Transfer of applications to SD-map MIUI 12: Complete guide

Why in the MIUI 12 limited transfer of applications to SD-map?

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones on the basis MIUI 12 often face the problem of lack of internal memory, especially on budget models with 32-64 GB of storage. SD-But in the latest firmware versions, this feature is either hidden or works with serious limitations. It's all about the policy of Google and Xiaomi: since Android 6.0, porting applications to external media has become less flexible due to changes in the Adoptable Storage permissions system.

V MIUI 12 (and newer versions) function of porting applications to SD-map:

• 🔹 Completely disabled on some models (e.g. Redmi Note 9 or POCO X3) option is not available on the menu.
• 🔹 Partially available – only for selected applications that support external storage.
• 🔹 Hidden behind developers - requires activation through ADB third-party.

Before trying to transfer data, it is important to understand: MIUI 12 does not support formatting SD-And this means that even if you find a way to port it, applications can run slower or even refuse to run at all. But there are workarounds, which we'll talk about below.

Preparation: what SD-map suitable for transferring applications?

Not every microSD card will cope with the task of storing applications. For stable operation in Xiaomi on MIUI 12, it is recommended:

• 📌 Speed class - no lower UHS-I (U1) Or Class 10: U3 or A2 (for fast recording of small files).
• 📌 Volume - from 32 GB (on cards less than 16 GB, errors may occur when transferring the card).
• 📌 Manufacturer – prefer brands SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston (cheap no-name cards are often forged).
• 📌 Formatting – before using the map format in FAT32 or exFAT, but not NTFS!).

⚠️ Note: If you are planning to use SD-The card is an internal storage device (via Adoptable Storage), which will have to be formatted with loss of all data, which does not work on all Xiaomi devices and can cause update failures. MIUI.

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Before the purchase SD-Check the card for authenticity with the help of the utility H2testw (Windows or F3 (Linux/macOS). Fake cards often have an understated speed and real volume.

Method 1: Standard transfer through MIUI 12 settings

If your device supports the built-in portability, follow this instruction:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to migrate (like Facebook or Spotify).
3. Click on the Warehouse (or Memory).
4. If the option is available, tap Change → SD-map.
5. Confirm the transfer and wait until it is completed (may take a few minutes).

⚠️ Note: On most devices with MIUI 12 Change button will be inactive or not, due to manufacturer restrictions. If you don't see the option, go to alternative methods.

Method 2: Transfer over ADB (for power users)

If the standard method doesn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — It's a computer debugging tool, and it requires you to turn on Developer Mode and install it. ADB-driver.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. Tap the Version 7 times until the notification appears You became a developer!.
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB drivers (for example, via Minimal ADB and Fastboot).
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) and type: adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
5. Run the port command (replace package.name with application ID, such as com.facebook.katana): adb shell pm set-install-location 2 adb shell pm move-package com.facebook.katana

⚠️ Note: Not all applications support portability ADB. System utilities (such as Mi Browser or Security) cannot be moved. MIUI settings may reset and applications will return to internal memory.

Method 3: Use SD-The card as an internal storage (Adoptable Storage)

This method allows you to format SD-The card is part of the internal memory, but it has serious shortcomings:

• 🔴 The card will be encrypted and will not be read on other devices.
• 🔴 After the map is removed, the applications will stop working.
• 🔴 Some Xiaomi devices block this feature at the firmware level.

If you are prepared for the risks, follow the instructions:

1. Put it in. SD-phone-card.
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse → SD-map.
3. Put three points on it (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Storage Settings.
4. Click Format as internal (if the option is available).
5. Confirm the action – all data on the map will be erased!

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This method is not recommended for devices with MIUI 12.5+ due to frequent errors "SD-Map damaged after updates.

Alternative solutions: what to do if transfer is impossible?

If none of these methods worked, consider alternatives:

• 📲 Cache Clearing – Clean the app cache regularly in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Clear the cache.
• 📲 Transfer media files – photos, videos and music can be easily moved to SD-A card via any file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager).
• 📲 Using cloud storage – Google Drive, Mi Cloud or Yandex Disk will help free up space.
• 📲 Remove unnecessary applications – check the list of installed programs for “junk” (for example, duplicate messengers or unused games).
• 📲 Root access – at your own risk you can get root and use applications like Link2SD or App2SD.

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Files by Google automatically offers you to delete unnecessary files (duplicates, old screenshots) and clear the cache.This is a safe way to free up 1-3 GB of memory without manual control.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When transferring applications to SD-map MIUI 12 Users Face Typical Problems:

⚠️ Note: If apps stop updating through Google Play after the transfer, return them to internal memory. Some apps (such as Netflix or banking services) refuse to work from external storage due to security policies.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions