How to make applications installed on a memory card in Xiaomi: all the ways

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a lack of internal memory, especially if the device is equipped with 32 or 64 GB of storage. One obvious solution is to transfer applications to a microSD memory card. MIUI (12, 13, 14) this function is either hidden or limited. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to install applications on the Internet. SD-map, including bypassing system locks, configuring the card as an internal drive and alternative solutions for Redmi models, POCO mi.

It’s important to understand that manufacturers (including Xiaomi) deliberately make it harder to migrate applications to SD due to performance and security. Class A1 or A2 memory cards are slower than the built-in eMMC/UFS memory, which can lead to freezes. However, for many users, this tradeoff is justified – especially if it is a rarely used program or game with cache on the card.

We tested all methods on current MIUI 14 firmware (Android 12/13) and highlighted those that work consistently. If your smartphone is on MIUI 11 or older, some instructions may differ (see FAQ).

Why Xiaomi is blocking the installation of applications on the SD-map?

With Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google has imposed restrictions on external drives, and Xiaomi has further tightened the policy in MIUI.

• 🔹 Productivity: Even maps UHS-I class A2 5 to 10 times slower than internal memory, critical for gaming and heavy applications.
• 🔹 Security: Annexes to SD easier to replace or hack (risk for banking programs, instant messengers).
• 🔹 Fragmentation of files: frequent overwriting of data SD This leads to rapid wear and error.
• 🔹 Google’s policy: with Android 10, Adoptable Storage feature SD In the internal memory, officially deprecated.

However, Xiaomi leaves portable loopholes, such as MIUI 12/13, which allows you to manually move some of your application data (not an up file!) to the map through settings, and some models (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi Note 10) still use the old method of formatting the SD as an internal drive.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using SD-It's like an internal memory, and it can't be retrieved without resetting the phone, and it also shortens the life of the card because it's constantly overwriting.

Method 1: Transfer some of the application data (without root)

This is the official method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 10 and later.It allows you to move to SD cache, media files and some data, but not the APK itself. Suitable for instant messengers, social networks, games with large cache (for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (such as Telegram).
3. Slip the vault. → Change. → Memory map.
4. Confirm the transfer. The system will copy the data, but it won't delete it from the internal memory, and you'll have to manually clean it.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Not all apps support portability (for example, WhatsApp blocks this feature).
• 🚫 System applications (Google Play Services, MIUI Launcher cannot be moved.
• 🚫 When extracted SD The card application may crash.

Method 2: Formatting SD-The card is an internal memory (adoptable storage)

This method turns the memory card into part of the internal storage, allowing you to install applications directly on it. MIUI 11 older, but in newer versions MIUI 13/14 It can be hidden. It's suitable for Redmi models. 9, POCO M3, Mi A3 (Android One).

Step-by-step:

1. Put it in. SD-Card to smartphone (class recommended) A2 or UHS-I).
2. Go to Settings → Storage → Memory Map.
3. Tap three dots (⋮) → Storage settings → Formatting as an internal.
4. Confirm the formatting (all data on the map will be erased!).
5. Select to Transfer Data Now (optional).
6. Reset the device.

After that:

• 📱 When installing new applications, the system will prompt you to choose a storage location (internal memory or storage). SD).
• 🔄 Existing applications can be moved to Settings → Annexes → [Select an application] → Warehouse → Change.

⚠️ Note: Once formatted as an internal card, it cannot be used in other devices without being completely erased, and it can slow down the system if the card is slow.

Method 3: Transfer applications using ADB (without root)

If previous methods didn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that lets you manually tell the system where to install applications, which works on all versions of MIUI and does not require superuser rights.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📦 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB Tools.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times).
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the folder with adb.exe.
5. Follow the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
6. Enter the command to transfer applications to SD: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This will force the system to install new applications on the default memory card.

To return the installation to internal memory, use:

adb shell pm set-install-location 0

Limitations:

• 🔹 Not all applications will work correctly with SD (particularly systemic).
• 🔹 After rebooting, some applications may "fly".
• 🔹 The method does not carry already installed programs - only new ones.

💡

If the pm set-install-location command doesn't work, try the alternative method via app2sd (requires root).Also check that the memory card is formatted in FAT32 or exFAT (NTFS is not supported).

Method 4: Use root rights and App2SD applications

If you're ready to root, you'll have additional memory management capabilities, and one of the most effective tools is App2SD (or its analogues: Link2SD, FolderMount).

• 📌 Move over APK-file-file SD.
• 📌 Create symbolic links (symlink) to deceive the system.
• 📌 Clear cache and unnecessary files.

How it works:

1. Unlock the bootloader on Xiaomi via Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP) and get root through Magisk.
3. Download App2SD from Google Play (or 4PDA if the app is removed).
4. In the application, select the desired programs and press Move to SD.

Important: Once rooted, some banking apps (Sberbank, Tinkoff) and security games (like Pokémon GO) may stop working. Use Magisk Hide or modules to bypass checks.

Method 5: Alternative solutions to save memory

If SD porting is not possible or feasible, consider these options:

• 🗑️ Cache cleaning: in Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning Up to 1-3 GB of Unnecessary Files.
• ☁️ Cloud storage: Google Photos (compression photo), Mi Cloud (5 GB free for backups).
• 🔄 Lite versions of applications: Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite, Spotify Lite take up 2-3 times less space.
• 📦 APK-extractor: APK installed applications, delete them and then install them manually on the memory card (via APK Installer).
• 🔧 Disabling Unnecessary System Applications: Through Settings → Annexes → You can turn off Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps, etc.

For games with large cache (for example, Call of Duty Mobile) you can:

1. Download the cache file (.obb) on the PC.
2. Move it to SD-file-card Android/obb/[game-book].
3. Set the APK and point the path to the cache manually.

💡

If your goal is to make room for photos or videos, migrate apps to the site. SD It's better to use cloud services or external services. SSD-storage OTG.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with SD-And the most common mistakes that people have with Xiaomi are the most common ones:

• 🛑 "Insufficient space" when installed on the SD: Check that the card is formatted in exFAT (for files) >4GB) and has enough free space. Try turning it off too MIUI Optimization in the Developer Settings.
• 🛑 Apps are dyed after being moved: it means the map is too slow.Try the class A2 Or transfer only the cache, not the application itself.
• 🛑 The system doesn't see. SD-Map: check that the card is inserted correctly (not all Xiaomi smartphones support microSDXC). FAT32.
• 🛑 ADB Not seeing the device: install the Mi drivers PC Suite and check if debugging is included USB.

If after transferring applications to SD, the smartphone began to slow down:

1. Remove unnecessary programs from the card.
2. Move back to your internal memory frequently used applications.
3. Check the speed of the card with the A1 SD Bench (should be >10 MB/s per record).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions