Owners of modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO often face the same problem: internal storage is overflowing, and the system begins to work slower. This is especially true for models with 64 or 128 GB of memory, where after installing all the necessary applications and updates to the system, there is a catastrophic lack of free space. The largest files are usually video recordings taken on the main camera or downloaded movies for offline viewing.
Moving video files to an external drive is the most efficient way to unload a system partition without losing important data. SD-The card does not require an Internet connection and allows you to store gigabytes of information directly in the device, but this process has its own nuances, depending on the version of the shell. MIUI HyperOS, and the type of memory card used.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the steps of media transfer, from choosing the right drive to fine-tuning the file manager. You will learn how to make new photos and recordings automatically saved to an external medium, and why standard methods may not work on some versions of Android.
Preparation SD-maps and compatibility checks
Before you start transferring data, you need to make sure that your drive is ready to work and compatible with your smartphone. Not all memory cards are the same: high-resolution (4K or FullHD 60 FPS) video recording requires a certain recording speed. If you insert a slow class 4 or 6 card, the video recording may be interrupted and there will be frame delays when playing.
Insert the memory card into your device's slot. Usually the tray is paired with the slot for the second. SIM-So, if you want to use a paper clip from the box, and then you want to format the drive, and that's the important thing, which is that you format it as "Inner Memory" or "Portificate." For video storage, it is better to choose the second option, as it provides compatibility with other devices (cameras, TVs, PCs).
Note the file system. Android uses FAT32 or exFAT by default. The problem with FAT32 is that it doesn't support files larger than 4GB. If you shoot long videos in high quality, one file can exceed that limit and the recording will be interrupted. The exFAT format is free of that drawback, but older devices may not read it.
⚠️ Note: Formatting a memory card completely removes all data on it. If there are important files on the drive, pre-copy them to the computer or the cloud.
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Use UHS-I or UHS-II series memory cards labeled Class 10, U3 or V30 to record video in 4K resolution without artifacts or frame skips.
You can check the status of the card in the settings menu. → The phone. → Storage. This shows the total volume, the occupied space and the speed of the drive "SD-The card is corrupted" or "Formatting required," try to retrieve and paste it again after you've wiped the contacts. Frequent recording errors can signal poor quality of the drive itself.
Using a standard Explorer to transfer files
The easiest and most reliable way to move a video is to use the built-in File Manager app, a Xiaomi tool that has access to all system folders and does not require third-party software installation. The program interface is intuitive, and sorting features allow you to quickly find heavy video files.
Open the app and click on the folder icon or select the video category. The system sorts files by date or size. Select the desired videos with a long press. At the bottom of the screen, an action menu will appear where you want to select "Move" or "Copy." The difference is that "Move" will delete the original from internal memory, freeing up space, and "Copy" will create a duplicate.
☑️ Transfer algorithm through the conductor
Once you have selected the action, the system will suggest you to specify the destination path. MIUI It's made into breadcrumbs. You need to go to the root. SD-cards (usually indicated as /storage/sdcard1 plainly "SD-map) and create a new folder, for example, "Videos_Archive". This will help to keep order and not mix system files of applications with your personal media library.
The process of copying large amounts of data can take time. The speed depends on the class of the memory card and the number of small files. If you move one 2 GB movie, it will take a few seconds, but transferring thousands of short videos from instant messengers can take several minutes.
Why are some files not copied?
Setup automatic camera saving on SD
So, to avoid manually transferring video every time, it's wise to set up the standard Camera app to automatically record it to an external drive, which is especially convenient for users who shoot a lot on their journeys. SD-The card may be lower than the internal memory, which theoretically can affect the speed of serial shooting.
Go to the Camera app and click on the three menu bars in the upper right corner. Select Settings. Scroll down to the Save on section. SD-Map" or "Save Way. Activate the switch. From now on, all new photos and videos will be saved by default to the folder. DCIM/Camera externally.
It is important to note that some third-party camera applications or shooting modes (such as 8K video or slow-motion high-bitret shooting) may ignore this setting and require internal memory to ensure stability.
| Parameter | Internal memory. | SD-card (Class 10) | SD-card (Class 4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading speed | High (up to 1000 MB/s) | Medium (up to 100 MB/s) | Low (up to 20 MB/s) |
| Video recording speed 4K | Stable. | Stable (if U3) | Possible interruptions |
| Impact on the battery | Minimum | Average. | High (constant operation of the controller) |
| Risk of data loss | Low. | Medium. | High-pitched |
Working with files through a computer (USB-regime)
If you have tens of gigabytes of video files, you're most comfortable with a computer. USB-The cable is often faster and more stable than wirelessly or directly on the phone, especially if you want to fold files.
Connect your smartphone to your PC with a cable. You'll see a mode notification on your phone screen. USB. Click on it and select "File Transfer" (MTP). You'll see a Xiaomi device on your computer in My Computer, and you'll see two sections open: internal memory and SD-map.
Now you can use the Drag-and-Drop method. Find the folder with the video in the internal memory (usually). DCIM, MIUI/Video Select files, click "Slice" and paste them into the corresponding folder on the SD-The advantage of this method is the ability to interrupt and resume the process, and the convenience of renaming groups of files.
Once you have finished copying, be sure to use the Safe Device Removal feature in Windows before disabling the cable. SD-If the computer can't see the card, try another one. USB-port or cable, preferably original.
⚠️ Note: When working through your computer, do not delete Android system folders (for example, Android/data or Android/obb), even if they are on SD-This may cause the installed applications to fail.
Cleaning gallery cache and junk files
After the video was transferred to SD-You can see that the space in the internal memory has not increased as expected, because the Gallery and Explorer app create thumbnails and cache for quick browsing. These files remain in the internal memory and can take up several gigabytes.
To clean up, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find Gallery. Select Memory and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Everything (or Erase Data) because it will reset the settings of the gallery itself, although your photos and videos won't be affected because they're stored in separate files.
It is also worth checking the.thumbnails folder. Sometimes, after transferring files, old thumbnails are not deleted automatically. Using Explorer, turn on the display of hidden files (setting in the profile menu) and check the path of DCIM/.thumbnails. If there are files that do not correspond to the current content of the gallery, they can be safely deleted.
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Regularly cleaning the gallery cache after large-scale file transfers can free up an additional 500 MB to 2 GB of internal memory.
Additionally, use the built-in Cleanup tool in Xiaomi's Security app, which finds residual files, advertising debris and duplicates, run a scan and look closely at what is suggested to be removed, often containing application installer packages or temporary browser files that can be safely deleted.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
During operation, there may be situations when the smartphone stops seeing SD-The card or the files on it become inaccessible, and one of the common causes is that the card is not extracted correctly or the power is out during the recording "SD-Card not found", try restarting the device without removing the drive.
If the problem persists, the file system may be damaged, in which case the smartphone may suggest formatting the card, agree only if you have a backup, and a common problem is restricting access rights in new versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14). The system can prevent applications from fully accessing files on the SD-safety-card.
To address access issues:
- 📂 When you first start the Explorer, give all requested permissions to access the files.
- 🔒 Check the "Special Access" settings in the security section where you can allow application installation or file access for specific programs.
- 💾 Use exFAT formatting if you are working with large files to avoid errors".
In rare cases, the memory card may be physically malfunctioning, if it quickly discharges the phone, warms up in the area of the slot or files appear on it with the name "FILE0000.CHK", most likely, the storage device is exhausted. Cheap memory cards tend to fail after 1-2 years of active use.