How to transfer video to Xiaomi memory card: all ways + error solving

Moving video to a Xiaomi memory card is a challenge faced by every second owner of the brand’s smartphones. Despite its apparent simplicity, the process is often accompanied by errors, from the lack of the option “Move” to the sudden disappearance of files after copying. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of transfer (including hidden MIUI functions), explain why some videos do not want to move, and show how to circumvent the restrictions of the system without root rights.

Xiaomi has a customized MIUI shell that blocks standard Android actions. For example, the gallery may not have a Move to SD button, and the file manager may ignore copy commands. We tested all methods on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Ultra models with MIUI 14/15, and highlighted those that work stably. Importantly, 4K HDR videos (such as those shot on Xiaomi 13T in Dolby Vision mode) may not be portable due to the limitations of the FAT32 file system on memory cards.

1.Preparation: check of memory card and file system

Before you port the video, make sure your SD- card is compatible with the device. Xiaomi officially supports cards up to 2 TB, but there are nuances:

• 🔹 FAT32: The maximum file size is 4 GB. The 5+ GB 4K video is not copied.
• 🔹 exFAT/NTFS: Supports large files, but may not be readable on some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 9A).
• 🔹 Record speed: For a video 4K/8K, you need a class map UHS-I U3 or V30+.

To check the file system:

1. Connect the card to the PC through the card reader.
2. Open This Computer → Right Click on the Map → Properties.
3. The "file system" line will indicate the format.

⚠️ Warning: If the card is formatted in NTFS and the phone can't see it, try reformatting to exFAT via PC. Use the official SD Card Formatter utility from the SD Association, which adjusts the clusters correctly.

2. Method 1: Transfer through the standard Xiaomi Gallery

The easiest way is to use the built-in Gallery app, but it doesn't always work: on some MIUI firmware, the Move option is hidden. Here's how to find it:

1. Open Gallery → select video (hold your finger for multiple selection).
2. Press ⋮ (Three dots) → Move.
3. In the folder list, find the SD- card → select the target folder (e.g., DCIM/Camera).
4. Confirm the transfer.

If there is no "Move" option:

• 🔧 Try updating the Gallery via Google Play (sometimes Xiaomi rolls back the app version).
• 🔧 Reboot the phone — this resets the cache of system applications.
• 🔧 Use an alternative gallery (e.g. Google Photos), but note that it does not support direct entry to SD.

⚠️ Warning: Videos shot in Pro mode (with manual settings) on Xiaomi 12S Ultra or 13 Pro may be blocked for portability due to DRM- protection. In this case, only method 4 (via PC) will help.

Make sure the card is inserted and recognized

Update Gallery appendix

Select a video no older than 30 days (old files can be archived)

Check the vacant space for SD-map (minimum 10% of the volume of video)-->

3. Method 2: Xiaomi file manager (hidden features)

Xiaomi's File Manager is more than it looks like.

1. Open Files → Go to Internal Memory → DCIM → Camera (or another folder with video).
2. Hold the video to select → click More (three dots) → Copy.
3. Go back to the root → select SD- card → create a folder (like Videos) or select an existing one.
4. Click Insert → wait until completion.
5. Important: Once copied, manually delete the originals, as “Move” may not work.

If the video is not copied:

• 🛠️ Check if Charge Savings is on – it limits background processes.
• 🛠️ Disable Optimization MIUI in Settings → Special Opportunities → Optimization MIUI.
• 🛠️ Try another file manager (e.g. Solid Explorer or FX File Manager).

Secret trick: If the video weighs more than 4 GB and the card is in FAT32, try splitting the file through the Video Splitter app (available on Google Play).

Method 3: Transfer over PC (most reliable)

If your phone doesn't want to carry video, plug it into your computer, which works 99 percent of the time, including secure files and large amounts of data.

• 🖥️ Cable USB-C/USB-A (original or certified).
• 🖥️ Card reader (if you want to transfer directly to SD).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC. In the notification curtain, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. On PC, open This PC → find a Xiaomi device (usually Redmi/POCO/Xiaomi).
3. Go to Internal Storage → DCIM → Camera (or another folder with video).
4. Copy files (Ctrl+C) and paste them on the SD- card (if it is in the phone) or in a separate folder on the PC (if the card is in the card reader).
5. After copying, delete the originals from your phone.

For Mac users, install Android File Transfer (the official utility from Google). If the program can't see the phone, try:

• 🍎 Reboot your Mac and phone.
• 🍎 Use another cable (not all USB-C cables support data transmission).
• 🍎 Enable Debugging on USB in Settings → About Phone → Version MIUI (click 7 times) → Developer Settings → Debugging on USB.

💡

If the video is not being copied due to the "File is too big" error, convert it to MP4 (H.264) format via HandBrake or VLC before transferring.

5. Method 4: Cloud Storage as an Intermediate Step

If physical portability is not possible (e.g., a broken SD slot), use the cloud.This method is suitable for videos up to 15 GB (Google Drive's restriction for free accounts).

Instructions for Google Photos:

1. Install Google Photos from the Play Market.
2. Open the app → click on the avatar → Photo storage → select Original quality (important for 4K video!).
3. Upload the video to the cloud (may take time).
4. On a PC or other device, download video from photos.google.com directly to the SD- card.

Alternative services:

• 🌥️ Mi Cloud (built into Xiaomi, but the limit is 5GB).
• 🌥️ Mega (50GB free but slow download)
• 🌥️ Yandex Drive (10 GB, convenient for users from Russia).

⚠️ Warning: When you upload a video to Google Photos in High Quality (not Original) mode, the resolution will be reduced to 1080p, even if the source 4K. Always check the settings before downloading!

6. Method 5: ADB-Teams for Advanced Users

If the video is locked by the system (e.g., DRM or MIUI), ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will help.

Preparation:

1. Enable USB Debugging (see Method 3).
2. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into the C:\adb folder.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm access via USB.

Transfer commands:

adb shell


su




cp -r /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/* /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Videos/

Where XXXX-XXXX — identifier SD-maps (you can find it by the LS command) /storage).

If su does not work (no root), use:

adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/ C:\Xiaomi_Videos

This command will copy the video to the PC, from where it can be transferred to the SD.

💡

ADB is the only way to transfer DRM-protected videos (for example, recorded in Cinematic mode on Xiaomi 13 Pro).

7. Solving Errors When Transferring Video

Let’s look at the typical problems and their solutions:

Xiaomi's specific error: If a notification appears on the transfer "File Application Stopped", it means that MIUI blocked the operation due to "suspicious activity".

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Files → Storage.
2. Click Clear the cache and Clear the data.
3. Reboot the phone.

8 Storage optimization: how to avoid future problems

To avoid difficulties in transferring the video, set up your phone in advance:

• 📱 Video format: In the camera settings, select MP4 (H.264) instead of HEVC if you plan to port files.

For POCO/Xiaomi owners with MIUI 15, the Smart Storage feature is available:

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Smart Storage.
2. Enable the option of Automatic backup on SD.
3. Select file types (video, photo) and frequency of reservation.

On Xiaomi 14 and newer HyperOS models, transferring video to SD may require confirmation via Mi Account, a security measure against data theft.

💡

If you shoot video on Xiaomi often, buy a SD- card with support for A2 (for example, SanDisk Extreme Pro A2). It speeds up the writing and reading of small files, which is critical for 4K-video.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions