Modern mobile applications, especially graphically rich games, require more and more free space in the internal memory of the smartphone. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices often face a shortage of gigabytes, even if the device initially seemed roomy. Transferring games to an external drive becomes not just a convenient option, but a necessity for comfortable use of the gadget.
In this guide, we will discuss how to install games on a Xiaomi flash drive using built-in system functions and third-party utilities. You will learn about the intricacies of the file system, the features of the MIUI and HyperOS shell, and the risks that exist when transferring data.
Before you start taking action, it’s important to understand that not all apps support external portability, and game developers can block this feature to ensure stability or protect against piracy, but for a large part of content from Google Play, the transfer procedure is accessible and secure.
Preparation of the drive and smartphone for work
The first step to expanding memory is to get the hardware right, and you'll need a microSD card with high write speed, because modern games require fast access to files, and slow cards can cause friezes and long levels to load.
Insert the memory card into the slot of your Xiaomi smartphone. If the device has already worked with this card, the system may suggest formatting it. Formatting completely removes all data from the memory card, so copy important photos and documents to your computer or cloud storage beforehand. After inserting, go to the settings menu.
Open the Settings section → The phone. → The storage. Here you'll see information about the internal memory occupation and SD-The system will offer to use the card as a portable storage or as internal memory. The second option is best for installing games, if your Android version and phone model support this feature.
⚠️ Warning: Using a card as internal memory will tie it to a particular device, so you can't just move the flash drive to another phone and start the games -- they won't work without reconfiguring.
The formatting process can take a few minutes. Don't remove the card or turn off the phone at this point. Once complete, the system will redistribute space, and part of the USB drive's volume will be available for app installation.
Storage settings in Android and MIUI
The interface of the MIUI shell may vary depending on the version of Android. In new versions of the system, Google has changed its policy on external drives, making the process more transparent for the user, but less flexible for modifications.
Go to Settings. → Memory, click on your name. SD-In the menu that opens, select "Use as internal storage" and the system will warn you of a decrease in speed compared to the built-in memory, as the connection interfaces may differ.
- 📱 Select the "Clean and Format" option to prepare the map.
- 🔄 Wait for the data migration process to be completed if the system offers to move the content immediately.
- ✅ Confirm the action by clicking "Use" in the dialog box that appears.
- 🔒 The system will create an encrypted partition accessible only to this smartphone.
Once you have successfully set up the storage menu, you will see a combined volume or clear separation, where the applications will be offered by default to install on the map, a critical step in making sure that new games are downloaded directly to the external media.
Why does the system warn of low speed?
Modern built-in smartphone drives use protocols UFS, This is a lot faster than most microSD cards, and when you install heavy games on a flash drive, the loading time of the levels can increase by a lot more. 10-20%.> Instructions for installing games via Google Play Now that the storage is set up, you can proceed to directly install games.The Google Play Store will automatically determine the priority location to install if you have set up SD-But in some cases, the settings may get lost, open the Play Market app and find the game you want, and the app page, under the "Install" button, may show your current storage. If it says "Inner Memory", click on the arrow or name to change the choice to yours. SD-You'll see progress bar as you download it. Once installed, go to the storage settings and check where the game is located. If it still gets into internal memory, it may be that the developer has banned the transfer. PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact, the main file can be installed on the map, but the cache (additional data) will remain inside. This is normal behavior of the Android security system. Transferring already installed games to the flash drive If the games are already installed and take up space, they can be moved without reinstallation. This is true for those who have decided to expand their memory after the fact. It takes a little time and requires attention. → Annexes → All applications. Find the game you want to migrate from the list. Click on it to open the application management page. Here you are interested in "Storage" or "Memory". Inside the app store menu, you will see the "Change" or "Move to" button. SD-If the button is active (not grey), press it. The system will copy the application files to an external drive and update the links in the registry. Data type can be transferred APK File (app body) Yes No game cache (Obb files) Partially Yes Progress Save Depends on game Often Yes Widgets on screen No Yes It is important to understand that not all games support portability. Button may not be available. This limitation is imposed by the developer, and it is impossible to bypass it by standard means. ⚠️ Note: Do not start the game or try to open it during the application port. Interrupting the process can cause file damage and the need for a complete reinstallation. Use of third-party file managers Standard tools MIUI Sometimes, it limits the user. For more subtle work with files, you can use advanced file managers such as Total Commander or FX File Explorer. They allow you to manually manage directories. With these tools, you can move folders with the game cache (usually located in the directory). Android/obb or Android/data) on SD-However, a symbolic link is often required to make a game see files in a new location, and new versions of Android require root rights to create links. Without them, the security system will not allow the application to read data from a random folder on the flash drive, considering it as someone else's. If you do not have root rights skills, it is better to limit yourself to standard transfer through settings. Manually moving files without link building will cause the game to stop running, giving a resource check error. The most common problem is that games are getting slower, it's because of the physical limitations of memory cards. The solution is one: using class cards. U3 or V30 Another problem is that the game icons disappear after the reboot, which can happen if the memory card didn't get installed before the system started. 🛑 Application Not Installed Error: Often occurs when the processor architecture and the game version are incompatible, or when the card file system is damaged. 🛑 Game flies out at launch: Probably lacks read speed. Try to put the game back into internal memory. 🛑 The system says "Memory is full": Check if the cache partition inside the phone is full, even if the flash drive itself. Sometimes Play Market tries to update the game, but can't access the external media. In this case, it helps to clear the cache of the app store itself through the settings menu. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Can WhatsApp be transferred to the USB drive? You can't completely transfer WhatsApp, because the messenger requires constant and fast access to the database. Some files can be moved manually, but the application itself will remain in internal memory. Will the game performance decrease after transfer? Yes, the loading time of levels can increase by 1-3 seconds. In open worlds, there can be micro-twitching when textures are loaded, if the messenger does not have a high memory, but the card is installed on the table, and if the card is not installed, but the game is damaged, if the game is not installed on the game with a high speed, and if the game is not installed on the game is a game running device, I will be damaged. To play, the card must always be inserted into the phone. How do you put it back into the internal memory? You have to go to the storage settings, you have to select the storage settings. SD-Click on “Clean and format as portable storage” or “Use as internal” (with subsequent transfer of data back).