How to make applications downloaded to SD-Map in Xiaomi: All ways

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a shortage of internal memory, especially if the device is equipped with only 32 GB or 64 GB of storage. SD-a card for storing applications, but in MIUI This feature doesn't always work out of the box, unlike some other Android devices, where porting apps to an external drive is native to Redmi smartphones, POCO or Mi needs to perform a number of additional actions.

The problem is complicated by the fact that since Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google has limited the ability to freely transfer applications to the Internet. SD-security reasons, but in the MIUI (Especially in versions 12-14, there are loopholes that allow you to get around these limitations. In this article, we will discuss all the working methods, from standard settings to use. ADB And you'll also learn why some applications are fundamentally reluctant to move to an external drive and what to do about it.

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

The main reason is the Android architecture and Xiaomi’s policy, and here are the key points:

• 🔒 Google restrictions: Starting with Android 6.0, apps are installed by default in internal memory. SD This is only allowed if the developer has explicitly added support for this feature to the application manifest (android:installLocation.
• 📱 MIUI and optimization: firmware MIUI hides some portability settings to avoid complaints about slow application performance SD-Cards (especially Class Class Class Classes) 4/6).
• ⚡ Productivity: SD-maps (even UHS-I Class 10) They are slower than the built-in memory. eMMC/UFS. This can lead to lags, especially in games or heavy applications.
• 🔄 Formatting as an Internal Memory: MIUI It doesn't offer this out of the box option, although it's on pure Android. ADB.

It is important to understand that even if you move the application to the SD-card, its basic data (cache, settings) can remain in the internal memory. VK — their media files can be stored on the map, but the application itself will remain in the system section.

⚠️ Attention: Transfer of applications to SD-The card can cause them to run unstable, especially if the card is low-end (Class 4 or lower).In some cases, applications may stop running altogether after the device is restarted.

Method 1: Standard portability through MIUI settings (for supported applications)

This method only works for applications that allow porting to an external drive, and you can check this out as follows:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (like Google Maps or Spotify).
3. Slip on Warehouse.
4. If there is a button, change or move to SD-map -- press it.

List of applications that usually support portability:

• 🎵 Music Players: Spotify, VK Music, Yandex Music.
• 🗺️ Maps: Google Maps, 2GIS, Yandex.Maps.
• 📖 Readers: Moon+ Reader, FBReader.
• 🎮 Some lightweight games: Candy Crush, Clash of Clans, but not PUBG Or Genshin Impact).

If there is no transfer button, the application is locked for this operation. SD-cards as internal memory (mode 3) or use of ADB (4).

Method 2: Transfer cache and application media files to SD-map

Even if the app itself cannot be moved, you can free up space in internal memory by moving its cache and downloaded files, which is true for instant messengers, social networks and streaming services.

Examples:

• 📸 Instagram: Uploaded stories and photos can be saved on SD-map in the application settings (Settings) → Warehouse).
• 🎬 YouTube: Video downloads redirected to Settings → Background and offline → Memory.
• 💬 Telegram: Media files (photos, videos, documents) are stored in Settings → Data and memory → Telegram folder.
• 🎵 Spotify: Offline playlists are transferred to Settings → Warehouse → Download folder.

For WhatsApp and Viber, transfer chats and media to SD-The card is not officially supported, but workarounds can be used:

1. Create a backup of chats in Settings → Chat → Backup.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and manually copy the WhatsApp (or Viber Media) folder to your PC. SD-map.
3. Remove the original folder from your internal memory.
4. In WhatsApp, specify a new path to the media folder (this does not work on all versions).

⚠️ Note: When transferring application folders manually (e.g, Android/obb For games, they may be disrupted. Always back up before experimenting!

💡

If you download large files frequently (for example, movies in KinoPoisk) HD), Set the download folder by default on SD-To do this, go to Settings. → Warehouse → Download folder and select an external drive.

Method 3: Formatting SD-The card is an internal memory (adoptable storage)

This method allows us to combine SD-It's a card with internal memory, and then it's going to be perceived as part of the main storage, and it's got the advantage of being able to install any application on the map:

• 🔐 The card will be encrypted and will not be read on other devices.
• ⚡ Application speeds may drop (depending on class) SD-map).
• 🚫 After extracting the map, the application will stop working on it.

Instructions:

1. Put it in. SD-Smartphone card (Class 10 recommended) UHS-I higher).
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
3. Tap it on. SD-map → Settings (three dots in the upper right corner) → Warehouse.
4. Select Internal Memory (if not available, see Method 4 with ADB).
5. Confirm the formatting (all data on the map will be deleted!).
6. Once completed, restart the device.

Now, when you install applications, the system will ask you to choose a storage location, so you can transfer the applications that are already installed:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select the app → Warehouse → Change.
3. Indicate. SD-card.

Method 4: Transfer applications over ADB (for power users)

If MIUI There is no formatting option SD-The card as internal memory can be turned on by force ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires connecting your smartphone to your PC.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB (download).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the version → Return to the Additional Settings → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 💾 SD-Card (Class 10 recommended) UHS-I higher).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB and select File Transfer mode.
2. Open the command prompt (Win + R → enter cmd) and go to the folder with ADB:

cd C:\platform-tools

1. Check the connection of the device:

adb devices

(The name of your device should appear.)

1. Enter the command for formatting SD-maps as internal memory:

adb shell sm set-force-adoptable true

1. Reboot your smartphone:

adb reboot

1. After restart, go to Settings. → Warehouse, select. SD-Map and format it as an internal memory.

If the formatting option never appeared after executing the sm set-force-adoptable true command, try the alternative command:

adb shell sm partition disk:179,64 private

(Here. 179,64 — ID SD-You can find it by adb shell ls. /dev/block/vold.)

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If you're not sure what you're doing, you should use other methods or seek help from a specialist.

Method 5: Using third-party applications for portability

If previous methods didn't work or seemed too complicated, you can use specialized utilities that don't guarantee 100% results, but sometimes help to migrate some applications.

Popular applications:

• 📱 AppMgr III (App 2 SD): Shows you which apps you can transfer, and offers to do it in one click. Supports batch mode (packet transfer).
• 🔄 Link2SD: Creates symbolic links, allowing you to partially transfer applications to SD-It requires root rights.
• 🗃️ Files by Google: Helps clear cache and transfer media files, freeing up space in internal memory.
• 🎮 GLTools (for gamers): Allows you to transfer games to the SD-map, but does not work on all devices.

Example of AppMgr III:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and provide access to Special Features (required for automatic transfer).
3. In the list of applications, mark the ones you want to transfer.
4. Press Move to Move to SD-map.

Restrictions of third-party utilities:

• Not all apps support portability (depending on their manifesto).
• Some features (such as Link2SD) require root rights.
• Mistakes can occur when working with MIUI due to its customized architecture.

💡

Third-party applications for transfer work only with those programs that initially support installation on the SD-They can't get around the restrictions that are imposed by the app developers or Google.

What to do if the application does not want to be transferred to SD-map

Some applications are fundamentally refusing to move to an external drive, and here's what you can do in these cases:

• 🔍 Check the application manifest: Install AIDA64 Or the App Inspector to see if the app supports android:installLocation.
• 📦 Remove and Reinstall: When you first install some apps (like Netflix) let you choose a storage location.
• 🔄 Use Lite versions: Lightweight versions of apps (e.g. Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite) take up less space.
• ☁️ Move your data to the cloud: Photos, videos and documents can be stored in Google Drive, Yandex Drive or Mi Cloud.
• 🛠️ Clear the cache: In Settings → Annexes → Storage can delete unnecessary data (for example, YouTube cache or TikTok).

For games (e.g, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty transfer to SD-The card is often blocked because of:

• Protection against cheats (antichit may perceive transfer as hacking).
• Performance requirements (games need fast UFS memory)
• Updates "on the fly" (the game needs to quickly download patches).

If the game is not portable, try:

1. Transfer only files OBB (folder Android/obb) hand-on SD-map.
2. Use GLTools for forced transfer (requires root).
3. Install the game on another Google Play account (sometimes helps).

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring applications to SD-map