How to transfer all data to a memory card Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a lack of built-in storage, especially in models with a capacity of 32 or 64 GB. Installing a microSD card becomes the only way to expand the capabilities of the device without losing important files. However, simply inserting the drive is not enough – for the correct operation of the system and applications you need to properly configure the writing paths.

The Android operating system in conjunction with the shell MIUI or HyperOS has its own features of working with external drives. The user must clearly understand the difference between transferring media and moving system applications. Wrong actions can lead to the fact that files become unreadable or stop opening.

This guide will help you safely transfer photos, videos and other documents to an external medium, we will analyze both standard system tools and proven third-party utilities, and it is important to follow the sequence of actions to avoid file system errors.

⚠️ Warning: Before you start any manipulation of the file system, be sure to back up important data in the cloud or on your computer. Any memory operations carry a minimal but present risk of loss of information.

Preparation of a memory card and choice of speed class

The first step is to choose the right media. Not all memory cards are equally effective in smartphones. Modern MIUI shell and high-resolution video require a high-speed storage device. The best choice is Class 10, UHS-I or A1 cards.

If you use an old drive extracted from another device, it is recommended to format it.This will remove file system errors and ensure compatibility.Put the card into the smartphone slot or connect through the card reader to the PC.

• 📱 Make sure the tray is for SIM-The card supports microSD (not all models have a hybrid slot).
• 💾 Check the maximum supported card volume in the specifications of your phone model.
• 🔒 If there is a physical recording protection switch on the card, move it to the unlock position.

After installing the card, the phone usually offers to choose the mode of use. For data transfer and application installation, the best option is the “Internal Memory” or “Memory Extension” mode, if this option is available in your version of Android.

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Use memory cards up to 256GB for maximum compatibility. Larger storage devices (512GB and 1TB) can run unstable on older Redmi and Xiaomi models.

Formatting a memory card as an internal storage

In order for the system to transfer not only files but also application cache to an external drive, the card must be formatted as internal memory, a process that completely cleans the media and creates a closed partition that only the smartphone can access.

Go to the settings menu, find "About Phone" or "Storage." Depending on the version. MIUI, You need to find a section related to management. SD-The system will warn you that all data will be deleted.

Settings → About Phone → Storage → SD- Card → Format

Once you select "Use as internal storage," the formatting process will begin, and it can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, and don't remove the card or turn off the phone at that point.

Transferring photos and videos through a standard conductor

The easiest and safest way to free up space is to move media files. The MIUI Explorer app allows you to do this quickly. Open the app and select Images or Video category.

Select the files you need with a long press, you can select an entire folder or individual photos over different periods, click on the "Move" or "Copy" button in the bottom menu, the system will suggest you choose a destination - specify your destination. SD-map.

When you move a lot of data (like a few gigabytes of video), the phone can slow down temporarily, which is a normal system response to intense recording, and wait until the process is finished, the indicator of which is displayed in the notification.

Set up automatic camera recording on SD-map

To avoid manually transferring files every time, set up the camera to directly record to an external drive, which is true for 4K video recording, which takes up huge amounts of internal memory.

Open the Camera app. Click on the three menu bars in the top right corner and select Settings. Scroll down to the Save section. Here you will see the Save to Settings to the "Save" button. SD-map».

Activate this switch. All new images and videos will be automatically saved to an external medium, and the old files will remain in internal memory, and they must be transferred separately, as described in the previous section.

• 📸 Serial shooting mode may work slower when recording on SD-low-end.
• 🎥 When recording video in 8K or high bitrate system may suggest closing other applications.
• 🔄 If the card is retrieved, the camera will automatically return to the internal memory.

⚠️ Warning: Write speeds on cheap memory cards may not be enough to shoot video in the video 4K 60 FPS. If the recording is interrupted or the video is damaged, replace the card with a faster one (U3/V30).

Transfer of applications and games to external storage

In modern versions of Android (starting with the 6.0 and above) and shells MIUI 12/13/14 the possibility of full transfer of applications to SD-The map is often limited to the developers for the sake of stability, but you can try it.

Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Select the program you want (like a heavy game). If transfer is possible, the Move button will be active. If it's gray, the developer has banned the installation outside of internal memory.

There is a caveat: even if you successfully transfer some data (cache, updates) can remain in internal storage, which is a system security limitation of Android, which does not allow applications to work directly with an external medium without special emulation.

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

For advanced users, there is an opportunity to change the priority of installation through ADB-commands (as in the example above), but this requires a connection to a computer and does not guarantee the operation of all applications.

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Transfer of applications to SD-Xiaomi's map is often limited to software. It is more efficient to transfer only heavy files (OBB-game folders, leaving the application body inside.

Solving problems and reading errors

Sometimes, after transferring data, users encounter errors such as “File is corrupted” or “Way is not available”, most often due to improper extraction of the card or a failure of the file system.

Check the card for errors. To do this, select "Check" from the storage menu or connect the card to your computer and run the standard Windows Disk Checker utility, and the problem may lie in oxidized tray contacts.

• 🔌 Remove and re-insert the memory card, making sure the fit fits tightly.
• 🧹 Wipe the card contacts with a soft dry cloth.
• 💿 Try formatting the card to the exFAT file system if the volume exceeds 32 GB.

If the phone is constantly writing «SD-The card is damaged, maybe the storage is exhausted, the memory cards have a limited rewrite cycle, and then the only way to do that is to replace the media with a new one.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)