Owners of budget smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 5A often face a critical shortage of space: built-in storage of just 16 or 32 GB is quickly filled with system files, messenger cache and photos. This leads to a slowdown in the interface and the inability to install new programs. The solution lies in the competent use of a microSD card, which allows you to expand the available amount of user data.
The process of transferring information to an external storage device in the shell of MIUI has its own features that distinguish it from pure Android. Proper configuration allows you to free up precious gigabytes of internal memory without losing the functionality of the device. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the stages of working with an external drive, from formatting to porting heavy applications.
Preparation of memory card and formatting
Before you start transferring files, you need to properly prepare the external drive, and if you're using a new card or one that's previously worked on another device, you need to format it, and this action will create a new file system that the smartphone can understand, and clean up all the old data. Be careful: formatting will completely destroy the information on the map.
Plug the microSD card into the SIM card tray slot and wait for the system to notify. Go to the settings menu, find the Advanced Settings section and select Memory. This displays the current state of storage. Click on your card name to open the control menu.
Choose formatting. The system will offer two uses: portable storage or internal memory. For the Redmi 5A, the most versatile mode is portable storage, since it allows you to easily retrieve the card and connect it to the computer.
⚠️ Warning: Before you start formatting, be sure to copy important files from the map to your computer if there is information on it.
Once the procedure is complete, the system will notify you of success, the drive is now ready to write files, and it is recommended to use cards of a class of speed at least 10 to ensure fast application performance and smooth video playback.
Transferring photos and videos through a standard conductor
The easiest way to free up space is to move media files, and the camera defaults to storing images in internal memory, taking up a significant amount of space, and to transfer it, use the standard Explorer application, which is already installed in the MIUI system.
Open the app and go to Images or Videos. Select files or select All. Click More or three dots in the corner of the screen and select Move.
In the navigation window, indicate the path to SD-You can create a separate folder, like this, Photo_Backup, So you can do it, and the system will start copying, and the speed of the process depends on the number of files and the speed class of the card.
- 📸 Select only old photos to speed up the transfer process.
- 📂 Create a logical folder structure by year or event.
- ⚡ Do not interrupt the copying process to avoid damaging files.
Once completed, check for files in the new location, if everything is displayed correctly, you can delete the originals from internal memory, which will instantly free up several gigabytes of space.
Configuring data storage of the camera and messengers
To avoid having to manually transfer files in the future, it is better to set up automatic saving on an external drive immediately, this applies not only to the gallery, but also to popular messengers such as Telegram and WhatsApp.
Open the Camera app and click on the settings gear in the corner. Find the "Save on" item. SD-Now all new images and videos will automatically enter the external drive, bypassing the internal memory.
For instant messengers, the procedure may be different. On WhatsApp, go to chat settings and select "Data Storage", then specify the way to save media. On Telegram, the settings are in the "Data and Memory" → "Save Path".
💡
Use memory cards up to 128GB for the Redmi 5A, as the smartphone processor may not work properly with larger drives, which will lead to read errors.
This setup significantly extends the life of the device’s internal memory, and system partitions remain free, which has a positive effect on the overall speed of the MIUI interface.
Transfer of installed applications to SD-map
Porting programs themselves is a more difficult task, as not all applications support this feature, and developers often limit the ability to install on external drives for security and stability.
Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications. Select the program you want from the list. If you can transfer, you'll see the active "Move to" button. SD-If the button is grey or missing, it means that the application is rigidly tied to the system.
For games with large cash (for example, PUBG Or Asphalt, you often need to transfer not only the apk file, but also the cache files, and this is done through the file manager: the folder. Android/data with the data, the game is moved to the map, and in the original folder a symbolic link is created (root rights are required).
| Type of application | Possibility of transfer | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| System services | No. | Leave it in your internal memory. |
| Social media | Partially. | Postponing, if available |
| Cache games | Yes (through files) | Hand-carry the cache |
| Office applications | Yes. | Boldly carry over to SD |
Keep in mind that running applications from a memory card can be a little slower than running an internal flash drive, which is due to differences in the speed of reading random blocks of data.
☑️ Checking before transferring applications
Using the card as internal memory
In some versions of the firmware MIUI A function is available to combine internal memory and SD-This is called Adoptable Storage, and in this case, the system encrypts the card and considers it part of the system partition.
When this mode is activated, the memory card becomes unreadable on other devices without prior formatting, and all data on it is encrypted with the keys of a particular Redmi 5A smartphone.
This solution is perfect if you have to install a lot of heavy games, but it reduces the mobility of the card. You can't just take it out and paste it into a friend's phone to show a photo.
⚠️ Note: When using the card as internal memory, its extraction application stop working or disappear from the desktop. Remove the drive only through the "Safe extraction" menu".
To enable this option, when you first set up the card, select "Use as internal storage." If the card is already formatted as portable, you will have to format it again by selecting the appropriate mode.
What happens when the card is damaged in this mode?
Cache cleaning and system maintenance
Even after the files are transferred, internal memory can fill up with system debris. The MIUI shell has built-in optimization tools. Regular cleaning helps keep the device running.
Use the standard "Security" application. Run the scan and press the "Clean" button. The system will prompt you to delete temporary files, remnants of deleted applications and browser cache.
It's also worth checking the Download folder, and it's often the APK installation files, documents, and images that you don't need anymore that you can delete, and it's the fastest way to get free space.
- 🗑️ Delete YouTube and browser cache monthly.
- 📥 Check the download folder for duplicates.
- 📱 Turn off auto-save in messengers for group chats.
Remember that overflowing memory (even after cleaning) can lead to cyclical reboots. Always leave at least 500 MB of free space for the operating system to work properly.
💡
Regular cleaning of cache and transfer of media files to SD-The card allows you to extend the period of comfortable use of Redmi 5A For several years, despite the small amount of internal memory.