How to install the game on the flash drive Xiaomi Redmi: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi smartphones often face a shortage of internal memory, especially when installing modern “heavy” games that take up tens of gigabytes. The standard boot procedure from Google Play automatically places files on the internal drive, ignoring the inserted SD-This results in constant notifications of space shortages and slowing down of the system.

Fortunately, the Android operating system and the MIUI shell (or the new HyperOS) provide tools to change the default install path. However, the process is not always obvious and requires a number of specific settings that are hidden from the average user.

There are several approaches: from standard developer settings to use ADB-It's important to understand that not all applications support external drive, but for games, this is often the only way out. We'll look at both the software and hardware nuances of working with flash memory.

Preparation of memory card and smartphone for work

Before trying to transfer games, you need to properly prepare the drive itself. Store-bought flash card can be formatted in a file system that is not optimal for working with Android applications.

Put the card into the slot and wait for the system to notify. If the notification does not appear, go to the storage settings manually. You need to select the option "Use as internal storage" (if available) or simply format the device. For games, read and write speed is critical, so use UHS-I or UHS-II cards at a speed of at least 90 MB / s.

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Use memory cards only from proven brands (Samsung, SanDisk, Kingston). Cheap counterparts with AliExpress often have real capacity 10 times less than claimed, which will damage game saves.

Once formatted, the system will create a special secure folder, which allows direct access to the game files through a computer without unmounting the card, which can be difficult due to encryption, which is a normal security measure of Android, preventing the theft of application data.

Setup of installation paths in MIUI and HyperOS

In modern versions of shells from Xiaomi hidden a direct button "Install everything on" SD-However, you can try to change the priority through the developer menu. To activate this menu, you need to quickly click seven times on the build number in the About Phone section".

Once activated, go to the advanced settings and find "Developers" and scroll down to the block associated with the storage. There may be the option "Default to use external storage." If the switch is active, new applications will try to install on the map.

It's worth noting that this setup is no guarantee of success, because many modern games have rigidly defined manifesto paths that ignore system preferences, and this would require more in-depth intervention through file managers or ADBs.

Using File Managers for Transfer

If standard methods don't work, you can try to migrate the game you already installed manually, which requires an advanced file manager, such as MT Manager or Total Commander, and a standard Explorer may not have the rights to move the system folders.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• 📂 Find a folder with the game cache Android/obb or Android/data inner-memory.
• 📂 Copy the folder with the game data on SD-catalogue Android/obb.
• 📂 Remove the original folder from internal memory (pre-backup).
• 📂 Start the game and check if resources are being loaded from a new location.

⚠️ Note: When manually moving the data and obb folders, the game may stop running or issue a license verification error.This happens if the application checks the integrity of the file path.

Some users use special scripting utilities that create symbolic links (symlink), which makes the system think that the files are in internal memory, although they are physically on a flash drive, but creating such links often requires Root rights, obtaining which voids the warranty.

Forced installation via ADB (for advanced)

The most reliable, but challenging, method is to use USB debugging and a computer, and you'll need a Platform Tools (ADB) package on your PC and enabled USB debugging on your smartphone, which allows you to change the global package installation variable.

Connect the phone to your computer and open the command line. Enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

After confirming on the phone screen (you need to click "Allow"), enter the command to change the default path:

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

Here, the number 2 indicates the priority of the external card, 0 is the automatic choice, 1 is only the internal memory.

It is important to understand that after a device reboot, settings through ADB may reset depending on the Android version. Also, some Xiaomi system components may ignore this security flag. Use this method with caution so as not to damage system files.

Comparison of data transfer methods

To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have systematized the methods in a table, each of which has its own advantages and risks that should be considered before starting the procedure.

As you can see from the table, for the average user, the most secure is the combined method: formatting the map as an internal storage and manually moving the cache of heavy games. ADB Justified only if other methods have not produced results.

Typical errors and problems in installation

A common problem is when the game has downloaded, but when it starts, it requires pumping resources, filling the internal memory again, which means that the game's cache was not transferred correctly, in which case you need to search for the folder with the name of the package (for example, com.gameloft.android) and move it.

Another mistake is using a low-speed memory card, and games, especially open-world ones, are constantly loading textures. If the card reads at a low speed, you'll see friezes, long downloads, and even app crashes. 3D-The game is 30 MB/s, otherwise lags are inevitable.

There is also a problem with access rights in Android 11 and later, which restricts applications from accessing the Android folder on an external medium, and bypassing this restriction may require the use of special file managers who are able to request advanced permissions through the SAF system window.

Optimization of games from external storage

After successfully transferring games, it is recommended to defragment the memory card (if the file system allows) or simply check it for errors through the phone settings, this will improve the response rate, and it is also worth turning off energy saving for games, since working with an external controller can consume more energy.

Watch the temperature of your smartphone. Active recording and reading from a flash drive puts additional strain on the power controller. If you notice a strong heating in the area of the card slot, it may be worth taking a break or lowering the graphics settings in the game.

⚠️ Warning: Never remove a memory card during the game or installation process, guaranteed to corrupt the file system and lose game progress.

Check the free space regularly. Fragmentation of files on a filled card reduces performance. Try to keep at least 10-15% of the card volume free for normal file system operation and caching.

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The most stable result is the use of a high-quality UHS-I U3 memory card in combination with manual transfer of OBB and Data folders after initial installation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)