Separation of memory and phone memory card on Xiaomi: full instructions for all models

Why Xiaomi is important to share your phone memory and SD-map

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a shortage of internal memory, especially on budget models with 32 or 64 GB of storage. A microSD card seems like the obvious solution - but simply inserting it into the slot is not enough. Without the right setup, the MIUI system can ignore the external drive, save files to internal memory by default or even slow down due to improper data distribution.

The main problem lies in the architecture of Android: since version 6.0, Google has limited the ability to work with the Internet. SD-Manufacturers, including Xiaomi, have implemented their own solutions that are not always intuitive. For example, on some models, the card can only be used as a portable storage (for photos, music, documents), and on others, as internal memory (for installing applications), let’s understand how this works in practice and what pitfalls await users.

It is important to understand: on Xiaomi smartphones with a hybrid slot (where SIM And microSDs share a nest, and the memory splits have some nuances -- the system can automatically redirect some of the data to the map, even if you didn't ask for it. UHS-I (U1) or has a low recording speed.

Which Xiaomi models support memory sharing SD-card

Not all Xiaomi devices work the same with external drives, depending on the version of MIUI, hardware platform and type of memory card slot.

• 📱 Models with a dedicated microSD slot (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro: Support full memory sharing, including the ability to use the card as internal storage (Adoptable Storage feature).
• 🔄 Hybrid slot models (e.g. Xiaomi 11 Lite) NE, Redmi 9A): The memory card may conflict with the second SIM-In these cases, the system is often forced to format SD portable.
• ⚠️ Devices on MIUI 14+: Since this version, Xiaomi has simplified the interface of memory settings, but has hidden some of the Advanced options. SD Now available only through ADB.
• 🚫 Older models (e.g. Redmi) 4X, Mi A1): Adoptable Storage may not be supported due to hardware platform limitations (Snapdragon chipset) 4xx).

To find out exactly if your smartphone supports memory sharing, check:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Slip 5 times on the line with the kernel version - the menu will open Additional settings (hidden on some firmware).
3. Select Storage → Storage Settings → SD Card. If there is an option “Use as internal memory”, your device supports full separation.

Preparation of a memory card: formatting and selection of a file system

Before sharing memory, the microSD card must be properly prepared, and errors at this stage can lead to data loss or unstable smartphone performance.

1. Check the card class: For internal memory, you need a class no lower than UHS-I (U1) or Class 10. Class 4/6 cards are only suitable for storing media files.
2. Backup: When formatted as internal memory, all data on the map will be erased. Use Google Photos for photos or Mi Mover for file transfer.
3. Select the file system: 📁 FAT32: Compatible with all devices, but limited to files up to 4 GB. Suitable for portable use. 📁 exFAT: supports files over 4 GB, is optimal for 64 GB and higher cards. 📁 NTFS: Not recommended for Android – it can cause reading errors.

For formatting directly in the smartphone:

1. Put the card in the slot.
2. Go to Settings → Storage → SD card.
3. Click Format → As internal memory (if optional).
4. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take up to 10 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: If after formatting as internal memory, the smartphone starts to slow down, return the card to portable storage mode. → Annexes → All applications → Storage settings and select Disable the map SD.

Step-by-step: how to share memory on Xiaomi

The process of sharing memory depends on whether you want to use the card as a portable storage (for media files) or as internal memory (for installing applications).

Option 1: Map as a portable storage (for photos, music, documents)

1. Insert the microSD card into the slot.
2. Open the Settings → Storage.
3. Slip on the SD Card line.
4. Select Format as a Portable Storage.
5. After formatting, go to Settings → Applications → Permissions → Storage and allow applications (e.g. Gallery, Music) to access the map.

Option 2: Card as internal memory (for application installation)

This method is only suitable for devices with Adoptable Storage support, and once formatted, the card will be encrypted and linked to a smartphone, and cannot be read on another device without being reset.

1. Put the card in the slot.
2. Go to Settings → Storage → SD card.
3. Select Settings (three dots in the upper right corner) → Storage settings → Format as internal memory.
4. Confirm the action. The system will warn you that all data will be erased.
5. After formatting, go to Settings → Applications → All apps, select the desired application and click Storage → Change → SD Card.

If the option "Format as internal memory" is missing, then your device does not support this function, in which case you can try an alternative method through ADB (see the next section).

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Formatting the card as an internal memory permanently binds it to a smartphone, and then it can't be used on other devices without being completely reset.

How to transfer applications to a memory card (including system)

Even after formatting the card as internal memory, not all applications can be migrated to it. System utilities (e.g. Settings, Phone) and some games (e.g. PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact) often block this capability.

Method 1: Through MIUI settings (for supported applications)

1. Open Settings → Applications → All applications.
2. Select the application you want to transfer.
3. Slip the vault. → Change. → Map. SD.
4. Confirm the transfer. The process may take a few minutes.

Method 2: Through ADB (for all applications, including system)

This method requires a computer and a developer mode on, and it's suitable for power users.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap 7 times on the MIUI version line.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
4. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

If none of these methods worked, try resetting your phone to factory settings (don’t forget to back up!). To do this, go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset.

Memory optimization: how to automate file retention on a card

To avoid manually transferring files, set up automatic data storage to a memory card, which is especially useful for photos, videos and downloads from the Internet.

Camera setup

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Slap the icon. ⚙️ (setting).
3. Select a Retention Site → Map. SD.
4. Make sure that the option to Allow Save on the card is enabled.

Set-up of downloads

1. Open Settings → Applications → All applications → Downloads.
2. Select Warehouse → Change → SD Card.
3. For Chrome or Mi Browser, go to your browser settings and specify the save path to the map.

Setup of messengers

Most messengers (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram) allow you to save media files to a memory card:

• 📱 WhatsApp: Settings → Warehouse and data → Saving media files → Map. SD.
• 📱 Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Download folder → Map. SD.
• 📱 Viber: Automatic save to the card is not supported, but you can manually transfer files through the File Manager.

To automate file transfer, you can use the Files by Google app or the built-in Xiaomi File Manager. Enable Autoclean (Settings → Storage → Autoclean) function so that the system itself offers to transfer rarely used files to the map.

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Automatic storage on a memory card reduces the load on the internal drive and prolongs its life (especially important for devices with eMMC memory, which wears out faster than UFS).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions