How to make a flash drive the main memory on a Xiaomi smartphone: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a shortage of internal memory, especially on budget models with 32 or 64 GB of storage, and one effective way to solve the problem is to convert a microSD card to the main storage (Adoptable Storage), which allows Android to use the flash drive as part of the system memory, automatically storing applications, cache and data on it.

But in the firmware MIUI This option is often hidden or works with restrictions from Xiaomi. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to activate Adoptable Storage on Xiaomi in the future. 2026 In the year, including bypassing the locks of the manufacturer, choosing the right flash drive and solving typical errors. MIUI 13/14 New devices on HyperOS.

What is Adoptable Storage and How Does it Work on Xiaomi?

Adoptable Storage is an Android feature that allows you to format a microSD card as internal storage, and then the system combines the phone's memory and flash drive, automatically transferring to it:

• 📱 Installed applications (including system updates)
• 🗃️ Cash and temporary files
• 🎮 Game data (e.g., heavy assets from Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile)
• 📷 Media files (if configured by default)

This feature works differently on Xiaomi than on pure Android:

• ⚠️ V MIUI The option can be disabled by the manufacturer (especially on models with eMMC instead of the option). UFS).
• 🔧 Some devices require unlocking the bootloader or editing system files.
• ⚡ The speed of operation depends on the class of the flash drive: UHS-I U3 or A2 required for comfortable work.

⚠️ Warning: Once formatted as internal memory, the flash drive cannot be retrieved without data loss, the card will become "linked" to a particular device and will not be readable on a PC or other phone.

MicroSD Requirements for Use as Main Memory

Not every flash drive is suitable for the primary storage, but here are the key technical requirements:

🔹 Why speed matters? Cheap flash drives from Class 4 or A1 They're going to slow down the system when you write data. 10 MB/s (bal A2 — from 4000 IOPS).

🔹 How do you check speed? Use applications like, A1 SD Bench or AndroBench, if the recording speed is lower. 20 MB/s, flash drive is not suitable for the role of the main storage.

💡

Before buying, check the flash drive for authenticity with H2testw (Windows) or FakeFlashTest (Android).

Preparation of Xiaomi smartphone to set up Adoptable Storage

Before formatting the flash drive, follow the mandatory preparatory steps:

Make a backup of data from the phone|Check the free space on the flash drive (at least 10% of the volume)|Charge your phone to 50% or higher|Disable antivirus and optimizers (e.g., Security or Clean Master)|Connect the flash drive directly to the slot (not through the OTG!)-->

📌 Important nuances for Xiaomi:

• 🔄 In the models with MIUI 12+ may require a shutdown MIUI Optimization in the Developer Settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — tap 7 times).
• 🔐 If the phone is locked (no root rights), use the method of using the ADB (section).
• 📱 New devices (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5) HyperOS function can be completely removed – check for the storage item → Settings → Formatting as an internal.

⚠️ Warning: If you use a two-sim slot (hybrid), when installing a second one SIM-The flash drive will be disabled on some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) This causes a disruption to Adoptable Storage.

Method 1: Formatting with standard MIUI settings

On most Xiaomi devices (up to MIUI 13), the feature is available via the storage menu.

1. Insert microSD in your smartphone and wait for it to be determined.
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
3. Tap on the name of the flash drive (for example, SD-map: 128GB).
4. In the upper right corner, click on ⋮ → Storage settings.
5. Choose Format as internal (or internal Storage in English firmware).
6. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take 5-15 minutes).

🔹 What to do if there is no “Formation as an Internal” clause?

• 📌 Check if the item is hidden due to regional restrictions (for example, on Chinese firmware).
• 📌 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version – in old builds, the function could be removed.
• 📌 Use the method with ADB (next).

Method 2: Activate Adoptable Storage via ADB (for locked phones)

If the standard method doesn’t work, use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which doesn’t require root rights, but you need to:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS;
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original);
• 📱 Included debugging by USB phone-on.

📌 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Open the command prompt in the ADB folder and type: adb shell sm list-disks Remember the disk ID (e.g., disk:179.64).
4. Run the formatting command (replace disk:179.64 with your identifier): sm partition disk:179.64 private
5. Reboot the phone. The flash drive will become part of the internal memory.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO F3) After this command, the flash drive can be defined as portable, in which case, repeat the process by replacing private with mixed 50 (where 50 is the percentage of memory allocated to applications).

Solving Adoptable Storage Problems on Xiaomi

If the flash drive doesn’t work properly after setting up, check for these common errors:

🔧 Additional advice:

• 🛠️ If the phone doesn’t see the flash drive after formatting, try turning it off in Settings. → Storage and reconnect.
• 📉 To save charge, disable autosynchronization of media files (for example, in Google Photos).
• 🔄 Check your health regularly with the help of SD Insight – wear of memory cells accelerates with heavy use.

💡

On HyperOS devices (such as the Xiaomi 13T), Adoptable Storage can be removed completely, in which case the only way out is to use the flash drive as a portable storage device or buy a phone with a large amount of internal memory.

Alternative ways to expand memory on Xiaomi

If Adoptable Storage is not available or suitable, consider these options:

• 🔄 Manual Application Portability: In Settings → Apps select the program and click Storage → Change. → SD-It doesn't work for all applications.
• 📁 Symlink: Using FolderMount or Link2SD (requires root) you can "link" folders from the flash drive to system directories.
• ☁️ Cloud Storage: Set up autosynchronization with Google Drive, Mi Cloud or Yandex Disk. Suitable for photos and documents.
• 🖥️ OTG-Drivers: Connect the external SSD through USB-C (On new models Xiaomi is supported NTFS/exFAT).

⚠️ Important: On devices with MIUI 14+ and HyperOS manual portability of applications can be blocked, in which case only unlocking the bootloader and installing custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience) will help).

FAQ: Frequent questions about using a flash drive as a primary memory