WhatsApp defaults to save photos, videos and backups to your smartphone’s internal memory, quickly clogging it. On Xiaomi devices with limited built-in storage (16-64 GB), this becomes a critical issue — users are forced to clean the cache daily or delete important files. Fortunately, there are several ways to transfer Watsap data to a microSD card, but not all of them are obvious.
In this article, we will discuss all the current methods for Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO, Black Shark models) running on MIUI 12-14 and Android 10-14.
- 📁 Set up automatic storage of media files on SD-map
- 🔄 Transfer existing WhatsApp files without loss
- 📱 Bypassing restrictions MIUI application
- 🔧 Use hidden Android features to force port
Importantly, not all methods are universal — some require root rights or only work on certain versions of firmware.
Why WhatsApp doesn’t save files SD-default-card?
The reason lies in the policy of Google and the features of MIUI:
- Android 4.4+ Restrictions: Starting with Android KitKat, Google has banned apps from writing data to external drives without explicit user permission, which is for security, but is inconvenient.
- Politics MIUI: Xiaomi firmware further blocks access to SD-map for third-party apps if they are not optimized for this (and WhatsApp is not optimized for this).
- Technical limitations: Backups of chats (.crypt14) and databases (msgstore.db) are stored in internal memory by default due to read/write speed requirements.
WhatsApp also officially supports the transfer of only media files (photos, videos, voice messages), but not backups or the database itself, which can only be transferred manually, as we will discuss below.
⚠️ Attention: If you are using SD-class 10 or lower, transferring the WhatsApp database may cause the messenger to slow down. UHS-I (U1/U3) record-rate 30 MB/s.
Method 1: Configure the storage of media files in WhatsApp
The easiest way is to change the media download settings right in the app, so it won't transfer files that have already been downloaded, but new ones will be saved to the memory card.
Instructions:
- Open WhatsApp and tap on it. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner.
- Select Settings → Warehouse and data.
- In the section "Save Media" click "When mobile data is used".
- Choose Never (so that files don’t automatically download) or when connecting to Wi-Fi.
- Go back and tap the folder to download the media.
- Choose. SD-map (if the option is active) or manually specify the path: /storage/XXXX-XXXX/WhatsApp/Media (where XXXX-XXXX — ID your card).
If the paragraph SD-no map, so no map, MIUI In this case, proceed to Method 2.
Make sure the card is formatted in FAT32 or exFAT| Check the free space (minimum 5GB)| Create a WhatsApp folder at the root of the card | Disconnect the card from your PC if it is connected
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Method 2: Manually transfer WhatsApp files (without root)
If the automatic setting doesn’t work, you can manually move the WhatsApp folder to the WhatsApp folder. SD-map and trick the app into creating a symbolic link, a method that works on most Xiaomi devices without superuser rights.
Step-by-step:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB (in File Transfer mode).
- On a PC, open your phone’s internal memory and find the WhatsApp folder (usually at the root or in /Android/media/).
- Copy it on. SD-map (do not cut out!).
- Remove the original WhatsApp folder from your internal memory.
- Install the FolderMount app (from Google Play) or use ADB:
adb shell
su
ln -s /storage/XXXX-XXXX/WhatsApp /sdcard/WhatsAppWhere XXXX-XXXX — ID yours SD-The cards can be found through the File Manager or ADB ls /storage).
⚠️ Warning: After manual transfer, do not update WhatsApp via Google Play for 24 hours - it can reset settings. APK official website.
What if WhatsApp doesn’t see files after transfer?
Method 3: Use the Adaptive Storage function (for MIUI 12+)
Xiaomi added to MIUI 12 and newer hidden function "Adaptive storage", which allows you to combine internal memory and SD-It's not a full Adoptable Storage (as in pure Android), but it gives apps access to an external drive.
How to turn on:
- Put it in. SD-smartphone-card.
- Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
- Put it on yours. SD-map and select Settings → Formatting as an internal storage.
- Confirm the formatting (all data will be deleted!).
- After the reboot, go to Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Storage.
- Click Change and select SD-map as the main storage.
Advantages of the method:
- ✅ WhatsApp will save all files (including backups) to the SD-map.
- ✅ Does not require root rights or ADB.
- ✅ It works on the Redmi Note. 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11/12 etc.
Disadvantages:
- ❌ The card becomes “tied” to the device – it cannot be retrieved without losing data.
- ❌ The speed of the work may be reduced if SD-slow-card.
Manual folder port |Settings in WhatsApp |Adaptive storage MIUI |Used root |I haven't tried anything-->
Method 4: Transfer WhatsApp backups to SD-map
Backups of chats (.crypt14) and database (msgstore.db) are stored by default on the following path:
/sdcard/WhatsApp/DatabasesTo transfer them to SD-map:
| Action. | Instructions | Need root? |
|---|---|---|
| Copying files | Copy the Databases folder to SD-map /storage/XXXX-XXXX/WhatsApp/. | ❌ No. |
| Changing the backup path | Use ADB or XInternalSD (an app from Google Play). | ✅ Yes (for full transfer) |
| Creating a symbolic reference | Team: ln -s /storage/XXXX-XXXX/WhatsApp/Databases /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases | ✅ Yes. |
| Set up automatic backup on SD | Swift Backup (requires root) or Titanium Backup. | ✅ Yes. |
Critical: If you transfer backup copies to SD-map, before that be sure to check it for errors through the application SD Maid or the fsck command in ADB. Damaged sectors could lead to chat loss!
Method 5: Using root rights to transfer the entirety
If you have root access, you can force WhatsApp to change its storage path by modifying system files, a method that is suitable for power users.
Instructions:
- Install Root Explorer or FX File Explorer with root access.
- Move to the /data/data/com.whatsapp/shared_prefs/.
- Open the file. com.whatsapp_preferences.xml text-edit.
- Find a line. <string name="media_folder">/sdcard/WhatsApp</string>.
- Replace her with <string name="media_folder">/storage/XXXX-XXXX/WhatsApp</string> (where XXXX-XXXX — ID yours SD-map).
- Save the file, restart the smartphone.
For the transfer of the database:
- Copy the folder. /data/data/com.whatsapp/databases on SD-map.
- Create a symbolic link: su mv /data/data/com.whatsapp/databases /data/data/com.whatsapp/databases_bak ln -s /storage/XXXX-XXXX/WhatsApp/Databases /data/data/com.whatsapp/databases
- Reset the device.
⚠️ Note: Incorrect editing of files in /data/data/ Can cause WhatsApp to crash or data loss.Before making changes, back up your com.whatsapp folder!
chmod -R 777 /storage/XXXX-XXXX/WhatsApp-->
Solving problems after the transfer
Even if you successfully transferred files, there may be errors.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp doesn't see old chats | Wrong path to the database or corrupted.crypt14 files. | Check the path to the Databases folder and restore the backup through Settings → Chat → Backup. |
| Media files are not downloaded | There is no right to write to the folder on SD-map. | Open Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Rights → Storage and allow access to SD. |
| The slow work of the messenger | SD-class 4/6 fragmented. | Format the card in exFAT or replace it with UHS-I U3. |
| The "Not enough memory" error | WhatsApp is still trying to save files to internal memory. | Clear the app cache and check for symbolic links (see Method 2). |
If none of these methods worked, try:
- 🔄 Install WhatsApp Business – in some cases it works better with external drives.
- 📱 Use the second WhatsApp account via the Parallel Space app MIUI There is a built-in function "Dual applications").
- 🔧 Reverse the WhatsApp version to 2.21.xxx — In the older versions, there was better support. SD-map.
💡
On Xiaomi devices with Android 11+ and MIUI 13+ The most reliable way is to use Adaptive Storage (Method 3) which does not require root, is stable and supports automatic backups to the system. SD-map.