How to transfer applications from internal memory to SD-Xiaomi Redmi 8: All working methods

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 8 often face the problem of lack of internal memory, especially if the device has been in use for several years.Even after cleaning the cache and deleting unnecessary files, the system can show warnings about crowded storage. The solution seems obvious: move applications to the SD-map, but in modern versions of Android and MIUI This process has become more complicated. If you've been trying to find the "Move to the port" option. SD" In the settings of the application and did not find it, this is not an accident: since Android 6.0, Google has limited this feature, and manufacturers like Xiaomi have further tightened the rules.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer applications to an external drive for Redmi 8 (including Redmi models). 8A redmi 8A Dual, given the specifics of MIUI 12, 13 and 14, you'll learn why the standard method might not work, how to get around the restrictions through Adoptable Storage, and which applications are fundamentally unpatchable. SD-Maps for maximum performance.

Why Redmi 8 doesn’t have a “Move to” button SD-map"?

If you went to Settings → Applications → Application Management, chose any application, but did not find portability options — this is not a bug, but a feature of modern versions of Android. Starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google made changes to work with external drives:

• 📱 Restriction for new applications: Developers can block the ability to transfer their software to the Internet SD-This applies to most popular services (WhatsApp, Telegram, online-authorized games).
• 🔒 Data security: Android considers internal memory to be more secure for storing sensitive data (such as authorization tokens or payment information).
• ⚡ Productivity: SD-Cards (especially Class 10 and below) are slower than internal memory, which can lead to lags in migrated applications.

Xiaomi's MIUI firmware went a step further: even if the app technically supports portability, the option can be hidden, because of the company's policy of optimizing the user experience, which is to say, it's better to let the apps run stable than slow down on a memory card, but there are workarounds, and we'll look at them later.

⚠️ Note: Transfer system applications (e.g. com.android.settings or com.miui.home) to SD-The card may cause the device to fail. MIUI rigidly tied to internal memory, and the attempt to transfer critical components often ends with bootloop ( loop loading).

Method 1: Standard Setting Transfer (not working for all applications)

This method is only suitable for applications that explicitly support portability and have not blocked this feature in their settings, most often these are old or little-known programs, as well as some offline games.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application from the list.
3. Slip on Warehouse.
4. If the option is available, you will see the button Move to SD-map (or change with the choice of storage).

If there is no button, the app does not support portability, and alternative methods should be used.

• 🔄 After transferring some data (cache, updates) may remain in internal memory.
• 📉 Some applications start to run slower or give out errors after the transfer.
• 🔌 If you extract. SD-Map, ported applications will stop running.

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

It's the most radical, but it's also the most effective method. SD-The map is formatted as part of internal memory, and Android is beginning to see it as embedded storage, which allows you to port almost any application (except system), but has serious consequences:

• 🔐 The map becomes encrypted and linked to the device, and it can't be read on another smartphone or PC without formatting.
• 🚫 After retrieving the map, the applications installed on it will cease to work.
• ⚠️ If the card fails, the data cannot be restored.

Instructions for Adoptable Storage:

1. Put it in. SD-card in a slot (class recommended) UHS-I U1 higher).
2. When the notice “New” appears SD-map" tap "set up.
3. Select Internal Memory (not Portable Storage).
4. Confirm the formatting (all data on the map will be deleted!).
5. After the process is complete, restart the device.

Now, when you install new applications, the system will ask you to choose a storage location, so you can transfer the programs that are already installed:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app and tap the Warehouse.
3. Click Change and select SD-map.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 8s MIUI 12+ After formatting the card as internal memory, it may be impossible to safely retrieve it. To avoid damaging the data, always turn off the device before removing the card.

Backup card data | Check speed class (UHS-I U1/U3) | Charge phone at least 50% | Disable important notifications during formatting-->

Method 3: Transfer over ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that lets you manually specify where to install applications, which requires a PC connection and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Redmi 8: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI until the notification "You've become a developer" appears.

USB debugging

• Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
• Find and enable the USB debugging option.
• Connect your phone to your PC and install it. ADB-driver.
• Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed. If not, check the drivers or cable.)

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

(This command forces the system to install applications on SD-default-card.)

adb shell pm move-package com.example.app /sdcard

(Replace com.example.app with the real package you want to migrate. You can find out through apps like App Inspector.)

After you've run the commands, restart the device.

• 🔧 Not all applications support portability through ADB (particularly systemic).
• 🔄 After updating MIUI setting ADB may throw off.
• 🛠️ If the team makes a Failure error [INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_INSTALL_LOCATION], So the application is blocked for transfer.

Which applications cannot be transferred to SD-map?

Even with ADB or Adoptable Storage, some apps are not portable, and here is a complete list of limitations:

The critical nuance for Redmi 8 is that if you migrate an application that has an active widget on the home screen, the widget will disappear and not recover even after the application is returned to internal memory, such as a weather widget or a MIUI watch.

How to choose SD-Redmi 8 map: speed and volume recommendations

Not all. SD-For Redmi 8 (which supports microSDXC up to 512 GB), two parameters are critical: speed class and memory type:

• 🚀 Minimum class: Class 10 or UHS-I U1. Class Class Cards 4/6 They will slow down applications.
• 💾 Type of memory: Preferred cards MLC (more durable than TLC (cheaper but slower to wear out).
• 🔄 Size: 64–128 GB is enough for porting applications. 32 GB cards or less may not be suitable for Adoptable Storage (MIUI Requires at least 10% free space).
• 🛡️ Brand: Recommended by SanDisk Ultra, Samsung EVO Plus or Kingston Canvas Go! Plus – optimized for Android.

The speed test of the card can be carried out using the application A1 SD Bench. for comfortable operation of applications with SD-The cards should be such indicators:

• 📥 Reading: at least 80 MB/s (for UHS-I U3 — 100+ MB/s).
• 📤 Record: at least 20 MB/s (30 for games and heavy applications)+ MB/s).
• 🔄 IOPS (operations per second: at least 500 for random recording (4K QD32).

⚠️ Attention: Cheap nameless SD-Cards often have understated real-world characteristics, such as a Class 10 card that can actually produce Class 4 write speeds, which can cause lags in migrated applications and even data loss.

💡

Before the purchase SD-Check it for counterfeit with the help of the utility H2testw (Windows or F3 (macOS/Linux). These programs test the real volume and speed of the card, revealing “bloated” drives.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When transferring applications to SD-Redmi 8 users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, consider alternative ways to free up memory:

• 🧹 Cleaning the cache through Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning up (especially for Google Play Services and Chrome).
• 🗑️ Removal of unnecessary APK-file /sdcard/Download.
• ☁️ Transferring media files (photos, videos) to the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• 🔄 Use of Lite Mode functions in MIUI (lightweight versions of applications).

💡

If your goal is simply to free up space for new applications, it is often enough to clear the cache and delete unused files. SD-The card is only useful in case of chronic memory shortage (less than 1 GB free).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Adoptable Storage

• Copy important data from the map to the PC.
• Go to Settings. → Warehouse → SD-map → Data portability and formatting → Portable storage.

If the brakes are still there, it's probably the card itself, so replace it with a higher speed model.