How to transfer a photo to a memory card in Xiaomi Redmi: all the ways 2026

Have you ever wondered why your Xiaomi Redmi memory is running out so fast? One solution is to transfer photos to a microSD card, freeing up precious gigabytes of internal storage. But how do you do it right so you don't lose your photos and you don't disrupt the gallery?

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer photos to the SD-map in the smartphones Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11, POCO X5 and other models based on MIUI 14/15. You’ll learn how to use Android built-in tools, third-party apps, and even a computer to safely migrate files, and how to set up your camera so that new photos are immediately saved to your memory card.

If you've never worked with a smartphone file system before, don't worry: the instructions are customized for beginners. We avoid technical jargon and explain each step in simple language. Ready to get started? Then let's get started!

1.Preparation: checking the memory card and phone settings

Before transferring photos, make sure your microSD card is compatible with your phone and formatted correctly.Put the card into the slot (usually it is on the sidebar under the SIM tray) and follow the following steps:

Open the Settings. → Memory. Here you'll see two sections: Internal Memory and SD-If the map is not displayed:

• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the system doesn’t recognize the new device right away.
• 📱 Check if the card is tightly inserted.In Redmi Note 10 Pro and newer models, the tray may require little force when closing.
• 🛠️ Try formatting the card (Warning: All data will be deleted!). To do this, tap the card name in the memory settings and choose Format as internal or Portable.

The important point is that if you choose formatting as internal memory, the card will be encrypted and not readable on other devices.

Also check if there is enough space on the map. For this, in the same memory settings, see the line Available next to the title. SD-If less than 10% is free, you should first free up space by deleting unnecessary files through the file manager.

2. Method 1: Transfer through the built-in MIUI file manager

The easiest method is to use the standard Files app (Blue folder icon) preinstalled on all Xiaomi smartphones and does not require superuser rights.

1. Open the Files app and go to the Images tab (or Categories → Images in newer versions of MIUI).

2. Press and hold your finger on any photo to activate the selection mode. tick all the files you need (or tap Select all in the top menu).

3. At the bottom of the screen will appear the toolbar - click Move (the icon of the folder with the arrow).

4. In the window that opens, select SD-map, then the destination folder (for example, DCIM/Camera If you don't have the right folder, create it through the Create folder button in the upper right corner.

5. Confirm the transfer with the Move Here button.

Tip: If you are carrying a lot of photos (more than 500), break the process into parts of 100-200 files, which will reduce the risk of errors due to overload.

Make sure the memory card is inserted and recognized

Check the vacant space for SD-map (minimum 10% of the volume of photos transferred)

Close all apps that work with the gallery (Google Photos, Instagram, etc.)

Connect your phone to charge (for large amounts of data)-->

⚠️ Warning: If you've moved the photos, don't panic! Most likely, the Gallery app just didn't scan the new folder. Update the gallery data by pulling the screen down in the app itself, or reboot the phone.

Method 2: Automatically save new photos to a memory card

So that new photos are immediately saved to SD-The card, not the internal memory, changes the camera settings. This is true for all Redmi models, including the Redmi. A2+, Note 12 Pro 5G and POCO F5.

1. Open the Camera app and tap the icon ⚙️ (gear) in the upper right corner.

2. Scroll down to Storage and select Memory for Photo or Save Place (name depends on MIUI version).

3. In the window that opens, tap on SD-If the option is inactive, the card is not recognized or formatted as internal memory (see section 1).

4. Save the changes and take a test shot. Make sure it shows up in the folder. DCIM/Camera on SD-map.

Limitation: Some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi 9A or Redmi 10C) do not support saving video to a memory card - only photos.

If you're optional SD-The card is not in the camera settings, check:

• 📌 Card format: It should be formatted as a portable storage (not internal!).
• 🔧 Updates: in older versions MIUI (below 12.5) this function may not be available.
• 🛡️ Application rights: Go to Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Permits and make sure access to the storage is allowed.

