How to transfer data to a memory card in Xiaomi: applications, photos, documents

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a shortage of internal memory, especially if the device is equipped with 32 or 64 GB of storage. The solution seems obvious to use a microSD card, but standard MIUI settings do not always allow you to transfer all data automatically. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways, from basic file movement to hidden functions for applications that do not officially support external memory.

It is important to understand that MIUI (In particular, versions 14 and 15 impose restrictions on the portability of certain types of data, such as system applications and some games that refuse to work with the system. SD-And the photos in the gallery can disappear after you move, and we'll tell you how to get around these restrictions without using root rights, and what to do if the smartphone doesn't see the memory card after you upgrade.

The article is relevant for all modern models: from the budget Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. If your device is released before 2020, some points may differ - check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone.

Memory card preparation: formatting and class selection

Before transferring data, make sure your microSD card is Xiaomi compliant. Not all cards work equally well with MIUI, especially when it comes to porting applications.

Minimum requirements for stable operation:

• 📌 Speed class: not lower UHS-I (U1) Or Class 10. It's better for apps. U3 or A2 (Optimized for random recording).
• 🔄 Volume: from 32 GB (on cards less than 32 GB you can not create a partition for applications in the MIUI).
• 🛠️ Formatting: in only FAT32 or exFAT (for cards) >64GB). NTFS unsupported!

If the card is new, format it directly in your smartphone:

1. Insert the card into the slot (hybrid or dedicated - it does not matter).
2. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
3. Click Format as internal memory (if you want to port applications) or Format as portable (file only).

⚠️ Warning: Formatting as internal memory erases all data on the card and encrypts it for your smartphone, and then the card can not be read on other devices without full formatting!

2. File transfer: photos, videos, music and documents

The easiest way to free up internal memory is to move media files and documents, and in MIUI, you can do this manually or automatically.

Method 1: Through the built-in file manager

Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).

1. Select a category (such as Images or Audio).
2. Press and hold the file(s) to select, then tap More → Move.
3. In the list of locations, select Memory Map and destination folder (for example, DCIM/Camera for photo).

Method 2: Automatic saving of SD-map

To make sure that new photos and videos are immediately saved to the map:

1. Open the camera → Settings (cogs) → Save place.
2. Select a Memory Card (if the option is inactive – the card is not formatted as internal).

For music and downloads:

• 🎵 Music: In the Music app, go to Settings → Download folder and point the way to SD-map.
• 📥 Downloads: In the Mi Browser or Chrome browser, change the way you save in the settings.

💡

If after transferring photos are not displayed in the gallery, restart the Gallery app or clear its cache in Settings → Applications.

3. Transfer applications to a memory card (including hidden settings)

Officially, MIUI only allows you to port a few applications, but there are workarounds, so let's look at everything from the standard method to advanced tricks.

Standard Transfer through Settings

This method works for most user applications (but not for system applications!):

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Telegram or Spotify).
3. Slip the vault. → Change. → Memory map.

If the Change button is inactive, it means:

• 🚫 The application does not support transfer (often happens in games with anticheat, for example, PUBG Mobile).
• 🔒 The memory card is not formatted as internal.
• 📱 You. MIUI for China (without Google services) – in such firmware, the transfer is often blocked.

Advanced method: ADB-force-transfer

If the standard method didn't work, you can use USB debugging (you need a computer), which works even for some system applications.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC, install ADB-tools and execute the command:

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

This command forces the system to install new applications on the SD-Default map. To migrate applications that are already installed, use:

adb shell pm move-package com.example.app /sdcard

(Replace com.example.app with the batch name of the app, which can be found through App Inspector).

⚠️ Note: Not all apps will work consistently after a forced transfer, such as WhatsApp may stop sending notifications, and Google Maps may stop caching maps.

4.Cache and application data transfer (hidden method)

Many apps (like YouTube or TikTok) store gigabytes of cache in internal memory, which cannot be transferred by standard means, but there is a workaround through symbolic links (root or ADB is required).

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect to your smartphone via ADB (as in the previous section).
2. Create a folder on SD-cache card, for example: adb shell mkdir /sdcard/Android/cache_com.example
3. Move the app cache to a new folder: adb shell mv /data/data/com.example/cache /sdcard/Android/cache_com.example
4. Create a symbolic link: adb shell ln -s /sdcard/Android/cache_com.example /data/data/com.example/cache

This method does not work for all applications, but it saves up to 50% of internal memory if you actively use social networks or streaming services.

5. Problem Solving: Memory card not identified or data "disappeared"

Frequent problem after transfer – the smartphone stops seeing SD-The map or files are "disappearing" from the gallery.

If the card is detected but the data is "disappeared", check:

• 🔍 folder Android/data on SD-Maps – sometimes files are transferred there.
• 🗑️ Recycle bin in the file manager (in MIUI Deleted files are stored there for 7 days).
• 📁 Hidden folders (enable the display of hidden files in the file manager settings).

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If the memory card is no longer defined after the MIUI update, try rolling back to the previous firmware version or resetting the settings (without deleting the data).

6. Optimizing the work with the memory card: tips for durability

SD-Cards have a limited record life, especially if they're used to store applications:

• 🔋 Do not use the card as internal memory if the internal storage capacity is greater than 64 GB – this speeds up wear and tear.
• 📊 Regularly clean the cache of applications transferred to SD (through settings → Memory).
• 🔄 Avoid overwriting large files frequently (such as videos) 4K).
• 🛡️ Do not remove the card while applications are running or file transfers.

To monitor the status of the card, use applications like SD Card Tester or A1 SD Bench. If the read/write speed has dropped by more than 30% of the declared one, it is time to replace the card.

If you use a card as internal memory, back it up on your PC every 3-6 months.

7.Alternative ways of freeing up memory without SD-map

If transferring to a memory card has not solved the problem of space scarcity, consider alternative methods:

• ☁️ Cloud storage: Google Photos (unlimited storage of compressed photos), Mi Cloud (5 GB free), Yandex Drive (10 GB).
• 🗃️ Cache cleaning: In Settings → Memory. → Cleaning can be removed before 1-3 GB of unnecessary files.
• 🎮 Lightweight versions of applications: Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite, Spotify Lite are taken in the 2-5 less space.
• 🔄 Transfer to the outside SSD/flash-drive OTG-cable (supported by all Xiaomi C) MIUI 12+).

For games with large files (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), you can use the Games Turbo section of MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → Special features → Games Turbo.
2. Select the game and activate the option Optimization of memory.

FAQ: Frequent questions about working with a memory card in Xiaomi