How do you do it? SD-Main memory card on Xiaomi with MIUI 12: Complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones on the basis MIUI 12 often face a shortage of internal memory, especially if the device is equipped with a modest 32 or 64 GB. The solution seems obvious: SD-But unlike earlier versions of Android, where Adoptable Storage was out of the box, the system was a big part of the system. MIUI 12, it's a nuanced process, and we'll figure out how to expand memory, what the system limits, and what alternative methods are there.

It is important to understand that Xiaomi deliberately limits the possibility of full data transfer to the Internet. SD-It's about security policy (the risk of losing data when you extract a card) and performance optimization. However, there are legal and semi-legal ways to get around these restrictions, from standard tools to the tools that are used. MIUI before manually mounting the section through ADB. In this article, we will consider all the current methods, their pros and cons, and also give recommendations for choosing the right memory card.

Why? MIUI 12 restricts the use of SD-maps as the primary memory

In Android versions before 6.0 (Marshmallow) SD-The cards were used exclusively as portable storage for photos, music and documents. 6.0 Adoptable Storage is a feature that allows you to format the card as an internal memory. MIUI 12 (Android-based 10/11) I removed this option from the interface:

• ⚡ Productivity: SD-cards (even class) A2) slower-than-integrated memory eMMC/UFS, What's stopping apps.
• 🔒 Security: When you extract the card, the applications installed on it stop working, which violates the stability of the system.
• 📱 Optimization MIUI: Xiaomi firmware is focused on using built-in memory for cache and temporary files.
• 💾 Fragmentation: Frequent entry on SD-The card reduces its resource (especially in cheap models).

However, the limitation is bypassed. For example, devices with MIUI Global or MIUI Europe sometimes retain the hidden option of formatting the card as internal memory via ADB. And on some models (for example, Redmi Note 8 Pro or POCO X3), the function is available in the Settings → Memory menu, but it does not work stable.

⚠️ Note: After formatting SD-As internal memory, it cannot be used on other devices without completely erasing data, and some applications (such as WhatsApp or bank clients) may refuse to work with an external drive.

Official method: transfer data through the settings MIUI 12

The safest method is to use built-in tools MIUI transfer files and parts of applications to SD-It's not going to make the card a "primary memory" in the full sense, but it's going to help make room in the built-in storage.

Instructions:

1. Put it in. SD-card to slot (if your model supports hybrid slot, make sure you are not busy) SIM-card).
2. Go to Settings. → Memory.
3. Press on. SD-map → Format as a portable storage (if the card is new) or Transfer data.
4. Select the file types to transfer: photo, video, audio or documents.
5. For applications: go to Settings → Annexes → Manage applications, select the desired and click Transfer to SD-Card (not available for all programs).

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Not all apps support portability (especially system and games).
• 📁 Only user data is transferred, not the user itself. APK-file.
• 🔄 When you remove the map, the transferred applications will stop working.

Alternative method: formatting SD-As a memory, internal memory is ADB

If the official method is not suitable, you can use the hidden Android feature via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12, but requires activation of the developer mode and connection to the PC.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.

Connect your phone to your PC

Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux)

adb shell


sm list-disks

Remember the disk identifier (e.g., disk:179.64).

Formatting a card as an internal memory

sm partition disk:179,64 private

(Replace 179.64 with your ID)

Reset the device

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Full Memory Extension for Applications and Data.
• ✅ Possibility of installing applications directly on the map.

Risks:

• ⚠️ The card will be encrypted and tied to the device.
• ⚠️ When you remove the card or reset the phone, the data will be lost.
• ⚠️ Some apps (such as Google Pay) may not work.

Choice SD-cards to be used as primary memory

Not every one. SD-The map is suitable for the primary storage, low-cost, low-speed write/read models will slow down the system:

Important: Class A1 cards are suitable for file storage, but for installing applications, you should choose A2 - they have a random write speed of at least 4000 IOPS. Also avoid forgeries: check the card for speed using applications like A1 SD Bench.

Limitations and problems in use SD-maps as the primary memory

Even after successful formatting SD-And you can have a lot of problems with your internal memory cards:

• 🐢 Slowdown: Annexes to the SD-The card is run longer, especially if the class card is A1 lower.
• 🔌 Errors in Retrieval: The system can issue data corruption alerts if the card was retrieved without safely shutting down.
• 📦 Application incompatibility: Some programs (such as Netflix or Fortnite) block installation on external drives.
• 🔄 Problems after update MIUI: After major updates, the system may "forget" the link to the SD-map, requiring re-formatting.

Decisions:

• To speed up work, turn off animation in Settings → Additional → For developers → Animation scale (off).
• Use only original cards with warranty – counterfeits often cause reading errors.
• Before extracting the card, always click Safe Retrieval in the notification curtain.

⚠️ Note: If, after transferring applications to SD-card they have started to fly out or are not updated, try clearing their cache in Settings → Annexes → [Title of the annex] → Warehouse → If that doesn't work, move the app back to internal memory.

Alternative ways to expand memory on Xiaomi

If none of these methods are suitable, consider alternatives:

1. Cloud storage: ⛅ Mi Cloud (5GB free) or Google Drive (15GB). 📁 Automatic upload of photos/video to the cloud through the Gallery → Settings → Cloud.
2. OTG-accumulator: 🔌 Connect the flash drive through USB-OTG Adapter (works on most Xiaomi models). 📂 Files can be opened directly from a flash drive, but applications cannot be installed.

Cleaning the system

• 🧹 Use the built-in cleaner in MIUI (Settings → Memory. → Clean up).
• 🗑️ Remove the app cache and unnecessary APK-Files from Google Files.

For users who are ready for radical measures, there is another option - unlock the bootloader and install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), which has Adoptable Storage function without restrictions, but this voids the warranty and requires technical skills.

💡

If you often shoot videos in 4K, Set them apart from each other. SD-Recording high-quality video requires high speed recording (minimum) U3 or V30), Otherwise, there will be lags and cliffs of recording.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you try to do SD-And the most common mistakes that people have with their primary memory card are the ones that they're going to get corrected:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔧 Compatibility with your Xiaomi model (some devices only support certain file systems).
• 🔄 Relevance of the firmware: update MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → Updating the system.
• 🛠️ Card slot integrity: try inserting the card into another device to check.

💡

If your device does not support formatting SD-The memory of the card as an internal memory, even ADB, The only working options are using the card as a portable storage or buying a smartphone with a large amount of internal memory.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions