How to transfer data from internal memory to Xiaomi memory card

Modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO They offer impressive specs, but system memory often fills up faster than we expect, 4K-Video, messenger cache and heavy gaming eat up the available space instantly. When a frightening notification appears on the screen that internal memory is 90% or more full, the device starts to run slower and new applications stop being installed. In this situation, the best solution is to use a microSD memory card.

Moving files is not just a way to free up space, but also a necessary measure for the stable operation of the operating system. MIUI Proper data distribution allows you to save important documents and media files even in the case of resetting the phone settings to factory. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to safely transfer information, what are the nuances of working with external drives and how to configure the system so that new files are saved by default. SD-map.

Before you start taking action, you need to make sure that your smartphone technically supports external drives. Not all models, especially budget or new flagship lines, have the appropriate slot. If the SIM card connector is combined, you may have to choose between a second SIM card and a memory extension. Important: formatting the memory card for internal storage will destroy all data on it, so be sure to back up important files before starting the procedure.

Preparation of memory card and smartphone for work

The first step is to physically install the drive and set it up initially, and the quality and speed of the card directly affect the performance of the smartphone, so you shouldn't save on this component. Cheap maps of unknown brands can quickly fail or significantly slow down the system when reading large amounts of data.

Once the card is installed in a slot (often paired with a slot for the second SIM), the system will automatically prompt it to be set up. If the automatic window does not appear, go to the settings menu. Find the Settings section → About Phone → Storage or just Settings → Storage. Here you will see a list of connected drives. If the card is new, the system will ask you to format it as a portable storage, if you plan to transfer only photos and videos, or as an internal one if you want to install applications on it.

⚠️ Note: When you format a card as an internal storage, it's encrypted and linked to a particular device, and you can't just insert it into another phone and read the data without formatting it again.

For comfortable work with multimedia and documents, it is recommended to choose an exFAT file system that supports files larger than 4 GB. If the card is used exclusively for music and small documents, FAT32 will do. Make sure that the contact of the card and smartphone is reliable before starting the data transfer process.

Using a built-in conductor to transfer files

The easiest and most reliable way to move files is to use the File Manager app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi devices, which allows you to flexibly manage the file system, moving folders and individual files between partitions without losing quality or data structure.

To start, open the Explorer app on the home screen. At the top of the interface, you'll see the Internal Drive tabs and «SD-Go to the internal memory and find the folders that take up the most space. DCIM (photo and video), MIUI/Gallery (Screenshots and edited photos) or folders of messengers, for example, Tencent/MicroMsg for WeChat or Android/media social-network cache.

Select the files you want with a long press. In the bottom menu that appears, select the option “Move” or “Copy”; the difference between them is significant: “Copy” will leave the originals in place (taking up space), and “Move” cuts the files, freeing up internal memory immediately after the operation is completed. Then go to the tab. SD-maps, select the target folder and click "Insert».

• 📁 folder DCIM contains all photos and videos taken with the main camera.
• 📱 Android directory stores application data, game cache and downloaded files from messengers.
• 📥 Download folder accumulates all files downloaded from the browser or received via Bluetooth.

The transfer process can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data and the speed of the card.Do not interrupt the operation and try not to run heavy applications in the background, so as not to overload the memory controller.

Setup of the camera to save on SD-map

To avoid the problem of overflowing internal memory in the future, it is advisable to configure the standard Camera app so that new images and videos are stored immediately on an external drive, which is especially true for lovers of mobile photography who shoot in high resolution.

Open the Camera app and click on the menu icon (three bars) in the top right corner. Select Settings. In the list of options, find the Save to SD-And then you activate the map, and then all the new media files are automatically written to an external storage.

It’s worth noting that some features, such as shooting in H.265 or recording video in 4K resolution at high frame rates, may require high recording speeds that cheap cards can’t provide, in which case the system can ignore the settings and save the file to internal memory to avoid frame loss.

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Use memory cards labeled U3 or V30 to record video in 4K. Conventional Class 10 cards may not be able to handle the data stream, causing the recording to stop in the middle of shooting.

Application portability and management

Unlike photo transfer, application migration to Android, and in particular to the shell MIUI, Since Android 6.0, Google has limited the ability to fully migrate apps to the Internet. SD-However, partial transfer or use of the card as internal storage is still possible.

If you format the map as "Adoptable Storage," the system will decide which application data to place on the external drive. → Annexes → All applications can be selected for a specific application. If the function is supported, the memory button will be active, where you can select "Change" and transfer the application to the app. SD-map.

Unfortunately, many app developers block this feature, in which case the transfer button will be missing or inactive, often with Google system services, banking applications and instant messengers requiring high speed data access.

• 🚀 Transferring the cache of heavy games (for example, PUBG Genshin Impact is often possible through the settings of the app itself.
• 🔒 System applications are usually protected from movement to prevent OS errors.
• ⚙️ Some applications allow you to choose the way to save downloadable files (offline maps, music) in their internal settings.

Be prepared for the fact that after transferring an application to a memory card, it can load a little longer, which is due to a lower response rate. SD-cards compared to the flash memory of the smartphone soldered on the board.

⚠️ Note: Do not remove the memory card while the phone is on, if applications or active databases are moved to it.

Solutions to problems when working with SD-card

Users may experience a situation where the smartphone stops seeing the memory card or produces a formatting error. Often the problem lies in the oxidation of contacts or a file system that the phone cannot read. First of all, try to wipe the contacts of the card with a soft eraser and insert it again.

If the device is writing «SD-card is “damaged” or requires formatting, although it has important data, try connecting the phone to your computer via a computer. USB-cable, file transfer mode (MTP) The PC can recognize the drive and let it copy the information, and then you can format the card right in the phone settings.

Another common problem is the slow operation of the interface after installing the map, which occurs when the system tries to index media files (mediaserver process), give the phone time (sometimes up to several hours) to complete the indexing, especially if there are hundreds of photos and videos on the map.

In cases where the card is determined to be empty, even though the files have been moved, check the hidden folders. Some guides hide the system directories by default. It is also possible that the files were moved to the root directive, and the player application searches for them in standard folders.

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If your phone is constantly losing its memory card, it may be due to mechanical wear and tear on the slot or the card itself. Try replacing the drive with a model from another manufacturer before contacting the service center.

Optimizing data storage in the future

To keep the memory problem from returning, it's important to make a habit of cleaning the storage regularly. Use the built-in Cleanup tool in the Security app, which automatically finds junk files, cache and duplicates. Regular prevention helps keep the system running at a high level.

Configure cloud services like Google Photos or Xiaomi Cloud to automatically upload photos. Enable Free Space, which removes images already stored in the cloud from your device, allowing you to keep your local memory free using the same option. SD-The map as a buffer zone for current projects.

Periodically check the Download folder and the messenger cache (WhatsApp, Telegram). These applications tend to accumulate gigabytes of videos and images viewed, but not needed. In the settings of each messenger, you can limit the autosave of media files, which will significantly save space.