Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a lack of built-in storage, especially if the device has a basic configuration of 64 or 128 gigabytes. Modern applications, high-resolution graphics games and RAW photos take gigabytes in a matter of weeks, forcing users to look for ways to expand memory. Installing a microSD card is the most affordable and efficient solution, but the process of transferring data to Xiaomi has its own nuances, depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to properly prepare the drive, transfer media and system files, and discuss the limitations imposed by modern versions of Android. You will learn why some applications can not be moved to an external medium and how to circumvent the limitations of the file system to use the card as a full extension of internal memory.
Incorrect configuration can lead to data loss or a decrease in the speed of the device, so it is important to follow proven algorithms.We will consider both the regular system tools and advanced methods for experienced users who want to maximize the potential of their gadget.
Preparation of memory card and smartphone for work
Before you start transferring files, you need to physically install the memory card in the slot of your device. In most models Xiaomi tray combined, that is, the microSD card shares space with the second. SIM-So you have to choose which is more important: second number or additional storage. Carefully remove the tray with a special paper clip, lay the card on the correct side and return the tray back before clicking.
Once turned on, the system will automatically detect the new drive and prompt it to be configured. At this stage, it is critical to choose the right format for use, since this depends on the availability of data on other devices. If you plan to store only photos and videos that you will view on your PC, choose Portable storage.
However, to transfer applications and game cache, the system may offer formatting under Internal Storage.Caution: formatting will completely destroy all data that may already be on the map, so be sure to back up important files on your computer before starting the procedure.
⚠️ Note: When you format a card as an internal storage, it's encrypted with a specific device binding, and you can't just insert that card into another phone and read the data without re-formatting it.
The speed of the card directly affects the performance of the smartphone, so save on the class of the drive is not worth it. Cheap cards of low class can cause "freeze" interface and long downloads of applications hosted on them.
Configuring a memory card as an internal storage
Adoptable Storage, which allows you to combine internal memory and card into a single space, works automatically in pure Android, but in the shell of MIUI and HyperOS it is often hidden or limited. If the system does not offer to make it part of internal memory by default, you will have to use the developer menu or third-party utilities.
To activate the hidden function, you need to turn on the developer mode by clicking on the MIUI version several times in the About Phone settings. Then in the advanced settings, you should find the item responsible for for forcing permission to write to the external drive, although in new versions of Android 12-14 this method works unstable.
A more reliable way is to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands via a computer, which requires cable connection and driver installation, but gives full control over the memory partitions. sm partition allows you to re-mark the disk, turning it into a system partition.
adb shell sm partition disk:179,64 mixed 50This command divides the card in half: 50% is given to applications (internal memory), and 50% remains available for files (portable storage), which is the only guaranteed way to make the system consider the card part of the main volume on modern versions of firmware.
⚠️ Attention: Incorrect use of commands ADB This may cause data loss or damage to the file system of the card. execute commands carefully by checking the disk ID (disk:XXXXXX).
Risks of Formatting Under Internal Storage
Transfer of photos and videos through the Gallery
The easiest and safest way to free up space is to move the media library. The built-in Gallery app on Xiaomi allows you to (package) move pictures and videos to an external medium without loss of quality or metadata.
To do this, open the app, go to album viewing mode and click "Select." You can select individual photos or use the "Select All" function in a specific folder, such as "Camera" or "Screenshots." After selecting, click "Move to album" and "Copy" by pointing the path to the memory card.
It's important to understand the difference between copying and moving. When copying, the originals stay in internal memory, taking up space, and duplicates are created on the map. The Move function physically transfers files, freeing up the main drive.
- 📸 Open the Gallery and select the Albums tab".
- 🖱 Press and hold your finger on the Camera album to activate the Select Mode.
- ✅ Click "Select All" or select the files you need manually.
- 📂 Select "Move" and indicate the path. SD card/DCIM/Camera.
If you have thousands of photos, the process can take a long time: Do not interrupt the operation or turn off the smartphone screen during the transfer to avoid corruption of files.
Transferring apps and games to a memory card
With Android 6.0, Google has introduced the ability to port apps, but in the latest versions of MIUI and HyperOS, this feature is often blocked by app manufacturers. You can try moving the game through the settings, but the Change button may not be active (grey).
To check for portability, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the right program, open its properties, and look at the Storage section. If there's a Change button, you can transfer the app to the SD card.
However, even if the system allows you to transfer the application, some of the data (cache, updates, logs) often remains in internal memory, this is done for security and performance, since the speed of the memory card is usually inferior to the built-in UFS 2.1/3.1 storage.
For advanced users, there is a method of creating symbolic links that requires Root rights. With the help of file managers like Total Commander or specialized utilities, you can “cheat” the system by redirecting the path to the folder with the game’s cache to the memory card.
| Type of data | We can move it normally. | Requires a Root/ADB | Impact on speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photos and videos | Yes (100%) | No. | Minimum |
| Music and Documents | Yes (100%) | No. | Absent. |
| Annexes (APK) | Partially (depends on the developer) | Yes (for full transfer) | Average (loading) |
| Cash games (OBB/Data) | No (automatically inside) | Yes (links) | High (fries) |
⚠️ Note: Transferring system applications (Settings, Phone, Messages) to a memory card is strongly discouraged, and this can lead to unstable system operation or a cyclic restart (bootloop).
☑️ Checking before transferring applications
Using a file manager to sort
The Mi File Manager or the more functional Files by Google allows you to manually manage folder structure, which is especially useful for transferring WhatsApp folders, which take up a lot of space by default.
For example, folders with Telegram media files can be moved to the root of the memory card, and in the settings of the messenger itself specify a new path to save files. For WhatsApp, the folder structure has changed in Android 11+, now they are in Android/media/com.whatsapp, and you need to transfer them carefully, maintaining the directory structure.
When manually copying large amounts of data (for example, folders Download volume) 20-30 GB is better to use a computer or OTG-Direct copying inside the phone puts a high strain on the power controller and processor, which can cause the case to heat up.
It is recommended to create a clear folder structure on the memory card: /Multimedia/Photos, /Multimedia/Music, /Documents/Work. This will simplify the search for files in the future and allow you to quickly find the desired one by connecting the card to the PC.
💡
Use the Cleanup function in the Security app before transferring it to find duplicates and large files that can be removed or moved immediately, making room for the system to work comfortably.
Problems and solutions when working with SD-card
Users often experience a situation where the phone stops seeing the card or files on it become inaccessible. One common reason is the use of the exFAT file system on older smartphone models that only support FAT32. FAT32 has a 4GB file size limit, which is critical for 4K video.
If the card is slow, it may have been formatted with errors or has a low speed class. → Warehouse → SD-map → Storage settings → Format.
Also worth mentioning is the problem of "flying" permissions: after updating the firmware or restarting, the system can temporarily block applications from accessing the map, in which case re-connecting the map through the settings menu or restarting the device helps.
- 📉 The card is not determined: try to wipe the contacts with a wiper or insert into another slot.
- 🐌 Low speed: Check the card class (should be Class 10, U1 or U3).
- ❌ Formatting error: Use the utility SD Formatter on PC before installing on your phone.
Regularly back up important data to cloud services or your computer so that a sudden card failure does not become a disaster.
💡
A memory card is a great solution for photos, videos and music, but it is better to use a built-in smartphone drive for installing heavy games and applications because of the difference in read/write speed.