Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro smartphone often face a situation where built-in storage of 64 or 128 GB becomes insufficient to install all the necessary programs and games. MIUI operating system, even in its latest versions, takes up a significant part of the space, leaving the user with a limited budget for personal needs.
Moving applications to an external storage device is not just a file copy, but a complex process that affects the system security settings of Android. Unlike older versions of firmware, modern shells require specific actions to combine internal and external memory. Understanding these mechanisms will allow you to effectively manage files without losing the performance of the gadget.
In this detailed guide, we will look at all available methods for optimizing disk space, you will learn about the standard system functions, hidden features through the engineering menu and third-party utilities. It is important to approach the issue comprehensively, since not all applications support external media by default.
Preparation of memory card and smartphone for work
Before you start manipulating system files, you need to properly prepare the external drive. The speed of reading and writing directly affects the speed of the programs installed on it. Cheap cards with low class speed can lead to noticeable delays when starting games or heavy utilities.
It is recommended to use UHS-I or UHS-II memory cards from proven manufacturers such as SanDisk, Samsung or Kingston. The storage capacity should be compatible with your device; Redmi Note 9 Pro officially supports cards up to 512 GB, although often successful and models 1 TB.
Insert the card into the slot located on the lower end of the case next to the SIM-The system will automatically prompt you to format the media. If that doesn't happen, go to the settings menu. It's important to choose the right formatting type, because it depends on the functionality.
- 📱 Make sure your smartphone is at least 50% charged before starting the formatting procedure.
- 💾 Back up all important data from the card as it will be completely cleared.
- 🔌 Use the original tray for SIM-cards to avoid damage to contacts.
- ⚙️ Check for the latest system updates in the Settings section → The phone.
⚠️ Note: Once the card is formatted as an internal storage, it will be encrypted and cannot be read on other devices without re-flashing.
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Use memory cards with a write speed of at least 90MB/s to install heavy games to avoid friezes and long downloads.
The standard method of transfer through the MIUI settings
The MIUI shell provides basic memory management functionality, but it is limited by Android’s security policy. Since Android 6.0, Google has implemented the Adoptable Storage concept, but many manufacturers, including Xiaomi, often hide the feature or restrict it.
However, some system applications and media files can be moved by standard means. → Memory. Here you'll see detailed statistics on space usage and options for working with the computer. SD-card.
If the system allows, you'll see a button called "Use as internal storage." Otherwise, the card will only work as a portable storage for photos, videos and documents. Cache transfer of some applications is possible through the management menu of a particular software.
To transfer individual items, go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Select the program you want, click Memory and then Change. If the button is active, select a memory card, which will free up precious megabytes of the main partition.
Activation of the hidden function Adoptable Storage
To fully utilize external memory as part of the system partition, a hidden function must be activated, a process that requires the developer mode to be enabled and commands executed via the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that is most effective for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro.
First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI seven times. Then a new Developer option will appear in the “Additional” menu. Inside, find and enable “Debugging by USB.”
Next, you will need a computer with ADB drivers installed. Connect the smartphone with a cable to the PC. Open the command line on the computer and enter the command to launch the shell:
adb shellAfter successful connection, enter a command to force the supported storage to be enabled:
sm setForceAdoptable trueWhat to do if the team is not executed?
After you execute the command, you need to format the card again through the phone settings, selecting the option of using it as internal storage. The system will suggest transferring the data, agree to this action.
- 💻 Install Android platform tools SDK computer-based ADB.
- 🔌 Use quality. USB-cable that supports data transfer, not just charging.
- 📱 Allow debugging access on your smartphone screen when connecting to a new computer.
- 🔄 Restart the device after completing all commands to apply the changes.
⚠️ Warning: Do not remove the memory card while the phone is on.This can cause system crash and data loss, as the OS will believe that the system partition is damaged.
☑️ Pre-activation check
Using App2SD utility to manage applications
If you don't want to mess with the command line, you can use specialized software. App2SD (or its analogues like Link2SD, which require Root rights) helps analyze memory and move supported programs.
The utility scans the installed software and shows which ones can be moved, which are already on the map and which are system. The interface of the program is intuitive and divided into tabs for easy navigation.
It’s worth noting that without Root rights, these programs are limited by the functionality provided by the operating system itself, but even in basic mode, they allow you to quickly clear the cache and move data that Android for some reason did not automatically transfer.
It is important to understand the difference between moving APK-Data and file movement (Data) – often the main weight is taken by the user’s data, rather than the application installation file itself. App2SD It helps to visualize this structure.
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Third-party utilities without Root-rights can not move absolutely all applications, as this is a limitation of Android security, not a flaw in the program.
Comparison of methods of memory expansion
The choice of method depends on your technical skills and goals. Staff tools are safe but limited. Hidden features give full control but require caution. Third-party programs are convenient for monitoring, but not always effective for deep transfer.
The table below compares the main approaches to solving the problem of space shortage on the Redmi Note 9 Pro. This will help you choose the best strategy for action.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff relocation | Low. | Low. | Minimum |
| ADB (Adoptable Storage) | Tall. | Maximum | Medium (User error) |
| Third-party utilities | Medium | Medium | Minimum |
| Clearing the cache | Low. | Temporary. | Absent. |
The most radical but effective way is to get a Root right, which opens up access to the file system at the superuser level, but on modern Verified Boot-enabled devices, this can lead to banking applications breaking down and overall security being compromised.
Optimization and cleaning of storage
Even after transferring applications to the card, memory can be refilled, and messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp, which cache gigabytes of media files, often become the culprits, and it is a mandatory procedure to clean these folders regularly.
Use the built-in Cleanup tool in Xiaomi’s Security app, which finds duplicates, large files, and remnants of deleted programs, and it’s also helpful to set up automatic cache cleanup in the instant messenger settings.
Remember the Download folder and browser cache, which often accumulates APK installation files that are no longer needed after installing programs, and temporary Internet page files.
- 🗑️ Delete the.thumbnails folder in hidden folders DCIM, If it has grown to a gigantic size.
- 📸 Configure Google Photos to “Free Space” to delete local copies of already uploaded photos.
- 💬 Limit auto-save media in WhatsApp and Viber settings only over Wi-Fi or turn it off altogether.
- 📂 Check the folder regularly Android/obb Remnants of Remote Games.
⚠️ Note: When manually cleaning folders at the root of the system, do not delete files that you do not know the purpose of.