Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a lack of built-in storage. Modern games and applications are overgrown with gigabytes of cache, and the MIUI or HyperOS system itself takes up a significant amount of space. Moving programs to an external drive seems like a logical solution, but the standard interface often hides this possibility or makes it unavailable by default.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that the policy of Android in recent versions has changed: Google does not recommend, and manufacturers often block the function of porting applications to the Internet. SD-However, for low-end models with a small amount of memory (32 or 64 GB), this is the only way to continue comfortable use of the gadget without constantly cleaning up garbage.
In this article, we will discuss not only standard methods that may work on some versions of firmware, but also advanced methods through the use of the software. ADB-You will learn how to turn a regular flash drive into a continuation of system memory, what risks exist at the same time and how to properly prepare the drive so as not to lose data.
Why Xiaomi is hiding the function of porting applications
Many users are puzzled: there is a card slot, the card is inserted, but in the application settings the option "Move to the map" is inserted. SD-The card is either missing or inactive. It's not a bug, it's a conscious decision by the engineers. UFS) It is faster than most microSD cards.
If you move a heavy app to a slow memory card, it can start to load longer, and games can become more frequent friezes and twitches. Android prioritizes stability, so by default restricts the installation of programs in external storage.
In addition, memory cards have a limited resource of rewrite cycles. Active applications that constantly log and cache can bring the drive down faster than conventional photo storage. However, for archival or rarely used programs, this is a great solution.
⚠️ Warning: Forced transfer of system applications or mission-critical services to Google can cause a smartphone to run in an unstable way.
It is important to understand the difference between "portable storage" and "internal memory." In the first case, the card works as a flash drive for a photo, in the second it becomes part of the system, encrypted and tied to a particular device.
Preparation of a memory card for working with applications
Before you try to migrate applications, you need to make sure your memory card meets the requirements. Not every microSD is suitable for internal memory. Read and write speed is crucial here.
For comfortable work, it is recommended to use cards of Class 10, UHS-I or higher (A1, A2). Marking A1/A2 means that the card is optimized to run applications. Using an old or slow card will cause the phone to start "braking".
Before you start, make sure to back up all the data on the map, and the process of formatting with internal memory will completely destroy all the files, photos and documents that were there, and it will be impossible to restore them.
- 📱 Remove the card from the device and connect it to the computer via the adapter.
- 💾 Check the card for errors using the chkdsk utility or SD Formatter.
- ⚡ Make sure that the write speed is at least 10MB/s for basic tasks.
- 🔒 If the card was used on another phone as an "internal card", it should be formatted as "portable" in that device.
After checking, insert the card into a Xiaomi smartphone that is off and turn it on.The system must notify you of the discovery of a new drive.Click on the notification to start setting up.
Standard method via MIUI and HyperOS settings
In some versions of MIUI firmware (especially those based on Android 10 and below), the portability function can be accessed out of the box without using a computer.
First, activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI Version. Once the message "You became a developer" appears, you can go to the settings.
☑️ Algorithm of action
Next, open the Settings → The phone. → Storage (or simply "Memory"). Choose yours. SD-The menu (three dots in the corner) should have the option "Settings of storage" or "Format". Select the option "Use as internal storage".
The system will warn you of low card performance, if you're sure of the quality of the card, agree. Once formatted, the system will suggest moving existing applications and media files, agree to a port to make room.
| Parameter | Portable storage | Internal storage |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Readable on any device | It's only read on this phone. |
| Formatting | FAT32 / exFAT | EXT4 (encrypted) |
| Installation of applications | Only manually (not all) | Automatically or by choice |
| Security of data | Data open. | Data encrypted |
If the menu does not contain the option "Use as internal storage", then the manufacturer has blocked this function at the software level, in which case only the method with ADB will help.
Activation of transfer through ADB-Teams (For Advanced Teams)
If the standard path is closed, we can force support for portable applications (Adoptable Storage) through the Android Debug Bridge debugging bridge, which requires a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and a USB cable.
First, download and install the ADB and Fastboot drivers on your computer. On the Developer Menu, turn on Debugging over USB. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission request on your device screen.
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2This command changes the global setting of the application installation: 0 means "automatically" (default), 1 means "internal memory only", and 2 means "preferably external memory." Once you enter the command, restart the phone.
What to do if the team is not working?
It's worth noting that the setInstallLocation command doesn't make all applications move instantly; it only allows the system and the user to do so for new and some installed programs. For already installed applications, an additional step through the settings menu of each application.
⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB Do not enter unfamiliar commands from the Internet, as this can lead to "bricking" of the device or data loss.
Transfer of specific applications and games
Once a function is activated (standard or ADB), you can start migrating, not all applications support this function, developers decide whether to move their product to an external medium, usually for heavy games and instant messengers.
Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Select the desired program (for example, a game). Find the item "Storage" or "Memory." If the function is active, there will be a button to Move or Change (location).
The process can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the size of the application. During the transfer, the application icon may turn gray and no launch is possible.
- 🎮 Cash Games (Genshin Impact, PUBG) Often allow you to transfer the bulk of the data, but the cache can remain inside.
- 💬 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) are better not to transfer the whole so that notifications come instantly.
- 📷 Cameras and galleries should be left in internal memory for quick processing of images.
- 🛠 Rarely used utilities (calculator, calendar) can be safely sent to the SD-map.
💡
Periodically (once a month), remove the memory card and connect it to your computer to back up your important data, as encryption can make it harder to recover in the event of a crash.
Possible problems and solutions
The most common problem is the sudden disappearance of applications or launch errors, often due to poor contact or poor quality of the card.
If the apps stop opening, try restarting your smartphone. If that doesn't work, check if the card is sitting tight in the slot. Sometimes, oxidation of the contacts leads to loss of connection.
Another problem is that the interface slows down, so if the phone starts to slow down after the transfer, then the memory card can't handle the load, so it's better to put the applications back in the internal memory or replace the card with a faster one.
| Symptoms. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Error "Application not installed" | The card is damaged or formatted incorrectly | Re-formatting as internal storage |
| The app icon is grey | Transfer process or map retrieved | Wait for the end or insert a card |
| Phone's warming up. | Constant recording/reading from a slow card | Return applications to internal memory |
| The widgets are missing. | The system cannot read data from the map at the start | Check the reliability of fixing the card in the slot |
It is also worth remembering that when resetting the phone settings to the factory (Hard Reset), all applications on the phone are SD-A card formatted as internal memory will be lost forever as the encryption keys are stored in the phone’s memory.
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SD-class A2 — minimum standard for comfortable application operation, class map A1 Can cause delays in the interface.