Transfer applications to memory card in Xiaomi Redmi 9: the complete guide

Owners of budget but productive smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 9 often face a shortage of internal storage. Android-based MIUI takes up a significant portion of memory, and modern applications become increasingly “heavy.” When space runs out, the device starts to run slower and installing new programs becomes impossible.

However, unlike older versions of Android, modern shells, including MIUI 12 and later, by default hide the possibility of full transfer of programs to an external medium, this is done for the sake of security and stability of the system. However, there are proven methods to circumvent this limitation and use the memory card as a full extension of internal memory. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods, their risks and benefits.

Before we take action, it's important to understand that data transfer is a mindful process. Mistakes can lead to loss of information or unstable smartphone performance. We'll look at both standard system tools and more advanced computer-based techniques. Backing up important data before starting work is a must.

Preparation of memory card and device

The first step is to properly prepare the external drive. Not every MicroSD card is suitable for installing applications on it. The programs require high read and write speeds to work comfortably. The minimum speed class should be Class 10, or better use UHS-I or UHS-II cards. A slow card will lead to applications running for a long time and running with delays.

Insert the card into the Xiaomi Redmi 9 slot. Usually the tray is on the bottom end of the device. Use a special clip that comes with the kit to remove the tray. Note that in this model, the slot is combined: either two or more slots. SIM-card SIM Once the card is installed, the system must automatically identify the new drive.

⚠️ Note: All data on the memory card will be deleted during the formatting process for working with applications. Save photos and documents to your computer or to the cloud in advance.

After you physically install it, you need to format the drive through your phone settings. Go to Settings → About Phone → Storage. If the system suggests formatting the card, choose this option. It is important to choose an Android-compatible file system, usually exFAT or FAT32, but to work as internal memory, the system will choose the desired format when the corresponding function is activated.

• 📱 Make sure your smartphone battery is above 50% before you start any file system operations.
• 💾 Use at least 32GB of memory cards to install heavy games and apps.
• 🔒 Remove the card only after turning off the settings menu to avoid damaging the file table.

The quality of the memory card directly affects the life of your Xiaomi Redmi 9. Cheap carriers of unknown brands can quickly fail during intensive recording, which is typical for the operation of applications.

Standard portability of supported applications

Android has a built-in function to move some applications to an external medium, but it's up to app developers to decide whether to allow their program to be moved. In MIUI, this process is somewhat hidden, but is available for most user programs. First, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.

Find the program you want to move in the list. Click on it to open the information page. If the developer has authorized the transfer, you'll see a button to Change or Move to SD-If there's no button, it means the application is critical to the system or the developer has banned the transfer, and then the standard methods of moving it will not be possible to move it.

When you move, some of the application data stays in the internal memory, and the main files are moved to the map, which allows you to free up space, but not completely. After you transfer the application icon remains on the desktop, and it works as usual. However, when you remove the card, the program will cease to function until the drive returns.

• 🔄 Not all apps support portability, and Google’s system services often block this feature.
• ⚙️ After the transfer, the application load speed may decrease if the memory card has a low read speed.
• 📂 Cache and some configuration files may remain in the phone’s internal storage.

It is worth noting that once the operating system or the application is updated, it can automatically return to internal memory, in which case the procedure will have to be repeated, this is a feature of the Android Package Manager, which seeks to place executable files in the most reliable partition of memory.

Adoptable Storage (ADB method)

For those who lack standard features, there is a method of forced integration of internal memory and memory card, called Adoptable Storage. In Xiaomi Redmi 9, it is hidden by default, but it can be activated through USB debugging and a computer, which allows the system to perceive the memory card as part of internal storage.

To implement this method, you will need a computer with ADB (Android Debug Bridge) drivers installed. First, you need to activate the developer mode on your smartphone. Go to Settings → About your phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI version. After the message “You became a developer”, you can start settings.

adb shell sm partition public removable:128,0 mixed 50

In the developer menu, turn on USB Debugging. Connect your phone to your computer with a cable. On your computer, open the command line in the ADB folder and type a command to check for adb devices. If the device is determined, you can enter commands to format the map. Be careful: the command will completely destroy the data on the map.

⚠️ Note: Once activated, Adoptable Storage will encrypt the memory card and be linked to a particular device, inserting it into another phone or computer without resetting will not work.

Once the command is completed, the system will suggest restarting. Once enabled, Xiaomi Redmi 9 will assume that the amount of internal memory has increased by the size of the card. Now, when installing new applications, the system will automatically offer installation to the combined storage.

Configuring data retention by default

After successful memory expansion or application porting, it is important to set up the system so that new files are stored exactly where there is space. MIUI has settings for cameras, voice recorders and downloads, which will prevent the internal drive from quickly filling up with media files.

Open the Camera app, click on the menu (three bars) and select settings. Find Save to or Memory and select SD-You need to do the same thing in the Dictaphone app and the browser. In Chrome or Mi Browser, the download settings are in the download settings menu.

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Create separate folders on the memory card for different types of files (Photos, Documents, Music) so that it is easier to navigate the data structure when connecting to a PC.

It’s also worth checking the settings of messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram, which can specify a path to save the received media files, especially for group chats, where a large number of images and videos are automatically uploaded.

• 📸 Camera setup allows you to save a photo in high resolution immediately on the map, saving internal space.
• 📥 Browsers often ignore system settings, so the download path needs to be changed in each application separately.
• 🗑️ Clean the Downloads folder on your memory card regularly to keep the file system in order.

Remember that even when you port applications, some system logs and temporary files may continue to fill internal memory.

Comparison of transfer and storage methods

The choice of method depends on your goals and technical background. Standard transfer is safe but limited. The ADB method gives you complete freedom, but requires caution. Below is a table comparing the main characteristics of these approaches.

As you can see from the table, Adoptable Storage is the most powerful tool, but it is also the most demanding of memory card quality. If you use a cheap card, the phone can start to slow down even more than if you lack internal memory. The Xiaomi Redmi 9 internal memory has a faster response rate.

For most users, a combination of methods would be best: transferring heavy but supportive games to the map in a standard way, and storing photos/video on an external medium.

Possible problems and solutions

There may be errors in the configuration process. Often users will encounter a message saying "Memory card damaged" after trying to transfer, which may mean that the card has a low speed or damaged sectors, in which case, try formatting the card on your computer to the exFAT file system using the SD Formatter utility.

Another common problem is that apps stop opening after the card is removed, which is the expected behavior, because the executable code is on an external medium. If the card is inserted but the applications don't work, try restarting the device. Sometimes the system takes time to index files after it's turned on.

⚠️ Note: If the phone is in a reboot cycle after setting up the card through ADB, Remove the memory card immediately, and it will return access to the system, after which the card will need to be formatted again.

Also worth mentioning is the widget problem: Once you have moved the app to the map, its widgets on the desktop may stop updating or disappear. To fix the problem, remove the widget and add it again. If that doesn't work, return the app to internal memory.

• 🔋 Increased battery consumption can be observed when working with a memory card due to constant read/write operations.
• 📉 Speed of heavy work 3D-Games can decrease if textures load with slow speed SD-map.
• 🔒 Card encryption in Adoptable Storage mode makes data inaccessible without the original smartphone.

Remember, memory card rewrite is limited, and applications that actively write logs or cache can render a card inoperable faster than static photos.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)