Transfer applications to a memory card in Xiaomi: all ways and pitfalls

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones sooner or later face a shortage of internal memory — especially if the device from the budget line (Redmi 9A, Poco C31) or released 3-4 years ago. Even after cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary files, the system persistently says: “Memory is full.” The solution seems obvious — to transfer applications to a microSD card, but here users are waiting for surprises: not all programs support this feature, and in new versions of MIUI the option may be hidden.

In this article, we will discuss all working methods for transferring applications to SD-map in Xiaomi smartphones, including models with MIUI 12, 13 and 14, you'll learn which applications can be moved and which can't, how to get around system constraints, and what to do if the port option is inactive. SD-Cards as internal memory (Adoptable Storage function) that the manufacturer is silent on.

Why Xiaomi restricts the portability of applications to SD-card?

Since Android 6.0 Marshmallow (and the corresponding versions of MIUI), Google has imposed strict restrictions on external drives, the reasons are in three planes:

• 🔒 Security: Annexes to SD-It is easier to hack or replace the card because the file system is a very simple one. FAT32/exFAT Does not support the separation of access rights (SELinux).
• ⚡ Performance: Class Memory Cards UHS-I (even A2) into 5–10 slower than internal memory eMMC/UFS, What's holding back programs.
• 📱 Stability: When extracted SD-cards "hot" applications installed on it, painted, and the system can freeze.

V MIUI These limitations are strengthened: by default, transfer is allowed only for some applications (usually those that support external memory by themselves, such as messengers or media players), system programs, cache games (>1 GB) and applications using OBB-files cannot be transferred.

⚠️ Attention: On models with MIUI 14 and above (e.g. Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12) option to port applications to SD-The map can be completely removed from the interface. It's not a bug, it's a conscious decision by the developers.

Preparation: Which memory card to choose for Xiaomi?

Not every microSD is suitable for installing applications.

• 📏 Volume: 32 GB (optimally 64-128 GB) Cards with 16 GB or less do not support formatting as internal memory.
• 🚀 Class speed: UHS-I (U1/U3) or A2 (The last one is preferred for applications. Class maps C10 marking A1/A2 will slow down.
• 🔄 File system: To transfer applications, the card must be formatted into ext4 or f2fs (automatically selecting the option "Internal Memory»).

Recommended map models for Xiaomi:

⚠️ Note: No-name brand maps (e.g. Transcend without labeling) A1/A2) They're often faked, they're overrated. Check the speed with the app. A1 SD Bench after purchase.

Method 1: Standard Transfer through MIUI Settings

It's the simplest method, but it doesn't work for all applications. MIUI 12–14:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want to transfer (such as Telegram or VLC).
3. Slip on Warehouse.
4. If the option is available, click Change → Memory Map → Move.

It takes 10 seconds to a few minutes depending on the size of the program.

• 📌 The app icon will remain on the home screen, but some of the data will be stored on the home screen. SD-map.
• 🔄 When you update the app, it will automatically “return” to internal memory.
• ❌ Some functions (such as widgets) may stop working.

Application supports transfer (option active)

Memory card formatted as portable storage

There is enough free space on the map (minimum 2x of the application size).

Smartphone connected to charging (for models with battery < 20%)

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If the Transfer button is inactive, the reason may be:

• 🔐 System or pre-installed (Mi Browser, Mi Video).
• 🎮 The app is a game with a large cache (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile).
• 📁 The application uses OBB-Files (e.g. Asphalt 9).

Method 2: Formatting SD-The card is an internal memory (adoptable storage)

This method allows us to use SD-The card is part of the internal storage, but has critical flaws.Suitable for Android 6.0 devices+ (including MIUI 8–14), but new Xiaomi models (released after 2021) may be blocked.

Instructions:

1. Put it in. SD-smartphone-card.
2. Go to Settings → Storage → Memory Map.
3. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner → Storage settings.
4. Select Internal Memory → Clean and Format.
5. Confirm action. The map will be formatted in ext4 or f2fs.
6. After formatting, select Transfer Data (optional).

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Applications are installed on the card automatically (if selected in the settings).
• ✅ No portability restrictions (except for system applications).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ The map cannot be extracted, the system perceives it as part of its internal memory.
• ❌ When connected to a PC, the card will not be visible as a removable disk.
• ❌ Application speeds will decrease by 20-40% (depending on the card class).
• ❌ If the card fails (or is removed), the phone may stop loading.

💡

Before formatting SD-Maps as internal memory make a backup of all data from it – the process is irreversible and will delete all files.

Method 3: Transfer over ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool, which allows you to migrate even applications that are locked in the interface, you need a PC and you need USB debugging enabled.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install Xiaomi USB Drivers and download ADB Tools.
4. Open the command line in the adb.exe folder and do:

adb shell


pm set-install-location 2 # Default transfer to SD-map




pm move-package com.example.app # Replace com.example.app with an app package

To find out the name of the application package, use:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

Example for Telegram port:

adb shell pm move-package org.telegram.messenger

⚠️ Note: Not all applications support portability ADB. If you see a Failure error after the team [INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_INSTALL_LOCATION], The program is blocked for transfer at the level AndroidManifest.xml.

💡

Transfer through ADB Some programs (e.g., bank clients) may refuse to run from the SD-Cards due to security policy.

Method 4: Manual transfer of cache and application data

If the application itself cannot be transferred, you can free up space by moving its cache and data (for example, uploaded files in messengers or media in social networks).

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the target app (such as WhatsApp).
3. Go to the Warehouse. → Management of space.
4. If the option to Move Media or Change the Save Location is available, select SD-map.

For manual transfer:

• 📁 Use a file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
• 🔍 Find the application folder in /Android/data/ or /Android/obb/.
• ⤴️ Copy it on. SD-map (e.g. in the /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Android/data/).
• 🔄 In the application settings, specify a new path to the data (if supported).

Example for WhatsApp:

1. Open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → Warehouse and data.
2. Select Storage Management → Change.
3. Show the way. SD-map (e.g., map, /storage/1234-5678/WhatsApp).

What to do if transfer is not possible: alternative solutions

If none of these methods work, consider alternatives:

• 🧹 Cache Cleanup: Use Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning or annex SD Maid to remove unnecessary files.
• ☁️ Cloud Storage: Move photos and documents to Google Drive, Mi Cloud or Yandex Disk.
• 🔄 Factory reset: Extreme measure, but frees up to 3-5 GB by removing garbage.
• 📱 Replacement with a model with a larger memory: If the phone is old (e.g. Redmi) 5A s 16 GB), consider upgrading to Redmi Note 12 (64/128 GB).

For games with a high weight (for example, Call of Duty Mobile) you can:

• 🎮 Remove unnecessary maps or textures in game settings.
• 🔄 Use the Lite mode function (if supported).
• ☁️ Upload additional files on demand (e.g., in Asphalt 9).

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring applications to SD-map