How to transfer applications to the SD card on Xiaomi Redmi 9

Owners of budget and mid-budget smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 9 often face a lack of built-in storage. MIUI takes up a significant portion of memory, and installing instant messengers, social networks and games quickly fills up the remaining space. When internal memory is full, the device starts to run slower, and some applications stop functioning correctly. Expanding the amount of available storage becomes not just a convenience, but a necessity for comfortable use of the gadget.

Traditionally, Android has allowed you to transfer your data to an external drive, but modern versions of the system limit this feature for security and stability. However, for Redmi 9, there are proven methods to circumvent these restrictions. In this article, we will look at how to activate Adoptable Storage mode, which turns the memory card into part of the system partition, and also discuss the regular capabilities of transferring media files.

Before you start manipulating the file system, it is important to understand the risks. Any interference with the partition structure requires care. The process of formatting the map for internal applications will irreversibly destroy all the data on it. Therefore, backing up photos, documents and contacts is a mandatory first step before starting any transfer actions.

Preparation of memory card and smartphone for work

The quality of external memory directly affects the speed of the entire smartphone. Cheap cards with low write speed can cause "freezes" in the interface and long run programs. For Xiaomi Redmi 9, it is recommended to use cards of the standard Class 10 or higher, preferably the UHS-I series. This will ensure minimal delay when reading these applications.

Before you install the card in the slot, you need to check it for errors, insert a microSD into a computer or other phone and format it into the FAT32 or exFAT file system, which will create a clean partition structure, which will reduce the likelihood of conflicts when formatted later through the smartphone menu.

Make sure your Redmi is yours. 9 chargeable 50-60%. Partition remarking requires stable power, and if the battery runs out at a critical time, there is a risk of damage to the bootloader or data loss. SIM-card from the second slot if it is occupied to avoid accidental damage to contacts during manipulation.

• 📱 Check the memory card model (must be from a reliable manufacturer, such as SanDisk or Samsung).
• 💾 Make a full backup of all important files from card to computer.
• 🔋 Charge the smartphone battery to at least 60%.
• 📶 Turn off the Internet (Wi-Fi and mobile data) during the preparation period, so that the system does not try to download updates in the background.

⚠️ Warning: Once the map is formatted for internal applications, it will be encrypted, which means you won’t be able to read it on your computer or on another phone without re-formatting, which will delete all the data again.

The next step is to physically install the drive. Carefully remove the tray with a paper clip, insert the card with the correct side and return the tray to its place. MIUI should alert you to the discovery of a new media. Don't rush to click "Use as internal memory" in the window that appears, since the standard Xiaomi method often limits functionality. We'll go a more reliable way.

Activate Adoptable Storage Mode via ADB

The regular Android settings menu often hides the possibility of a full memory combination.To unlock the Adoptable Storage feature on the Xiaomi Redmi 9, you will need to use the ADB debugging bridge. This method does not require superuser rights (Root), but requires a computer and a USB cable.

First, you need to activate the developer mode on your smartphone. → About phone and quickly press 7 times on the item Version MIUI. After you have signed the words “You became a developer” go to Settings → Advanced settings → For developers, you need to include Debugging by USB.

You need to download the minimum set of Platform Tools from the official Google website. Unpack the archive in a convenient folder. Connect the phone with a cable to a PC. On the smartphone screen, a request for debugging permission will appear - tick "Always Allow" and click "OK".

Now open the command line in the ADB folder and enter the command to check the connection:

adb devices

If you have a serial number on the list, you've got a connection, and then you've got a command that compulsorily includes support for external drives as internal drives:

adb shell pm setForceAdoptableStorage true

Once you have completed the command, restart your smartphone. Now, when you re-refer to the memory card notifications or the storage settings menu, you should see the option of formatting as an internal storage, not a portable one.

Instructions for formatting and transferring data

Once the hidden function is successfully activated, we move to direct portability. Go to Settings → About Phone → Storage. Select your microSD card. Select Format from the action menu. The system will offer two options: "Use as portable storage" and "Use as internal storage."

So we choose the second option, and the system will alert you to slow speeds if the card doesn't meet the standards, ignore the warning if you're sure of the card's quality, and confirm the action, and it'll take 2 to 10 minutes depending on the storage capacity, and Redmi 9 will encrypt the partitions.

Once formatted, the system will suggest moving the data, selecting the option to move all the content (photos, apps, data) to free up the internal memory and transfer the main dataset to an external medium, and the new applications will be installed on the map by default.

MIUI limitations and working with system applications

Despite the activation of the mode, the MIUI shell has its own peculiarities: not all applications can be transferred to the map; developers themselves indicate in the manifest whether transfer to an external drive is allowed; Google system applications and Xiaomi services most often remain on internal memory.

To manage portable applications, use the Settings menu → Annexes → All applications. Select the program you want. If you can transfer it, there's a memory button or a storage button where you can select "Change" and specify SD-If there's no button, it means the app is tightly tied to the inside partition.

It is important to understand that transferring the cache of heavy games (such as PUBG or Call of Duty) may not give the desired effect if the developer did not provide this option, in such cases only cleaning the cache or reinstalling the game with the choice of installation path (if the installer supports the choice of path).

• 🚀 System processes always remain on internal memory for stability.
• 📉 The speed of running applications from a card can be lower than with internal flash memory.
• 🔄 When resetting phone settings, data on the map may become inaccessible without re-binding.

⚠️ Warning: Do not remove the memory card while the smartphone is on, if it has applications installed. This will lead to their immediate "departure" and possible errors in the system. → Warehouse → SD-map → Extract before physical extraction.

Alternative methods of memory expansion

If ADB seems too complicated or risky, there are alternative ways to free up space, primarily through multimedia, apps like Telegram and WhatsApp take gigabytes of cache, set up automatic cleaning of media files in their settings, or transfer Downloads and DCIM folders manually to the map through the file manager.

The second method is to use the Virtual RAM feature, if it's available in your version of MIUI. This technology uses a portion of the storage storage space to expand RAM. While it doesn't carry applications, it improves multitasking, which indirectly helps with resource constraints.

The third option is cloud storage, services like Google Photos or Yandex.Disk allow you to store photos and videos in the cloud, freeing up local space, set up automatic synchronization and Free Space, which deletes local copies of files that have already been downloaded.

💡

Use Files by Google to find duplicates and heavy files, and it often finds hidden debris that is not visible in standard Explorer.

Possible problems and solutions

There may be errors in operation. The most common problem is the message "SD-This indicates poor quality of the card or damage to the file system, in which case you need to format the card again, perhaps changing it to a faster model.

Another problem is that the interface is slow, and if the phone starts to slow down after the apps are transferred, the card reading speed is not enough for the operating system to work, in which case it is better to return the card to portable storage mode and use it only for photos and music, leaving the applications on internal memory.

Also, users sometimes find that after updating MIUI, the storage settings are reset. Before updating the firmware, always back up important data, as the update process can reformat partitions.

💡

The stability of the Redmi 9 depends on the quality of the memory card installed, and savings on microSD can lead to unstable operation of the entire system.