Owners of budget smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 7A often face a lack of built-in space. 16 or 32GB of built-in storage is catastrophically lacking for installing modern instant messengers, navigators and social networks. MIUI requires significant space to work correctly, and the app cache quickly fills the remaining megabytes.
The only sensible way out is to use an external microSD drive. However, standard file transfer methods do not work the same way as on older versions of Android.
In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to expand the functionality of your device, we will look at both the standard system tools and more advanced methods that require caution, you will learn how to format the map correctly and avoid common errors.
Memory features in MIUI on Redmi 7A
The Android-based MIUI has strict restrictions on installing programs in external memory, for security and stability reasons, and Google is gradually moving away from direct application porting support, preferring cloud-based technologies.
Redmi 7A is made worse by using a file system that doesn’t allow you to simply change the default setup path, but the standard settings menu only allows you to move media files like photos and music, and for programs, this option is often hidden or unavailable without activating special modes.
There's the concept of Adoptable Storage, which turns a memory card into part of an internal storage, and encrypts the data and stops reading on other devices without formatting, which is often blocked by the manufacturer in MIUI, but can be activated through debugging.
💡
Use U1 or U3 speed memory cards from trusted brands (Samsung, SanDisk, Kingston). Cheap cards can cause interface lags and data loss.
Preparation of the memory card for use
Before any manipulations are started, the drive must be properly prepared, poor preparation will lead to recording errors and possible loss of data, and make sure that the card is intact and has no physical damage to the contacts.
Put the card in the slot of the smartphone and wait for the notification of the new device, the system will suggest using the drive as a portable storage or internal memory, and for our purposes, it is important to choose the right formatting option.
Make sure you back up your data if you already have files on the map, and the formatting process will completely destroy all the information, and then you can start setting up the file system.
- 📱 Insert the card into the phone turned off or through the tray SIM-map.
- ⚙️ Go to Settings. → The phone. → Warehouse.
- 🗑️ Select formatting option as internal storage (if available).
- 💾 Wait for the recording speed check process to be completed.
If the system doesn't offer to format the card as internal memory, then this option is hidden by the manufacturer, in which case the card will work in portable mode, which limits the portability, but allows you to store files.
☑️ Memory card check
Activation of the developer mode and debugging
To access hidden memory management functions, you need to activate the developer menu, which is a standard procedure for Android devices to make deep configuration changes.
The first step is to get permissions to access the hidden menu, and you have to click on the build number several times in the phone section, and the system will alert you that you are becoming a developer.
Once you activate the menu, you'll see a new option in the settings, and we need a section that's linked to the forced permission to write to an external drive, and that's the setting that allows you to bypass the standard MIUI constraints.
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2The above command is entered through a computer with an ADB installed if you can't turn on the option through the interface, but in most cases, a slider in the phone's menu is enough. Find the item "Allow saving to external drives" and activate it.
⚠️ Note: Once this function is enabled, some system applications may not work smoothly. If the card is retrieved, the programs transferred to it will stop running.
Instructions for porting applications
Once you've completed all the preparatory steps, you can start to migrate directly, and not all programs support this function, because developers decide where their code can be located, and system applications can be transferred almost without root rights.
Open your smartphone settings and go to the application management section, find the program you want to move in the list, which can be heavy games or messengers with large cache.
If the port function is available, the button will be active, otherwise it will be hidden or inactive, and for some applications you can transfer only a part of the data, leaving the main executable file in internal memory.
| Type of application | Possibility of transfer | Impact on speed | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Games (cache) | Tall. | Average. | It is obligatory to transfer |
| Social media. | Partial | Low. | Transfer media |
| Systemic | No. | - | Don't touch it. |
| Navigation | Tall. | High. | Keep it in mind. |
The process of moving can take from a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the size of the data.Do not turn off the screen or remove the card during the operation.
What to do if the transfer button is grey?
Use of Third-Party File Managers
Staff Explorer is not always convenient for managing complex folder structures. Third-party file managers, such as FX File Explorer or Total Commander, provide more flexible tools, allowing you to see hidden system folders and move data manually.
These tools can transfer folders with a cache of heavy programs, like maps or messengers, and this frees up valuable space in internal memory, but you can't move the program that way, just its data.
Care is required when working with system files through the file manager. Deleting or moving the wrong folder can disrupt the operating system. Always check the path before performing a copy operation.
- 📂 Install an advanced file manager from Play Market.
- 🔍 Find the file. Android/data internal.
- ✂️ Copy the folder of the desired application on SD-map.
- 🔗 Create a symbolic link (root rights required).
Without root rights, file managers are limited to standard copying, so you can just move uploaded files, documents and archives, which also effectively frees up space, although it doesn't solve the problem of installing new applications.
Problems and possible errors in the transfer
A memory card is a physical device that has a limited rewrite life, and frequent data transfer and active applications can cause it to fail.
One of the common problems is that the smartphone slows down, the internal memory runs faster than the external memory, and if you put too many active applications on the map, the interface can slow down and programs can take longer to load.
There may also be read errors if the card was retrieved without first unmounting, the system may require reconfiguration or formatting of the drive, in the worst case, the data will be lost without the possibility of recovery.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use old small memory cards (less than 16 GB) to port applications, they will not cope with the load of modern applications and will quickly fail.
If the application stops opening after the transfer, try clearing the cache or reinstalling it. Sometimes it helps to return the application to internal memory and re-transfer. Watch for MIUI updates, as they can change the logic of working with memory.
💡
The optimal strategy is to keep only frequently used applications and systems in internal memory, and to transfer games and media to the map.