How to transfer applications from internal memory to memory card in Xiaomi Redmi 7: all working ways

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 7 sooner or later face a shortage of internal memory – especially if the device is used to install dozens of applications, games or storage of media files. Even with a microSD slot of up to 512GB, the portability of apps to an external drive is not always smooth.It’s all about the limitations of Android 9 Pie (and later Android 10 in updates) and the features of the shell. MIUI, which blocks the standard functions of the system.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer applications to a memory card in Redmi 7 – from built-in tools to workarounds using the use of memory cards. ADB You'll learn which apps can be ported and which ones will remain in internal memory, how to avoid formatting errors. SD-The cards are internal storage, and what to do if the system refuses to see the external drive. MIUI, which Xiaomi does not advertise, but which allow you to bypass some of the restrictions without root rights.

Why Redmi 7 can’t just move apps to the top of the table SD-map?

Starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google has tightened its external drive policy. In Redmi 7 (released in 2019 with Android 9 Pie), these restrictions are maintained, and the MIUI shell adds its nuances:

• 🔒 Blocking the function "Move to SD" — In the application menu, the button may be inactive or absent at all.
• 📱 Manufacturer restrictions – Xiaomi disables portability for system and some user applications (e.g. Facebook, WhatsApp).
• 💾 File system format – the card must be formatted as an internal memory (Adoptable Storage), but this can lead to data loss when retrieved.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI — After upgrading to Android 10, some methods stop working, requiring alternative solutions.

Also, not all apps support external memory, such as Google Play Services or messengers like Telegram, which are essentially not portable, but their data remains in internal storage, due to security (the risk of data loss when retrieving a card) and performance (SD-lower-class UHS-I slow down applications).

⚠️ Note: If you use a memory card as a portable storage (not formatted as internal memory), you will not be able to transfer applications.

What memory card should I choose for Redmi 7?

Before you port applications, make sure your microSD meets the requirements:

To transfer applications, the card must be formatted as an internal memory (Adoptable Storage).

• 🔄 The card will be encrypted and linked to the device – it will not be read on another phone or PC.
• 📉 Part of the card’s performance will go to encryption, which can slow down the application.
• ⚠️ When you remove the map, the applications on it will stop working (until you insert it back).

If you plan to retrieve the card frequently (for example, to transfer files to a PC), it is better to abandon formatting as internal memory and use alternative methods of porting applications (more on them).

Method 1: Formatting SD-maps as internal memory

This is an official method from Google that supports MIUI, but with reservations, and it's suitable if you're willing to sacrifice the card's compatibility with other devices for the sake of freeing up internal memory.

Back up your card data (it will be deleted)| Charge your phone at least 50% |Use a class card at least below UHS-I|Make sure there are no important files on the card-->

Step-by-step:

1. Insert the memory card into the Redmi 7 slot (up to 512 GB of microSD support).
2. Go to Settings. → Memory.
3. Tap your name on it. SD-maps (e.g. SanDisk) 64GB).
4. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Storage Settings.
5. Select Format as internal (in some versions of MIUI, the item may be called internal memory).
6. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (may take 5-10 minutes).
7. After formatting, the system will prompt you to Transfer Data – agree if you want to free up internal memory.

Now some of the apps can be mapped through their settings, but there are some nuances.

• 🔧 Not all apps support portability (e.g. Google Play Store or Google Play Store). MIUI System).
• 📲 After transferring the application icon may disappear from the main screen – it will have to be returned manually.
• 🔄 When you connect your phone to a PC, the memory card will not be visible as a removable disk.

⚠️ Attention: If you extract SD-A card formatted as internal memory, all applications transferred to it will stop working until re-inserted".

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If the phone is slowing down after formatting the card as internal memory, try using an A2 class card (for example, SanDisk Extreme A2) – it is optimized to run applications.

