Are you tired of constantly notifying you about memory shortages on your Xiaomi? Even after cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary applications, there is a catastrophic lack of free space? USB-This is a flash drive into the main drive, expanding the internal memory of the smartphone, a technology called Adoptable Storage, and is available on most Android 6.0 devices.+, including Redmi smartphones, POCO mi.
But there are some nuances: not all flash drives will work, and the setup process requires attention to detail. In this article, we will discuss how to choose the right drive, prepare your smartphone, activate external memory as internal memory and avoid typical errors. You will also learn which Xiaomi models support this feature and which do not, and what to do if the system refuses to format the flash drive.
Now, the important thing to understand is that once you convert the flash drive into the main memory, it can't be simply removed, it will become an integral part of the system, but all the apps, photos and files will automatically be saved to it, freeing up the internal memory. Ready to start?
What is Adoptable Storage and How Does it Work on Xiaomi?
Adoptable Storage is an Android feature that allows you to use external drives (USB-A flash drive or a memory card is part of the internal memory of the device, and the system encrypts the data on the flash drive and links it to a particular smartphone:
- 📱 The flash drive becomes non-removable – it can not be easily removed without losing data.
- 🔒 All data on it is encrypted and available only on this device.
- 📁 Applications and files are automatically saved to a flash drive if the internal memory is not enough.
- ⚡ The speed depends on the class of the flash drive - the higher it is, the faster the system will work.
On Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI shell, this feature works with some limitations. For example, devices with MIUI 12+ may need to manually enable via ADB, since the option is hidden in the settings. It is also important to consider that not all models support Adoptable Storage - for example, flagships of the Mi 11 series and later can block this feature due to security policy.
How does it work technically? When you format a flash drive in internal memory, Android creates an ext4 or f2fs partition on it, which is mounted as part of the system. All data (including the app cache) is distributed between the internal memory and the flash drive transparently to the user.
⚠️ Attention: If the flash drive fails or is removed, some applications may stop working and the system will start to give errors!
What flash drives are suitable for use as a primary memory
Not every flash drive will work for the main drive. To avoid brakes and errors, pay attention to the following parameters:
| Parameter | Recommended value | Why is it important? |
|---|---|---|
| Interface. | USB 3.0/3.1 Type-C or MicroUSB OTG (for older models) | USB 2.0 is too slow to work as a main memory – applications will slow down. |
| Class speed | UHS-I (U1/U3) or A1/A2 | A1/A2 class flash drives are optimized for random access, which is critical for applications to run. |
| Volume. | From 32 GB to 256 GB | Less than 32GB is less space for applications, more than 256GB may not be supported by MIUI. |
| Form factor | USB-C (for new models or microUSB with OTG-adapter | Adapters can warm up and lose speed, it is better to use a native connector. |
The best options for Xiaomi:
- 🥇 Samsung Fit Plus 128GB (USB 3.1, A2) — Optimal price-speed ratio.
- 🥈 SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive (USB-C, A1) — handy two-way flash drive for new smartphones.
- 🥉 Kingston DataTraveler Max (USB 3.2, U3) — High speed reading/writing, but more expensive.
Avoid cheap no-name flash drives, which often have low real capacity and low speed. Check reviews on AliExpress or Amazon before buying, especially pay attention to speed tests (you can use the A1 SD Bench app after buying).
💡
Before buying a flash drive, check whether your Xiaomi OTG supports. To do this, connect any flash drive through an adapter - if the smartphone sees it, then the function works.
Preparation of Xiaomi smartphone to connect the flash drive as memory
Before you format a flash drive, you need to prepare a smartphone. Here's a step-by-step plan:
- Update MIUI to the latest version. Go to Settings → About Phone → Update and install all available updates. Older versions of MIUI (below 11) may have bugs with Adoptable Storage.
It is also recommended that:
- 🔋 Charge your smartphone by at least 50% – the formatting process can take 10–30 minutes.
- 📱 Make a backup copy of the data - after converting the flash drive, all files on it will be erased.
- 🔌 Use Xiaomi’s original cable – cheap cables may not provide stable connectivity.
⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) may not be able to connect the flash drive as a removable drive after activation of Adoptable Storage.
☑️ Xiaomi Preparing for Memory Expansion
Step-by-step: how to make a flash drive the main memory
Now, the most important thing is to convert the flash drive to primary memory, which is suitable for most Xiaomi smartphones on Android 6.0-13 (including MIUI 12/13/14).
Step 1. Connect the flash drive.
Insert the flash drive into the adapter (if necessary) and connect to the smartphone. Wait for the notification of the new device. If the notification does not appear, check the connection in Settings → Storage.
Step 2: Formatting as an internal memory
Open Settings → Storage, find your flash drive in the list and click on it. Select Settings (or Additional) → Format as internal. If this item is not available, read the ADB section below.
Step 3: Confirmation and Waiting
The system will warn you that all the data on the flash drive will be erased, confirm the action and wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes), after which the smartphone will restart.
Step 4: Data Transfer (optional)
After rebooting, you can transfer some of the data from the internal memory to the flash drive. To do this, go to Settings → Storage → Data Transfer and select what you want to move (photo, video, applications).
If there is no internal format, MIUI has hidden the option, and ADB will help:
adb shell sm set-force-adoptable true
adb shell sm partition disk:179,64 privateWhere 179.64 is your flash drive ID (you can find it by adb shell sm list-disks command) and after the instructions are executed, the flash drive will be formatted as internal memory.
What to do if ADB is not working?
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even if you do everything according to the instructions, you can get complicated.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The flash drive is undetectable. | Faulty adapter, cable or connector | Try another cable/adapter. Check the connector for contamination. |
| There is no "Formation as an Internal" clause. | MIUI has hidden the option or the smartphone does not support Adoptable Storage | Use ADB (see the instructions above) or check the model for compatibility. |
| The smartphone slows down after connecting | Slow flash drive (USB 2.0 or low class) | Replace the flash drive with a USB 3.0/A2 model. |
| Apps are not installed on a flash drive | Lack of space in the system section | Clear the cache or transfer applications manually to Settings → Apps. |
A few more nuances:
- 🔄 If the flash drive is not mounted after formatting, try restarting the smartphone in safe mode (click the power button). → "Restarting in Safe Mode").
- 📉 If the free space on the flash drive is not displayed, check it in Settings. → Warehouse → Sometimes the system hides the partition.
- 🔧 Some firmware (e.g. custom) may require manual mounting through TWRP.
⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with an unlocked bootloader and custom firmware, Adoptable Storage may not work stable, in which case it is better to use the flash drive as a removable drive or install firmware with support f2fs.
How to Cancel Using a Flash Drive as Your Main Memory
If you decide to return everything back (for example, the flash drive began to slow down or you want to remove it), you can do this in two ways:
Method 1. Through the MIUI settings
- Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
- Find your flash drive in the list and click on it.
- Select Format as Removable (or Disable).
- Confirm the action – all data on the flash drive will be erased!
Method 2. via ADB (if the first method does not work)
adb shell sm forget disk:179,64Where 179.64 is your flash drive ID (recognize it by adb shell sm list-disks) and when it is executed, it will become a normal removable drive, but all data on it will be deleted.
Important: Once Adoptable Storage is cancelled, some apps may stop working if they've been installed on a USB drive, and then they'll have to be reinstalled.
💡
Before you cancel the use of the flash drive as the main memory, make a backup of important data – after formatting, they will be irretrievably deleted!
Alternative ways to expand memory on Xiaomi
If Adoptable Storage is not suitable (for example, you have a flagship model where this feature is disabled), consider alternatives:
- 📁 Transfer of applications to SD-Card (if there is a slot): In Settings → Applications can be manually transferred to a memory card, but not all applications support this mode.
For owners of POCO F3, Redmi K40 and other models without a microSD slot, the best option is a USB-C flash drive with support for OTG. For example, SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe allows you to quickly transfer files between your smartphone and your computer.
If you’re critically short of memory but Adoptable Storage doesn’t work, consider buying a smartphone with a lot of internal memory. It’s cheaper on Xiaomi than buying a high-speed flash drive.