How to transfer applications to SD-Map on Xiaomi: Deep customization

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face the unpleasant situation of having built-in storage overloaded and the system starting to run slower, especially for budget models with 32 or 64 gigabytes of memory, where there is almost no free space after installing the system and basic software, and users instinctively look for a way to move heavy games and programs to an external microSD card to free up precious gigabytes.

However, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS block the standard application portability feature known since the older versions of Android by default, which is done to favor system stability and speed, since memory cards often have lower read/write speeds compared to internal flash memory. However, there are proven methods to bypass these restrictions, allowing you to effectively manage the space without losing warranty.

In this article, we will discuss all available methods: from standard settings to advanced methods using the ADB And Root's right, you'll learn which apps you can actually move, which ones you can leave inside, and how to turn them into apps. SD-card in full continuation of internal memory of the device.

Preparation of memory card and compatibility check

Before you start manipulating the file system, you need to make sure that your drive meets the requirements of a modern mobile operating system. Using a slow or damaged card can lead to an interface freeze, data loss, or even a cyclical reboot of a Xiaomi smartphone.Such as Class 10 cards are recommended, UHS-I or higher, preferably from proven brands like SanDisk or Samsung.

Put the card in the slot and wait for the system to notify you. If the card was previously used on another device, the system will prompt you to clear it. Formatting the card in the internal memory mode completely erases all data, so back up important photos and documents to your computer or the cloud beforehand. Once formatted, the card is encrypted and becomes available only for this particular smartphone.

Not all Redmi and Poco models support the two. SIM-Most devices use a hybrid slot where the second sim tray is occupied by the drive, and if you have two SIM cards that are critical, you have to choose between them and the memory extension, or use cloud services to store media files.

Standard method via MIUI and HyperOS settings

In the latest versions of firmware, the manufacturer removed the direct button "Move to the SD-The map is from the application management menu, but the basic functionality for working with the drive remains. First, you need to activate the card as an internal storage, unless the system itself suggested that you do this when installing it.

Go to the Settings menu → Memory (or Advanced Settings) → Memory in older versions. Find the item "Use as internal storage" and follow the instructions of the configuration wizard. After that, some of the system data and cache of some applications will automatically be transferred to an external medium, although they themselves will be transferred to the external medium. APK-Program files can remain inside.

⚠️ Note: Once the card is in internal storage mode, it will not be possible to remove it without losing data and resetting the phone settings.

To manage already installed programs, go to Settings → Annexes → All applications. Select the program you want from the list. If the app developer has authorized the move, you'll see the active "Move to the next" button. SD-If the button is gray or missing, then the application is rigidly tied to the system partition and standard methods do not move it.

Using ADB for Forced Transfer

The most effective way to obtain superuser rights (Root) is to use a debugging bridge. ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method allows you to change the configuration of the device, forcing the system to read SD-map is a priority place to install new applications and allow you to transfer existing ones.

To start, you will need a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and a USB cable. On your smartphone, you need to activate the developer mode: go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the MIUI version 7 times. Then, in the Advanced Settings menu → For developers, turn on the “Debugging over USB” and “Debugging over Wi-Fi” (optional). Connect the phone to your PC and confirm the debugging request on the smartphone screen.

Download the Platform Tools package from Google's official website. Open the command line in the tool folder and enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If the device is determined, run the command to change the storage configuration:

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

A value of 2 tells the system to set the applications by default to external storage. A value of 0 returns the default settings (automatic choice), and 1 compulsorily puts everything into internal memory. Once you execute the command, try moving the applications through the standard menu, many of them should have this option.

Application of Root rights and specialized utilities

For users willing to take the risk of taking full control of the system, there is a method using Root rights. This allows you to use powerful tools such as Link2SD or App2SD that can carry even those applications that are usually blocked by the system. However, unlocking the bootloader and obtaining superuser rights on Xiaomi is a process that requires time and wait (7 to 168 hours).

After obtaining the Root rights and installing the rights manager (for example, Magisk), you need to format SD-Create a special section on the map ext4 or ext3. This partition will be hidden from the normal file system and will be used as an extension of the system partition. Link2SD It will automatically detect this section and prompt you to create links (links) to move application files (.apk,.dex,.lib).

Using Root rights automatically voids the warranty in most service centers. In addition, banking applications and services like Google Pay (or its analogues) can stop working without additional manipulations to hide root rights. Weigh the pros and cons before you decide to do this step to save a couple of gigabytes.

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Use the SD Maid or Files by Google app to clean your cache regularly, which will free up more space than the apps themselves, as the cache of messengers and browsers can take up gigabytes.

Features of transfer of messengers and heavy games

Special attention should be paid to messengers like Telegram and WhatsApp, as well as heavy games with cache, which often take the lion’s share of memory not due to the installation file itself, but due to the downloaded media files and game resources. APK-file-through ADB or settings are often not enough - the cache may remain inside.

In the case of Telegram, it is better not to rely on system transfer, but to change the settings of the application itself. → Data and memory → The path to the files and point yours SD-All new downloadable files will be saved there. WhatsApp is similar to: Settings → chat → Backup of chats (for backup) or folder transfer Android/media/com.whatsapp manually through the file manager after installation.

⚠️ Note: When transferring games with cache (files) OBB) manually or through programs, make sure that the paths to the cache files remain correct.If the game stops running or gives a data check error, you may have to move the folder Android/obb Or to return the game to your internal memory.

For games that support downloading additional resources after installation, you can often choose a way to save data in the game settings. If this option is not available, use a file manager with root or root permissions. ADB to move obb and data folders to the relevant sections on SD-map, maintaining the directory structure.

Possible problems and solutions

Users may face a number of challenges in optimizing memory, the most common being the slowdown in smartphone speeds, memory cards, even high-speed ones, are inferior to internal UFS memory in random read/write speeds, which can lead to longer downloads of applications transferred to the map.

Another common error is the message “App not installed” or spontaneous closure of programs, which often happens if the file system of the card is damaged or if the card was removed without first unmounting, in which case formatting the card through the smartphone menu and retrying the transfer helps.

If the app widgets stop working or disappear from the desktop after the transfer, try removing the widget and adding it again. Sometimes the system takes time to index the moved files. In rare cases, a complete reset of the phone's settings after all the memory manipulations helps, but this is an extreme measure.

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Speed of operation SD-The cards directly affect the performance of the transferred applications. Do not skimp on the class of the drive speed if you plan to keep active programs on it.

Alternative ways to free up space

If none of the transfer methods worked or seemed too complicated, consider alternative ways to free up space. Modern Android offers a variety of cloud services, such as Google Photos, Yandex.Disk or MI Cloud, which can automatically upload media files to the Internet and delete local copies of them.

Also effective is cleaning the Download folder and social media cache regularly. Many users forget that the images and videos they see are stored in the phone's memory. Using specialized cleaners or manually checking Android/data folders can free up several gigabytes of space in a single session.

As a last resort, if the phone is only used at home with Wi-Fi, you can remove the rarely used heavy applications and use their web versions through the browser, which will radically reduce the load on the built-in storage and eliminate the need for complex technical manipulation.