How to make an SD card the main memory on Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a lack of built-in storage, especially in the entry- and mid-range models. Installing a microSD card is the most affordable solution, but standard mode allows you to use it only as external storage for photos and music.

It is possible to turn an external drive into a full-fledged extension of system memory, making it an integral part of Android. This process, known as Adoptable Storage, requires care and preparation, as the map will be formatted and will no longer be read on other devices without reconfiguring.

Before you start technical manipulation, you need to understand the risks and requirements. Not every Redmi or Poco model supports this feature at the software level, and the speed of the system depends on the class of flash card used. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances from the choice of hardware to advanced activation methods through ADB.

Selecting the right memory card for system tasks

Not every microSD card is suitable for use as internal memory. Standard cards designed to store photos in cameras or recorders have a low speed of random reading and writing, which will lead to interface brakes and long run programs. Android system when working with internal storage constantly calls to the disk to caching data.

Pay attention to the card marking. You need models with speed class U3 or V30 and above. It is advisable to choose cards standard A1 or A2 (Application Performance Class), which are optimized specifically for running applications. Using a slow card class C10 without additional markings can make the smartphone work unbearable.

The storage capacity is also critical. If you plan to port large apps and games to the map, the minimum recommended amount is 64 GB. 32 GB cards and less quickly fill with system files and cache, which will require frequent cleaning. For comfortable use in conjunction with the internal memory of the phone, it is better to choose cards from 128 GB and above.

• 🚀 Look for the markings. A1 or A2 on packaging to ensure high speed of applications.
• 💾 Choose cards from 64GB to avoid overflow after a month of use.
• 🛡️ Buy only from official dealers, as the market is full of fakes.

⚠️ Warning: Once formatted into internal memory, the card is encrypted with a specific device binding, and you can't extract it and paste it into another phone without losing data.

Device preparation and backup

The process of converting a memory card is irreversible without loss of data, so pre-preparation is a must. All files, photos, contacts and documents on the card will be irretrievably deleted at the time of formatting, you must copy important information to the computer or to the cloud storage in advance.

Also, check the status of the smartphone itself. Make sure that the battery is at least 50%, as the process of formatting and redistributing partitions requires stable power. Suddenly turning off the device while writing a file table can damage the bootloader or lose access to data.

Remove the extra apps and clear the cache before you start, which will reduce the system load when it rebuilds the file paths, and if you have custom firmware installed on your phone, make sure that Adoptable Storage is not blocked, as some ROM collectors turn it off by default.

Standard activation method through MIUI settings

In some versions of the MIUI shell and HyperOS, the memory merge feature is available in the standard menu, although Xiaomi often hides it. First, insert the card into the slot and wait for notifications about the new drive. Go to the Settings menu, then select About Phone or immediately find the Storage section (depending on the Android version).

In the storage menu, click on the name of your SD card. If the system allows, you'll see a button called "Use as internal storage" or "Format as internal memory." Pressing this button will trigger a customizator that will prompt you to format the drive. Accept the terms and wait for the process to be completed.

Once formatted, the system will suggest migrating the already installed applications and media files to a new drive. It is recommended to choose automatic data transfer to free the internal memory. If there is no such button in the menu, then the manufacturer has blocked this feature software, and you will need to use a computer.

Advanced Methods Through ADB for Power Users

If the settings menu does not have the right option, it can be activated forcefully through USB debugging and ADB console commands. This method works on most Xiaomi devices, but requires caution. First, you need to activate the developer mode: go to Settings → About phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version.

Then, in the Additional → For developers menu, turn on “Debugging by USB.” Connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable. On your PC, you need to install ADB drivers and start the command line. Enter the adb device command and confirm the permission to connect in the pop-up window on your phone screen.

To start the formatting process, type in the command: adb shell sm partition public disk:XXX,XX, where XXX:XX is the disk ID. It can be recognized by the adb shell sm list-disks command. This usually looks like disk:179.64. Once you enter the command, the system formats the card and combines it with internal memory.

adb shell sm list-disks


adb shell sm partition private disk:179,64 100

⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB Incorrectly entering the disk ID can lead to formatting the phone's internal memory instead of the system's internal memory. SD map.

Application portability and data management

Once the memory is successfully combined, the system automatically starts using the new volume, but not all applications are transferred to the map completely, some critical files remain in the internal partition to ensure stability of operation, and transfer management is carried out through the Settings → Applications menu.

Select the application you want, go to Memory and click Change. If the app developer hasn't banned porting, you can select an SD card. For mass file management, use the built-in MIUI Explorer or third-party file managers with permissions.

It is important to monitor the status of the memory card regularly. The EXT4 file system used for internal memory can become fragmented over time, which reduces the speed, periodically back up important data and check the card for errors through the storage settings menu.

• 📂 System applications and widgets often cannot be transferred to an external drive.
• ⚙️ After the transfer, applications can load a little longer on the first run.
• 🔄 When resetting the phone to factory settings, the data on SD The map will also be removed.

💡

Use the Files by Google app to quickly clean up the garbage that accumulates when you actively use extended memory.

Possible problems and ways to solve them

The most common problem is the decline in overall smartphone performance, and if you notice that the interface is slower and applications are late, chances are your SD card speed is not enough to run in internal memory mode, in which case the only solution is to replace the drive with a faster one.

Reading errors and spontaneous reboots of applications are also possible, which may indicate file system damage or card overheating, and in such cases it is recommended to remove the card, check it on a PC using the SD Memory Card Formatter utility and repeat the formatting procedure.

Some users find that after updating the firmware system stops seeing the applications installed on the card, this is due to changing the encryption keys. To avoid data loss, before updating MIUI, it is recommended to temporarily transfer all applications back to internal memory and disable Adoptable Storage mode.

💡

The stability of a smartphone with extended memory depends on the quality and speed of the selected microSD card, not the phone model.