Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where built-in storage is overflowing. The system begins to warn about the lack of space, which leads to the inability to take new pictures or update applications. Especially relevant is the issue of expanding memory for users of models with 64 or 128 GB, who are actively shooting 4K video or installing heavy games.
Fortunately, many of the Chinese brand’s devices support microSD card installation, which allows you to instantly increase the amount of space available. However, simply inserting the drive is not enough – you need to properly configure the system so that photos and files are automatically saved to that place. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of the procedure, including the hidden capabilities of MIUI.
Storage optimization on HyperOS or MIUI devices has its own peculiarities. Standard Android methods may work differently here because of the deep customization of the interface. Below we will describe in detail the algorithm of actions that will help you free up precious gigabytes of internal memory.
Preparation of memory card and compatibility check
Before you start transferring files, you need to make sure that your smartphone physically supports work with external drives. Not all modern Xiaomi models are equipped with a hybrid slot. SIM-The card has only two compartments without the possibility of installing a MicroSD, then the expansion of memory is possible only through the USB-OTG adapter.
When buying a memory card, pay attention to the speed class. For recording high-resolution video and installing applications, the minimum standard is Class 10 or UHS-I. Using slow cards will cause the camera to work with a delay, and the gallery will open the preview for a long time.
⚠️ Note: Formatting a memory card will destroy all the data on it. If there is important information on the drive, copy it to your computer first.
Once you have the card installed in the slot and the phone is turned on, the system usually automatically suggests formatting the drive. If there is no notification, go to the Settings menu → About Phone → Storage. Here you will see a new section dedicated to external memory. Click on it and select the formatting option. The system will suggest you choose the type of use: as portable storage or as part of internal storage.
- 📀 Portable storage: the card is used for photos, music and video, is available for reading on other devices.
- 📱 Internal Storage: The card is encrypted and becomes part of the system, applications can be installed on it, but on other phones it will not be read.
- 🔄 Hybrid Mode: allows flexible space management, but requires manual adjustment in newer versions of Android.
The mode choice depends on your goals. For most users who just want to store archives of media files, the first option is optimal, and it ensures maximum compatibility and security of data when changing devices.
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Use a memory card with a capacity of no more than 256 GB to work smoothly older models of smartphones. Too much can cause reading errors or slow down the file system.
Setup of automatic photo and video saving
The most voluminous content that fills memory quickly is media. Xiaomi’s camera stores all images in internal memory by default, and to change this behavior, you need to make adjustments to the settings of the Camera app and system storage.
Open the Camera app and click on the menu icon (three bars) in the top right corner. Go to Settings. Find an item called Save to SD-Map" or "Save Way. Activate the switch. From now on, all new photos and videos will be recorded directly to the external drive.
But the old files will stay in place. You'll need a file manager to move them. Xiaomi's smartphones have a great Explorer (or File Manager) tool, run it and go to Images or Video.
☑️ Transfer of media files
It is important to note that when moving large amounts of data (more than 10-20 GB), the process can take a considerable time.
WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber often store the received files in internal memory. In the settings of each application, find the section “Data and Storage” and change the save path to an external drive if this option is supported by the application version.
Transfer of applications and games to external storage
In modern versions of Android, including Android 13 and 14 in the shell of MIUI 14 or HyperOS, the ability to fully port applications to the memory card is limited to the developers of the system, this is done for security and performance reasons, since external cards are slower than the built-in flash memory.
However, for some applications, this feature is available. 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, the app developer has banned the operation.
⚠️ Note: Memory-moved applications may be slower, and it is not recommended to port system services or applications that require high response speed, such as navigators or online banking.
There is an alternative method through Developer Mode, but it requires caution. Go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode. Then, in the advanced settings, look for “Allow applications to be saved on an external drive.” After rebooting, the application menu may have the option of porting.
Large cache games (e.g. PUBG, Call of Duty) often require additional files to be transferred from the application itself. Some game launchers allow you to point the path to the game files. Otherwise, after transferring the application itself through the settings, part of the cache can automatically move to the map.
Why can't we move all the apps?
Using a memory card as an internal storage
Adoptable Storage allows the system to consider the external drive as a system partition, which solves the problem of lack of space for installing new programs, but in Xiaomi smartphones this feature is often hidden by default.
Activation requires a computer connection and USB debugging. You will need the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) utility. After connecting the phone in debugging mode, type in the command:
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2This command forcibly changes the priority of installing applications on external storage, but to fully combine partitions, a more complex formatting procedure through ADB may be required, which completely clears the card and encrypts it for a specific device.
| Parameter | Internal memory. | Map as an internal | Map as a portable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed of operation | High (UFS) | Depends on the card. | Depends on the card. |
| Access to PC | Only through cable. | No (encryption) | Yeah, like a flash drive. |
| Installation of applications | Yes. | Yes. | Limited. |
| Security of data | Tall. | High (encryption) | Medium |
Using a card as internal memory has its own risks, and if the card fails, the applications installed on it will stop running and their data may be lost, and the wear and tear of the card in this mode is much faster.
Working with files through Explorer and PC
The best way to manually sort files is to use the built-in Explorer, which allows you to see the folder structure and move objects between the partitions. Open the app, select Folders, and you'll see two root directories: Internal Drive «SD-map».
Often, users want to move the DCIM (camera) or Download folder. Just select the folder, click Copy or Move, then go to the map and paste it. The system will automatically process the files. When you copy, the originals stay in place, when you move, they are deleted.
If the data volume is very large, it is advisable to connect the phone to the computer. Select the USB File Transfer (MTP) mode. On the PC screen, the smartphone will appear as two separate drives. You can drag and drop files with your mouse, which is often faster and more stable than through the phone interface.
When working with files via PC, make sure that you have the current ADB drivers or Mi PC Suite utilities installed, although Windows 10/11 doesn’t usually require them.Make sure that the cable is high-quality, as poor contact can interrupt the copying process and damage the file table.
Common Errors and How to Resolve Them
During operation, users may encounter a message «SD-The card is damaged," or "Formatting required." Don't rush to format the map if there's important data on it. Try to extract it, erase the contacts with a pin and insert it again. Sometimes the problem is the oxidation of the contacts of the tray.
Another common problem is that the phone sees the card but doesn't read files or is very slow, which is a sure sign that the memory card is low-quality or fake. Check the write speed with applications like SD Card Tester. Real speed should be as stated.
⚠️ Note: If the system constantly requires you to format the card, it may have a file system. NTFS or exFAT, which the phone doesn't support without superuser rights — FAT32 or exFAT (for cards) >32GB).
Also worth mentioning is the problem with displaying files in the gallery. If you can't see a photo after you transfer it, check for the.nomedia file in the folder. This hidden file prevents the system from scanning the folder for media content. Deleting this file (via the "Show Hidden Files" settings) will solve the problem.
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Regular backup of data from the memory card to the computer is the only way to guarantee the safety of information in the event of a sudden failure of the drive.
In conclusion, good memory management extends the life of a smartphone, when internal memory is less than 80% full, the system works faster and applications are launched instantly, and regular cleaning and transferring archives to an external medium is the best brake prevention.