How to transfer applications to a memory card in Xiaomi Redmi: a complete guide with nuances

Why Your Internal Memory Ends and How to Fight It

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi smartphones sooner or later face a problem: internal memory is filled, and you do not want to delete your favorite applications. Especially acutely feel users of budget models with 32 or 64 GB of drive, where the MIUI system takes up to 10-15 GB out of the box. The memory card seems to be a salvation - but for some reason not all applications agree to move to it.

The case in the architecture of Android and Xiaomi policy: starting with the version MIUI 12, the ability to transfer applications to SD-But there are workarounds, and they work even on new devices like the Redmi Note 12 or something like that. POCO X5. The main thing is to understand the limitations and prepare the memory card correctly.

In this article, we'll look at all the portability tools we have, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features for power users, and we'll also look at why some apps fundamentally refuse to move -- and what to do about it.

What memory cards are suitable for transferring applications

Not all. SD-The card will do the role of "memory extension." To transfer applications, you need a class drive. UHS-I (U1 or U3) It's a fast-recording system, or it'll slow down or it won't start at all:

• 🔹 Speed class: not lower than Class 10 (better) UHS-I U3 or A2)
• 🔹 Capacity: 32GB (but 64GB and higher less fragmentation problems)
• 🔹 Format: exFAT or FAT32 (ExFAT only supports files larger than 4GB)
• 🔹 Brand: SanDisk Ultra, Samsung EVO Plus, Kingston Canvas Go! (cheap no-name cards often fail)

⚠️ Note: If you use a memory card as a portable storage device (i.e. just for photos and music), it does not need to be formatted as internal memory.

Method 1: Standard Transfer through MIUI Settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI function. It works on most Xiaomi Redmi devices (except the newest ones with MIUI 14 based on Android 13+, where the option can be hidden).

1. Insert the memory card into the slot (if you use a hybrid slot, you will have to choose between a second SIM or SD).
2. Go to Settings. → Memory.
3. Slip on the Memory Map (or Storage in new versions).
4. Choose Formatting as Internal Memory (⚠️ All data on the map will be deleted!).
5. After formatting, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
6. Select the desired application → Storage → Change → Memory Map.

⚠️ Note: Once formatted as internal memory, the card cannot be used on other devices without completely erasing the data, and some apps (such as WhatsApp or Google Play Services) will still remain in internal memory.

💡

If the Change option is inactive, try first to clear the app cache in the Warehouse section. Sometimes this helps unlock the transfer.

Method 2: Transfer over ADB (for power users)

If the standard method didn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that lets you manually tell the system which apps you can port, which works even on Redmi with MIUI 14, but requires a connection to a computer.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original or quality)
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB (download from the official website)
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock Developer Settings)

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm access to debugging on your phone screen.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux) and go to the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your Redmi.
4. Find out the batch name of the application (for example, for Telegram it is org.telegram.messenger). This can be done through the Play Market (the link to the application contains an ID) or by command: adb shell pm list packages | grep "name app"
5. Transfer the application to the memory card by command: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 After that, all new applications will be installed on the SD by default.
6. To transfer an already installed application, use: adb shell pm move-package org.telegram.messenger (replace org.telegram.messenger with your application ID).

💡

The pm set-install location 2 command forces the system to install all new applications on the site. SD-To return the settings to the original, use pm set-install-location 0 (internal memory) or 1 (automatic selection).

Method 3: Using third-party applications (without root)

If the first two methods didn't work, you can try the specialized utilities from Google Play, which don't require root rights, but they're limited by Android policy.

• 📱 AppMgr III (App 2 SD) — It shows you what applications you can migrate, and it does it in one tap.
• 🔄 Files by Google – has a built-in memory manager with the option of clearing cache and transferring files (but not all applications).
• 🛠️ SD Maid – helps you find unnecessary files and free up space, but app portability works selectively.

⚠️ Note: Apps cannot bypass restrictions MIUI. If the system blocks the transfer of a particular application (for example, Facebook or Instagram), then the utility is powerless, in such cases, only cleaning the cache or deleting it remains.

Example of AppMgr III:

1. Install an app from the Play Market.
2. Open it and give access to the storage.
3. Go to the Movable tab – here you will see the applications that can be moved.
4. Select the ones you need and press Move to SD card.
5. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take a few minutes).

💡

If the application is unstable after transfer, try to return it back to internal memory. SD-The card cannot be provided.

Why some applications cannot be moved to SD-map

Even if you did everything according to the instructions, some of the applications will persist in the internal memory.

1. System Limitations: Android blocks the portability of applications that: 🔒 Use services in the background (e.g. Google Play Services). 🔐 Have administrator rights (antiviruses, password managers). 🎮 It requires high performance (many games, especially with the 3D-graphic).

Developer solutions:

WhatsApp

Banking applications

MIUI limitations:

Xiaomi

Technical reasons:

widget

notice

1. Clean the cache manually (Settings → Apps → Storage → Clear the cache).

2. delete unnecessary data (for example, uploaded media files in messengers).

3. Use lightweight versions of apps (e.g. Facebook Lite instead of the main client).-->

What to do if the application does not work after transfer

Transfer to SD-The map can cause failures. Typical problems and solutions:

• 🔄 The app crashes when you start: Return it to internal memory. Clear the cache and data (Settings) → Annexes → Storage. Reinstall the application.
• 🚫 Transfer button is inactive: Check that the card is formatted as internal memory. Free up space on the map (needs at least 10% free space). Update the firmware MIUI last-minute.
• 🐢 Apps slow down: Use class map UHS-I U3 or A2. Don't put up with heavy graphics games. Turn off animations in Developer Settings.

⚠️ Note: If after transferring several applications, the smartphone began to slow down strongly, return them back. SD-The card (even the fastest) is always slower than the built-in eMMC memory or UFS. It is best to transfer only those programs that you rarely use.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring applications to SD-map