How to transfer applications to a memory card in Xiaomi Redmi: all ways and life hacks

Why Xiaomi Redmi can’t move apps to Xiaomi SD-map?

Xiaomi Redmi smartphone owners (be it Note) 12 Pro+, Redmi 10C or POCO X5) And you often have a problem: you run out of memory, you can't move programs to a memory card. It's all about Google policy and the firmware. MIUI. Starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google has limited the ability to freely transfer applications to the Internet SD-for reasons of safety and performance, but in MIUI 12/13/14 These limitations have become even more severe: many system functions are simply hidden.

But not all is lost! There are at least 4 working ways to get around the limitations, from standard settings to manually mounting a partition through the ADB. The main thing is to understand that not all applications can be transferred (especially system and games with protection against piracy), and the speed of work with the Internet is not easy. SD-The card will be lower than the internal memory, and then we will analyze each method with nuances for different Redmi models.

Method 1: Standard Transfer through MIUI Settings

This is the easiest method, but it doesn't work on all MIUI models and versions. For example, in the Redmi Note 11 with MIUI 14, the option may be hidden, and in the Redmi 9A with MIUI 12.5, it's available.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (such as Telegram or Spotify).
3. Slip on Warehouse.
4. If there is a button, change or move to SD-map -- press it.

⚠️ Note: even if the button is active, some applications (such as WhatsApp or Google Play Services) will not be able to move, and after transferring the icon of the application may disappear from the desktop — it will have to restore manually through the application menu.

The memory card is formatted as internal storage (not as portable)|

SD-class UHS-I (U1/U3) or A1/A2 speed|

There is enough free space on the map (at least 20% more than the weight of the application)|

The application is not system-based and has no portability protection (e.g. banking applications)

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Method 2: Formatting SD-maps as internal memory

If standard transfer is not available, you can “cheat” the system by making SD-This method works for all Xiaomi Redmis with Android 6.0+, but has critical nuances:

• 🔄 After formatting, the map cannot be retrieved without losing data.
• 📉 Application speeds can drop (especially on cheap maps).
• 🚫 Some apps (such as Netflix or Fortnite) will not work with external memory.

Instructions:

1. Put it in. SD-card to slot (in models with a hybrid slot, for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro, you will have to choose between the second one). SIM memory-card).
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse → [Name of name SD-map] → Three dots (menu) → Storage settings.
3. Choose to format as internal.
4. Confirm the action (the data on the map will be erased!).
5. After formatting, restart the phone.

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 → Apps.
2. Select the app and tap the Warehouse → Change.
3. Indicate. SD-card.

Method 3: Transfer over ADB (for power users)

If previous methods didn’t work, the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a debugging tool that lets you manually specify which apps to port, which works on all Xiaomi Redmis, but requires a computer and basic command line knowledge.

Preparation:

1. Download ADB and Fastboot Tools from Google.
2. Turn on the phone Debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times) → For developers → Debugging over USB).
3. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode).

Next, run commands in the terminal (Windows or Terminal command line on macOS/Linux):

adb shell


pm set-install-location 2 # Allows you to install applications on SD by default




pm get-install-location # Check (must return "2 [external]")




pm move-package com.example.app /sdcard # Replace com.example.app with the desired application package

To find out the application package, use:

pm list packages | grep "name appendix"

⚠️ Note: some apps (such as Google Maps or Mi Fit) may stop updating through the Play Market after the transfer!

Open the Play Market, find the app, and copy the URL. The last part of the link (e.g., id=com.whatsapp) is the package.

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Method 4: Use of third-party applications (at risk)

Google Play has utilities that promise to transfer applications to the Internet SD-card with one click: AppMgr III, Link2SD or Apps2SD. But they have serious pitfalls:

If you do decide to use such utilities, follow the rules:

• 🔍 Before transferring, make a backup of the application data (for example, through Titanium Backup for root devices).
• 🛑 Do not transfer applications from OBB-Files (Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) – they can stop running.
• 🔄 After the transfer, restart the phone and check the health.

Standard settings MIUI|

Formatting SD as internal memory |

Teams ADB|

Application side (AppMgr, Link2SD, etc.)|

I haven't tried it, just reading.

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What applications cannot be transferred to SD-map?

Even if you've managed to get around the limitations of MIUI, some apps are not recommended for portability.

• 🏦 Banking applications (SberBank Online, Tinkoff, Alfa-Click) – can block access for security reasons.
• 🎮 Anticheat games (PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, Genshin Impact – will be affected by a launch error.
• 🔒 System utilities (Mi Security, Google Play Services) - the transfer will lead to malfunctions in the phone.
• 📱 Launchers and widgets (Nova Launcher, KWGT) — They may stop showing up on the screen.
• 📊 Applications with background processes (WhatsApp, Telegram with active chats) – notifications will arrive with a delay.

Also, avoid porting apps that:

• They use real-time push notifications (such as Viber or Slack).
• They work with geolocation (Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator).
• You need a constant Internet connection (Spotify, YouTube Music).

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What if applications do not work after transfer?

If the application is transferred to SD-The card crashes, does not open, or gives out errors, try the following steps:

1. Restart your phone – sometimes the system doesn’t immediately pick up the changes.
2. Clear the app cache: Go to Settings → Apps → [App name] → Storage. Click Clear cache.
3. Move the application back to internal memory: In the same storage settings, select Change → Internal Memory.
4. Check it out. SD-Error card: Connect the card to your PC via a card reader. Run the check (in Windows: Disk Properties) → Service → Check it out).
5. Format the card again (if it was internal memory): Back up the data. In your phone settings, select Format as portable. Reboot the device.

If nothing helps, the problem may be the problem. SD-Try another class card. A2 (For example, SanDisk Extreme or Samsung EVO Plus – they are optimized to work with applications.

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