How to transfer applications to the SD card Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: Full guide to expand memory

Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 smartphone often face a critical lack of free space in internal memory. Despite the excellent characteristics of the device, the amount of internal storage in the basic versions is quickly filled with system files, messenger cache and heavy games, which leads to a slowdown in the MIUI operating system and the inability to install new programs.

Fortunately, engineers have designed a microSD card slot that allows for a significant expansion of available space. However, the standard Android shell and Xiaomi firmware often block the ability to directly install applications on an external drive by default, which is done for the sake of security and stability, but limits functionality for advanced users.

In this article, we will discuss proven methods to circumvent these limitations, how to turn a regular flash card into a full-fledged extension of internal memory, what risks exist when using outdated drives and how to properly configure the system for maximum performance. It is important to understand that transferring system applications can lead to unstable device operation, so the procedure should be performed carefully.

Preparation of memory card and smartphone for work

Before you start modifying your system, you need to make sure your drive is up to date. To make modern applications work, read and write speeds must be high. Using cheap Class 4 or Class 6 cards will cause programs to run extremely slowly and the phone to freeze when accessing data.

It is recommended to use UHS-I or UHS-II cards from proven manufacturers such as SanDisk, Samsung or Kingston. The optimal amount for conversion into internal memory is from 32 GB and above. A smaller volume does not make sense, since the system will reserve some space for your needs.

⚠️ Note: The process of formatting the card as internal memory will completely destroy all data on it. Be sure to save important photos and documents to your computer or cloud storage before starting the procedure.

Insert the card into the slot located on the lower end of the device next to the SIM-To remove the tray, use a special paper clip that is included in the delivery. Once installed, the card must be determined by the system, as evidenced by a notice in the curtain or an entry in the event log.

• 📱 Make sure that the battery of the Redmi Note 7 is at least 60% to avoid power outages at a critical moment.
• 💾 Check the card for errors with the utility SD Card Tester on PC to rule out broken sectors.
• 🔒 Backup important contacts and settings through your Google or Mi Cloud account.

Standard method of transfer through Android settings

To start with, the simplest and most secure way to do this is to not have to connect to a computer: some versions of the MIUI shell that are based on Android 9 or Android 10 have native portability, which doesn’t work for all applications, because software developers can prevent their software from moving to external media.

To start, open the settings menu and find the storage section. The path may vary depending on the firmware version, but most often it is at Settings → About Phone → Storage or right in the main settings menu under Memory. Here you will see the internal memory filling schedule and the categories that listed the location.

Click on "Device Memory" to see the list of installed applications. Select the program you want to move. If the system allows portability, the "Move to" button SD-The map will be active, otherwise you will see a message saying that the transfer is not possible, or a button "Change" that may not be available.

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If the transfer button is inactive, try clearing the app cache before trying to move - sometimes this removes the lock.

It is worth noting that the standard method only transfers a portion of the application files (called OBB and user data), while the executable code (.apk) often remains in internal memory. This frees up space, but does not solve the problem radically, and after flashing or resetting, all applications will have to be transferred again.

Adoptable Storage Mode with ADB

If standard methods have failed, you can use a more powerful tool – the command line. ADB (Android Debug Bridge – This method allows you to format your memory card as internal storage, even if the manufacturer hid this option in the menu.

To work, you will need a computer with ADB drivers installed and a USB cable. On your smartphone, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About your phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI version. After the message “You became a developer”, open the advanced settings and turn on “Debugging by USB”.

Connect the phone to your PC and run the command line or terminal in the folder with the ADB utility. Enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

You'll see a request for debugging permission on your smartphone screen, click "Allow." If the device's serial number is displayed on the console, the connection is successful, and then you'll need to know your memory card ID by entering the command:

adb shell pm list storages

In the list you will see internal memory and something like that. public:179,64 or similar (yours) SD-Write down this ID, and you'll need it for the next step.

Step-by-step formatting instruction through the console

Now, to the most critical stage, the pm (package manager) command allows you to manage the storage. The syntax of the formatting command is as follows: adb shell pm set-force-true-adoptable true (some versions of Android may need to enable this option first), and then direct formatting.

Enter the command to format the previously found identifier:

adb shell pm set-force-adoptable true


adb shell sm partition [ID_Cards] private 100

Instead [ID_Cards: Substitute your ID (e.g, public:179,64). Figure 100 means that 100% If you want to leave some space for photos and music that you can see on your PC, specify a smaller value, for example, 80.

⚠️ Warning: Once this command is executed, the map will be formatted in a file system that is not readable for Windows without special utilities, and you can only return it to normal mode by re-formatting, which will delete all data again.

Once the command is successfully executed, the system will suggest moving data from the old storage to the new one. You can agree to the transfer. The process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the data volume and the speed of the card. Do not interrupt the connection or turn off the phone at this time.

When you complete the process, you will see that the amount of internal memory has increased significantly in the storage settings, and now new applications will be installed on the map by default, and old ones can be transferred through the application management menu.

Comparison of methods of memory expansion

So that you can choose the best option for your use case, we have prepared a comparative table of methods, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages, which should be considered before starting manipulation.

As you can see from the table, the ADB method is the “middle ground” for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7. It does not require obtaining superuser rights (Root), which preserves the guarantee and security of banking applications, but at the same time gives full control over the file system.

However, if you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to limit yourself to standard transfer or manual cache cleaning. Using third-party programs with Root rights, such as Link2SD, can lead to a cyclic restart (bootloop) if the system files are moved incorrectly.

Optimization of the system after the transfer

Once apps are ported to a memory card, it’s important to set up the system correctly to ensure maximum speed.The smartphone’s internal memory runs faster than most microSD cards, so some heavy games can take longer to load than usual.

App cache that actively uses external storage is recommended. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select the desired program and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse this with data cleanup, which will remove your authorization and progress.

• 🚀 Turn off animations in the developer menu (Window animation scale, Transition animation scale) to compensate for the possible reduction in interface response speed.
• 📸 Set the camera so that the photos and videos are saved immediately on the camera. SD-map, freeing up the interior space.
• 🔄 Regularly check the integrity of the card file system using built-in diagnostics or third-party utilities.

⚠️ Note: If you notice that the phone has started to warm up or discharge rapidly after transferring applications, it is possible that the memory card is faulty or has a slow write speed.

Also, when you retrieve the map, all the portable applications will stop working, the system will give out errors when you try to run, so if you plan to change the cards often, the Adoptable Storage method can be inconvenient.

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The speed of the smartphone after transferring applications directly depends on the speed class of your memory card – you can not save on this component.

Possible problems and ways to solve them

There may be a number of difficulties in operating, such as some widgets on the desktop that may disappear because they are tied to the application installation path, in which case you can remove the widget and add it again from the menu.

Another common problem is errors when updating apps through Google Play.The store may try to update the program in internal memory without finding space there.The solution is to temporarily disable the map or manually transfer the updated application back to internal memory before updating.

If the phone stops seeing the card or apps, try restarting the device. In rare cases, you need to re-run the adb shell pm set-force-adoptable true command after you update the system. Also check if the contact in the slot has moved away - on the Redmi Note 7, the tray can sometimes oxidize.