Xiaomi Redmi 7A — budget smartphone with 16 or 32 GB of internal memory, which is often not enough to install modern games. SD-The map seems to be a logical solution, but in MIUI (Especially on Android 9 Pie, this process is nuanced, unlike the new Xiaomi models, where the application portability function is blocked completely, in Redmi. 7A There are still workarounds — but they require proper memory card setup and sometimes manual intervention.
In this article you will find 3 Proven method of installing games on SD-Card: from standard formatting as an internal drive to use ADB-We'll also look at why some games (like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) don't work with external memory, and what to do about it. MIUI 10/11 Android-based 9 — on custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) the algorithm may differ.
1. Preparation SD-maps: selection and formatting
Before you transfer games, you need to properly prepare the memory card. Xiaomi Redmi 7A supports microSD up to 256 GB (officially up to 128 GB), but for installing applications critical not size, but speed class.
- 🔹 Class 10 (UHS-I U1) — The minimum threshold for most games is Brawl Stars, Clash of Clans.
- 🔹 UHS-I U3 / A1/A2 — Recommended for heavy projects (PUBG Mobile, Free Fire Cards marked A2 Optimized for randomly writing small files (like in games).
- 🔹 64–128 GB. 32 GB cards will fill up quickly, and 256 GB may not be recognized (depending on firmware).
Before using the card, be sure to format it in your smartphone.
- Put it in. SD-slot-card SIM or in a hybrid slot, if 1 is used SIM).
- Go to the Settings → Storage → Storage → Storage.
- Tap it on. SD-map → Formatting as an internal storage device.
- Warning: After that, the card will be encrypted and will not be read on other devices without formatting!
⚠️ Note: If you choose formatting as a portable drive, you can't install games on the map, just media files.
Method 2: Standard Transfer through Android Settings
The easiest way is to use the built-in application portability feature, but in MIUI 10/11, it doesn't work with all games.
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the game you want to migrate (such as Subway Surfers).
- Slip the vault. → Change. → SD-map.
- Confirm the transfer. The process may take a few minutes.
Limitations of the method:
- 🚫 Works only with games that support transfer (usually lightweight projects).
- 🚫 System applications and some games (such as Among Us) do not have portability.
- 🚫 After transferring some data (cache, updates) can remain in internal memory.
The game supports transfer (there is a button "Change" in the storage)
Nana SD-enough space (at least 2 times the size of the game)
The card is formatted as an internal drive
Smartphone connected to charging (transferring large games drains the battery)-->
If the Change button is inactive, try the following methods:
Method 2: Forced transfer via ADB (for experienced)
For games that don’t want to move in the standard way, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a PC and enabled debugging over USB, but allows you to transfer even those games that block movement.
Steps:
- Turn on Developer Mode on Redmi 7A: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. Tap on version 7 times until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
Settings → Additional → For Developers
- USB debugging
- Allow debugging (when connected to USB)
- Connect your smartphone to your PC, install Xiaomi drivers (if necessary) and download ADB Tools.
- Open the command line in the ADB folder and type: Adb devices Make sure the device is identified (should appear its serial number).
- Enter the transfer command (replace com.example.game with the game package, for example com.supercell.clashofclans): adb shell pm set-install-location 2 adb shell pm move-package com.example.game
💡
Before use Link2SD smash SD-map in two sections: first (FAT32) — for the media, second (ext2/ext4) — This can be done through the MiniTool Partition Wizard on PC.
5.Why are games not set to SD-map: common problems
Even after the right setup SD-Some games refuse to be installed or run from external memory:
- 🛑 Games like Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings check file integrity and block startups from being used. SD-Cards due to risk of modification APK.
- 🛑 Limitations MIUI. Xiaomi firmware artificially blocks the portability of some applications, even if Android allows it.
- 🛑 Lack of card speed: High-demand games (like Call of Duty Mobile) can slow down or fly out on slow-motion class cards U1.
- 🛑 Updates via Google Play. Once a game is ported, updates can be automatically installed in internal memory.
Decisions:
- 🔧 For games with protection: try to set them to internal memory and then transfer the cache to the computer. SD through settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache → Transfer media.
- 🔧 If the game crashes: check the speed of the card using A1 SD Bench.At rates below 10 MB / s, card replacement is mandatory.
- 🔧 For updates: disable auto-update for a specific game on Google Play or transfer it back to internal memory before the update.
💡
Online gaming (PUBG, Free Fire, COD Mobile is more likely to block work with SD-It's better to use an internal memory or a class card. A2.
6. Alternative solutions: how to make room without SD-map
If the games are transferred SD-The card did not help or the card did not, use these methods to free up memory:
- 🗑️ Cleaning the game cache. → Select the game and tap Clear the cache. PUBG Mobile cache can take up to 2 GB.
- 🗑️ Delete unnecessary data. In the same tab, click Warehouse. → Delete data (beware – it will reset progress!).
- 🗑️ Transfer media files. Photos, videos and music move to SD-Map or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
- 🗑️ Use Lite versions. Replace heavy games with lighter versions: PUBG Mobile Lite (300 MB instead of 1.5 GB) Facebook Lite (2 MB instead of 100 MB) Messenger Lite