Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the problem of lack of internal memory, especially on budget models with a high-end memory. 32 or 64 GB of storage, and many users install micro-SD card 128 GB or more, but Google Play by default continues to store applications in internal memory. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to get the app store to use an external drive to install APK-file.
Starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google has limited the possibility of full-fledged porting of applications to the Internet. SD-for reasons of safety and performance, but in MIUI There are workarounds, and some applications still support external drive installation, POCO X3 Pro and Mi 11 Lite – the results are shown in the table below.
The problem is complicated by the fact that Google Play does not have a built-in option to choose the installation path. All settings are hidden in the Android system menu or require the use of ADB. But do not rush to despair: even if a full transfer is impossible, you can save significant space in internal memory with the help of partial data migration.
Why Google Play is Ignoring SD-map
The main reason is the Android architecture and Google’s policy, and since Marshmallow (6.0), the system has divided apps into two categories:
✅ Supportive SD-Cards – can be partially or completely transferred to an external drive (usually cache games or messengers with media files).
❌ Non-supportive – rigidly tied to internal memory (most system utilities and high-rights applications).
In MIUI, the situation is complicated by additional restrictions:
- 🔹 Formatting SD As an internal memory (Adoptable Storage) is officially blocked in new versions of the firmware
- 🔹 Xiaomi disables the option to Set on SD-map in application settings for most APK
- 🔹 System updates often reset user storage settings
Critical nuance: even if you transfer the application to the SD-The card is manual, and when you update it, Google Play automatically returns it to internal memory. APK, Which requires an original installation path.
Method 1: Formatting SD-Cards as an internal storage device (Adoptable Storage)
This method worked on Android. 6-8, but in modern versions MIUI (12.5+) It's officially disabled, but on some models, you can activate it through the power of the ADB.
⚠️ Warning: Once formatted, the card will be encrypted and not read on other devices!
Instructions:
- Put it in. SD-card to your smartphone and copy all important files to your computer
- Connect your phone to your PC and activate USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times)
- Open the command prompt on your PC and type: adb shell sm list-disks Remember the disk ID (e.g., disk:179.64)
- Run the formatting command (replace the identifier with yours): sm partition disk:179.64 private
- Reset the device
The system will then move the data to SD-But on the map. MIUI 13/14 This method only works for 30% Devices due to blocking by Xiaomi.
Make a backup copy of data from the card|Check the compatibility of the model with Adoptable Storage|Install ADB-PC-driver|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Disable the antivirus during the procedure-->
Method 2: Manually move applications through settings
Some applications (usually games) allow you to transfer some data to the Internet. SD-Here's how to do this:
1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. Select the desired application (such as WhatsApp or Call of Duty Mobile)
3.Push Warehouse. → Change. → SD-map
⚠️ Note: Not all apps support this option, system utilities and most social networks (such as Facebook or Instagram) cannot be migrated.
List of applications that most often support transfer:
- 🎮 PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, Genshin Impact (Cache and Updates)
- 📷 Google Photos (backups)
- 🎵 Spotify, YouTube Music (offline playlists)
- 🗺️ Google Maps, Yandex.Maps (maps for offline mode)
| Annex | Type of data portable | Max: Memory savings | Root is required. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media files (photos, videos) | up to 10GB | No. | |
| Call of Duty Mobile | Cash and updates. | 5GB | No. |
| Google Maps | Offline maps | 3GB | No. |
| Spotify | Offline tracks | 15GB | No. |
| Any APK | Complete transfer | 100% | Yes. |
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Before transferring the game, clear its cache in the settings - this will speed up the process and reduce the size of the data moved.
Method 3: Using ADB for Forced Transfer
For advanced users, there is a way to force applications to move through ADB, even if the option is blocked in the interface.
Instructions:
- Connect your phone to your PC and activate Debugging over USB
- Open the command line and type: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This command forces the system to install new applications on the system. SD-default-card
- To transfer an already installed application (e.g. com.whatsapp): pm move-package com.whatsapp
Limitations of the method:
- 🚫 It does not work with all applications (system cannot be moved)
- 🔄 After updating MIUI settings may reset
- ⚠️ Some applications after the transfer begin to slow down
The pm set-install-location command has 3 modes:
- 0 - Automatic selection (by default)
- 1 - Internal memory
- 2 - External memory (SD-map)
What to do if ADB It's a mistake. [NOT_MOVED]"
Method 4: Alternative Stores with Support SD-map
If Google Play refuses to cooperate, you can use third-party stores that allow you to choose the installation path:
🔹 APKMirror Installer – shows the folder selection dialog before installation APK
🔹 Aptoide – has a built-in installation option on SD-map (in settings)
🔹 Aurora Store – an open analogue of Google Play with advanced storage settings
Instructions for Aptoide:
- Download and install Aptoide from the official website
- Open the settings → Installation
- Select External Storage as the default path
- Install any application – it will automatically get to the SD-map
⚠️ Attention: Installation APK It can be dangerous to have unverified sources. Always check the hash amounts of files and use antivirus.
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Aptoide and APKMirror allow you to bypass the restrictions of Google Play, but require you to disable the "Install Unknown Sources" protection in the security settings.
Method 5: Using root rights for full control
If your Xiaomi has an unlocked bootloader and root access, you can use apps like App2SD or Link2SD to force the transfer:
🔹 App2SD — Creates symbolic links by deceiving the system
🔹 Link2SD — carryover APK, cache and data for the second section SD-map
🔹 FolderMount – mounts application folders on SD portable APK
Step-by-step instructions for Link2SD:
- Break it. SD-map 2 section (FAT32 + ext2/ext4) MiniTool Partition Wizard
- Install Link2SD and provide root access
- Select the application and click Create a link
- Transfer all three components: APK, data, and cache
📌 Important: Do not remove after transfer SD-map without pre-mounting in Link2SD, Otherwise, the applications will stop working.
Frequent problems and their solutions
"Insufficient space" when installed on SD 👉 Check the file system of the card – it must be exFAT or FAT32 (NTFS Format the card via phone: Settings → Warehouse → SD-map → Format.
2. Apps brake after transfer 👉 SD-class A1/A2 (For example, SanDisk Extreme is faster. UHS-I U3.
3.Google Play resets installation path 👉 After each update MIUI carry out:
adb shell pm set-install-location 24. "Annex not installed" when transferred to SD 👉 Delete the app, clear the Google Play cache and install it again with the selected path on the SD.
5. No "Move to" option visible SD" 👉 For system applications, this option is always hidden. ADB root-solutions.
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If the app stopped sending notifications after the transfer, check the power saving settings in Settings → Battery → Application Selection. Add it to the exceptions.