How to set up games SD-Map with Play Market on Xiaomi smartphones: the full guide

Installation of games SD-A card instead of internal memory is a pressing task for owners of Xiaomi smartphones with limited storage capacity. Even the flagship models of Redmi, Poco or Mi eventually face a shortage of space due to heavy games like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile or the other. PUBG. However, Google Play by default blocks the installation of applications on external drives due to the limitations of Android, and the shell MIUI adds its nuances.

In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to transfer games to a memory card, from standard MIUI functions to workarounds using ADB and third-party tools. Separately, we will focus on the limitations (not all games support portability), risks (data loss when retrieving SD) and optimal settings for Xiaomi models based on Android 12/13/14. If you use the card as an internal storage (Adoptable Storage), please note: this can lead to failures when updating MIUI.

Why Play Markets Don’t Allow Games to Be Introduced SD-map?

The main reason is Google’s security policy. With Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the company has banned the installation of applications on external drives by default, leaving this option to the discretion of developers. Most games (especially those with high performance requirements) are ignored. SD-maps, because:

• 🔹 Low reading/writing speed: even UHS-I or A2-The cards are slower than the built-in memory eMMC/UFS, What is critical for open world games.
• 🔹 Data Damage Risk: If the card is suddenly removed, the game may lose saves or stop running.
• 🔹 Limitations MIUI: Xiaomi’s shell blocks the portability of system applications and some games (e.g., Honor of Kings or Free Fire).

But there are workarounds, for example, you can force the SD-map as a place of installation through ADB or use it as an extension of internal memory (but this is fraught with problems with updates) MIUI). Some games (such as Minecraft or Brawl Stars) also allow you to manually transfer cache to a memory card.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using SD-card as internal storage (formatting as Adoptable Storage), after extracting the card, the Xiaomi smartphone may stop loading or require a factory reset. MIUI 12+.

Preparation of SD-card for installing games on Xiaomi

Before transferring games, make sure your SD-card meets the requirements:

• 📌 Speed class: minimum Class 10 or UHS-I (optimally — A2 for fast recording of small files).
• 📌 Volume: from 32 GB (for modern games like Genshin Impact you need 64-128 GB).
• 📌 Formatting: in FAT32 (for compatibility) or exFAT (for files) >4GB).

To check the map on Xiaomi:

1. Put it in. SD-card slot (on models Redmi Note 10 Pro, Poco) X3 Pro and newer cards up to 1 TB are supported).
2. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
3. Click Format as internal storage (optional, but will increase compatibility).

⚠️ Attention: Formatting SD-The card as an internal storage will lead to its encryption. Once retrieved, the card will not be read on another device without resetting Xiaomi.

Method 1: Transfer games through MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI feature to port games already installed, and unfortunately it doesn’t work with all apps (for example, Clash of Clans is portable, but Asphalt 9 is not).

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose the game you want to migrate (such as Roblox or Among Us).
3. Click Warehouse → Change → Memory Map.
4. Confirm the transfer. The process may take a few minutes.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Does not work with games that explicitly block portability (e.g. Fortnite or Diablo Immortal).
• 🚫 Some data (cache, storage) may remain in internal memory.
• 🚫 After the transfer, the game may slow down if SD-slow-card.

Make sure the game supports the transfer

Check the vacant space for SD-card (minimum 2)× game-play)

Close the game before the transfer

Make a backup of the saves (if important)

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Method 2: Forced SD installation via ADB (for experienced)

If the game is not transferred through MIUI, You can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — A debugging tool that allows you to change your application installation settings. USB-Debugging and running on all Xiaomi models (including Redmi) K50, Poco X4 Pro and others.).

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and press 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and include USB-debugging.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC, install it ADB Tools and execute the command: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This command forcibly installs all new applications on the site. SD-map.
4. To return the installation to internal memory, use: adb shell pm set-install-location

Important nuances:

• 🔧 The set-install-location 2 command only works for new installations.
• 🔧 Some games, for example, Pokémon GO) They may refuse to start with SD-card for cheating protection.
• 🔧 After updating MIUI setting ADB may throw off.

Method 3: Use SD-The card is an internal memory (adoptable storage)

This method allows the system to be “deceived” by making it perceive SD-map as part of internal storage. Suitable for Xiaomi Android models 9–11 (Android 12+ and MIUI 13/14 The function may be unstable).

How to set up:

1. Put it in. SD-phone-card.
2. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
3. Select Format as internal storage (all data on the map will be deleted!).
4. Once formatted, the map will become part of the system, and the games will be installed on it automatically.

Benefits and risks:

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with MIUI 14 Android 13/14 Adoptable Storage may not work properly. Check reviews for your model (e.g. Redmi Note) before using it. 12 POCO F4) forum-like 4PDA.

Method 4: Hand-transfer of cache and game data

If the game itself is not portable, you can try moving its cache and additional files (for example, graphics packages in Call of Duty Mobile or Genshin Impact).

Instructions:

1. Install the file manager and give it access to the root folders (MIUI may require permission in Settings → Applications → Permissions).
2. Go to the game data folder. The path usually goes like this: /Android/data/[game package name] For example, for Genshin Impact it's /Android/data/com.mihoyo.GenshinImpact.
3. Copy the folder with the data on SD-map (e.g. in the /SDCard/Android/obb).
4. In some games (such as Asphalt 9), you need to manually specify a new path to the files in the game settings.

Games that support manual cache transfer:

• 🎮 Genshin Impact (Folder com.mihoyo.GenshinImpact)
• 🎮 Call of Duty Mobile (Folder com.activision.callofduty.shooter)
• 🎮 PUBG Mobile (folder com.tencent.ig)
• 🎮 Minecraft (folder com.mojang.minecraftpe)

💡

Before you copy the cache, close the game and clear it of multitasking, otherwise the files may get corrupted and the game will have to be reinstalled.

Problem Solving: Games are not installed or slowed down with SD-map

If, after the transfer of the game, SD-You have encountered errors, check the following points:

If the game still doesn't work:

1. Check if the game supports SD installation (for example, Clash Royale works, and Apex Legends Mobile does not).
2. Update MIUI to the latest version (new versions have improved support for external drives).
3. Try another one. SD-map (e.g. SanDisk Extreme) A2 Kingston Class 10 instead).

💡

If the game is transferred to SD-The card is slowing down, try to transfer only the cache, leaving the main files in the internal memory, which will reduce the load on the card and improve performance.

FAQ: Frequent questions about installing games SD-Xiaomi