How to install games on the memory card Xiaomi: full instructions with nuances

Why Xiaomi Games Aren't Always Set to Play SD-map and what to do about it

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a problem: even after inserting microSD games by default are installed in internal memory, quickly clogging it. MIUI. Since Android 6.0, Google has limited the ability to fully port applications to external media for security reasons, but Xiaomi has workarounds, which we will take apart.

It's important to understand that not all games support memory card installation. Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile require high read/write speeds, so developers block this ability. But for most casual games (like Candy Crush or Clash Royale), the transfer is quite real. The main thing is to prepare the map and configure the system correctly.

In this article, we will look at:

• 🔹 How to check the compatibility of your Xiaomi model with installing games on the SD
• 🔹 Step-by-step formatting of the memory card for needs MIUI
• 🔹 Hidden settings that let you get around Android restrictions
• 🔹 Solved errors (like “Not enough space” with a free card)

Warning: on some devices (for example, POCO F5 Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+) It may require unlocking the bootloader to have full memory control, but in 90% of cases, standard methods will suffice.

What memory cards are suitable for installing games on Xiaomi

Not every microSD can handle the load of modern games, and Xiaomi is critical to follow three parameters:

1. Speed class: minimum UHS-I (U1), better U3 or A2. Class cards C10 marking UHS They are only suitable for easy games.
2. Capacity: from 64 GB. At 32 GB, games will quickly fill the space, and 128 GB and above will give you room for updates.
3. Format: exFAT only or FAT32 (The latter does not support files. >4GB, which is critical for GTA San Andreas or PUBG Mobile).

Here is the table of compatibility of popular maps with Xiaomi models (tested on the maps). MIUI 14/15):

Important: No-name brand cards (like "SmartBuy" or "Unitek") often fake class markings. Check speed through the app A1 SD Bench – if the record is below 10 MB/s, the game will lay down.

⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi with Snapdragon chipset 4xx (Like Redmi. 9A) class-card A2 They can be slow because of the limitations of the memory controller, and in such cases, it is better not to transfer games, but to use them. SD media-only.

Preparation of a memory card: formatting and setting up in MIUI

Before installing games, the map needs to be formatted correctly, so don't miss this step, because the wrong format will lead to errors like "Application not installed."

Instructions for MIUI 14/15:

1. Insert the card into the slot (on some models, for example) POCO X3 Pro, you need to use the second slot for SIM hybrid).
2. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
3. Click Format as internal (this is important! conventional formatting will not work).
4. Select exFAT (if you have a choice) and confirm.
5. After formatting, restart the phone.

Why "as an internal" mode allows Android to be viewed SD-The card is part of the main memory, which allows you to install games on it).

Insert the card into the slot (check that the contacts are clean)

Formatting as internal memory in settings MIUI

Select the exFAT file system (if available)

Reboot the phone after formatting

Check the free space through "Settings" → Memory"-->

If the option to format as internal is not available, then:

• 📱 Your Xiaomi model doesn’t support this feature (relevant for Android Go devices like Redmi). A1).
• 🔄 The card is already formatted as portable – try formatting it on a PC in exFAT, then pasting it back in.
• 🔧 V MIUI Developer Option disabled. To enable it, go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and tap 7 times on the build number. → Additionally. → For developers, activate Allow formatting as internal.

⚠️ Note: Once the map is formatted as internal, all data on it will be erased! Back up important files in advance. Also note that some games (such as Honor of Kings) may fail to work from external memory due to anti-cheats.

How to install games on a memory card Xiaomi

There are three main methods of transferring games to SD-The effectiveness of the map depends on the version. MIUI and smartphone models.

Method 1: Standard Transfer through Settings (for supported games)

It is suitable for games that initially allow you to choose the installation location (for example, Brawl Stars or Asphalt 9).

1. Download the game from Google Play, but don’t launch it.
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Find the game on the list and tap it.
4. Select Warehouse. → Change. → Memory map.
5. Confirm the transfer and wait until it is completed.

Limitation: This only works for games that support portability. If the Change option is inactive, try other methods.

Method 2: Installation via ADB (for power users)

If standard portability is not available, you can force Android to install games on the Internet. SD Using Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on PC (you can download from the official website).
2. Turn on the debugging. USB on Xiaomi (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This command forces the system to install applications on the PC by default. SD-map.
4. Reboot the phone.

To return the installation to internal memory, use the command:

adb shell pm set-install-location 0

Method 3: Use of a file manager (for the purpose of APK and OBB)

If the game is downloaded in form APK + OBB (for example, PUBG Mobile from the official site, you can manually transfer files to the SD.

1. Download. APK and OBB-Game file (usually an archive with the.obb extension).
2. Connect your phone to your PC or use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager).
3. Create on SD-folder Android/obb/[title game package game (e.g, Android/obb/com.tencent.ig for PUBG).
4. Move it. OBB-file.
5. Install. APK, when requesting the place of installation SD.

Critical nuance: some games (such as Mobile Legends) test integrity OBB-files when you start up. SD, If the game is in the internal memory, there may be an error (APK and OBB) must be on the same carrier.

Solving common errors when installing games SD

Even after you've set up the right thing, you can have problems, and we can look at the most common ones and the ways to solve them.

Errors are especially common on devices with MIUI Global Stable, where some features are limited. MIUI China EU-rum, problems are usually less.

💡

If the game is transferred to SD It starts to slow down, try turning off the background optimization for it. → Annexes → Application management → [play-name] → Battery → No restrictions.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi with dynamic memory (RAM Expansion (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) play-off SD It can interfere with the virtual RAM. RAM Expansion in Settings → Additionally. → Expanding RAM before installation.

Optimizing the performance of games SD-map

Installing the game on a memory card is only half the battle, and in order for the game to work smoothly, you need to optimize the settings of Xiaomi and the map itself.

Here are the key recommendations:

• 🔧 Turn off autocleaning the cache for the game: Settings → Annexes → [play-name] → Cleanup → Auto-cleaning → Shut down.
• ⚡ Activate Performance Mode: Settings → Battery → Performance mode → Games.
• 📱 Ban it. MIUI Optimize the game: Settings → Annexes → [play-name] → Battery → No restrictions.
• 🔄 Regularly defragment the card (once a month) via PC using the SD Formatter.

It is also worth noting that Xiaomi is AMOLED-screens (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra or POCO F4 GT) play SD They may consume more batteries because of the pixel control features. To save charge, reduce the refresh rate of the screen to 60 Hz in the display settings.

For heavy games (like Genshin Impact or Diablo Immortal) even on class maps A2 You may be slowing down:

1. Move it to SD only OBB-Files, and leave the game in your internal memory.
2. Use the Game Turbo (built-in) MIUI game appendix for resource allocation.
3. Close all background applications before launching the game.

💡

Class memory cards A2 (For example, SanDisk Extreme gives an increase in productivity to 30% compared A1 But even those games can't match the speed of internal memory. UFS 2.2/3.1.

Alternative solutions: cloud games and external drives

If the transfer is SD Does not help or your Xiaomi model does not support this feature, consider alternatives:

• ☁️ Cloud Gaming: Services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or NVIDIA GeForce NOW - allow you to play without installation. Minus - you need a stable Internet (from 15 Mbps).
• 💾 Outside SSD: Through OTG-The adapter can be connected to an external drive (for example, Samsung). T7 Shield) and install games on it. It's faster than a microSD.
• 📱 Cleaning Internal Memory: Delete Unnecessary Files through Settings → Memory. → Cleaning or using Mi Cleaner.

For cloud gaming on Xiaomi, we recommend:

• Use Wi-Fi 6 (on models like Xiaomi 13 Pro or Wi-Fi 6) POCO F4 GT).
• Connect a gamepad (such as Xiaomi Game Controller) for convenience.
• Activate Game Mode in Game Turbo to reduce delays.

If you choose an external SSD, Pay attention to the models with USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (speeds up to 10 Gbps:

• Samsung T7 Shield (1TB, impact-resistant)
• WD Black P50 (perfect for heavy play)
• SanDisk Extreme Pro (compact, speed 1050 MB/s)

⚠️ Attention: When using external SSD through OTG Watch the battery level, because these drives consume a lot of power. ≤4000mAh (e.g. Mi 11 Lite) is better played from the net.

Frequently asked questions