How to transfer the game's cache SD-Xiaomi map: The full guide

Modern mobile games often take up gigabytes of space, and smartphone owners Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco often face a critical shortage of internal memory. App cache is a set of temporary files that speed up the loading of levels and graphics, but over time grow to huge sizes. When internal storage is crowded, the system starts to work slower, and games can simply stop running.

Fortunately, Android and the proprietary MIUI or HyperOS shell provide tools to manage this data. Moving heavy files to an external drive frees up precious space for photos, videos and new applications. This process requires care, as improper actions can lead to malfunctioning programs.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the available ways to optimize space, how to move data safely, what are the limitations of modern versions of Android, and how to use third-party utilities to achieve results. It is important to understand that the structure of the file system in different versions of firmware may differ, so we will consider universal methods.

Why the cache grows and why carry it

The main reason for the growth of cache is the optimization of applications, game developers are trying to reduce loading time, so they keep textures, 3D-And over time, this clipboard can be as high as 10, 20, or even 50 gigabytes for large projects like Genshin Impact or something like that. PUBG Mobile.The internal memory of a smartphone, especially in budget models, is often limited to 64 or 128 GB, which is quickly filled up.

Transferring data to a microSD card solves several problems: First, it frees up space for the system, which prevents write errors and interface brakes; and second, you get the ability to install more applications without having to constantly clean the gallery. However, it should be borne in mind that the speed of reading a memory card is usually lower than that of the internal memory card. NAND-storage.

⚠️ Note: Using a slow memory card (class below 10) can lead to increased game load times and jerks in the graphics. UHS-I higher.

Not all games allow for flexible file location management; some developers tightly tie the cache to the system partition to ensure stability, and in such cases, standard means of the system will not be able to transfer data, and more complex manipulation of access rights or third-party software will be required.

Preparation of a memory card and smartphone

Before any file operations can be started, external storage must be properly prepared. The memory card must be formatted in a file system that Android correctly recognizes. Usually this is the format of FAT32 or exFAT. If the card has been previously used on another device, it is recommended to perform full formatting through the smartphone settings to avoid conflicts.

Insert the card into the slot and wait for notifications of successful connection. Go to the settings menu, select "About phone" or "Storage" to make sure that the system sees the full volume of the drive. At this stage, it is important to check the status of the card for errors, as damaged sectors can lead to loss of game data during the transfer.

Also, make sure that your smartphone has USB debugging enabled if you plan to use advanced methods through your computer. For ordinary users, it is enough to have a stable Wi-Fi connection and access to the File Manager. The built-in Explorer in MIUI has enough functionality for basic directory operations.

Standard Method Through Xiaomi Settings

The safest and easiest way is to use the built-in shell features. With the new versions of HyperOS and MIUI, the memory algorithms have been changed, but the basic app portability is retained. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find the game you want to move.

Open the app page and find the "Storage" button. If the system allows you to transfer data, it will activate the "Change" or "Move to" button. SD-You click on it, and you start the system file migration process, and it can take from a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the cache volume.

However, many modern games don’t have this button because of Android’s security limitations, in which case the system will only offer to clear the cache, which will result in the data being reloaded the next time you run it, and if the transfer button is missing, the standard method will not work and you will have to use a file manager.

Manual movement through the file manager

If automatic portability is not available, you can try moving files manually. Open the built-in Explorer or download Total Commander. You need to find a folder with the game data. In modern versions of Android, they are most often located along the path. Android/data/ or Android/obb/.

Find a folder with the name of the game package (e.g. com.tencent.ig for PUBG). Copy that folder, then go to the root of the memory card and create a similar directory structure there if there is none. Insert the copied files. Then try to start the game. If it finds the files in a new place, the transfer is successful.

⚠️ Attention: In Android 11 and above file access Android/data System Explorer may not show content. Use specialized file managers such as Files by Google or X-plore, which may request special permissions.

It's important to understand the difference between moving and copying. In the manual method, you'd better copy files first, check the game's performance, and then delete the originals from internal memory, which is insurance in case the game refuses to start from an external drive.

Use of the FolderMount program

For advanced users who lack standard tools, there is a utility called FolderMount, which allows you to create symbolic links, "deceiving" the system and making it think that the files are in internal memory, although they are physically located on the computer. SD-It's one of the most effective methods for heavy play.

Root rights may be required to run the program, although some features are available without them. Once you install the application, create a new pair (pair), specifying the path to the original cache folder and the destination path on the memory card. Press the pin button to activate the link.

After setting up, remember to delete the source files from the internal memory, otherwise they will be wasted. FolderMount makes it easy to manage these links: you can unpin the folder at any time to return the files back or update the game.

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Before removing the original files from internal memory, make sure to back them up to your computer. A mistake in the symbolic link path can lead to loss of progress.

Possible problems and ways to solve them

Users often experience errors during the transfer process, and the most common problem is that the game stops seeing files and starts downloading them again, which happens if the folder structure is broken or access rights are changed, in which case, check if the path on the memory card matches the original one.

Another problem is that it's slow. As mentioned earlier, memory cards have less write and read speed than the phone's internal memory. If you notice friezes in games, you might want to return the cache back to internal storage or replace the card with a faster one.

There may also be conflicts after a system update. Major MIUI or Android updates can reset access rights or change paths to storage. If the games stop working after the firmware update, check FolderMount settings or re-assign folders.

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The main reason for the failures after the transfer is the change in access rights in new versions of Android. Use proven file managers to bypass restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)