Method 2: Transfer applications through settings (without SD formatting)

If you don't want to format a map as internal memory, you can try to migrate individual applications manually, which doesn't work for all programs, but allows you to free up some space without drastic changes.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to port (like Spotify or VK).
3. Slip on Warehouse.
4. If the button is changed (or moved to) SD-card is active – press it and confirm the action.
5. Wait until the process is complete (it can take from a few seconds to a minute).

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 The transfer button may be inactive for most applications (especially system applications).
• 📌 Even if the transfer is successful, some of the data (cache, settings) will remain in the internal memory.
• 🔄 After updating the application, it can automatically return to internal memory.

To check which apps can be ported, use the filter in Application Management:

1. In the upper right corner, click on the filter icon (⋮ → Filter).
2. Select You can move to SD-map.
3. The system will show a list of compatible applications.

Method 3: Using ADB for Forced Transfer

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that lets you manually tell the system which apps to port, which requires connecting your phone to your PC, but doesn't need root rights.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 Installed Xiaomi drivers and package ADB Tools (you can download from the official Google website).
• 🔧 Included Debugging by USB developer-setting.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap the MIUI version 7 times until the notification “You’re a developer!” appears.
2. Turn on USB debugging: Return to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate the USB debugging switch.

Connect your phone to your PC:

• Use the cable that comes with the Redmi 7.
• On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
• Open the command prompt (or Terminal) on your PC and type: Adb devices If the device appears in the list, go ahead. If not, install Xiaomi drivers.
• Find out the package name of the application: Enter the command: adb shell pm list packages -f Find the desired application in the list (for example, com.facebook.katana for Facebook).
• Move the app to SD-Map: Adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This command forces the system to install new applications on the SD-To transfer an already installed application, use: adb shell pm move-package com.name.packet /sdcard Replace the com.name.packet with a real name (e.g. com.whatsapp).

If the command is executed without errors, the application will be moved, but there are risks:

• 🔴 Some apps may stop working after the transfer (especially if the card is slow).
• 🔄 After the phone restarts, the app can return to internal memory.
• 📛 The method does not work for system applications and those that explicitly block the transfer.

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB You can cause system instability if you use them incorrectly. Do not carry system applications (for example, com.miui.home) - this will cause malfunctions. MIUI.

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ADB is the most powerful tool for porting applications, but it requires caution: Always check batch names and do not apply commands to mission-critical services (e.g., com.google.android.gms).

Method 4: Third-party transfer applications (without root rights)

If previous methods have failed, you can use third-party utilities, which don't give you a 100% guarantee, but sometimes help you bypass the limitations of MIUI.

Top.-3 portability:

How to use AppMgr III:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to the storage.
3. Go to the tab Transfer to the SD-map.
4. Check the boxes of the applications you want to transfer.
5. Click Transfer and confirm the action.

Restrictions of third-party utilities:

• 🛑 They can’t get around system limitations – if an application is blocked for portability, the utility won’t help.
• 📊 Some of the data (cache, settings) will still remain in the internal memory.
• 🔄 After updating the application, it can return to internal memory.

If none of these methods work, the last option is rooting, but that voids the warranty and can cause the phone to run in an unstable way, and we don't recommend this option unless absolutely necessary.

What to do if the transfer does not work?

If you have encountered errors when transferring applications to SD-Map in Redmi 7, try the following solutions:

• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes it helps the system recognize the memory card correctly.
• 📱 Update. MIUI — In new versions of firmware can be fixed bugs with work SD-map.
• 💾 Check the memory card for errors: Connect the card to the PC via the card reader. Open Properties → Service → Check (in Windows). Correct the errors found.

Reset the memory card settings:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory. → SD-map.
2. Press Format. → Like a portable storage facility.
3. After formatting, repeat the transfer attempt.

Check the free space on the map

If the problem persists, it may be a memory card incompatibility. Try using a card from another manufacturer (e.g. Samsung EVO Plus instead of a no-name brand).

FAQ: Frequent questions about porting applications to SD in Redmi 7