How to make applications downloaded to a memory card in Xiaomi: all ways

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a shortage of internal memory, especially if the device belongs to the budget segment with 32 or 64 GB of storage. One way to solve the problem is to transfer applications to a microSD memory card. MIUI This feature doesn't work as clearly as it does on pure Android. Depending on the firmware version and the smartphone model, there are different methods available, from standard formatting of the card as an internal drive to using it. ADB-command-transfer.

It is important to understand that not all applications can be transferred to the SD-Some programs (e.g. system or high security requirements) will remain in internal memory. UHS-I (U1/U3) or higher, or applications will slow down or not launch at all. MIUI 12, 13 and 14, This includes bypassing the limitations of older Redmi and Poco models.

Why Xiaomi does not allow to transfer applications to the SD-default-card

Unlike some other manufacturers, Xiaomi’s MIUI firmware limits the ability to migrate applications to an external drive, due to several factors:

• 🔒 Android considers internal memory more secure for storing data applications, especially those that work with payments or personal information.
• ⚡ Performance: Memory cards (even class) U3) slower embedded flash memory eMMC or UFS, which can lead to lags.
• 📱 Politics MIUI: Xiaomi optimizes firmware for internal memory to ensure stable operation of the device.

However, you can get around these limitations. Below we will look at all the available methods, from official to “advanced” ones, requiring the use of ADB.

Method 1: Formatting a card as an internal drive (official method)

The most reliable and recommended way is to format the microSD as internal memory, in which case the system will treat the card as part of the main storage, and most applications will be able to install on it automatically, and importantly, once formatted, the card will not be retrieved and used in other devices without complete cleaning.

Instructions:

1. Put the memory card in the smartphone.
2. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Storage Settings.
4. Tap formatting as an internal drive.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (may take a few minutes).

Once formatted, the system will suggest that you transfer some of the data to the map. Choose Move now. Now the new applications will be installed by default on the map. SD-The card (if supported by the developer).

Backup your card data (all files will be deleted)

Check if the card is U1/U3 or higher

Make sure there is enough space on the card (at least 16GB)

Charge your phone at least 50% (the process may take time)

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⚠️ Note: Once formatted as an internal drive, the card cannot be used on other devices without completely erasing the data, and some applications (such as WhatsApp or banking) may refuse to work with external memory.

Method 2: Manual application portability (for MIUI 12 and later)

If you don't want to format a card as an internal drive, you can try to migrate applications manually, which doesn't work for all programs, but it frees up some of the internal memory.

How to move:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want to transfer.
3. Slip the Warehouse.
4. If the option is available, click Change and select Memory Card.
5. Confirm the transfer and wait until it is completed.

Note that many applications (especially system ones) do not support portability, and once the program is updated, it can automatically return to internal memory.

💡

Before perenosoming the application to the memory card, check its size in the "Storage" section. If the application weighs less than 100 MB, the transfer may not result in significant savings in internal memory.

Method 3: Using ADB for forced transfer (advanced method)

If the standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — And this is a tool for debugging Android devices, and it allows you to force applications to be transferred to the Internet. SD-- the map, even if the settings do not have this option.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB-Drivers and open the command line in the folder with the platform-tools.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
5. Find out the batch name of the application (for example, using App Inspector from Play Market) and type in the command to transfer: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This command will set the memory card as the default installation location for new applications.

To transfer the already installed application, use:

adb shell pm move-package com.example.app

(Replace com.example.app with the real name of the package)

⚠️ Note: Not all applications support forced transfer via ADB. Some may crash or not work properly, and after restarting the device, some applications may return to internal memory.

Method 4: Using third-party applications for portability

If previous methods didn’t work, you can try specialized tools from Google Play, such as AppMgr III or Link2SD, which allow you to transfer applications to a memory card even without formatting it as an internal drive, but they require root rights or developer mode enabled.

Example of AppMgr III:

• 📥 Install an application from the Play Market.
• 🔍 Open the list of installed programs.
• 📤 Select the application and tap Move to SD-map.
• ✅ Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

Note that some applications (especially system ones) will not appear in the list for portability, and after updating the program, it can automatically return to internal memory.

💡

Party of the portability annex (e.g, Link2SD) Without root rights, the functionality would be limited to those programs that initially support portability. SD-map.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you transfer applications to a memory card, Xiaomi users often encounter errors, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The button "Move to" SD-card

This means that the application does not support porting to an external drive.

• 🔄 Try to update the app to the latest version.
• 🛠️ Use it. ADB for forced transfer (see Method 3).
• 📦 Remove and install the application again by selecting the memory card as the default installation location.

Issue 2: Annexes to SD-map not updated

This is due to Android's limitations on external drives.

• 🔄 Move the app back to internal memory, update it, and then move it back to the map.
• 📥 Enable auto-update only over Wi-Fi in Play Market Settings.
• 🛠️ Format the card as an internal drive (see Method 1).

Issue 3: Annexes to SD-card-stop

This is due to the slow reading/writing speed of the memory card.

• 🔄 Buy a class memory card UHS-I U3 or A2 (For example, SanDisk Extreme or Samsung EVO Plus).
• 📉 Transfer back to internal memory resource-intensive applications (games, video editors).
• 🛠️ Check the map for errors using the chkdsk utility on PC.

How to check which applications are installed on the memory card

Find out which programs have already been transferred to SD-map, follow the following steps:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort → By installation location.
3. Scroll down the list – apps on the memory card will be marked with the appropriate icon.

You can also use File Manager (built-in or third-party, such as Solid Explorer):

1. Open the file manager.
2. Go to the Memory Map section → Android → data.
3. Here you will see folders with the names of the packages of transferred applications.

If the Android/data folder is not on the memory card, then no application has been moved there.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions