Xiaomi smartphones are some of the most popular devices on the market due to the ratio of price and functionality. POCO They're going to have a shortage of internal memory over time, and instead of buying a new phone, you can expand the storage by connecting it. USB-It's like a main memory, and it works on most devices that are running it. MIUI (Starting with version 8) and allows you to transfer applications, cache and media to an external medium.
But not all flash drives are good for this task: Read/write speed, file system format, and even drive branding all affect the stability of the work. In this article, we will discuss how to choose the right flash drive, configure it as internal memory and avoid typical errors. For some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F5) need OTG-supportive adapter UHS-I.
Important: the method does not turn the flash drive into a full-fledged analogue of the built-in drive (as in the case of Adoptable Storage on pure Android), but allows you to significantly offload main memory. On devices with MIUI 14+, the data transfer algorithm is optimized better than in older versions.
What flash drives are suitable for use as a primary memory
Not everyone. USB-The storage device will be able to do the "memory extension" role:
- 🔹 Read/write speed: minimum 10 MB/s (optimum — UHS-I Class 10 or U3). Slow flash drives will slow down the system.
- 🔹 Volume: from 32 GB (recommended 64-128 GB for comfortable work) Drives less than 16 GB MIUI It will not be formatted as internal memory.
- 🔹 Format: FAT32, exFAT or NTFS. The system is automatically re-formatted to ext4 or f2fs tuning.
- 🔹 Brand: Preference to proven brands – SanDisk Ultra, Samsung EVO, Kingston Canvas – Cheap no-name flash drives often fake speed performance.
On port devices USB-C (Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 is better to use a support adapter USB 3.0 will speed up data transfer, and for older models with Micro-USB (like Redmi 5 Plus) will fit the standard. OTG-cable, but the speed will be limited by the protocol USB 2.0.
⚠️ Note: If the flash drive has been used on a PC before, be sure to check it for errors through the utility chkdsk (Windows) or fsck (Linux.
| Xiaomi model | Max. The volume of the flash drive. | Supported USB-standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11 | 256GB | USB 2.0 (Micro-USB) | Required. OTG-adapter |
| POCO X4 Pro | 512GB | USB-C 3.0 | Supports UHS-I |
| Xiaomi 12 Lite | 1 TB | USB-C 3.1 | Better to use exFAT. |
| Black Shark 5 | 256GB | USB-C 3.2 | Optimized for gaming |
Preparing a flash drive before connecting to Xiaomi
Before you can make a flash drive your primary memory, you have to prepare it properly. Here's a step-by-step algorithm.
- PC Formatting: Connect the flash drive to your computer and format it in FAT32 (if it's up to 32GB) or exFAT (if it's bigger). Use standard Windows tools (This computer → Format) or SD Formatter for deep cleaning.
- Speed check: Install CrystalDiskMark and check the actual read/write speed. If the readings are below 10 MB/s, the flash drive is not suitable.
- Backup: All data from the drive will be deleted when set up on your smartphone, so copy important files to your PC.
For devices with MIUI 13+, you can skip formatting on a PC — the system will offer the best settings. But on older versions (for example, MIUI 10 on Redmi 6), it is better to prepare the flash drive in advance to avoid errors.
⚠️ Note: Do not use hardware-encrypted flash drives (e.g. SanDisk SecureAccess). MIUI Does not support such drives to expand memory.
Format in FAT32/exFAT|Check the speed in CrystalDiskMark|Create a backup copy of the data|Connect through OTG-adapter-->
Step-by-step: how to make a flash drive the main memory
Now, the main process is the instruction is relevant for MIUI 9-14 (older versions may differ).
- Connect the flash drive to the smartphone through OTG-Adapter. The notifications will show a message "USB-drive-in".
- Select Settings (or Use as internal memory in new versions of MIUI).
- Confirm the formatting. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted. Click "Erase and Format".
- Select a use case: 📱 "Portable storage" - the flash drive will appear as a removable disk (applications cannot be ported). 🔄 "Internal memory" - the flash drive will become part of the system (you can transfer applications).
Wait for completion
Reset the device
After rebooting in the Settings section → The memory will appear a new section with the name of your flash drive (for example, "USB-accumulator [64 GB]. Now you can transfer applications and files to it.
What to do if the flash drive is not determined?
On devices with MIUI 14 (such as Xiaomi 13 or POCO F5), the option “Optimize for Applications” will appear after formatting.
How to transfer applications to a flash drive
Once you have set up the flash drive as internal memory, you can transfer applications to it, and this is done through the standard MIUI settings:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the app you want to migrate (like WhatsApp or Google Maps).
- Slip on the "Storage" item.
- Click "Change" and select your flash drive (for example, "USB-accumulator").
- Confirm the transfer. The process may take a few minutes.
On devices with MIUI 13/14, there is a built-in function called “Memory Optimization” (Settings → Memory → Cleanup), which helps to free up space by removing cache and unnecessary files. You can also turn off preloading applications to Settings → Battery → Power Saving Mode.
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The flash drive as internal memory is a temporary solution, and for long-term use, it's better to consider buying a smartphone with a lot of internal memory or using cloud services.