How to transfer applications to a memory card on Xiaomi MIUI 12

Xiaomi users with MIUI 12 shells often face a lack of built-in storage. Built-in memory fills up quickly, especially if you are actively installing games, messengers and taking a lot of photos. The system starts to run slower, and notifications of space shortage annoy each time the camera starts, in which case the logical solution is to use a microSD card to expand the capabilities of the device.

Unfortunately, in modern versions of MIUI firmware, developers have removed the standard Move button for most applications, which is done for the sake of security and stability of the system, since memory cards are slower than internal flash memory. However, there are proven methods to circumvent these limitations and use external drive more efficiently. We will look at both standard methods and advanced techniques using debugging.

It is worth noting that transferring system applications is impossible without deep interference with the OS structure, which can lead to unstable work. We will focus on safe methods that allow you to free up precious gigabytes of internal memory. Proper configuration will help you forget about constantly cleaning the cache and deleting important files for space for a new program.

Preparation of memory card and device for work

Before starting any manipulations, you need to make sure that your memory card meets the requirements. For the installation and operation of modern applications, it is recommended to use Class 10 or higher drives, preferably UHS-I. Slow cards can cause lags in games and long downloads of programs, which will spoil the impression of using a smartphone.

Insert a microSD card into your Xiaomi device slot. If the card has been used in another gadget or computer, it is better to format it. This will remove possible file system errors and ensure that the MIUI 12 shell works correctly. Remember that formatting will destroy all data, so back up important files in advance.

To format, go to the settings menu. You need to find the storage section. Usually the path is: Settings → About Phone → Storage or Settings → Advanced Settings → Memory. In the menu that opens, select your memory card and click on the "Clean" or "Format" button.

• 📱 Make sure that the battery is at least 50% before formatting.
• 💾 Use only quality cards from well-known brands like SanDisk or Samsung.
• 🔄 After formatting, restart your smartphone to apply all changes to the system.

⚠️ Note: Do not remove the memory card while the applications are running, which can damage the program databases and lose progress in games.

Once successfully prepared, the system will recognize the drive as a removable medium, and now you can start configuring the ways to save and try to transfer data. It is important to understand that standard Android tools in MIUI 12 to transfer the body of the application (APK) is not always possible, but you can move its heavy data.

Use of MIUI 12 full-time funds for transfer

The MIUI shell provides basic memory management functionality, although limited. Some firmware versions still allow for portability of specific applications. To check for this capability, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.

Select from the list the program you want to move. If the app developer has allowed the transfer, the menu button "Move to" will be active. SD-If the button is grey or missing, it means that the application is rigidly tied to internal memory by the developer or the Google system itself.

Even if direct portability is not possible, you can change the default way to save files, such as media, documents and browser cache, for example, in YouTube or Spotify, you can set the settings to save music and video to an external drive, which will free up internal space.

There is also a hidden developer feature that sometimes allows you to force portability, which requires you to activate the developer mode by clicking on the build number several times in the About Phone section, then in the Developer menu, find the Allow Saving to External Drives item.

• 🔍 Activate Developer Mode by pressing version number 7 times MIUI.
• ⚙️ Find the option of forced application transfer in the developer menu.
• 📂 Check each application individually, as there is no mass transfer.

It's worth noting that even when this feature is activated, many modern apps refuse to move, because of Android security policies that require quick access to app data, which external maps can't always provide, but for old or simple utilities, this method can work effectively.

Adoptable Storage Method through ADB Teams

The most effective way to turn a memory card into a full-fledged extension of internal memory is with Adoptable Storage technology. In MIUI 12, this feature is hidden, but it can be activated via a computer and debugging over USB. This method requires care, because you will work with system commands.

First, you need to enable USB debugging. Go to the Developer Menu (how to activate it, described above) and turn on the USB debugging switch. Connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable. A request for debugging permission will appear on your phone screen — be sure to click OK.

On your computer, you'll need a minimum set of ADB tools (Android Debug Bridge) download the Platform Tools from the official developer site. Unpack the archive, open the command line in the tool folder and enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If a device has been listed, it means that the connection is established. Now you need to know your memory card ID.

adb shell sm list-disks

The system will give you a list of disks, like disk:179.64. Remember or copy this ID, it's unique to your device and the card. Next comes a command that formats the card as internal memory. Be careful: all data on the map will be destroyed.

The formatting command is as follows: instead of disk:XXX,XX, you substitute your identifier:

adb shell sm partition disk:XXX,XX private 100

Once you've done the command, the phone can reboot, the memory card will only be available for this smartphone, and if you insert it into another device, the data won't be read, and this ensures a high level of security for your personal files and applications.

Configuring conservation paths for multimedia and data

Even without the complicated manipulation of ADB, fine-tuning the save paths will help significantly unload the system. Many users do not know that most applications allow you to manually select a folder to download content, this applies not only to the gallery, but also to instant messengers.

In a standard Xiaomi camera, the save path changes in the settings of the app itself. Open the camera, click on the three bars in the top corner and select Settings. SD-Now all the photos and videos will be written directly to the external drive.

Messengers like Telegram and WhatsApp also take up huge amounts of memory. On Telegram, go to Settings → Data and Memory → The File Path and select a memory card. On WhatsApp, the path is set the first time you install it, but you can move the Media folder manually through the file manager, creating a simlink if you have root rights, or simply changing the settings in the application itself if the version allows.

Also, don't forget about browsers. In Chrome or Yandex.Browser, you can specify the folder on the download settings. SD-This is especially true if you frequently download large files, documents or application installation packages.

⚠️ Note: When transferring messenger folders manually without special utilities, after updating the application, the settings may be lost, and new files will again begin to be saved to internal memory.

Working with file managers and cleaning the cache

The standard MIUI Explorer is quite functional, but third-party file managers like Total Commander or FX File Explorer provide more memory management capabilities, allowing you to see hidden folders and move large amounts of data between the internal memory and the card.

One of the most effective methods of freeing up space is to transfer the folder. DCIM You can create new folders on the memory card, for example. SD_DCIM, And then you can then set up a new path in some of the apps, or you can just keep the media files there, delete them from the internal memory.

Special attention should be paid to the cache of applications. Over time, it inflates to gigabytes. Use the built-in cleaning in the section Security → Cleanup. However, be careful: cleaning the cache can delete stored logins or temporary data that you have to download again.

For advanced users, it will be useful to create simlinks (character links). If an application categorically refuses to write to a map, you can move its folder with data to a map, and in place of the old folder, create a link to a new location, this will require root rights or the use of special scripts through ADB.

• 🗑️ Check the Downloads folder regularly, there is often accrued garbage.
• 📂 Use color labeling in file managers to find large files.
• 🚫 Do not delete system folders, even if they take up a lot of space, this will lead to errors.

Possible problems and solutions

When using a memory card as part of an internal memory (Adoptable Storage), there may be specific problems, such as when you update your MIUI firmware, the phone may not see the applications installed on the card, in which case you need to re-activate the mode or reinstall problematic applications.

Speed is another important aspect, and if you notice that your phone is slowing down, you may have lost your card's recording speed or can't handle the load, and then it makes sense to transfer the most heavy and frequently used applications back to internal memory, leaving only photos and music on the map.

Sometimes the system can make a mistake «SD-card is corrupted" or require re-formatting. Don't rush to format if there's important data on the card. Try extracting the card, pasting it into the card reader and checking it on your computer using the Error Checking utility.

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If the memory card applications stopped running after the reboot, try not to remove the card, but just turn off and turn on the phone. Sometimes the system takes time to mount partitions.

Also, remember that memory cards have a limited resource of overwriting cycles, that when used in active internal memory mode, the card can fail faster than usual, and that you can back up important data regularly from card to computer or to the cloud.

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Using a high-quality UHS-I or UHS-II memory card is critical to the stable operation of the system in extended internal memory mode.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)