How to save a photo on a memory card in Xiaomi Redmi 9: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi 9 remains one of the most popular budget smartphones due to the balance of price and functionality. However, many users face a problem: the default photos are stored in internal memory, quickly clogging it. Switching to storing images on a microSD card solves this problem, but it is not always clear how to do it correctly.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to transfer photos to the SD-From basic camera settings to manually moving through the file manager, we will focus on common errors (for example, why the card is not displayed as a save option) and the nuances of working with firmware. MIUI If you just bought a Redmi 9 or have been using it for a long time, but you still haven't figured out the memory, this is the guide for you.

Memory card preparation: formatting and compatibility check

Before you save a photo on the card, it must be properly prepared. Xiaomi Redmi 9 supports microSD up to 512 GB (officially - up to 256 GB, but testing shows work with large volumes). However, not all cards work equally well with MIUI. The optimal choice is cards of classes UHS-I U1 or A1/A2 from proven brands (SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston).

If the card is new, it is still worth formatting directly on the phone:

1. Insert the card into the slot (hybrid or dedicated - depends on the Redmi 9 modification).
2. Go to Settings. → Memory.
3. Tap by name. SD-Select Format as internal (if you want to expand memory) or Format as portable (if you plan to retrieve the card to transfer files to your PC).

⚠️ Warning: Formatting as internal memory will link the card to the phone, and once retrieved, the data on it will not be available on other devices without being completely reset.

After formatting, check the card speed with the A1 SD Bench app (available on Google Play). If the write speed is below 10 MB/s, the card can slow down while saving the photo in HDR or 48 MP mode.

2.Camera setup: Reversing the default save path

The easiest way to save new photos to the map is to change the settings of the standard Camera app. In Redmi 9, this option is hidden in the depths of the menu:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Touch the badge. ⚙️ Settings (usually in the upper right corner).
3. Scroll down to the Memory section and select a Save Place.
4. Tap it on. SD-card (if the option is inactive – see section 3 on access rights).

If the paragraph SD-The card is not on the list, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔹 The card is not formatted or formatted as portable (repeat steps from Section 1).
• 🔹 The phone has custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), where the path to the SD differ.
• 🔹 The map is damaged – try it on another device.

After changing the settings, all new photos and videos will be saved to the map, the old files will remain in the internal memory - they must be transferred manually (see section 4).

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If, after the choice, SD-If you're going to start to hang up on your map, try turning off 48MP in the camera settings. High detail requires fast recording, which not all the cards can handle.

Access rights: why SD-The card does not appear in the camera settings

Frequent problem of users MIUI — lack of choice SD-The card is in the camera settings, even if it's inserted and recognized by the system. 10/11, which is the basis of which Redmi operates 9. The decision depends on the firmware version:

For the manual granting of permits:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find the camera in the list and tap it.
• 🔐 Select Permissions → Memory and enable Allow management of all files.
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI When the system is updated, the permissions are reset. If the card has stopped saving photos, check the permissions again.

4. Manually move the photo through the file manager

If you have already taken many pictures in your internal memory, you can transfer them to your memory. SD-This will be suitable for a standard file manager from Xiaomi or third-party applications (Solid Explorer, FX File Manager. Action algorithm:

1. Open the File Manager (the folder icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the internal memory → DCIM → Camera (all photos are stored here).
3. Select the necessary files (long-term press → tick).
4. Click Move (not "copy"!) and select SD-map → DCIM → Camera.

Important: When you move (as opposed to copying), files are deleted from internal memory, freeing up space. If you're afraid of losing pictures, copy them to the map first, and delete the originals after checking.

To speed up the process, packet movement can be used:

• 📁 Create on SD-folder Temp_Photos.
• 🔄 Bring all the photos from there. DCIM/Camera.
• 📸 Then move them back to the DCIM/Camera on the map – this will preserve the folder structure that the gallery expects to see.

5. Transfer automation with Tasker or MacroDroid

If you take photos regularly and don’t want to manually move them around, you can set up automatic transfer using automated apps, such as MacroDroid (free for basic features) that lets you create a rule:

1. Install MacroDroid from Google Play.
2. Create a new macro command with a trigger New file in the folder (specify /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera).
3. Add the action Move the file with by destination /storage/XXXX-XXXX/DCIM/Camera (where XXXX-XXXX — ID yours SD-The card can be found in the file manager).
4. Save the macro and activate it.

Advantages of this method:

• 🤖 The transfer takes place in the background without your participation.
• 📡 You can set up a notification after the operation is completed.
• ⏱️ Lag is maintained (for example, transfer files once an hour to avoid loading the system).

⚠️ Attention: Automatic tasks can drain the battery faster. Set up an exception for MacroDroid in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.

6. Alternative methods: cloud services and OTG-drives

If SD-problems with the card (for example, it often turns off or works slowly), consider alternative storage options:

• ☁️ Cloud services: 📱 Google Photos (free up to 15GB, compression without loss of quality). 📱 Mi Cloud (5GB free) integration with MIUI). 📱 Yandex Drive (10GB free, automatic download) Customization: each application has an option to boot — turn it on and choose to download only over Wi-Fi.
• 🔌 OTG-accumulator: 💾 USB-adapter-drive OTG (connects to the Type-C connector). 💾 Outside SSD/HDD It's powered by itself (for large volumes). You'll need a file manager with support. OTG (for example, FX File Manager).

Cloud services have the advantage of accessing photos from any device and automatically backing up, with Internet dependency and limited free space. OTG-drives are convenient for one-time transfer of a large amount of data (for example, after a vacation).

7. Solving problems: map not identified, photo not saved

Even after the right setup, there can be failures, and let's look at the typical errors and their solutions:

If none of these methods worked, try resetting the camera settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Camera → Storage.
2. Click Clear Data and Clear Cache.
3. Restart the phone and reset the save path.

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If the memory card has been used in another device (for example, in a camera), it must be formatted in the phone.

Frequently asked questions