How to download and install games on the memory card Xiaomi: full instructions

Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi and POCO lines) often come with modest internal storage, especially in budget models, which poses a problem for gamers: modern games take up tens of gigabytes, and free space on the device quickly runs out. The solution is to install games on a microSD card. However, simply inserting the drive is not enough: you need to configure it correctly, choose a format and take into account the limitations of the MIUI system.

Many users experience errors such as “Insufficient memory” or “The application cannot be moved” even if the user is not able to move. SD-The reason for this is the Android architecture and Xiaomi policy: by default, games are installed in internal memory, and transfer to an external drive is blocked. In this article, we will discuss all working ways to circumvent the restrictions, including configuring the card as an internal storage, using the system. ADB-Teams and alternative methods for specific models.

⚠️ Not all games support installation on SD-For example, Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile require installation in internal memory due to protection against piracy.

1.Preparation: Which Memory Card to Choose for Xiaomi

Not every microSD is suitable for installing games. Xiaomi recommends using UHS-I (U1/U3) or A1/A2 cards, which are optimized for working with applications.

• 🔹 Volume: 64GB minimum (optimally 128-256GB for modern gaming) Cards up to 32GB are often slower and do not support exFAT format.
• 🔹 Class speed: A2 (for fast download of games) or U3 (videotape 4K, If you also shoot gameplay, class maps. A1 or U1 They can slow down heavy games.
• 🔹 Brand: Give preference to proven manufacturers – SanDisk Extreme, Samsung EVO Plus, Kingston Canvas Go!.Cheap no-name cards often fake speed specs.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi smartphones based on MediaTek (for example, Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) You may not support cards larger than 512 GB due to the limitations of the chipset.

Also note that formatting the map as an internal storage device (which we'll talk about later) binds it to a particular device, and once it's extracted, the data on it will not be available on other gadgets without re-formatting.

2. Formatting SD-maps as internal storage

The most reliable way to install games on a memory card is to turn it into an extension of internal memory, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones with Android 6.0+, but has nuances:

1. Insert the card in the slot (if your model supports hybrid). SIM, Make sure you don’t take the second slot. SIM-card).
2. Open the Settings. → Memory and tap on your name. SD-map.
3. Select “Configure as internal storage” (in some versions of MIUI, the item may be called “Format as internal memory”).
4. Confirm the formatting – all data on the map will be erased!
5. Once completed, the system will suggest moving some of the data (photos, music) to the map, a step that you can skip.

⚠️ Note: Once formatted as an internal storage card, it will not be read on other devices without re-formatting, and some apps (such as WhatsApp) may refuse to work with such a card.

Advantages of the method:

• 🎮 Games are automatically installed on the map (if the developer allows).
• 📱 The system perceives the card as part of the internal memory, which reduces the risk of errors.

Disadvantages:

• 🐢 The speed of the game may be lower than in internal memory (depending on the class of the card).
• 🔄 When you remove the map, some games may stop running.

3. Transfer of games to SD-map through Android settings

If you don't want to format the map as internal memory, you can try to transfer games that are already installed manually, which doesn't work for all applications, but it's suitable for many casual games.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose the game you want to migrate (like Brawl Stars or Clash of Clans).
3. Slip on the "Storage" item.
4. If the option "Change" is available (or "Move to" SD-map, select her.
5. Wait until the process is complete, the game will be moved.

🔍 Why the “Transfer” option may not be available?

• 🚫 The game has blocked the transfer (for example, PUBG Mobile or Free Fire).
• 📱 Your Xiaomi model does not support application portability (relevant for devices with a mobile device). MIUI 12+ Android 11-based+).
• 💾 The card is formatted as a portable storage (not an internal one).

⚠️ Note: After the game has been transferred to SD-The card's cache and updates may still be stored in the internal memory. To clear the cache, go to Settings. → Warehouse → Application data and select the game.

4.Use of ADB to Forced Transfer of Games

If standard methods don’t work, you can use the Android debugging bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your phone to your computer, but allows you to transfer even those games that normally block movement.

📌 What's the matter:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB-Type C Cable (original to avoid connection issues).
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB Tools by Google.

🔧 Step-by-step instruction:

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

Connect your phone to your PC

File transfer

Open the command line.

Terminal

ADB

Enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If the phone is recognized, you will see its serial number.

Find out the game's packet name

com.supercell.clashofclans

Clash of Clans

Google Play

App Inspector

Run the command to transfer:

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

This command forces the system to install new applications on the SD-default-card.

To transfer the already established game:

adb shell pm move-package com.name.package

Replace the com.name with a real name (e.g. com.mojang.minecraftpe for Minecraft).

⚠️ Note: Some games after transferring through ADB They may not work smoothly or give you an error called "Insufficient Memory" when you upgrade, in which case, return the game to your internal memory with the team:

adb shell pm move-package com.name.packet -i

💡

If ADB Does not recognize the device, try reinstalling Xiaomi drivers or using another USB-Also check if the debugging mode is on. USB (security parameters in the developer settings.

5. Alternative methods: Link2SD and FolderMount

If previous methods didn’t work, you can use third-party utilities that bypass Android’s limitations, with Link2SD and FolderMount being the two most popular solutions.

🔹 Link2SD (root):

• 📲 Download the app from Google Play.
• 🔧 Provide root access (if the phone is not rooted, this method will not work).
• 🎯 Select the game in the list of applications and click "Create a link".
• 💾 Transfer the game data to SD-map (option "Move to the map" SD").

🔹 FolderMount (without root, but with restrictions):

• 📲 Install FolderMount from Google Play.
• 📁 Select the folder with the game data (usually located in the /Android/obb/ or /Android/data/).
• 🔗 Create a "pair folder" on SD-map.
• 🔄 Click "Mount" - the data will automatically sync.

⚠️ Note: When using FolderMount without root, some games may not see the transferred files, in which case you will have to return the data back or use the data. Link2SD root-righted.

6. Solving common errors

When installing games SD-Xiaomi users often face problems. Let's analyze the most frequent and ways to fix them.

🔘 "Insufficient memory when installing the game (despite the free space available for the game) SD):

• 🔹 Make sure the card is formatted as an internal storage.
• 🔹 Check if there is a file size limit in Settings → Memory. → Additionally.
• 🔹 Restart your phone – sometimes the system will not display the free space correctly.

🔘 The game does not start after the transfer to SD:

• 🔹 Return the game to your internal memory and reinstall it.
• 🔹 Check if antivirus (e.g. Mi Security) blocks access to files on the card.
• 🔹 Update the game via Google Play – sometimes helps to recover damaged files.

🔘 SD-The card is not determined or permanently unmounted:

• 🔹 Check the card on another device – it may be damaged.
• 🔹 Format the map in FAT32 or exFAT via PC (use the official utility) SD Formatter).
• 🔹 Update the firmware MIUI — In the old versions there were bugs with work. SD-map.

🔘 Play lags or brakes after transfer:

• 🔹 Replace. SD-class-card A2 or U3.
• 🔹 Clear the game's cache in Settings → Annexes → Warehouse.
• 🔹 Turn off background optimization in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.

💡

If the game is transferred to SD-The card gives out a license error (e.g., in Google Play Games), put it back in internal memory. This is due to the protection against piracy - some games check the location of files.

7. Optimization of the performance of games on SD-map

Even if you manage to install a game on a memory card, it can be less powerful than running it from internal storage, and here's how to improve FPS and reduce the lags:

🛠 Settings MIUI gamer:

• 📶 Turn off "Background Limitation" to play Settings → Annexes → Battery.

🔧 Tech tricks:

• 🔄 Use Game Turbo (Xiaomi’s built-in gaming software) – it automatically optimizes the load on the processor.

⚠️ Note: Some games (such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile) when launched with SD-The cards can heat the processor more than when installed in internal memory. AIDA64 If necessary, take breaks in the game.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)