Are you tired of WhatsApp clogging your Xiaomi Redmi’s internal memory with photos, videos and voice messages? by default, the messenger saves all media files to internal storage, which quickly leads to a shortage of space — especially on budget models with 32 or 64 GB of storage. The official option of transferring WhatsApp to SD-There is no map in the settings, but there are workarounds.
In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods to transfer WhatsApp media to an external memory card in Xiaomi Redmi smartphones (including models on MIUI 12-14 and Android 10-13). You will learn how to configure automatic saving of new files to SD, migrate existing data and avoid common errors. Importantly, not all methods are universal – the effectiveness depends on the firmware version and phone model.
Why WhatsApp doesn’t save files to the default memory card
The reason lies in Google’s policies and Android restrictions: Starting with Android 4.4 KitKat, apps are not allowed to write data to external drives without the explicit permission of the user. WhatsApp follows these rules, so:
- 📱 By default, all media files (photos, videos, audio) are saved to a folder. /Internal Storage/WhatsApp/Media.
- 🔒 Access rights: even if you insert SD-WhatsApp will not be able to automatically write to it without additional settings.
- ⚠️ Limitations MIUI: Xiaomi’s firmware blocks some external drive features to improve security.
WhatsApp also uses database encryption, so simply copying the WhatsApp folder to the SD-The card won't work, the messenger won't see the files, and we need special methods, which we'll talk about later.
Method 1: Configure the saving of new media files to SD (official method)
This is suitable for new files that you receive or send after changing your settings, and it does not carry data that has already been downloaded, but prevents internal memory from filling up in the future.
- Open WhatsApp and tap on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
- Go to Warehouse and Data → Storage management.
- Click Save Media and select a memory card (if the option is active). In some versions of MIUI, this option may not be available, then proceed to the following methods.
If the option Save Media is inactive or not, then your version of WhatsApp or MIUI is blocking this functionality, in which case manually changing the save path (see Method 3) will help.
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Before changing your settings, check that your SD-The card is formatted as internal storage (in the phone settings) and this will increase the chances of successful transfer.
Method 2: Transfer WhatsApp to SD via file manager
This method allows you to physically move the WhatsApp folder to a memory card, but requires caution. SD-The card is defined as an external storage.
Make sure you're on SD-enough space (minimum 5-10 GB free)
Back up your WhatsApp chats (Settings → Chat → Backup)
Connect your phone to charge (the process can take 10–30 minutes)
Close WhatsApp (swipe the app in the multitasking menu)
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- Open any file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
- Go to the Inner Memory → WhatsApp.
- Click on the WhatsApp folder, select Cut (do not copy!).
- Go to the SD-map, /storage/1234-5678/) And insert a folder.
- Create a symbolic link (symlink) so WhatsApp “thinks” that the folder is left in place: 📱 Install Terminal Emulator from Google Play. 💻 Enter the command: su ln -s /storage/1234-5678/WhatsApp /sdcard/WhatsApp (substitute 1234-5678 real ID yours SD-map).
⚠️ Note: If you don’t create a symbolic link, WhatsApp will simply create a new folder in the internal memory the next time you run.+ Due to the limitations of Scoped Storage.
Method 3: Remove the conservation path through ADB (for advanced)
If previous methods failed, you can force the save path for WhatsApp to be changed using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that requires connecting the phone to a computer, but yields a complete result.
You'll need:
- 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
- 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the version number → Go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
- Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux).
- Enter the commands in turn: adb shell sm set-force-adoptable true sm partition disk:179,64 private (replace 179.64 with your real identifier) SD-maps - you can find it by the command sm list-disks).
- Reboot your phone and format it. SD-Card as internal memory in storage settings.
- Install WhatsApp again – now it will save files to SD.
| Advantages of the method | Deficiencies of the method |
|---|---|
| It works on all versions of Android | Requires computer and technical skills |
| Transfers all data (including backup copies) | SD-The card becomes "tied" to the phone (cannot be removed without formatting) |
| WhatsApp is stable, without failure | When resetting your phone, data on SD may become unavailable |
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
Method 4: Use the FolderMount application (without root)
If you don't have root rights, but you need to move WhatsApp to SD, FolderMount, which creates a virtual link between your internal memory and your card, tricks the messenger.
- Install FolderMount from Google Play.
- Open the app and press + (add a couple).
- In the Source field, specify the path to /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp.
- In the Destination field, select the folder on SD-map (e.g., map, /storage/1234-5678/WhatsApp).
- Press Mount and restart the phone.
Important: FolderMount can slow down your phone when you use WhatsApp actively, as data is transmitted through the “bridge” between memory and SD. Also, after updating Android, the connection may break – you will have to configure again.
Method 5: Manual transfer of backups and media files
If you need to free up space once (for example, before updating your phone), you can manually transfer the largest files:
- 📸 Photo and video: folder WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Images and WhatsApp Video.
- 🎵 Voice communications: WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Voice Notes.
- 📄 Documents: WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Documents.
- 🔄 Backup copies: folder WhatsApp/Databases (file-extension.crypt14).
Instructions:
- Copy the required folders to SD-card through the file manager.
- Remove the originals from your internal memory (but not the entire WhatsApp folder!).
- On WhatsApp, turn off autoload media: Settings → Storage and Data → Autoload media → select Never.
⚠️ Attention: Do not delete the file msgstore.db.crypt14 From the Databases folder, this is your last chat backup, and only move it if you're sure you can recover it.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When transferring WhatsApp to SD-And this is a map where users are faced with typical problems:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp doesn’t see files after transfer | No symbolic link or wrong path is created | Check the path to the folder and repeat the steps from Method 2 |
| SD-The card is not defined as an internal memory. | The card is formatted as a portable storage | Reformat it in the phone settings (Storage) → SD-map → Settings → Formatting as an internal) |
| WhatsApp makes an error when sending files | Insufficient rights to record | Give permissions manually through Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Permissions → Storage |
| After the transfer, the old chat rooms disappeared | Backup not restored | Remove and reinstall WhatsApp, then restore chats from copy on SD |
Another common mistake is the use of slow SD-For stable operation WhatsApp needs a card at least Class 10 or Class 6. UHS-I. Otherwise, the messenger will slow down when sending files.
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If WhatsApp stopped saving new files after the transfer, check if the permissions to write to the site have been reset. SD-This often happens after updating the map. MIUI.