Method 3: Transfer the photo via computer (the most reliable method)

If you have thousands of photos on your phone or are afraid of losing data when you migrate, use a Windows/macOS PC, which guarantees 100% control over the process and allows you to back up before migrating.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with USB-port.
• 🔌 USB-Type C Cable (or Micro-USB for older Redmi models) 4X/5A).
• 💾 Card reader (if you want to copy the photo directly to the SD-card).

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via cable. On your phone screen, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Open This Computer – Your Redmi will appear as a removable drive (e.g. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11).
3. Go to Internal Storage → DCIM → Camera (camera photos are stored here) or Pictures (for downloaded images).
4. Copy the required files (Ctrl)+C) and insert them into the folder on SD-card (if the card is in the phone) or on the desktop (if you transfer it through the card reader).
5. After copying, delete the originals from the phone’s internal memory.

Critical recommendation: Before deleting the originals, check the integrity of the copied files! Open a few photos on your PC to make sure they are not corrupted.

For macOS, you will need to install the Android File Transfer app (the official utility from Google).The algorithm of actions is similar, but instead of this computer, use the Android File Transfer window.

5. Method 4: Third-party applications for photo transfer

If the standard methods don't work, you can use Google Play apps, which offer additional features: batch transfer, compression before copying, cloud sync.

Top.-3 tested applications:

• 📁 Files by Google – a free manager with a memory cleanup function and a convenient interface for transferring files.
• 🔄 Send Anywhere – allows you to transfer photos between devices over Wi-Fi without cables.
• 🖼️ Gallery Doctor - a specialized application for photo management, including transfer to the SD-map.

Example of transfer via Files by Google:

1. Install the application and open it. Give access to the files.
2. Go to the Cleanup tab → Files → Images.
3. Select the necessary photos and tap Move.
4. Choose. SD-destination-card.

⚠️ Warning: Avoid applications with suspicious permissions (e.g. access to the app) SMS Before installing, check reviews and rankings in Google Play. ES File Explorer has previously had privacy issues – better to use alternatives.

💡

If you often transfer photos, create a SD-file-card Camera_backup And add it to your favorites in the file manager, so you save time on the next transfer.

6. Frequent errors and their solutions

When you transfer photos to a memory card, Xiaomi Redmi users face typical problems.

Problem 1: The photos are transferred but not displayed in the gallery.

Decision:

• Update the gallery data by pulling the screen down.
• Check if the folder is hidden on SD-To do this, you can tap three points in the file manager. → Settings → Show hidden files.
• Remove the gallery cache: Settings → Apps → Gallery → Storage → Clear the cache.

Problem 2: When transferring, there is an error “Insufficient memory”, although there is space on the map.

Decision:

• Check if the map is fragmented. Format it (by pre-reserving it!).
• If the card is formatted as internal memory, the system can reserve some space. Reformat it into portable.
• Try to transfer photos of smaller batches (50-100 pieces).

Problem 3: After the transfer, the photos open with artifacts or do not open at all.

Decision:

• Most likely, the files were corrupted when you copied them. Restore them from a backup (hopefully you did!).
• If you don’t have a backup, try opening the photo on your PC using PhotoRec (to restore damaged images).
• In the future, use reliable transfer methods (for example, via a computer).

💡

If the memory card often gives errors when transferring photos, check it for bad sectors using the utility H2testw (Windows) or Disk Utility (macOS).

7. How to make room after transferring the photo

Transfer of the photo to SD-The card is only half the case, and now you have to free up the phone's internal memory by deleting the originals:

Safe way:

1. Open the Files app and go to Images.
2. Select the photos that have been transferred (make sure they are duplicated on the SD-map!).
3. Click Remove, then confirm the action.
4. Clear the Recycle Bin: In the file manager, go to the Recycle Bin and click Clear.

Automatic cleaning:

Use the built-in Cleanup function in MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Select Unnecessary Files or Duplicates of Photos (if they are left after the transfer).
3. Press Clean and confirm.

⚠️ Note: If you used Google Photos to back up, don't delete the originals until you make sure they're synced! go to the Google Photos app, check that all photos are displayed in the cloud, and only then clear the phone's memory.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions