Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 5 sooner or later face a shortage of internal memory — especially if the device is used as the main smartphone for working with instant messengers, social networks and games. Even after cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary files, the system stubbornly gives a notification “Memory is full” and new applications refuse to install. The solution seems obvious: transfer some of the software to a microSD card. But here users are waiting for an unpleasant surprise — in MIUI this feature is either hidden or works with restrictions.
Unlike the newer Redmi models, where the application port is implemented through standard settings, in Redmi 5 (2017 release), it all depends on the firmware version and the type of memory card. SD-The card is a portable storage device (rather than an extension of internal memory), most applications simply won’t see it as a possible installation site, and some programs (like WhatsApp or Telegram) refuse to work with external drives.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer applications to the memory card in Xiaomi Redmi 5, including hidden MIUI functions, using ADB and third-party utilities, as well as learn which applications can not be ported, how to avoid errors and what to do if the software stopped running after transferring.
Why Redmi 5 can’t just move the app to the next one SD-map?
Starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google introduced the concept of Adoptable Storage – the ability to format. SD-The card is part of the internal memory, but Xiaomi is in its firmware. MIUI It often blocks or modifies this feature, and in the case of Redmi 5, the problem is exacerbated by hardware constraints:
- 🔹 Memory card type: Cheap or slow microSDs (class 4 or class 6) do not support Adoptable Storage. UHS-I.
- 🔹 Version. MIUI: In the firmware older MIUI 10 The app port option may not be available at all, but it works selectively in newer versions.
- 🔹 Android Restrictions: Google system applications and services (such as Play Market or Google Maps) cannot be migrated to the Internet. SD-map.
- 🔹 Software manufacturers: Many developers (including Facebook, VK, Banking applications) block installation on external drives for security reasons.
Another thing is, if you've already used a memory card as a portable storage device (for photos, music, documents), you'll have to format it completely to make it an extension of internal memory. All the data will be deleted!
⚠️ Note: After formatting SD-The card, as an internal memory, cannot be retrieved without losing data, and the system will perceive it as an integral part of the smartphone.
Method 1: Transfer over standard MIUI settings (if available)
The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI function, but it doesn't work on all firmware versions and only for a limited list of applications.
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the app you want (like Instagram or Spotify).
- Slip on Warehouse.
- If you have an option, you'll see the Change button next to "Inner Memory." Click on it and select. SD-map.
If there is no Change button, then your version of MIUI does not support portability for this application, in which case move on to the following methods.
Free space on SD-card (minimum 2 GB)
The card is formatted as internal memory.
The application is not a system application
MIUI version no older than 9.5-->
Important: Even if the transfer is successful, some of the application data (such as cache or settings) can remain in internal memory. That's OK, because that's how Android works.
Method 2: Formatting SD-maps as internal memory
If standard transfer is not available, we can go a radical way - make it a SD-This is part of the internal storage. This method works on Android 6.0.+, But it has serious consequences:
- 🔸 The map will be encrypted and linked to your smartphone, and it won't be read on any other device.
- 🔸 After the map is extracted, some applications may stop working.
- 🔸 Application speed may decrease (depending on the card class).
Instructions:
- Put it in. SD-smartphone-card.
- Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
- Tap your name on it. SD-maps (e.g. SanDisk) 32GB).
- In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select Storage Settings.
- Select Internal Memory → Clean and Format.
- Wait until the process is completed (it can take 5-10 minutes).
- Once formatted, the system will suggest moving some of the data. Choose Move now.
⚠️ Warning: If after formatting the smartphone began to slow down, return the card to portable storage mode. → Warehouse → SD-map → Format it as portable. All data will be deleted!
| Advantages of the method | Deficiencies of the method |
|---|---|
| Maximum release of internal memory | The map cannot be retrieved without data loss. |
| Almost all applications are supported (except system ones). | Decreased performance when using slow cards |
| Automatic transfer of data when installing new applications | Does not work on cards larger than 256 GB (MIUI restriction) |
Method 3: Transfer over ADB (for power users)
If previous methods didn’t work, the most reliable, but also the most difficult way is to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). It allows you to manually specify to the system which applications can be transferred to the SD-map, even if MIUI it's blocking.
You'll need:
- 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux;
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original);
- 📱 Included debugging by USB smartphone;
- 💾 Installed Xiaomi drivers and package ADB Tools.
Step-by-step:
- Activate USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version to unlock Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Enable USB Debugging.
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm your trusted device.
- Download ADB Tools (for example, the official package from Google) and unpack into any folder.
- Open the command line in the folder with ADB: On Windows: press Shift + right mouse button → Open the command window. On macOS/Linux: open the Terminal and go to the folder using the cd command /path / to / folder.
- Enter the commands in turn: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This command causes the system to install applications on the default SD-map.
- Move a specific application (replace com.example.app with an application package): adb shell pm move-package com.example.app You can find out the application package using the App Inspector utility (available in the Play Market).
If the pm move-package command returns the error [INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_INSTALL_LOCATION], This means that the application cannot be moved (for example, it is system software or the developer has blocked the function).
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To return the application installation to the default internal memory, type pm set-install-location 0
How to find out the application package without third-party utilities?
- Install Termux from the Play Market.
- Enter the command: pm list packages | grep -i "app name" For example, for Facebook use grep -i "facebook".
Which applications cannot be transferred to SD-map?
Even if you have successfully set up the transfer, some programs refuse to work with external drives, and here is a list of categories that are guaranteed to not be transferred:
- 🏦 Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, VTB, etc.) – according to security requirements.
- 🔒 System Services (Google Play Services, MIUI System, Security).
- 📱 Launchers and shells (POCO Launcher, Nova Launcher).
- 🎮 High-demand games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, Call of Duty – will be lagging or flying out.
- 💬 Encrypted messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram Secret Chats, Signal).
- 📷 Camera applications (including standard Camera) MIUI).
You should also avoid transferring:
- 📊 Apps with widgets (like Weather or Google Widget) – they may stop updating.
- 🔔 Applications with push notifications (for example, VK Instagram or Instagram – notifications may be delayed.
⚠️ Warning: If the app starts to fly or slow down after transfer, return it to internal memory. --internal-only com.example.app
Solving problems after application portability
Transfer of applications to SD-The map is not always smooth. Here are the typical mistakes and how to fix them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The application does not start after the transfer | The memory card is too slow or damaged | Return the app to internal memory or replace it SD-faster map (for example, the, UHS-I U3) |
| The app icon disappeared from the desktop | The system hasn't updated the launcher cache | Reboot your smartphone or manually update the launcher (long press on the desktop → Settings → Clear the cache) |
| The error "Application not installed" appears | SD-The card is formatted as portable, not as internal | Format the card as internal memory (see Method 2) |
| Smartphone slows down after transferring several applications | The memory card can not cope with the load | Move back the most resource-intensive applications (games, social networks) or buy a card with a higher speed class |
If none of the methods worked, check:
- 🔧 File system integrity SD-Cards (can be checked via PC using the CHKDSK).
- 📱 Root rights: Some firmware requires superuser rights to be transferred (but obtaining them voids the warranty).
- 🔄 Update MIUI: In new versions of the firmware may appear additional options to work with SD-map.
What to do if your smartphone doesn’t see SD-map?
Alternative ways to free up memory in Redmi 5
If porting apps hasn’t solved the memory problem, try these methods:
- 🗑️ Cache Clearing: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management. Select an app (e.g. Chrome or Facebook). Click Clear cache. Use CCleaner or Files by Google for bulk cleaning.
- 📁 Media transfer: Connect your smartphone to your PC and copy your photo/video to your computer or cloud (Google Photo, Yandex.Disk). MIUI: highlight files → More. → Move it → SD-map.
Disabling unnecessary applications
- In Settings → Applications, find pre-installed programs (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music).
- Click Disable (Do not delete!).
Use of cloud services
Install Google Photos (unlimited storage for compressed photos) or Mi Cloud (5GB for free for backups).
If internal storage is sorely lacking, consider buying a larger storage Redmi 5 (such as the 64GB version) or switching to a newer model (the Redmi Note 7 or Redmi 9).
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Transfer of applications to SD-For comfortable work with modern applications (especially games and social networks), a smartphone with a minimum of 32 GB of internal memory is recommended.