Transferring data from internal memory to memory card in Xiaomi: 5 working ways

A full internal memory smartphone is a problem that faces every second user of Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO. Even models with 128 GB and 256 GB in a year or two of active use begin to “suffocate” from thousands of photos, 4K video, cache of messengers and application updates. microSD card could be a salvation, but MIUI limits the ability to transfer data — especially when it comes to applications or system files.

In this article, we will analyze all available methods of transferring data to an external drive: from standard tools. MIUI You will learn how to free up space in internal storage, which files can be moved without risk to the system, and which only through workarounds. SD-exFAT maps and NTFS, which often cause errors in the transfer of.

Why Xiaomi is blocking some files from being transferred to a memory card

The manufacturer artificially limits the ability to work with external drives in MIUI for three key reasons:

• 🔒 Data security: Applications installed on SD-Cards that are slower and may be vulnerable to theft (the card is easy to remove and connect to another device).
• ⚡ Performance: Internal Memory UFS 2.1/3.0 In modern smartphones Xiaomi in 5–10 faster than the fastest microSD (class) A2). Moving apps to the map will slow them down.
• 📱 Google policy: Starting with Android 9, Google has banned the porting of apps to Android SD-Xiaomi follows these rules, but leaves loopholes for manual transfer.

However, photos, videos, music and documents can be ported without restrictions, and there are workarounds for applications, which we will discuss in the corresponding section.

Preparation of a memory card: formatting and selection of a file system

Before you transfer data, make sure your microSD is properly formatted. Xiaomi supports three file systems:

🔹 How to format a card directly on the phone:

1. Insert the card into the slot (or an adapter for models without a separate slot, such as the Xiaomi 12T).
2. Go to Settings → Storage → Memory Map.
3. Press Format. → exFAT (recommended).
4. Confirm action. Attention: all data on the map will be deleted!

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone does not see the card after formatting in exFAT, try formatting it on a PC through the program SD Formatter (official instrument) SD Some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 8 Pro) do not work well with maps formatted through third-party utilities.

Method 1: Transfer files through the built-in file manager

The easiest method is to use the standard Files (or Mi File Manager in older versions of MIUI) to move photos, videos, music and documents without any additional software.

🔹 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the Files app** (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Categories tab and select the file type (such as Images or Videos).
3. Press and hold your finger on the file, then mark the rest (or tap Select All).
4. Click More → Move (do not “copy”!).
5. In the top panel, select a Memory Card, then a destination folder (e.g. DCIM for a photo).
6. Confirm the transfer button Move here.

⚡ The transfer speed depends on the class of the memory card:

• 🐢 Class 10 (up to 10 MB/s) — ~5 minutes on 1 GB of data.
• ⚡ A1/A2 (before 40–90 MB/s) — ~1–2 minute 1 GB.

Method 2: Transfer applications to a memory card (selected models only)

Xiaomi has officially blocked the transfer of applications to the SD-map MIUI 12+, In some models (e.g. Redmi Note 9 Pro) POCO X3 NFC) This feature is still available through the developer settings.

🔹 How to enable application portability:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option to Forced allow transfer to an external storage and turn it on.
4. Now in the settings of any application (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → [name] → The storage will appear button Move to SD-map.

⚠️ Note: Transferring system applications (such as Mi Home or Security) may cause a malfunction MIUI. Also note that widgets of ported applications will stop working, and notifications may come with a delay.

Method 3: Automatically transfer photos and videos via Google Photos

If you use Google Photos, you can set up the automatic upload of new media files to the memory card and remove the originals from the internal storage, which will free up space without manual transfer.

🔹 Setting up:

1. Open Google Photos and tap the avatar in the upper right corner.
2. Select Settings → Backup and Synchronization.
3. Turn on the option and select High Quality (free storage) or Original Quality (credit in Google Drive).
4. Return to the settings and select Clear Place – this will remove files from the phone that are already uploaded to the cloud.
5. Now move the Google Photos folder to SD-Map: Open the Files, find the folder Pictures/Google Photos, transfer it to the memory card.

📌 Important: With this approach, the original photos will be stored on the map, and the thumbnails will be stored in the cloud. If the map is corrupted, high-quality copies will remain in Google Photos.

Method 4: Transferring data over a PC (the most reliable method)

If the data is larger than 10 to 20 GB, it will be faster and safer to transfer it over a computer, which is also a good way to do it if the phone can't see the memory card or if it's copying errors.

🔹 Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via a USB-C cable (use original or certified).
2. On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the connection notification.
3. On a PC, open “This Computer”** and the phone will appear as a removable drive (e.g., Redmi Note 11).

💡 Tip: Use a card reader with an interface to speed up USB 3.0 (blue connector) – copy speed will increase by 2-3 times.

💡

If Windows doesn’t see the memory card, update the drivers through Device Manager (USB Controllers section). Xiaomi may need a Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 driver.

Method 5: Transfer over ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., the phone doesn’t see the card or gives an error “not enough rights”), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires command-line skills, but allows you to transfer even system files.

🔹 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC.
2. Enable USB debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 taps) → Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (Win + R → cmd).
4. Enter the commands in turn: adb devices (should display your device) adb shell pm set-install-location 2 (this forcibly installs applications on the device). SD-default-card)
5. To port a specific application (e.g. WhatsApp): adb shell pm move-package com.whatsapp

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not port system applications (com.miui, com.android) or change the pm set-install location after installing the applications, this will cause errors.

💡

ADB allows you to port applications even on those Xiaomi models where the function is locked in MIUI. However, after a reboot, some applications can return to internal memory.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When transferring data to a memory card, Xiaomi users often face typical problems, and consider the most common and ways to fix them:

🔧 If the memory card is not determined:

• 🔌 Reboot the phone.
• 🔄 Remove and insert the card again (when the phone is switched off).
• 🖥️ Check the card on another device (PC, other phone).
• 🛠️ If the card is not working anywhere, it is physically damaged (replacement is required).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions