Owners of Xiaomi smartphones with limited internal memory sooner or later face a problem: new applications refuse to install due to lack of space, although the new application is not available. SD-It's inserted and it's almost empty, and it's because of the Android architecture and the shell. MIUI, In this article, we will discuss all the working ways of transferring applications to an external memory card, from standard settings to hidden functions for advanced users.
It is important to understand that not all applications can be transferred to the SD-It's up to the developers to decide whether their software supports this feature, like WhatsApp, Telegram, or system utilities. MIUI However, for most games and programs from Google Play, there are workarounds, which we will discuss below.
If you are using Xiaomi Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or another model MIUI 14/15, The instructions in this article are relevant to you, too. SD-The card meets the requirements: it must be of class 10 (UHS-I) or higher, and its size is not less than 32 GB: Otherwise, the system may refuse to format it as internal memory.
Why Xiaomi does not default to save apps SD-map?
The reason lies in Google’s policy and the technical limitations of Android.Beginning with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the company introduced the concept of Adoptable Storage, the ability to format. SD-But manufacturers like Xiaomi often turn it off or limit it:
- 🔒 Data security: Applications to SD-It is easier to steal or damage the card (for example, when removing the card while working).
- ⚡ Performance: External drives slower than internal memory (even class) UHS-III yield UFS 2.2/3.1 smartphone-wise).
- 📱 Optimization MIUI. Xiaomi shell is designed to work with fast internal memory, and the transfer of applications can cause lags.
- 🛠️ Technical limitations: Not all applications support external drives (especially if you use the Android App Bundle).
But there are a few ways to get around these limitations, and then we'll look at them in order, from the simplest to the most complex.
Method 1: Formatting SD-The card is an internal memory (adoptable storage)
This is the most reliable method, but it has irreversible consequences: once formatted, the card will not be used in other devices without being completely cleaned, but all applications (except system ones) will be installed on it automatically.
Instructions for MIUI 14/15:
- Put it in. SD-smartphone-card.
- Open the Settings → Memory.
- Tap your name on it. SD-maps (e.g. SanDisk) 128GB).
- Select Settings → Format as internal.
- Confirm the action and wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).
After formatting:
- 📁 All new applications will be installed by default on SD-map.
- 🔄 Older apps can be manually transferred through Settings → Annexes → [Select an application] → Memory. → Change.
- ⚠️ The card cannot be removed without resetting the phone settings.
☑️ Preparation SD-formatting
⚠️ Attention: If you extract SD-Once the card is formatted as internal memory, the phone will no longer see the apps installed on it. They will not be deleted, but they will not work until the card is re-inserted.
Method 2: Manually port applications (without SD formatting)
If you don't want to format the card as internal memory, you can port applications one at a time, which doesn't work for all programs, but it works for most games and utilities.
How to move:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the application you want (such as Spotify or Genshin Impact).
- Put Memory on it. → Change. → SD-map.
- Confirm the transfer and wait until it is completed.
Limitations of the method:
- ❌ Not all apps support portability (Change button will be inactive).
- ⚠️ Some of the data (cache, settings) may remain in internal memory.
- 🔄 After updating the application, it can automatically return to internal memory.
Why is the "Change" button inactive?
| Type of application | Can I move it to SD? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Games (Genshin Impact, PUBG) | ✅ Yes. | Can be slowed when starting from a slow card |
| Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) | ❌ No. | Developers block transfer due to security |
| Social networks (Instagram, TikTok) | ⚠️ Partially. | You can transfer the main files, but the cache will remain |
| Offline maps (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps) | ✅ Yes. | Use a quick card (UHS-I/UHS-II) |
| MIUI System Applications | ❌ No. | Transfer blocked at firmware level |
Method 3: Using ADB for forced transfer (for advanced)
If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that lets you manually tell the system where to install applications, which requires a PC connection and basic command line knowledge.
Instructions:
- Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times).
- Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
- Connect your phone to your PC and install ADB Tools.
- Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux) and type in adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This command forces the system to install applications on SD-default-card.
To return the settings to the original, use:
adb shell pm set-install-location 0⚠️ Note: Some apps (e.g. Google Play Services) may not work properly after forced porting. If you notice a crash, return the settings with the command above.
💡
Before using ADB, create a restore point in MIUI Recovery (Plug up Loudness + Power when turned on) to help roll back changes if something goes wrong.
Method 4: Forced retention of cache and data on SD-map
Even if the application itself cannot be transferred to SD-card, you can save its cache and downloadable files (for example, offline maps, music or videos) to it:
- Open the app settings (such as Google Maps or Spotify).
- Find the Memory or Storage section.
- Indicate. SD-map as default save location.
Examples of applications that support this method:
- 🎵 Spotify, YouTube Music – Offline Playlists.
- 🗺️ Google Maps, Yandex.Maps – offline maps.
- 📷 gallery MIUI — photobackups.
- 🎮 Steam Link, Xbox Game Pass - Cache of Games.
For WhatsApp and Telegram, transfer chats to SD-The card is not officially supported, but workarounds can be used:
How to transfer WhatsApp media files to SD?
What if nothing works? Alternative solutions
If none of these methods worked, consider alternatives:
- 🔄 Cleaning Internal Memory: Delete Unnecessary Files through Settings → Memory. → Clean or use MIUI Cleaner.
- ☁️ Cloud Storage: Move photos, videos and documents to Google Drive, Mi Cloud or Yandex Disk.
- 📱 Using the phone as a way of USB-Driver: Connect your smartphone to your PC and transfer files to your hard drive.
- 🛠️ Root access: using Magisk or TWRP You can forcibly transfer any application, but this will void the warranty.
If the problem is insufficient internal memory, consider buying a smartphone with a large drive. For example, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ offers up to 512 GB of internal memory, which solves the problem radically.
💡
Formatting SD-Cards as internal memory are the most effective way, but they are only suitable for class cards. UHS-I/UHS-II volume 32 Slow or small cards can cause system brakes.