How to transfer applications to a memory card in Xiaomi Redmi 7A: all working ways

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 7A often face the problem of lack of internal memory – especially if the device has many applications or games. Despite the possibility of expanding memory with a microSD card, not everyone knows that transferring programs to an external drive has its nuances. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods for Redmi 7A (including bypassing the restrictions of Android 9 Pie), and explain why some applications can not be ported fundamentally and what to do about it.

Xiaomi Redmi 7A

MIUI 10/11

not-for-all-apps

ADB

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If you've tried to migrate apps and you've got a "Not enough space on your device" or "No transfer," don't rush to buy a new phone. 80 percent of the time, the problem is solved by setting up your memory card correctly or using alternative methods. Next, step-by-step instructions with explanations for each case.

1. Memory card preparation: formatting and setting

Before transferring applications, make sure your microSD card meets the requirements:

• 🔹 Speed class: not lower than Class 10 (recommended) UHS-I U1 Slow cards can cause lags.
• 🔹 Size: 16 GB (optimally 32-64 GB for applications) Cards less than 8 GB may not be formatted as internal memory.
• 🔹 File system: exFAT or FAT32 (Automatically selected when formatting via phone).

If the card is new, it needs to be formatted as internal memory, only in this case, Android will allow you to transfer applications to it.

1. Insert the card into the Redmi 7A slot (the hybrid slot supports microSD + SIM2 or SIM1 + SIM2).
2. Go to Settings → Memory → SD card.
3. Click "Format as internal" (Warning: all data on the map will be deleted!).
4. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: Once the map is formatted as an internal map, it will not be read on other devices (PCs, cameras, etc.) without completely erasing the data. Also, do not remove the map while the applications are running, this can lead to their collapse.

If the “Format as internal” option is inactive, check:

• 🔄 The card is already formatted as portable (you need to erase the data via the PC and repeat the procedure).
• 🔄 The phone has an unoriginal firmware (for example, customized firmware). MIUI). In this case, you may need to reset the settings.

2. Standard transfer through MIUI settings

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI feature. It is suitable for most user applications (social networks, instant messengers, some games), but does not work for system programs and parts of protected games (for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to migrate (like Facebook or Telegram).
3. Press "Storage" → "Modify" (or "Move to" SD-map in older versions MIUI).
4. Confirm the transfer and wait until it is completed (may take seconds to a minute).

If the "Change" button is inactive or not, this means:

• 🚫 The application does not support transfer (most often these are system utilities or programs with protection against piracy).
• 🚫 The memory card is not formatted as internal (see section 1).
• 🚫 There is not enough space on the map (check in Settings). → Memory).

3. ADB Transfer: For Power Users

If the standard method didn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that lets you manually tell the system which apps to port, which works even for programs that MIUI blocks but requires a PC connection.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Installed Xiaomi and ADB-tools drivers.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode on Redmi 7A: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times in a row)
2. Activate "Debugging by" USB" In Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Connect the phone to your PC and type in the command line (cmd): adb devices (should appear a device with a serial number).
4. Enter the port command (replace package.name to the application package name, for example com.facebook.katana for Facebook): adb shell pm set-install-location 2 adb shell pm move-package package.name

How do you find the name of the package? Install the App Inspector app from Google Play or use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

⚠️ Note: Some applications after transfer through ADB If the program stops running after transfer, return it back with the command: adb shell pm move-package package.name 0 (where 0 is internal memory).

4. Manual transfer of cache and media files

Even if the application itself cannot be transferred to SD-map, you can free up space by moving its data:

• 📷 Photos and videos from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).
• 🎮 Game cache (e.g. downloaded maps in Google Maps or textures in games).
• 🎵 Music and podcasts (from Spotify, Yandex Music).

How to do this:

1. For WhatsApp: Open Settings → Warehouse → Memory management → Change the way of saving (select) SD-map).
2. For Google Maps: Settings → Offline Maps → Settings → Device Memory (select SD).
3. For games (like Asphalt 9): Use a file manager (like Mi File Manager), find the Android/obb folder, and transfer it to the SD manually.

For the remaining applications:

• 🔍 Use a file manager (e.g., Solid Explorer or File Manager) FX File Explorer).
• 🔍 Find the application folder in /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/.
• 🔍 Copy it on. SD-Map in the same directory (create a folder) Android/data manually if it's not there).

💡

If after manual transfer the application does not see files, try to create root SD-.nomedia text file (without extension) will prevent the multimedia scanning system and speed up the work.

Alternative methods: Link2SD and App2SD

If none of the above methods help, you can use third-party utilities, such as: Link2SD or App2SD. These programs create symbolic links between the internal memory and the SD-But they require root rights to operate, which cancels the warranty and can damage the system if used incorrectly.

How to work with Link2SD:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Provide root access (if the phone is not rooted, this method will not work).
3. Select the application → “Create a link” → “Data file” and “Cash”.
4. Reset the device.

Warnings:

• ⚠️ No root rights. Link2SD It only works as a file manager.
• ⚠️ Some apps (especially games) may stop running after link building.
• ⚠️ When extracted SD-All "reference" applications will be destroyed.

⚠️ Attention: Rooting Xiaomi Redmi 7A may lead to: 🔴 Loss of warranty (if the device is under warranty). 🔴 Unstable operation of the system (hangs, overheating). 🔴 Problems with updates MIUI (If you are not sure about your skills, it is better to use other methods from this article.

6.Memory optimization without application portability

If porting apps hasn’t solved the memory problem, try these methods:

• 🧹 Cache Cleanup: Go to Settings → Memory. → Clear the cache. This will free up 1-3 GB without deleting data.
• 🗑️ Remove Unnecessary Files: Use Mi File Manager to Find Large Files (Category) → Large files).
• 🔄 Transfer of media library: In the Gallery, select "Settings" → "Save folder" and specify SD-map.
• 📱 Disable Preboot: In Google Play, turn off "Auto-App Update" (Settings) → Auto-update).

You can also use the built-in MIUI function "Light Mode" (Settings → Special Features → Light Mode), which simplifies the interface and reduces memory usage.

💡

Regular cleaning of the cache and transfer of media files (photos, videos, music) to SD-The card can free up to 5-7 GB of internal memory without risk to the system.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When transferring applications to SD-Map by Xiaomi Redmi users 7A Often face the following problems:

If the apps aren’t updated via Google Play after the transfer, try:

1. Return the app to internal memory.
2. Update it.
3. Move it back to SD-map.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions