How to transfer applications to SD-map 7A: way + restriction MIUI

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 7A sooner or later they face a lack of internal memory - especially if they actively install games, messengers or multimedia applications. 2019 year of production equipped with all 16/32 GB of built-in storage, from which the system MIUI takes 8–10 GB: Transfer of applications to SD-The map seems to be a logical solution, but here users are waiting for nuances: starting with the Android version 6.0 Google has limited this feature, and Xiaomi has further modified it in its shell.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can migrate applications to a memory card in Redmi 7A, from standard MIUI tools to ADB workarounds and third-party utilities, which applications can be ported and which will remain in internal memory, how to avoid errors when formatting a card as internal storage, and what to do if the system refuses to see a microSD after an upgrade, and we’ll analyze alternative methods for freeing memory if the transfer is not possible.

Why at Redmi? 7A You cannot transfer all applications to SD-map?

The main problem lies in the architecture of Android and Xiaomi policy. Since Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google introduced the concept of Adoptable Storage - the ability to format. SD-It's a card as part of the internal memory:

• 📱 Manufacturers (including Xiaomi) often disable this feature in their firmware, leaving only "portable storage" (for photos, music, documents).
• 🔒 Applications with system rights or using OBB-files (such as games) are not portable even when formatting the card as internal memory.
• ⚠️ MIUI blocks the transfer of applications that may work unstable from an external drive (messaging devices, banking programs).

In Redmi 7A, Android 9 Pie (MIUI 10-12) is based on the app portability function, but with serious limitations, for example, you can not transfer:

• 📌 System applications (com.android., com.miui.).
• 🎮 Cache games in Android/obb (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile).
• 💬 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) – they require fast access to memory.
• 🏦 Banking applications (due to security requirements).

However, some user applications (e.g. VLC, FX File Explorer, some launchers) can be moved.

Method 1: Standard Transfer through MIUI Settings

This is the easiest method, but it only works for a limited list of applications.

• 📁 SD-The card is formatted as a portable storage (not as an internal memory).
• 🔄 The map has a sufficient amount of free space.
• 🔒 Application supports transfer (manually checked).

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to migrate (like Google Maps).
3. Press Warehouse.
4. If the option is available, you will see the Change button. → SD-map.
5. Confirm the transfer and wait until the completion (may take up to 1-2 minutes).

If there is no Change button, the app does not support portability, in which case try alternative methods.

Method 2: Formatting SD-maps as internal memory

This method allows you to expand the internal memory due to the SD-card, but has critical drawbacks:

• 🔄 The card will be encrypted and will not be read on other devices.
• ⚡ Application speeds may drop (especially if a Class card is a class card) 4/6).
• ⚠️ When you remove the map, the application will stop working on it.

If you are prepared for these restrictions, follow the instructions:

1. Put it in. SD-card to slot (cards up to 256 GB are supported).
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
3. Click on the title. SD-map → Settings (three dots in the upper right corner) → Storage settings.
4. Select Internal Memory → Clean and Format.
5. Wait until it is completed (it can take 5-10 minutes).
6. After formatting, the system will offer to transfer data - select the desired applications.

⚠️ Note: Once formatted as internal memory, the card will not be used in other devices without being completely cleaned. 7A It does not support exFAT, but FAT32 or ext4 (Formatting as an internal memory).

If applications are not portable after formatting, check:

• 📌 Card compatibility (Class recommended) 10/UHS-I).
• 🔄 Availability of updates MIUI (In some versions, the function is unstable).
• 🛠️ No file system damage (check the card on PC via chkdsk).

Method 3: Transfer over ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that lets you manually tell the system which apps to port, which requires a PC and basic command line knowledge.

Warning: misuse of ADB can cause app crashes or even data loss.

Instructions:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

Redmi 7A

cmd

ADB

adb devices

If the device is displayed, enter the port command (replace com.example.app with the app package):

adb shell pm set-install-location 2


adb shell pm move-package com.example.app

To find out the application package, use:

adb shell pm list packages | find "keyword"

⚠️ Note: Not all applications support portability ADB. If the team returns a Failure error [NOT_MOVED: Operation not allowed, means the transfer is locked at the system or application level, and after the transfer, some functions (such as widgets or notifications) may not work properly.

A critical nuance for Redmi 7A: after upgrading MIUI to version 12.0.3+, the pm move-package command may not work due to changes in Xiaomi’s security policy, in which case only formatting the card as internal memory or using third-party utilities will help.

Method 4: Using third-party utilities

If previous methods have failed, you can try specialized apps from Google Play. They don’t guarantee 100% results, but sometimes help bypass the limitations of MIUI.

For use of App Mgr III:

1. Install the application and give it access to the storage.
2. Select the Movable tab – here you will see the applications that can be moved.
3. Click on the app. → Move to SD card.
4. If the option is inactive, try Force Move (may need a reboot).

⚠️ Note: If, after transferring applications to SD-The card phone is overheating or discharged faster, put them back in internal memory, a sign that the memory card is not coping with the load (especially for cheap Class 4 cards).

If none of these methods worked, consider resetting to factory settings (with pre-data backup). Sometimes, after reset, the application port function starts working correctly.

1. Make a backup of the data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select Reset all settings and confirm.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring applications to SD-map 7A