How to transfer applications to a memory card on Xiaomi Redmi 9

Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone often face a situation where internal storage is overflowing with system files and installed programs. Standard volume of 32 or 64 gigabytes may not be enough for comfortable use of modern multimedia services and games. That is why the issue of expanding the usable area due to an external drive becomes extremely relevant for users of this model.

The Android operating system in the MIUI shell provides flexible tools for managing files, but the porting of the applications themselves has its own nuances. Unlike simple photos, programs require a special approach to access rights and folder structure. We will examine all available methods that will allow you to free precious megabytes of internal memory of the device.

It’s important to understand that not all apps support external media migration, a limitation that is related to Google’s security policies and the way some services work, but for a large proportion of gaming and utility applications, this method works effectively, allowing the system to run faster.

Preparation of memory card and smartphone for work

Before you start any data manipulation, you need to make sure that your Redmi 9 correctly recognizes the external drive. SIM-To remove the tray, you will need a special clip that comes with a kit, or a thin needle.

Use microSD cards ranging from 16 to 512 gigabytes. Smaller volume will not give a tangible gain, and too large volumes can work unstable if the read speed is low. It is recommended to choose cards of the class speed 10 or higher to avoid delays when starting programs.

Put the card in the smartphone that is turned off or on and wait for the notification of the new drive. MIUI will automatically suggest setting up the device, but for our purposes it is better to choose manual mode, which will allow you to maintain compatibility with other devices if you decide to move the card to your computer or camera.

⚠️ Note: If there is important data on the memory card, copy it to your computer before formatting.The setup process for use with applications can completely clear the drive.

Configuring the drive as an internal storage

So in order for the system to allow applications to be installed directly on the flash card, you have to change the type of use that it uses, and in standard mode, it works as a portable storage for photos and music, and we have to turn it into an extension of the system partition, which requires formatting.

Go to the settings menu and find the partition that controls the device's memory. Depending on the version of MIUI, the path may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. Select your memory card from the list of available storage devices and click the setting button.

In the menu that opens, select the option “Use as internal storage” and the system will warn you that all data will be deleted and the card will be encrypted, which means that once formatted, you will not be able to read it on another device without unlocking it.

Once the encryption and formatting process is complete, the system will suggest moving the data you already have, and you can accept that offer to make room instantly, and now some of the system space is physically on the memory card, allowing you to install new programs there.

Transfer of installed applications through settings

Once you have successfully set up the drive, you can start migrating programs that are already installed, and not all applications can be moved, but many games and social networks support this function, which takes a few minutes and does not require root rights.

Open your smartphone settings and go to the Apps section, which shows the full list of installed software, and select the program you want to move, such as a heavy game or a navigation device.

In the menu of the selected application, find the item "Storage". If the program supports portability, you will see a button "Change" or "Move". Click on it and select your SD Card. The system automatically copies the files and changes the paths to them.

It's worth noting that after you move the app icon, it stays on the desktop, but the files physically take up space on the external map, and if you pull the card, the program will stop working until it's returned.

Use of Engineering Menu and ADB

For advanced users who don't have the standard methods, there's the option of using the ADB debugging bridge, which allows you to force the transfer of any applications, even those that are hidden by the system, and this requires connecting your smartphone to your computer.

First, activate the developer mode, and then quickly tap the build number in the About Phone section seven times. Once you have an activation message, go to the advanced settings and turn on USB Debugging.

Connect Redmi 9 to your PC and run the command line with administrator permissions. Enter a command to check the connection. If everything is set up correctly, you will see the serial number of the device. Next, you enter a command to change the global storage setting.

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

Here, 2 is the priority of the external memory card, 0 is the automatic choice, and 1 is the installation only in the internal memory, and after you use the command, try reinstall the desired application.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-Incorrect settings can lead to unstable system operation or errors when updating applications through Google Play.

Features of working with cache and data

Even after the application is transferred, a piece of data known as cache can remain in internal memory. This is normal for performance, but over time can take up a significant amount of space.

Some heavy games, like Asphalt or PUBG, download additional resource files. Often, you can manually transfer them by changing the download path in the game's settings. Look for the option "Path to Files" or "Resource Location" in the game's menu.

If the game doesn't allow you to change the path, you can try to create a symbolic link, but that requires superuser rights. Without root rights, you'd better rely on the standard portability tools described above. Regularly check the amount of space occupied in the storage settings.

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Use Xiaomi’s built-in Security utility to analyze memory, which shows which apps take up the most space and offer to clean up garbage.

Possible problems and solutions

During operation, users may experience a situation where the portable applications start to work slowly or crash, often due to slow reading speed or damage to the memory card.

You can also have a situation where, after you upgrade MIUI, the storage settings are reset, and then you have to re-repeat the card assignment as internal memory, and the data on the card is formatted, so backups are important.

If the application stopped opening after the transfer, try to delete it and install it again, immediately selecting the memory card as the place of installation. Sometimes configuration files are corrupted during the migration, and a clean installation solves the problem.

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The stability of the ported applications depends on the quality and speed of the memory card, and cheap drives can cause interface lags.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)