, re-formatting the card directly in the phone settings helps. If problems continue, it may be that the memory card has a low class speed or is physically damaged and should be replaced with a better model.
- ❌ The “file is too big” error requires changing the file system to exFAT.
- 🔒 Check the permissions of the applications in the privacy settings.
- 🔄 Rebooting your phone often solves file display problems.
- 🛑 Avoid sharp card extraction during system operation.