How to transfer all data to a memory card in Xiaomi smartphones: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones often face a lack of internal memory, especially if the device is equipped with a modest 32 or 64 GB. The microSD card can be a salvation, but by default the system saves files to internal storage. Let’s figure out how to forcibly redirect the storage of photos, videos, applications and even cache to an external drive – taking into account all the nuances of MIUI and the limitations of Android.

It is important to understand that the full transfer of all data to SD-The card is technically impossible because of the Android architecture, but you can optimize storage so that you can do this. 80-90% The content was occupied by an external device. In this article, current methods for MIUI 12-14 Android-based 11-14, including bypassing app restrictions, POCO Mi does not see the memory card – first check its compatibility (we recommend classes). A2 or UHS-I).

Why Xiaomi doesn’t save everything to the default memory card

The manufacturer imposes restrictions not for harmful reasons, but for technical reasons:

• 🔹 Data security: Internal memory (eMMC/UFS) more securely — SD-Cards are more likely to fail when used intensively.
• 🔹 Performance: read/write speed of the smartphone flash memory 3-5 More than most microSDs (even the class of microSDs) A2 lose UFS 2.2).
• 🔹 Android restrictions: since version 7.0, Google has banned apps from writing data to external drives without the explicit permission of the user.
• 🔹 Fragmentation of files: frequent recording on SD This leads to rapid wear and tear (especially cheap cards without a wear-leveling controller).

However, for media files (photos, videos, music) and parts of applications, transfer is possible, but system data, cache of some services (Google Play Services, MIUI Launcher) and OS updates will always remain in internal memory.

⚠️ Attention: Use SD-Adoptable Storage on Xiaomi is not officially supported with MIUI 10.Attempts to activate this mode through ADB This can cause camera and some applications to crash.

Preparation of a memory card: formatting and verification

Before setting up the save, make sure the memory card is ready to work:

1. Check compatibility: Xiaomi officially supports microSD up to 2TB, but for stable operation, we recommend cards up to 512GB of A2, UHS-I U3 or V30 classes. Cheap cards without marking often cause write errors.
2. Formatting: If the card has been previously used on another device, format it directly in your smartphone: Settings → Storage → Memory Map → Format → How a portable device Do not choose Like internal storage – this mode is unstable on MIUI.
3. Speed test: Install the A1 SD Bench app and check the write speed. If it's below 10MB/s, the card is not suitable for storing applications.

Once formatted, the smartphone will create a MIUI folder on the map, which will save screenshots and screen recordings, and other folders (DCIM, Download) will appear when you save files for the first time.

Configure the saving of photos and videos on the memory card

Media files are the easiest type of data to transfer, and Xiaomi does this in the Camera app:

1. Open the Camera and tap on the gear settings (or swipe up from the viewfinder).
2. Select Settings → Save Place → Memory Map.
3. For video, specify the path separately: Video settings → Save Place → Memory Map.

If the option is inactive:

• 📌 Memory card not inserted or formatted.
• 📌 The camera settings are enabled by Professional or RAW — They are always stored in the internal memory.
• 📌 You. MIUI 13/14 Updated Camera app: the path may be called Warehouse → SD-map.

After changing the settings, all new photos and videos will be saved to the map, the old files will remain in internal memory - they must be transferred manually through Files or Gallery.

💡

To avoid losing your photo when you reset your phone, turn on autosave in Google Photos: Settings → Backup and Sync. Even if the memory card fails, the pictures will remain in the cloud.

Transferring applications to a memory card: limitations and workarounds

With Android 9 and MIUI 10 Xiaomi has blocked the ability to transfer applications to the SD-The map is made using standard settings, but there are several working methods:

The safest way is to transfer through ADB (no root).

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (tap 7 times), then Settings → Additional → For Developers.
2. Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB Tools and execute the command: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This command sets priority saving on the SD-map for supported applications.
3. To check, type: adb shell pm get-install-location Must return 2 [external].

Note that this method only works for new applications. The programs that are already installed will remain in internal memory.

adb shell pm move-package com.example.app /sdcard

com.example.app

App Inspector

⚠️ Note: Transfer of system applications (Google Play Services, MIUI Home will cause crashes, and some programs (like WhatsApp) will not work with the Internet. SD-Cards due to security policy.

Automatic saving of downloads and documents to the map

Files downloaded through a browser or download manager are automatically stored in internal memory.

• 📁 browser MIUI: Settings → Additionally. → Preservation site → Memory map.
• 🌐 Google Chrome: ⋮ → Downloads. → Settings → Preservation site → SD-map.
• 📥 Download Manager: Settings → Warehouse → Default location → Memory map.
• 📄 Documents: B WPS Office or Microsoft Word specify the save path in the application settings.

For files downloaded via Telegram or WhatsApp:

• In Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Download folder → Memory Map.
• On WhatsApp: Transferring chats to SD is not possible, but media files can be saved to the map via Settings → Data and Storage → Media Saving.

If the Memory Card option is inactive, check if the card is installed as an internal storage (in which case it is displayed as part of the main memory) and can only be fixed by fully formatting through Settings → Storage → Memory Map → Format as a portable one.

Included saving photos in the chamber|Redirected downloads in Chrome|Telegram is set to preserve media|Memory card speed checked-->

Transferring existing files to a memory card

To free up internal memory, you need to manually move existing files, and you can do this in several ways:

Method 1: Through the Files app

1. Open Files (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Internal Storage section and select a folder (like DCIM or Download).
3. Tap Select, tag files and click Move → Memory Card.

Method 2: Through the PC

Connect your phone to your computer in file transfer mode (MTP) and manually drag files from the Internal Storage folders to the memory card, which is faster for large amounts of data.

Method 3: Through Total Commander

Install Total Commander from Google Play:

1. Open the app and go to /storage/emulated/0/ (internal memory).
2. Select files, click Move and specify the path /storage/XXXX-XXXX/ (where XXXX-XXXX — ID yours SD-map).
3. Confirm the transfer.

Media files may need to be updated after transfer of the Gallery database. Launch the Files app and select Clear Gallery cache in the menu.

💡

Transferring files doesn’t automatically delete them from internal memory – always use the “Move” function, not “Copy” to avoid duplicates.

Storage optimization: what else can be transferred to SD

In addition to media files and applications, you can take:

• 🎵 Music and podcasts: In Google Play Music or Spotify, specify the caching path to SD customized.
• 🎮 Game Data: Some games (e.g. Genshin Impact) allow you to select the location of additional files.
• 📺 Screen recordings: In Settings → Additionally. → Screen recording → Select a conservation location SD-map.
• 📁 Backups: Apps like Titanium Backup (root) or Swift Backup can save backups to an external drive.

For map cache (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps, 2GIS):

• In Google Maps: Profile → Settings → Offline maps → Warehouse → SD-map.
• In Yandex.Maps: Settings → Offline maps → Folder for download → Memory Map.

Some apps (such as Netflix or YouTube Premium) block content from being saved on the Internet. SD-In this case, only root or modified versions of programs (which violates the rules of Google Play) will help).

Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with a memory card on Xiaomi, users face typical errors:

If apps start to crash or not update after they’re transferred to SD, put them back in internal memory, because Android isn’t optimized to run apps from external drives.

⚠️ Note: If you use the memory card as an internal storage (Adoptable Storage mode), it will not be retrieved without losing data.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions