How to transfer applications to SD-Map in Xiaomi Redmi 7: all the ways and nuances

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 7 often face a lack of internal memory, especially if the device has been in use for several years.Even after cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary files, system updates, photos and instant messengers continue to eat away at precious gigabytes. SD-The map seems to be a logical solution, but in MIUI This process has its own characteristics - not all programs can be moved, and some after the transfer begin to work incorrectly.

In this article, we will look at all the available ways to migrate applications to an external drive in Redmi 7, including standard system settings, workarounds for “unbearable” applications and alternative solutions for memory optimization. Particular attention will be paid to the limitations of MIUI 10/11/12 based on Android 9 Pie, which make the process less obvious than on smartphones of other brands. If you have already tried to migrate applications through the settings menu and received the message “Transfer impossible”, here you will find an explanation of the reason and possible options for action.

Why Xiaomi Redmi 7 can’t be used in all applications SD-map

The main problem lies in the policy of Google and the features of the firmware MIUI. Starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google has limited the ability to port apps to the Internet. SD-Xiaomi developers went a step further by blocking this feature for most system and popular user applications.

Here are the key reasons why transfer may not be available:

• 🔒 Data protection: Applications with access to personal data (banking, messengers, social networks) are often blocked for transfer to avoid leaks when connecting the card to another device.
• 🚀 Productivity: SD-Cards (especially Class 10 and below) are slower than internal memory, which can cause lags in games and heavy programs.
• 📱 Limitations MIUI: Xiaomi’s firmware artificially blocks portability for applications that could theoretically run from an external drive (such as some games or multimedia players).
• 🔄 System Updates: After Updating MIUI Some previously ported applications can “fly” back into internal memory.

To see if you can migrate a particular application, check it in the settings menu. SD-The card is inactive or not, so the developer (either Xiaomi or the creator of the program) blocked this possibility, in which case alternative methods will help, which we will discuss later.

Preparation SD-Maps: Formatting and Selection of File System

Before transferring applications, you need to prepare correctly SD-It's not just the success of the operation, it's the speed of the programs after the transfer. Redmi 7 supports cards up to 256 GB, but the best choice is the Class 10 or the best one. UHS-I (For example, SanDisk Ultra or Samsung. EVO Plus).

Important moment: MIUI Provides two options for use SD-map:

1. Portable storage: The card works like a removable drive (photo, music, documents) and you can't transfer applications.
2. Internal memory – the card is formatted as part of the system (ext4 or f2fs file system) and allows you to transfer applications, but has risks:

⚠️ Note: Once formatted as internal memory, the card cannot be read on other devices (such as a PC or other smartphone) without completely erasing the data.

To format the card as an internal memory:

1. Put it in. SD-card to slot (microSD support up to 256 GB).
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse → SD-map.
3. Press Three Dots (menu) → Storage settings → Format as internal memory.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-5 minutes).

If the application port option is still not available after formatting, check:

• 🔍 Version MIUI (In Settings → On the old versions (below). MIUI 10) there may be bugs.
• 💾 Type of file system of the card (should be) ext4 or f2fs).
• 📱 Device compatibility (some cheap models may not be recognized as internal memory).

💡

If you've formatted the card as internal memory, and your smartphone is slowing down, try turning it off in the storage settings and rebooting the device, and sometimes that solves the lag problem.

Standard Application Transfers through MIUI Settings

If SD-The card is formatted as internal memory, and you can try to migrate applications in a standard way, which works for a limited number of programs, but does not require root rights or additional tools.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to migrate (like Google Maps or Spotify).
3. Press Warehouse. → Move it to SD-card (if the button is active).
4. Wait until the process is complete (it can take from a few seconds to a minute).

⚠️ Note: After porting, some apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) may require a reboot to work properly, and the widgets of the transferred programs may disappear from the home screen - they will have to be added again.

List of applications that can most often be transferred in a standard way:

• 🎵 Music Players (Spotify, VK Music, YouTube Music).
• 🗺️ Maps and Navigators (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps, 2GIS).
• 🎮 Some games (usually lightweight, without online multiplayer mode).
• 📖 Readers of books (Moon)+ Reader, FBReader).

And these applications are almost never transferred:

• 🏦 Banking applications (Sberbank Online, Tinkoff).
• 💬 Messengers (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram – only cache).
• 📷 Social networks (Instagram, TikTok, VKontakte).
• 🔧 System utilities (MIUI Security, Google Play Services).

Application portability with ADB (for power users)

If the standard method didn’t work, you can try migrating the application over ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the smartphone to a computer and basic command line knowledge, but bypasses some of the limitations of MIUI.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Google's Platform Tools utility (includes adb.exe).
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB smartphone.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)
2. Enable USB Debugging: Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB
3. Connect Redmi 7 to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer on your smartphone screen.
4. Open the command prompt (cmd in Windows) and go to the folder with adb.
5. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices (should display the name of your device).
6. Find out the package name of the application (for example, for Telegram it is org.telegram.messenger): adb shell pm list packages | grep "name application"
7. Move the app to SD-map: adb shell pm move-package org.telegram.messenger android (replace org.telegram.messenger with the desired package).

If the command is successful, you'll see a message called Success. Reboot your smartphone and check if the app has moved, and note that this method doesn't work for all programs -- some may fly back or refuse to start.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not tolerate system applications (for example, com.android.settings) - this can make the smartphone inoperable!

Alternative ways to free up memory without transferring applications

If the applications are transferred SD-The card is not possible or does not solve the memory problem, consider alternative methods:

1. Clearing cache and unnecessary files

Many apps (especially social media and instant messengers) accumulate gigabytes of cache to clean it up:

• Go to Settings → Storage → Cleaning.
• Select the Cash apps and click Clear.
• For individual applications: Settings → Applications → [name] → Storage → Clear cache.

2. Transfer of media files

Photos, videos and music can take up the lion's share of memory. SD-hand-write:

• Open the Explorer (or Gallery for photo).
• Select the files → Move it → SD-map.
• To automatically save new files to the card: Camera settings → Preservation site → SD-map.

3. Use of cloud storage

Services like Google Photos, Yandex.Disk or MI Cloud allow you to automatically upload photos and videos to the cloud, freeing up space on your device.

4. Disabling or removing system applications

MIUI has many pre-installed applications that cannot be removed in the standard way, but can be disabled:

• Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
• Select an unneeded app (such as Mi Video or Mi Music).
• Click Disable (this hides it and stops background activity).

Root rights will be required to completely remove system applications, but this is risky and may disrupt MIUI.

💡

If the internal memory is 90% or more full, the smartphone begins to slow down even with free CPU resources. Try to maintain at least 10-15% of free space for stable operation.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When transferring applications to SD-Redmi 7 users often face typical problems. Let's look at the most common problems and how to fix them:

If, after transferring the application to SD-The card started to slow down or fly out, try the following steps:

1. Clear the app cache (Settings → Apps → [name] → Storage → Clear the cache).
2. Reboot your smartphone.
3. Transfer the app back to internal memory.
4. Check it out. SD-error-card SD Card Tester (available on Google Play).

If the problem is repeated, it is likely that the application is not designed to work with external memory, and the only way out is to make room in other ways.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions