How to transfer applications to SD-Map in Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: all ways and pitfalls

Why Redmi 8 Pro owners want to move apps to the new SD-map?

Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro (also known as Redmi Note 8 Pro in some regions) is still a popular choice due to its price-performance balance, but its main drawback is limited internal memory (especially in the base 64GB version). When the system, cache and user files occupy the lion’s share of space, transfer applications to the user’s home. SD-The map seems like a logical solution, but there are a number of nuances waiting for users.

Unlike older versions of Android, modern firmware MIUI (Especially Android 9-12, which has a very limited portability, is due to Google's security policy and Adoptable Storage, a feature that used to allow formatting. SD-It's a way of doing things like internal memory, and it's not stable or available on new devices today, but there are ways around it, both formal and root-righted.

In this article, we will discuss:

• 🔍 How to check if your app supports portability SD-root-card.
• ⚙️ Step-by-step instruction through settings MIUI (relevant to the latest versions of the firmware).
• 💻 Method by which ADB For forced transfer (even if the button in the menu is inactive).
• ⚠️ Why some apps (like WhatsApp or games) can’t be ported, and what to do about it.
• 📱 Alternative methods of freeing up memory: cleaning cache, transferring media files, using cloud services.

Before you start, make sure that your SD-map:

• 🔹 It has a speed class. UHS-I (U1/U3) or higher, otherwise the app will slow down.
• 🔹 Formatted in FAT32 or exFAT (for cards larger than 32 GB).
• 🔹 Not used as portable storage for other devices (e.g., a camera).

Method 1: Transfer through MIUI settings (without root rights)

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI feature, but it doesn’t work for all applications, and developers can block the portability if the program actively uses internal Android services (such as widgets or background processes).

To check and transfer supported applications:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to migrate (like Facebook or Spotify).
3. Slip on Warehouse.
4. If the option is available, you will see the Change or Move button. SD-Press it and confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: After porting, some functions of the application may not work properly:

• 🔔 Notifications may be delayed.
• 🎮 Games will take longer to load on first launch.
• 🔄 Auto-update application via Google Play may be disabled.

If the transfer button is inactive or absent, this means that:

• 🚫 The application does not support transfer (often found in messengers and system utilities).
• 🔧 Your firmware. MIUI Blocks the function (relevant to Android 10 versions)+).
• 💾 SD-The card is formatted as a portable storage, not as an internal memory.

Method 2: Forced transfer via ADB (for power users)

If the standard method didn’t work, you can try forced porting using Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This method does not require root rights, but involves working with the command line. On Redmi 8 Pro with MIUI 12.5+, this method works only for some applications – system and some popular (for example, Instagram or TikTok) can block the transfer at the code level.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version until the notification "You've become a developer" appears.

USB debugging

• Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
• Find the Debugging by USB and turn it on.
• Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB-Drivers and open the command line in the folder with the platform-tools.
• Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
• Find out the package name of the application (for example, for Facebook it is com.facebook.katana): adb shell pm list packages | grep "app name"
• Run the port command (replace package.name with real name): adb shell pm set-install-location 2 adb shell pm move-package package.name

If the command is successful, you'll see a message, "Success," and reboot your phone and check if the app has moved.

• 🔄 Not all apps support this method, such as Google Play Services or Mi Account, but you can’t move it.
• 🔧 After updating MIUI transference.
• ⚠️ Some banking applications (for example, SberBank Online) can block access when transferring to the Internet. SD.

Method 3: Root-rights portability (for advanced users)

If previous methods have failed, you can still get root rights, which gives you full control of the system, but it's not guaranteed, and it can cause the phone to run in an unstable way, and on the Redmi 8 Pro, you can get root through unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk.

⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi requires:

• 🔐 Linking your Mi Account to your device (minimum 7 days of waiting).
• 📱 Resetting all data (mandatory condition when unlocking).
• 🔧 Custom recaveri installations (TWRP) Magisk.

After obtaining root rights, you can use applications like:

• 📌 App Mgr III (App Manager – allows you to forcibly transfer applications, including system.
• 📌 Link2SD — Creates symbolic links to transfer data to SD.
• 📌 FolderMount – mounts application folders to a memory card.

Example of App Mgr III:

1. Open the app and provide root access.
2. Select the Apps tab and find the desired application.
3. Select the Move to SD card and click on it.
4. Confirm the transfer and restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: Transfer of system applications (e.g. com.miui.home) may result in:

• 🔄 Cyclical phone reboot.
• 📵 Loss of functionality (e.g., loss of launcher).
• 🔧 Needs to reflash through Fastboot.

Why some applications cannot be moved to SD-map?

Even if you use root rights or ADB, some apps don't fundamentally support portability.

• 🔒 Security: Banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff) and instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) store critical data in internal memory.
• 🎮 Productivity: Games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact require quick access to files and SD-maps (even U3) slower-than-integrated memory UFS 2.1.
• 🤖 System Restrictions: Apps with widgets (weather, Google App) or background services (Google Play Services) must remain in internal memory.
• 📦 Technical Features: Some applications are used OBB-files or cache that cannot be transferred without loss of functionality.

What to do if the application cannot be moved?

• 🗑️ Clear the cache: Go to Settings → Annexes → Warehouse → Clear the cache. For example, on YouTube, the cache can take several gigabytes.
• ☁️ Use cloud services: Move media files (photos, videos) to Google Photos or Mi Cloud.
• 🔄 Remove Unused Apps: Utilities like Files by Google Helps You Find and Remove Unnecessary Apps APK.
• 📱 Consider custom firmware: LineageOS or Pixel Experience sometimes offer more freedom in memory management.

💡

If you’re critically short of memory but don’t want to risk root rights, try Lite versions of apps (like Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite) that take up 2 to 3 times less space and often run faster than the mainstream versions.

Alternative ways to free up memory on the Redmi 8 Pro

If the applications are transferred SD-The card didn’t solve the problem, use these methods:

1. Systemic garbage disposal

MIUI has a built-in cleaning utility:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Click Deep Clean and select unnecessary files (cache, temporary data, duplicates).
3. For more thorough cleaning, use SD Maid (requires root rights).

2. Transfer of media files

Photos, videos and music can take up tens of gigabytes. SD-map:

1. Open the Gallery or the Files.
2. Select the files → Move it → choose SD-map.
3. To automatically save new files to the map, go to Camera Settings → Save Place.

3. Disabling pre-installed applications

MIUI contains many system applications that cannot be removed but can be disabled:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unneeded app (such as Mi Music or Mi Video).
3. Click Disable (this will remove the updates and stop the background work).

4.Use of SD-The card is an internal memory (adoptable storage)

This method is not officially supported on newer versions of MIUI, but some users manage to activate it via ADB:

adb shell sm set-force-adoptable true


adb shell sm partition disk:179,64 private

⚠️ Attention: After this operation SD-The card will be encrypted and tied to the phone, and when it is retrieved or reset, the data will be lost!

💡

If your goal is to just make room for new applications, start by clearing the cache and moving the media files. SD-The card is only useful for rarely used utilities (for example, photo editors or offline maps).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When transferring applications to SD-Redmi 8 Pro users often face the following problems:

1. "Move to the button" SD-card

Causes and solutions:

• 🔹 Application does not support transfer → try ADB orthod.
• 🔹 SD-The card is formatted as a portable → Reformat it as an internal one (see section above).
• 🔹 In the developer settings, the option is enabled Forced to allow transfer to external media → Turn it off.

2.The application has moved, but is not working

This is most often the case with:

• 🎮 Games (such as Call of Duty Mobile) → Transfer only a portion of the data (OBB-manually.
• 💬 Messengers (Viber, WhatsApp) → They block work during transfer due to encrypted chats.
• 📱 System utilities (Mi Security, Google Play Services) → Put them back in your internal memory.

3.After the transfer, the app disappeared

Probable reasons:

• 🔹 SD-The card was removed or damaged. → Check it out on another device.
• 🔹 The app has been updated and returned to internal memory. → Turn off auto updates in Google Play.
• 🔹 Partition mounting error → Restart your phone or reinstall the app.

4.The phone brakes after transferring apps

SD-cards (even class) U3) slower than the internal memory, to reduce the lags:

• 🔹 Portable only lightweight applications (e.g. Readers) PDF or Notes).
• 🔹 Do not carry launchers or system services.
• 🔹 Use it. SD-High read/write speed cards (e.g. SanDisk Extreme).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions