Owners of budget smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 6A often face a critical lack of built-in storage. The operating system and pre-installed apps take up a significant portion of the 16 or 32 gigabytes available, leaving the user with minimal space for personal files. The built-in memory fills up quickly, leading to a slowdown in the device and the inability to install new programs.
The most effective way to solve this problem is to actively use the slot for the SD-Moving photos and videos to an external medium not only frees up valuable space, but also speeds up the interface. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to transfer photos to a Xiaomi Redmi memory card. 6A various methods, including staff funds MIUI and third-party file managers.
Preparation for data transfer and map verification
Before you start manipulating files, you need to make sure that the memory card is properly installed and formatted to work with Android. Redmi 6A supports microSD cards up to 256 GB, which allows you to significantly expand the capabilities of the device. If you just bought a new card, the phone will offer to format it immediately after installation – this step is mandatory for stable operation.
The formatting process removes all data from the media, so if there are already files on the map, they must be pre-copyed to the computer. SIM-You should check its status in the settings. Go to Settings. → Memory and make sure the system sees the external drive and displays its volume.
⚠️ Before formatting the memory card, be sure to copy all the important data to another medium, as during the formatting process all information will be irretrievably deleted.
For large volumes of photos, it is recommended to use cards of class speeds at least Class 10 or UHS-I. This will ensure fast recording of shots during serial shooting and smooth reproduction of high-resolution video. The use of slow maps can lead to delays when opening the gallery.
Setup the camera to save the photo on SD-map
The easiest way to transfer is to automatically save new images immediately to the external drive, in which case the smartphone’s internal memory remains free, and all new photos and videos are recorded on a microSD. To activate this feature, you need to change the settings of the standard Camera application.
Open the camera app and tap the menu icon in the upper right corner (three horizontal bars). In the list that opens, select Settings. Scroll down to the Saving or Memory section. Here you need to activate the Save to Save to SD-** Once this option is enabled, all subsequent images will automatically be taken to an external medium.
- 📸 Open the Camera app on the home screen.
- ⚙️ Click on the three bars in the upper right corner to enter the menu.
- 💾 Find and turn on the switchboard "Save to" SD-map».
- ✅ Check status: next to the shutter button may appear the icon of the memory card.
It is important to note that HDR mode or high-resolution shooting can sometimes ignore this setting and save buffer files to internal memory for quick processing, and some third-party applications using the camera (such as Snapchat or Instagram) can save media files to their own folders in internal storage, regardless of the overall system settings.
Manual transfer of existing photos through the Explorer
If you already have a lot of pictures in your internal memory, you can move them manually, and for that, you have a standard file manager called Explorer in the MIUI shell, which allows you to manage the file system without installing any additional software.
Launch Explorer (folder icon) on the home screen, you'll see Images, Videos, Documents, etc. Click Images** to see all the folders with the photo. Find DCIM → Camera, which is where the photos taken on the phone's camera are stored. Highlight the files you want with a long press or select All from the control menu.
☑️ Algorithm of file transfer
After allocating files, click the "Three Dots" button at the bottom of the screen and select "Move"**. The system will prompt you to select destination. SD-It is recommended to create a separate folder, for example, Photos_Archive, not to mix old and new pictures, although you can move them to a standard folder DCIM map.
⚠️ Note: Use the Move function instead of Copy if the goal is to make room. The copy will create a duplicate and the memory will not be free until you manually delete the originals.
Use of the Files app from Google
In some versions of MIUI firmware for Redmi 6A, Files by Google may be the standard file manager, with a more modern interface and improved sorting features, and the way it works is similar, but the paths to the menu may differ.
Open the Files app. In the bottom panel, select the Overview tab.** This shows all the connected storages: Internal Memory and «SD-Go into the internal memory, find the folder. DCIM And then go on to Camera.
Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Move to... In the navigation window that opens, select SD-You can move files to the root of the card or to an existing folder, and it takes time to move them, depending on the amount of data and the speed of the memory card.
- 📂 Launch the Files app (blue, red and yellow folder).
- 🔍 Go to the Review tab and select “Inner Memory».
- 📸 Find the file. DCIM/Camera And highlight the right pictures.
- ➡️ Click "Move to" and select SD-map.
The advantage of this method is that you can sort files by date, size or type before transferring them, which is especially useful if you want to move only old photos for a particular month, leaving fresh images in your internal memory for quick access.
Comparison of Storage Methods and Productivity
Users often wonder where to store files in internal memory or on an external drive. Xiaomi Redmi 6A internal memory is built on eMMC technology and tends to have faster read and write speeds compared to average microSD cards.
| Parameter | Internal memory. | SD-map | Cloud services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed of operation | Tall. | Medium/Low | Depends on the network. |
| Volume | Limited (16/32GB) | Up to 256GB | 15GB free of charge |
| Risk of loss | When the phone breaks down | High (physical wear and tear) | Minimum |
| Availability | Only on the device. | On any device. | Internet everywhere. |
Using a memory card is ideal for archiving old photos and videos that are not needed daily, but for active shooting, especially in 4K (if supported) or in serial shooting, internal memory can work more stable.
What to do if the card is not readable?
Cleaning internal memory after transfer
Once you have moved the photos, it is important to make sure that the space is actually freed up. Sometimes there are hidden files or thumbnails in the folders that take up space. In the Explorer app, you can turn on the hidden files to check the cleanliness of the folders.
It is also worth checking the.thumbnails folder inside the directory. DCIM. It stores smaller copies of all your photos for quick viewing in the gallery. SD-This cache can remain in internal memory, it can be safely deleted through storage settings or specialized applications-cliners, but the gallery will recreate it the next time you run.
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To automatically clean up your garbage, use Xiaomi’s built-in Security app. Run a scan and select cache cleanup to delete temporary files left over after transferring the data.
Regularly checking the storage will help keep the Redmi 6A in good technical condition. If the space does not vacate after transferring the photo, check the cart in the gallery - deleted files often remain there for 30 days, continuing to occupy space.
Possible problems and solutions
During operation, there may be situations when the system refuses to transfer files or writes a Memory filled error, although there is a space. This can be due to the file system of the card. Android works best with the format FAT32 or exFAT. If the card is formatted in NTFS, the phone can only read files, but not write them.
Another common problem is that you can't transfer a lot of data, and if the process is interrupted, the files can get damaged, and in this case, you can transfer the photos in small portions, like 100-200 pieces, rather than all at once, which will reduce the load on the memory controller and minimize the risk of error.
⚠️ Note: Do not remove the memory card during the process of writing or transferring files.This can lead to irreversible damage to the file table and loss of all data on the media.
If the memory card is identified as damaged, try connecting the phone to the computer via a computer. USB-The cable and the PC operating system can check it. Sometimes you need a full formatting with a selection of markup schemas. MBR for compatibility with a smartphone.
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Using a high-quality memory card of the UHS-I class and regular backup of data to the computer is the key to the safety of your photos for a long time.