How to expand memory on Xiaomi: from microSD card to hidden MIUI features

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones sooner or later face a shortage of internal memory — especially if the device from the budget line of Redmi or POCO with 32/64 GB of storage. High-resolution photos, cache of applications, system updates and games quickly eat up the free space, and system notifications about “filled memory” begin to annoy. Fortunately, there are at least 5 working ways to expand memory on Xiaomi — from the banal addition of a microSD card to little-known MIUI features, which even the official instructions are silent.

In this article, we will examine all the current methods (including those that work on MIUI 14/15 in 2026), their pros and cons, and give checklists for each option. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden settings of MIUI, which allows you to transfer applications to a memory card without root rights – this is a rarely documented feature available only on some Xiaomi models.

1. MicroSD Memory Card: How to Choose and Configure

The most obvious way to expand memory is to install a microSD card. However, not all Xiaomi models support this format, and even if they support it, with nuances. For example, the flagship Mi 11/12/13 and Xiaomi 14 lack a card slot, while the Redmi Note 12 Pro or POCO X5 allow you to install a microSD up to 1 TB (but with restrictions).

Before you buy a card, check:

• 🔍 Slot availability: in the characteristics of the model look for the phrase "hybrid slot" (means that you can choose either the second one). SIM, either microSD or "single slot".
• 📱 Maximum volume: budget Redmis are often limited to 512 GB, flagships – 256 GB (if there is a slot).
• ⚡ Speed class: for recording video in 4K And play is needed. UHS-I U3 or A2 (For example, SanDisk Extreme or Samsung EVO Plus).

Once installed, the card needs to be formatted as internal memory (if you want to port apps) or portable storage (if you only need files). Importantly, when formatted as internal memory, the card will be encrypted and only work on this smartphone!

Make sure the model is compatible with the microSD slot

Buy a UHS-I U3 or A2 class card (for applications)

Insert the card into the slot (with a hybrid slot - choose priority)

Formatting through Settings → Storage → SD Card

Transfer data through the File Manager-->

2. Transfer applications to a memory card (without root)

Officially, MIUI does not allow you to migrate applications to microSD - this feature is blocked in the latest versions. However, there is a workaround that works on most Xiaomi models (except for the flagships with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/3).

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to migrate (such as Telegram or Spotify).
3. Click "Storage" → "Change" → "SD card".

If there is no "Change" item, your model does not support this function. ADB-commands (requires PC and enabled debugging on the USB). For example, to transfer WhatsApp to the map, perform:

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

This command forces the system to install new applications on the SD by default. Careful: some applications (such as banking) may refuse to work from the memory card!

3. Internal Memory Optimization: What Can Be Safely Deleted

Before you spend money on a memory card, try to make room on the internal drive. MIUI has built-in tools for this, but they are often hidden or inefficient. For example, the standard "Cleanup" function in the storage menu only removes the cache, whereas the real "eaters" of memory are:

• 📸 Photo/video duplicates (especially after Google Photos updates).
• 🎮 Cache games (e.g. Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile can take up to 10 games)+ GB).
• 📥 Downloads (APK-files, old documents, archives).
• 🔄 Backups (automatic backups) MIUI file MIUI/backup).

For deep cleaning:

1. Open the File Manager → Analysis of the vault.
2. Sort files by size and remove unnecessary ones (e.g., DCIM/.thumbnails videos).
3. Use Settings → Memory → Clean, but disable the option “Delete rarely used files” – it often erases important ones.

💡

To find the largest files, in Xiaomi File Manager, click on the three dots in the upper right corner. → "It's often a place where you find forgotten movies or games that take up gigabytes.

It is also worth turning off automatic downloading of media in messengers:

• On WhatsApp: Settings → Storage → Autoupload Media → Select “Never”.
• In Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Autoboot media → turn off for mobile data.

4.Cloud Storage: Xiaomi Cloud vs Google Drive vs Yandex Disk

If physical memory expansion is impossible (for example, on Xiaomi 13T without a card slot), there is a cloud. Xiaomi has its own cloud, Xiaomi Cloud, but it gives only 5 GB for free (versus 15 GB for Google Drive and 10 GB for Yandex Disk), but integration with MIUI is maximum: you can automatically reserve photos, notes and even SMS.

To set up autoboot in Xiaomi Cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable "Gallery Synchronization" and "Wi-Fi Autoboot".
3. Select folders for backup (for example, only Camera and Screenshots).

Xiaomi Cloud

Google Drive / Google Photo

Yandex Disk

Other (write in the comments)

I don't use clouds.-->

Important: If you delete a photo from your phone after uploading to the cloud, make sure the files are actually synced. Check this out through the web version of the service (e.g. i.mi.com for Xiaomi Cloud).

5. Hidden MIUI features to save memory

MIUI has some undocumented features that help save space, such as “Lite” (Lightened version of firmware) or “System Compression” mode, which are available through Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times according to version to unlock hidden menu).

Another secret is cleaning up the Dalvik cache, which takes up to 1-2 GB and accumulates after updates, so you can delete it.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
3. Select "Wipe & Reset" → Wipe Cache".

MIUI also has a feature called Memory Optimization, which automatically deletes unnecessary files.

1. Settings → Memory → Three points (menu) → Optimization.
2. Turn on “Car Clean” and set up a schedule (for example, once a week).

💡

Lite mode in MIUI disables animations and background processes, which not only saves memory, but also speeds up the phone by 15-20%.

Alternative methods: OTG-storage

If your Xiaomi supports OTG (On-The-Go), you can plug in an external drive, a flash drive or a hard drive, and you need a USB-C/Micro-USB → USB-A adapter (depending on the model). Most modern Xiaomi (starting with the Redmi Note 10) supports OTG out of the box.

To check for OTG support:

1. Connect the flash drive through the adapter.
2. Open the File Manager → USB-storage.
3. If the flash drive is displayed, the OTG works.

To use the external drive continuously, you can configure network storage (NAS) via a router, for example, connect the hard drive to the USB port of your Xiaomi Router and configure access over SMB or FTP. Then in MIUI:

1. Open the File Manager → Network storage.
2. Add a new server by specifying the router’s IP and access data.

💡

For easy access to the NAS from your phone, use the FX File Explorer app – it supports SMB, FTP and WebDAV, and can also mount network folders as local.

7 What NOT to do when expanding memory

Some "advice" from the Internet may not only fail to help, but also damage the data or system.

⚠️ Please note: Do not use applications such as Clean Master or SD Maids to "optimize" memory. They often delete important system files, which leads to malfunctions. MIUI. Instead, use the built-in File Manager.

Also avoid:

• 🚫 Formatting a memory card in FAT32 For applications, it is an outdated format that does not support files larger than 4 GB.
• 🚫 Transfer of system applications to SD — This can lead to a reboot cycle.
• 🚫 Using "magic scripts" to increase memory (e.g., through the use of a computer) ADB Magisk – These often contain malicious code.

⚠️ Note: If you transfer applications to a memory card, do not remove it without first transferring programs back to internal memory. This can lead to errors when you start applications or even reset your phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory expansion on Xiaomi