How to transfer applications to SD-Map in Xiaomi: all the ways and nuances

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the problem of lack of internal memory, especially if the device is budget or released a few years ago.Even after cleaning the cache and deleting unnecessary files, many applications continue to take up precious gigabytes. The solution may be to transfer some of the programs to SD-The card is an external drive that most Redmi models support, POCO mi.

But things aren’t that simple: since Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google has limited the ability to port apps to external media, and manufacturers including Xiaomi have added their limitations to the shell. MIUI. In this article, we will discuss all working methods for transferring applications to SD-map, including official and alternative methods, and explain why some programs cannot be moved and how to circumvent these restrictions.

Preparation: what kind SD-Choose a map for Xiaomi

Before transferring applications, you need to choose and prepare correctly SD-Not all drives are suitable for software installation — cheap or slow cards can cause lags, errors, or even damage data.

For Xiaomi, UHS-I memory cards (U1 or U3) are recommended with a write speed of at least 10 MB / s. The optimal volume is from 32 GB to 128 GB. MicroSDXC cards (up to 2 TB) are supported by most modern models, but older smartphones (for example, Redmi 4A or Mi A1) may require microSDHC (up to 32 GB).

• 🔹 Speed class: Minimum Class 10 (better UHS-I U1/U3). Class Cards 4/6 not suitable for applications.
• 🔹 Manufacturer: Preference is given to brands like SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston or Lexar. Cheap no-name cards are often forged.
• 🔹 Formatting: The map needs to be formatted in FAT32 (For cards up to 32GB) or exFAT (for cards up to 64GB) right on your smartphone, not on your PC.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using SD-The card is an internal memory (Adoptable Storage function), which cannot be retrieved without losing data.

Before buying, check if your Xiaomi model supports memory extension, POCO F1 Redmi Note 7 has a hybrid slot (second). SIM or SD-map), and Mi 11 and newer is a separate slot for microSD.

Method 1: Transfer through MIUI settings (official method)

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools. It works on most Xiaomi smartphones, but has limitations: not all apps support portability, and some may not work as smoothly after moving.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to migrate (like Facebook or Spotify).
3. Click on Warehouse (or Memory in older versions of MIUI).
4. If the option is available, a button will appear to Move to SD-map or modify (in) MIUI 12/13/14).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

Once you transfer some of the data to the application, it's going to be stored in the internal memory, which is normal. SD-The card moves only additional files (cache, media), and executable files (.apk) remain in the system.

Does the app support portability (not all games and social networks allow it)

Is there enough room? SD-card (needs a minimum of 1.5)× size)

Is the card formatted in the correct file system (FAT32/exFAT)

Is the card connected as a portable storage device rather than as internal memory?-->

⚠️ Note: After the transfer, some applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) may stop sending notifications. This is due to the limitations of Android on the operation of background processes from external media.

If the button is moved to SD-The card is inactive or not available:

• 📵 The application does not support portability (often found in system utilities and some games).
• 📵 SD-The card is formatted as internal memory (in this case, no transfer is required – applications are automatically installed on the card).
• 📵 Version. MIUI too old or, conversely, new (in the MIUI 14 on Android 13 option can be hidden).

Method 2: Use of the SD-The card is an internal memory (adoptable storage)

Adoptable Storage allows you to combine SD-A card with the internal memory of the smartphone, in which case the system treats the card as part of the main drive, and the applications are installed on it automatically.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 Annexes shall be installed on SD-Default card (if internal memory is not enough).
• 🔹 No need to manually transfer each application.
• 🔹 Supports even programs that normally do not allow transfer.

Disadvantages:

• 🔸 The card cannot be retrieved without a complete reset (data will be lost).
• 🔸 Application speed may decrease (depending on class) SD-map).
• 🔸 Not all Xiaomi models support this feature (e.g., on the POCO X3 It's disabled by the manufacturer).

How to set up:

1. Put it in. SD-smartphone-card.
2. When a notification is received, a new SD-map press Set up Set up.
3. Choose Use as internal memory (or internal storage in MIUI).
4. Confirm the formatting (all data on the map will be erased!).
5. Once completed, restart the device.

To check that the card is connected as internal memory, go to Settings → Storage. There should be a single memory (e.g. Internal memory: 64 GB) + SD-map: 64GB = 128GB).

💡

If you still install apps in internal memory after setting up Adoptable Storage, try manually specifying the installation location in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Default Installation (not available on all devices).

Method 3: Transfer with ADB (for power users)

If the standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — a debugging tool that allows you to manually specify to the system which applications to transfer to SD-This requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and basic command line knowledge.

Warning: improper use of ADB can cause app or system failures.On some Xiaomi models (e.g. POCO F3), after being migrated through ADB, apps may stop updating through Google Play.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on the MIUI Version until a notification appears.

USB debugging

Settings → Additional → For Developers

ADB

Google

Mi PC Suite

cmd

adb devices

Make sure the device is identified (should appear its serial number).

com.example.app

adb shell pm set-install-location 2


adb shell pm move-package com.example.app

To find out the batch name of the application, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | find "appendix name"

For example, Facebook will be com.facebook.katana, and WhatsApp will be com.whatsapp.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 13/14 Android 12/13 The pm move-package command may not work due to security limitations, and only manually copying files via Root access will help.

Method 4: Manually transfer application files (without root)

If the transfer is through settings or ADB impossible, you can manually move part of the application files (for example, cache or downloaded data) to SD-This method won't free up much space, but it will save a few gigabytes.

How to do this:

1. Connect. SD-card to your smartphone and make sure it is recognized as portable storage.
2. Open Explorer (or any file manager, such as Mi File Manager).
3. Go to /Android/data/ (in internal memory) and find the folder with the name of the application package (for example, com.whatsapp).
4. Copy the folder to SD-same-way: /Android/data/.
5. Remove the original folder from your internal memory.
6. Run the application and check if it will request to re-upload the data.

💡

Before extraction SD-Always use the Safe Retrieval function in the storage settings, this will prevent data loss and file system damage.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions