Owners of budget smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 7A often face a critical shortage of free space in the device's memory. Built-in 32GB quickly fill up with system files, photos, videos and, of course, modern applications that take up more space. When memory is overflowing, the system starts to run slower and installing new programs becomes impossible, which causes annoyance for users.
Fortunately, Xiaomi’s MIUI provides storage management tools to enable the use of an external MicroSD card to enhance the device’s capabilities. Data transfer helps free up precious interior space and speed up the gadget. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at all the available methods of moving information, including the hidden capabilities of the system.
It should be noted that standard Android tools can only transfer some data, since many system applications and some components of Google Play must remain on the internal drive for proper operation, but the proper use of the memory card allows you to turn it into a full-fledged extension of internal memory, if you follow certain technical steps.
Preparation of the memory card for work
Before you start transferring data, you need to properly prepare the external drive. Using a poor-quality or damaged card can lead to data loss or even damage to the file system of the smartphone. Xiaomi Redmi 7A supports cards up to 256 GB, however, it is recommended to use high-speed storage devices, Class 10 or higher, to install applications.
Insert the card into the corresponding slot of the combined tray using a special paper clip. Once the device recognizes the media, the system will offer several use cases. If you plan to use the card specifically for programs, it must be formatted as internal memory, which will make it unreadable on other devices without re-formatting.
⚠️ Note: The formatting process will completely destroy all data on the memory card. Pre-save important photos and documents on your computer or in the cloud storage.
To get started, go to the settings menu and find the storage section, and you'll see the status of the connected drive and the actions available here, and if the card has been used on another device before, the system may need to clear it before it starts using it as system storage.
Standard method of transfer through settings
The easiest and most secure way to move data is to use the built-in MIUI shell functionality, which doesn't require superuser rights or a connection to a computer, but is suitable for porting custom applications that developers have allowed to move.
Open your smartphone settings and go to the Apps section, then select All Apps. In the list that opens, find the program you want to move. Click on it to open the Control menu. If portability is possible, you will see the active Move button or the option to change storage.
Once you select the target storage, the system automatically copies the files and updates the paths to them. It's important to understand that some of Google's system components and services are not moveable in this way, and this is a limitation that is built into the operating system architecture to ensure stability.
If the motion button is inactive (gray), then the application developer has forbidden its installation on an external medium, in which case the standard methods will not solve the problem, and you will need to use more advanced tools, which we will talk about below.
Use of internal memory mode
To fully use the memory card as part of internal memory, Xiaomi Redmi 7A needs to activate a special mode, which allows the system to consider the external drive as an extension of the built-in storage, which allows you to install any applications on it, even those that normally block the transfer.
The activation process requires attention. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Memory. Click on your memory card name. In the menu that appears, select the option to Format and then Use as internal storage. The system will warn you that the card will be encrypted and tied to that particular phone.
☑️ Pre-formatting verification
Once formatted, the system will suggest migrating existing data. Accept this suggestion to automatically free up space on the internal drive. Now, when you install new applications, the system will default to offering a memory card if there is free space on it.
⚠️ Note: After activating the internal memory mode, it is absolutely impossible to remove the card without pre-mounting in the settings. This can lead to application failure and data loss.
Expanded Opportunities Through ADB
If standard methods don't work, you can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool, which allows you to force any application to be transferred to a memory card, ignoring the limitations set by the developers, which requires a computer and a cable to connect.
First, activate the developer mode on your smartphone. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI Version field. After you see a message about activating the developer mode, go to Advanced Settings → For developers and turn on USB Debugging.
Connect the phone to your computer and start the command line with administrator permissions. Enter a command to check the connection:
adb devicesOn the smartphone screen, you will see a request for debugging permission, which you need to confirm. Next, enter a command to change the global parameter of application portability:
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2A value of 2 indicates to the system that it is using external storage. A value of 0 returns standard settings (automatic selection), and 1 compulsorily installs everything in internal memory. This method is the most effective for the Redmi 7A with its limited amount of internal storage.
Comparison of data transfer methods
Different ways of managing memory have their advantages and disadvantages, and understanding these differences will help you choose the best option for your use case. Below is a table comparing the main characteristics of the methods.
| Parameter | Standard transfer | Internal memory. | ADB method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium | Tall. |
| Security of data | Tall. | Medium | Medium |
| Availability of applications | Partial | Complete. | Complete. |
| Speed of operation | Standard. | Depends on the card. | Depends on the card. |
As you can see from the table, the ADB or internal memory method is the best, but requires more careful preparation. Standard transfer is safer, but less effective in dealing with space shortages.
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Use the file manager to analyze which folders take up the most space, often leaving behind the back of the memory card "tails" from remote applications that can be safely removed.
Possible problems and solutions
Users may face a variety of challenges in optimizing memory, and one of the common problems is that the smartphone is running slower, because the read and write speeds of microSD cards are usually lower than those of the phone's built-in flash memory.
If they start to run unstable or crash after transferring applications, try moving the most important ones back to internal memory, and check the card for errors, and there is a check-and-correct function in the storage settings.
⚠️ Attention: Cheap memory cards from unknown brands often have real capacity less than claimed, which leads to cyclical overwriting and rapid card failure.
Another problem may be incorrect display of widgets or shortcuts of ported applications, in which case it will help to restart the device or re-install the problem application, sometimes the MIUI system takes time to index new paths to files.
Why can't some apps be moved?
Optimizing Storage After Transfer
After successfully migrating applications, it is recommended to audit the remaining files. Delete the social network cache, which often grows to gigabytes.
Check the Downloads folder and the gallery basket regularly. Automatic garbage cleaning helps keep the system on track, and you should also turn off automatic storage of media files from messengers to internal memory by directing them directly to the map.
Proper organization of the file structure is the key to long and fast work Xiaomi Redmi 7A. Do not allow the memory to be filled "to the end", leave at least 10-15% free space for temporary files and normal operation of the operating system.
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Regular cleaning of the cache and transferring heavy media files to the memory card prolong the life of the built-in drive and keep the performance of the smartphone.