How to transfer the gallery to the SD- card in Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Why Xiaomi Gallery is Eating Up Internal Memory and How to Fix It

You see the Memory Full notification again on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5, even though you've set the 256GB microSD?The problem is that by default all photos and videos are saved to internal memory - even if the memory card is inserted.The manufacturer is so "concerned" about the speed of the gallery, but forgets to warn that it will quickly exhaust the device's resources.

In this article, 5 ways to move the gallery to the SD- card (including hidden settings MIUI 14/15), a breakdown of typical errors (for example, why photos remain in internal memory after transfer) and a unique method for models with a hybrid slot, where the card replaces the second SIM. If you are a user of Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi A2 – here you will find a solution for your model.

Spoiler: The most reliable way is not to move it, but to change the default save path, but if you've already taken thousands of pictures, you'll have to combine the methods. Let's start with preparation.

Preparation: which SD- card is suitable for Xiaomi and how to insert it correctly

Not all microSDs are compatible with Xiaomi. For example, SDHC cards (up to 32GB) may not be recognized in new models, and cheap no-names often cause write errors.

• 🔹 Speed class: minimum UHS-I (U1) or Class 10. For 4K- video, U3/V30.
• 🔹 Format: exFAT only or FAT32 (but the latter does not support >4GB files).
• 🔹 Capacity: from 64 GB (for MIUI 14+, optimally 128-512 GB).
• 🔹 Brand: Verified variants - SanDisk Ultra, Samsung EVO Plus, Kingston Canvas Go!

How to insert the card correctly:

1. Turn off your phone (required!).
2. Use the needle from the tray extraction kit (not the paperclip - it will bend the mechanism!).
3. If the slot is hybrid (e.g. in Redmi 10C), select the priority: SD- card or SIM2 in the SIM- card and mobile network settings.
4. After installation, turn on the phone and wait for the notification “SD- card is ready”.

⚠️ Warning: If, after inserting a card, the phone suggests formatting it as internal memory, don't agree! This will bind the card to the device, and you can't retrieve it without losing data. You need a portable storage mode for the gallery.

Method 1: Changing the way you save new photos and videos (the most correct one)

This method does not carry old files, but all new images will be saved immediately to the SD- card. Suitable for all models on the MIUI 12-15, including POCO F5 and Xiaomi 12T.

Instructions:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Slip on the gear settings (or swipe your finger from the right edge of the screen).
3. Select a Retention Site → SD-map.
4. Create a folder (for example, Camera_SD) or select an existing one.

After that:

• 📸 All new photos/video will be saved to the map.
• 🔄 Old files will remain in internal memory (should be transferred separately—see Method 2).
• ⚡ The saving rate may decrease by 10-15% (depending on the class of SD- cards).

⚠️ Warning: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 11 Lite NE) after the MIUI update, the camera settings are reset. Check the save path after each major update!

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If the camera settings do not have the option "SD- card", update the Camera app via Google Play. In older versions, this item may have been hidden.

Method 2: Manual file transfer via “Conductor” (without loss of quality)

If internal memory is already full and you don’t take much new images, it’s easier to manually transfer existing files, which works on 100% of Xiaomi devices, but requires caution.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Files app (Folder icon).
2. Go to the internal memory → DCIM → Camera (photos and videos are stored here).
3. Select files (long press → tick the necessary ones).
4. Tap Move (Do not "copy")
5. Choose. SD-map → DCIM → Camera (or create a new folder).
6. Confirm the transfer.

What is important to consider:

⚠️ Warning: If you use Google Photos to back up, after transferring files to the SD- card, the automatic sync may stop. To fix this, go to the Google Photo settings and turn on the backup for the folder on the SD- card.

Transfer files 20 to 30 pieces at a time|Check the vacant space for SD-map|Disable battery optimization for Files"|Backup important photos on PC-->

Method 3: Automatic transfer via “Storage Optimization” (hidden MIUI function)

The MIUI 14 and later has a hidden feature to automatically transfer rarely used files to the SD- card. It works in the background and does not require manual action, but it is turned on in an unobvious way.

How to activate:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Slip on the gear icon in the top right corner.
3. Select Storage Optimization.
4. Turn on the switch Automatic file transfer.
5. Specify the SD- card as the target storage.
6. Select file types: select Photos and Videos.

Features of the method:

• 🔄 Only files that you have not accessed > are transferred for 30 days.
• 📥 Originals remain in internal memory (references to SD- cards are created).
• ⚡ Does not work on FAT32 cards (exFAT required).
• 🛑 May slow down gallery performance if a class card U1.

To check which files have been transferred:

1. Open the Conductor.
2. Go to the SD- card in the folder MIUI/OptimizedFiles.
3. Here are stored links to the transferred data.

Method 4: Porting a Gallery over a PC (for large amounts of data)

If you need to transfer tens of gigabytes of photos and videos (for example, from Xiaomi 11T Pro to a 512 GB card), manual transfer via the phone will take hours. Faster to do it through the computer – so you also avoid the risk of interruption due to battery discharge.

Step-by-step instructions for Windows/macOS:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via the original cable (important!).
2. On your phone, select File Transfer Mode (not Charging).
3. On PC, open This Computer → Find a Xiaomi device.
4. Copy the DCIM folder from the phone’s internal memory to the SD- card (it appears as a separate drive).
5. Wait for the copy to be completed (don’t remove the cable!).
6. Remove files from internal memory only after checking that they have been copied correctly.

Advantages of this method:

• ⚡ Transfer speeds are 3-5 times faster than a phone.
• 🔒 No "Insufficient Memory" or "File is corrupted" errors.
• 📂 You can transfer entire folders without highlighting files one at a time.

⚠️ Warning: If you're using macOS, install Android File Transfer before you plug in your phone. Without it, your Mac won't see your Xiaomi files.

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Transferring over a PC is the only reliable way for large amounts of data (50+GB). But after copying, be sure to check the files on the SD- card: sometimes videos are corrupted due to file system errors.

Method 5: Use of third-party applications (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work (e.g., on the custom-built POCO M4 Pro), you can use third-party file managers with extended rights.

• 📂 Solid Explorer – supports dual-panel mode and FTP- server for fast transfer.
• 🔍 FX File Explorer is able to find duplicate photos in front of the perenosom.
• 🛠️ Root Explorer is for rooted devices only (gives full access to system folders).

Instructions for Solid Explorer:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Give access to the vault.
3. Turn on root access mode (if the phone is rooted).
4. Go to the internal memory in the DCIM folder.
5. Select the files → Move it → choose SD-map.
6. Confirm the operation.

Warnings:

• 🚫 Do not use ES Explorer - it contains adware and can slow down the phone.
• 🔐 Root access is required to work with system folders (e.g..thumbnails).
• 📵 After transferring through third-party apps, thumbnails in the gallery may not be updated. Solution: clear the gallery cache or use Google Photos.

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If you often transfer files between your phone and PC, set up a Solid Explorer FTP- server. This will allow you to manage files on Xiaomi through any browser, as if over the network.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even after successful transfer, users face problems. Here are the TOP-5 errors and their solutions:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔋 Battery Charge: At <15 percent, MIUI blocks file operations.
• 🛡️ Antivirus: Some (e.g., Avast) block access to the SD- card.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI: Older versions (below MIUI12) do not officially support the porting of the gallery to the SD- map.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving the gallery to the SD- card in Xiaomi