How to transfer everything SD-Xiaomi map: from photos to apps

Xiaomi’s microSD-enabled smartphones allow for storage expansion, but by default most files — from photos to app cache — are stored in internal memory. This quickly leads to space shortages, especially on budget models with 32-64 GB of ROM. In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to transfer data to an SD card, including hidden MIUI settings, bypassing Android restrictions, and solutions for specific file types.

It’s important to understand that Xiaomi (like other manufacturers) artificially limits the ability to save to an external drive.+. However, there are legal and semi-legal ways to circumvent these restrictions, from standard tools to tools. MIUI beforehand ADB-We’ll look at them all, highlighting the risks and nuances for each model, from the Redmi Note 10 to the Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

Compatibility Check: What is the SD-The card is suitable for Xiaomi

Before you set up a save, make sure your memory card meets Xiaomi’s requirements. Not all microSDs are equally useful: cheap Class 4 or Class 6 models can slow down the system when writing files, and cards larger than 512 GB are often not recognized on older smartphones.

Xiaomi’s official recommendations for memory cards:

• 🔹 Speed class: minimum class 10 (UHS-I/UHS-II for 4K-Videos. Class maps. 4/6 lead to lags when recording video.
• 🔹 Volume: Up to 2 TB (theoretically), but in practice models up to 2020 (e.g. Redmi 8) support a maximum of 256 GB.
• 🔹 Format: FAT32 (up to 32 GB or exFAT (64 GB). MIUI not working NTFS.
• 🔹 Brands: Samsung EVO, SanDisk Ultra, Kingston Canvas – Proven options without compatibility issues.

To check the current format of the card, connect it to a PC and see the properties in the Explorer. If the card is formatted in NTFS, reformat it to exFAT through standard Windows tools or the SD Formatter utility. Using NTFS on Xiaomi will lead to mounting error and inability to write files.

⚠️ Note: MicroSD cards from little-known brands (e.g. Transcend without labeling) UHS-I) They often have an understated real capacity. H2testw beforehand.

Standard method: setting up the saving of photos and videos on SD-map

The easiest method is to redirect media saving to the standard Camera app. This works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 11 and later, but there are nuances for different versions of the firmware.

Instructions for MIUI 12-15:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Touch the gears (⚙️) top-right.
3. Select Settings → Preservation site.
4. Tap on. SD-card (if the option is inactive – see the section on formatting as an internal drive).

On Redmi 9 models, Poco X3 older (MIUI 13+) The path may be different: Camera settings → Additionally. → The save folder, if the options are SD-No card, so the card is not formatted as internal (more on this below).

Buy a UHS-I (U1/U3) class card

Format in exFAT on PC

Insert the card into the slot (not the adapter!)

Check Visibility in File Manager

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For 4K or 1080p@60fps video, use cards labeled V30/V60 (e.g. Samsung EVO Plus V30) or the video will be recorded in jerks or automatically lowered.

Formatting SD-maps as internal memory

If the camera settings do not have the option of saving on SD-The map, you need to format it as an internal drive, so you can save not only the photo, but also some applications).

Step-by-step:

1. Put the card in the slot (not the adapter!).
2. Go to Settings. → Memory.
3. Tap on. SD-map → Three points (⋮) → Memory settings.
4. Choose Format as an internal drive.
5. Confirm the action (the data on the map will be erased!).
6. After formatting, restart the smartphone.

After this procedure:

• 📸 In the camera will be the option of saving on SD-map.
• 📱 Some applications can be transferred to the map (see the next section).
• 🔒 The map will be encrypted – it will not be read on another device without formatting.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi models with Android 11+ (for example, Xiaomi 11T, Redmi Note 11) after formatting as internal memory, the ability to write screenshots to the card may be lost. Solution: use third-party apps for screenshots (for example, Screenshot Easy).

Transfer of applications to SD-map: restrictions and workarounds

Even after formatting the card as internal memory, Android and MIUI block the transfer of most applications, which is due to Google’s security policy: applications with access to system functions (banking, instant messengers) can not be ported.

How to migrate supported applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like Facebook or Spotify).
3. Slip it on the vault. → Change. → SD-map.
4. Confirm the transfer (reboot may be required).

If you're an option SD-card:

• 🚫 System App (e.g. Google Play Services).
• 🚫 The application uses OBB-files (games type) PUBG Or Genshin Impact).
• 🚫 The map is formatted as portable, not internal.

Bypasses for transferring any applications:

1. Use of the ADB: You can force the application to move the pm package command. USB-debugging and PC.
2. AppMgr III: allows you to transfer APK and data to a map without root (does not work on all models).

⚠️ Note: Transfer system applications (e.g. Mi Home or Security) to SD-The card can lead to a cyclical reboot of the smartphone. Before experimenting, back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.

Automatically save downloads and files on SD-map

By default, the Mi Browser browser and the Explorer file manager save downloads to internal memory.

For Mi Browser:

1. Open your browser, tap on. ⋮ → Settings.
2. Select Downloads → Download folder.
3. Show the way. SD-map (e.g., map, /storage/XXXX-XXXX/DCIM/Downloads).

For the Explorer file manager:

1. Open Explorer, go to Categories → Downloads.
2. Tap on. ⋮ → Settings → Preservation site.
3. Choose. SD-map and confirm.

For Google Chrome and other browsers:

• 🌐 Chrome: Go to the chrome://settings/downloads and change the path to /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Download (where XXXX-XXXX — ID yours SD-map).
• 🦊 Firefox: Settings → Downloads. → Conservation folder.

If SD-The map does not appear in the list of save places, check:

• 🔌 The card is inserted into the main slot (not the adapter).
• 📁 The card is formatted in exFAT or FAT32.
• 🔄 Reboot the smartphone after inserting the card.

💡

If you can't see Chrome SD-Maps, install file manager FX File Explorer and manually copy the path to the folder on the map (for example, /storage/1234-5678/Download).

Transfer of cache and application data to SD-map

The cache of apps (such as uploaded videos to YouTube or maps to Google Maps) takes up internal memory by default, and can be transferred in two ways:

Method 1: Through application settings

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Google Maps).
3. Put it on the vault → Clean the cache (this is not transfer, but cleaning).
4. For some applications (such as Spotify) there is a Memory option. → SD-map in their own settings.

Method 2: Symbolic links (requires root)

Using the FolderMount app or ln commands in Termux, you can create symbolic links that redirect cache folders to the SD-Example of a team:

su


ln -s /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.example.app/cache /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Android/data/com.example.app/cache

Without root, this method does not work on MIUI due to the limitations of SELinux.

Method 3: Forced retention through ADB

For applications that support external storage (such as Netflix for downloads), you can manually specify the path:

adb shell setprop persist.sys.fflag.override.settings_provider_model false

This command unlocks hidden memory settings in some versions of MIUI.

⚠️ Note: Transferring the cache of Google Play Services or Miui System to SD-The card will result in loss of functionality (for example, push notifications will stop working!

Backup and recovery of data from SD-map

SD-The card may fail or be accidentally formatted to avoid losing data:

Creation of backup copy:

• 📱 Embedded facilities MIUI: Settings → Additionally. → Backup → Local backup (saves to the map).
• 💾 Apps: Swift Backup (requires root) or Titanium Backup (for older versions of Android).
• 🖥️ On PC: Connect your smartphone in mode MTP and copy the folders. DCIM, Downloads, Android on the hard drive.

Recovery from failure:

• 🔄 If the card is not readable, use Recuva or PhotoRec on PC.
• 🛠️ For physically damaged cards, only professional recovery (cost from 5,000) will help. ₽).
• 📲 If your smartphone doesn’t see the map, try formatting it into FAT32 via PC and re-insert.

To automatically back up photos on Google Photos:

1. Install Google Photos from the Play Market.
2. Launch the app and log in to your Google account.
3. Go to Settings → Backup and Synchronization.
4. Turn on the option and select quality (High or Original).

Keeping photos and videos

I'm moving apps.

Keeping music and movies

Backup

I don't use it.-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about working with SD-mapping