How to combine Xiaomi phone memory with microSD card: all the ways and nuances

Have you bought a Xiaomi smartphone with limited internal memory and want to expand it with a microSD card? Or have you already inserted a drive but the system does not offer the option of combining? In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to integrate external memory into MIUI, including hidden settings, restrictions of different firmware versions and solving typical problems.

It’s important to understand that Xiaomi’s memory pooling technology (aka Adoptable Storage) doesn’t work like it does in pure Android. The manufacturer has modified this mechanism, so instructions for other brands won’t work here. We tested all methods on devices with MIUI 12–14 (including Redmi Note 10/11/12, Poco X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12) and found key differences.

If your smartphone doesn't offer the option of combining the first time you connect a card, it's not a mistake. Chances are that your model fell under the restrictions of Xiaomi (the list of such devices below), but even then there are workarounds, from manual formatting through ADB to using third-party utilities.

1 Which Xiaomi models support microSD memory integration

Not all Xiaomi smartphones allow you to combine internal memory with a microSD card. The manufacturer has officially disabled this feature for a number of models, citing “performance optimization.”

If your model isn't on the supported list, it doesn't mean that unification is impossible. - For example, on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ The function is hidden in the engineering menu, and on Poco F4 GT It can be activated through ADB-Detailed instructions for such cases are in the next section.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with UFS 3.1 (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro) memory integration can result in a 30-40 percent reduction in read/write speed.

2. microSD card preparation: which drives are suitable

Not every memory card is compatible with Adoptable Storage technology. To work on Xiaomi, the drive must meet the following requirements:

• 🔹 Speed class: not lower A1 (recommended A2 or UHS-I U3). Class cards C10 or U1 They'll work slowly.
• 🔹 Capacity: from 32 GB to 2 TB. The optimal option is 128-256 GB (balance of price and performance).
• 🔹 Manufacturer: give preference to Samsung EVO, SanDisk Extreme, Kingston Canvas. - Cheap no-name cards often cause errors.
• 🔹 Format: the card must be formatted in exFAT or FAT32 (The system will offer the desired format when setting up).

Before buying, check the card for authenticity with H2testw (Windows) or F3 (Linux/macOS). Counterfeit cards often have understated real capacity and speed. For example, a "256 GB" card may be relabeled 32 GB.

If you have already inserted a card into your phone, but the system does not see it:

1. Remove and re-insert the card (check to keep the contacts clean).
2. Reboot your smartphone.
3. Try formatting the card on a PC in FAT32 (if capacity is ≤ 32 GB) or exFAT (if > 32 GB).

⚠️ Note: If you have previously used the card on another device (for example, in a camera or recorder), be sure to format it on your phone.

3. Step-by-step instruction: how to combine memory through MIUI settings

If your Xiaomi model officially supports the unification, follow this instruction. The process will take 5-10 minutes, but all data from the card will be deleted - copy it to your PC in advance.

Steps to unify:

1. Insert the microSD card into the slot (some models require a reboot).
2. Open Settings → Memory (or Settings → Storage in new versions of MIUI).
3. Tap on the name of your card (for example, "SD-map: 128GB").
4. Choose Format as internal memory (or Expand internal memory in MIUI 14).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the formatting to be completed (may take up to 5 minutes).
6. After restarting, check the total memory in Settings → About Phone → Memory.

If the item is not formatted as internal memory:

• 🔧 Try to update. MIUI Update (sometimes the function appears after the update).
• 🔧 Restart your phone in Safe Mode (hold the switch off button) → "Restart in Safe Mode" and repeat the steps.
• 🔧 Use the method with ADB (described in the following section).

💡

If applications are slowly opening after combining, move them back to internal memory: Settings → Applications → [Select App] → Storage → Change → Internal Memory

Alternative method: ADB integration (for supported models)

If your Xiaomi doesn’t offer a menu merge option, it can be forced to activate via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which works on 80% of devices, but requires a computer and basic command line skills.

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → tap 7 times on the assembly number → Go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🛠 Utility. ADB Tools (download from the official website).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and allow debugging (a request will appear on the phone screen).
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the adb folder.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Find out your card ID: adb shell sm list-disks Example of response: disk:179.64 (remember this value).
5. Format the card as internal memory: adb shell sm partition disk:179.64 private Replace 179.64 with your ID.
6. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

After restarting, check the total memory capacity. If errors occur (for example, the card is not determined), reset via adb shell sm forget disk:179.64 (replace the ID) and repeat the process.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) after ADB-The unification may not be possible to write to the card through the file manager. Solution: use adb shell sm set-force-adoptable true before formatting.

5 How to transfer applications and data to combined memory

Once internal memory is successfully combined with microSD, you can transfer applications, games and media to it.

• 📱 Applications: not all programs support portability. System applications (e.g. Settings or Phone) cannot be moved.
• 🎮 Games: You can move, but texture loading can slow down (especially in Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile).
• 📷 Photos/video: automatically saved to combined memory, if you select it in the camera settings.
• 🎵 Music: transferable without loss of quality, but can slow down when playing from a class card C10.

To move the application:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as WhatsApp).
3. Slip the vault. → Change. → Memory map.
4. Confirm the transfer and wait until it is completed.

A critical nuance: once an application is transferred to a map, its updates may not work stable, for example, Google Play sometimes issues an error "failed to update" (code 924), the solution is to temporarily return the application to internal memory, update it, and then migrate again.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even after successful memory integration, Xiaomi users are faced with bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• 🔄 "Memory card suddenly shuts down": Check the physical connection (try another card). disable Battery Optimization for File Manager (Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Update the files. MIUI last-minute.
• 🚫 "You can’t install the app on the map”: Check that the card is formatted as internal (Settings) → Memory. Clear the Google Play Store cache. Delete and re-add your Google account.
• 🐢 "Phone brakes after combining": Move heavy games (like Genshin Impact) back to internal memory. disable animations in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (slip 5 times → Windows animation: Off. Use a class map A2 (For example, SanDisk Extreme A2).

If the card is no longer defined after the MIUI update:

1. Reboot your phone in Recovery Mode (hold Power + Volume up).
2. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
3. Reset the device.
4. If it doesn’t help, do the reset through ADB: adb shell sm forget [disk_ID] Then repeat the process of unification.

💡

If the phone overheats after the memory is combined, check the card for authenticity. ₽") Often cause 100% CPU load due to read/write errors.

7 How to Disconnect Memory and Bring Everything Back

If you decide to give up the combined memory (for example, due to slow operation or the need to use the card in another device), follow the following steps:

Method 1. Through MIUI settings:

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Slip on the combined map (it will be marked as "Inner Memory").
3. Select Format as Portable (or Disconnect in MIUI 14).
4. Confirm the action. All data from the map will be deleted!

Method 2. via ADB (if the first method does not work):

1. Connect your phone to your PC and activate debugging via USB.
2. Enter the command: adb shell sm list-volumes Find a line from private (e.g. private:179.65).
3. Disconnect Memory: Adb shell sm partition disk:179.65 public
4. Reboot the phone.

After separation:

• 📲 Applications that were on the map will stop working (they need to be reinstalled).
• 📁 Files (photos, videos, music) will remain on the map, but the path to them will change (for example, with the help of the map). /storage/emulated/0/... on /storage/1234-5678/...).
• 🔄 Some settings (such as wallpaper or ringtones) will reset to standard.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone stops loading after disconnection (hangs on the logo) MI), So, it means that the system files have been transferred to the map. Solution: connect the phone to the PC, launch it. ADB and execute the command adb shell sm set-force-adoptable false, then repeat the disconnection.

8.Alternatives to Unification: Other Ways to Expand Memory

If memory integration is not suitable (for example, due to slow operation or model incompatibility), consider alternative options:

• 🔗 Symbolic Links (symlink): Using ADB Or FolderMount applications can create bridges between the internal memory and the card. /sdcard/DCIM It will be physically on the map, but the system will see it as part of the internal memory.
• 🖥 Cloud storage: Google Drive, Mi Cloud or Yandex Disk allow you to automatically upload photos/video. → Settings → Backup. Free 5 to 15 GB.
• 📁 Manual file transfer: Use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer) to regularly transfer heavy files (movies, music) to the map.
• 🔄 OTG-Drives: Connect a flash drive or external SSD through USB-C/OTG. Xiaomi is supported NTFS The read/write speed will be faster than that of a microSD, but the media should always be carried with you.

For games (such as Call of Duty Mobile or Genshin Impact), the best option is to use an external SSD via OTG. Tests show that the load speed of textures with the Samsung T7 Shield (1050 MB / s) is 5-7 times faster than with a microSD UHS-I card (90 MB / s).

💡

If you often shoot videos in 4K/8K, set up automatic saving for OTG-Driver: connect the flash drive, open the camera → Settings → Preservation site → USB-It saves space in the internal memory.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions