How to install the application on the flash drive in the phone Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Installing applications on an external storage device (microSD) in Xiaomi smartphones is a pressing task for owners of devices with a small amount of internal memory. Although modern Redmi and POCO models are equipped with 128-256 GB of ROM, budget versions (for example, Redmi 9A or POCO C50) are often limited to 32-64 GB, of which less than half are available to the user. Transferring programs to a flash drive allows you to free up internal memory, but in Android (especially in MIUI firmware), this process has nuances.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to install applications on a memory card in Xiaomi – from standard system functions to advanced methods using ADB. You will learn which programs can be transferred and which will remain in internal memory, how to avoid errors when mounting a flash drive as internal storage, and what to do if the system does not see the card. Separately, consider the unique firmware bug MIUI 13-14, which causes some applications to refuse to work with an external drive after an update.

Why Xiaomi does not allow you to install programs on a flash drive?

Restrictions on porting applications to a memory card in Xiaomi are related to the security policy of Android and the features of the MIUI firmware.

• 🔒 Data security: Applications installed on SD-card, easier to steal or replace (for example, through a card reader). MIUI Blocks the transfer of system and banking programs.
• 🚀 Performance: MicroSD (even class) A2) It is slower than the built-in memory UFS/eMMC. This can cause lags in games or heavy applications.
• 📱 Fragmentation of firmware: B MIUI 12-14 removed the function "Move to" SD" from the app menu, leaving only ADB or formatting the card as an internal storage facility.
• 🔄 System Updates: After Update MIUI Some migrated applications may stop running, requiring re-installation.

It is important to understand that even if you transfer the program to the flash drive, its cache and data (for example, save in games or settings messenger) will still occupy internal memory, you can only completely free ROM for “light” utilities like calculators or readers.

⚠️ Note: Formatting a microSD as an internal storage device binds it to a specific phone, and once the card is removed, the data on it will not be available even on another Xiaomi device.

Method 1: Formatting a flash drive as an internal storage device

This is Google's official method, supported by MIUI, but with reservations: the memory card becomes part of the system, and the applications can be installed directly on it, suitable for Xiaomi on Android 9-14.

Requirements:

• 📌 Class memory card UHS-I or A2 (SanDisk Ultra or Samsung recommended EVO Plus).
• 📌 At least 32 GB (on smaller cards, the system may refuse to format).
• 📌 Backup data from the flash drive - everything will be erased!

Step-by-step:

1. Insert a microSD into the phone slot (some Xiaomi models require a reboot to recognize the card).
2. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
3. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Storage Settings.
4. Click Format as Internal → Clean and Format.
5. After the process is complete, restart the phone.

Now, when installing apps from Google Play or APK-The system will ask you to select a storage location to transfer the already installed programs:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application → Warehouse → Change.
3. Indicate. SD-map and confirm the transfer.

The card supports Class A2/UHS-I

Card size ≥32 GB

Backup of data from the flash drive.

Battery charge ≥50%

The phone is not connected to the PC-->

Method 2: Transfer applications over ADB (without ROOT)

If MIUI doesn’t show portability in the app menu, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which works on all Xiaomi models (including the Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5), but requires a connection to a computer.

Preparation:

• 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC.
• 📱 In the phone, activate the Developer Mode: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times).
• 📱 Turn on Debugging. USB In Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

Instructions for transfer:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices must appear serial number of the device.
4. Find out the package name of the application (for example, for Telegram it is org.telegram.messenger). | grep "name of annex"
5. Move the app to SD-Map by command: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 (where 2 is the code of external storage).
6. Reinstall the application - it will automatically stand on the flash drive.

To return the application to internal memory, use:

adb shell pm set-install-location 0

⚠️ Note: Some apps (such as WhatsApp or Google Play Services) block porting to the Internet SD-map ADB. This will result in an error called Operation Not Allowed.

SanDisk Ultra (A1/A2)

Samsung EVO Plus

Kingston Canvas Go!

Another (write in the comments)

I don't use it.-->

Method 3: Using portability applications (without ROOT)

If previous methods have not worked, you can use third-party utilities.

How to use AppMgr III:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to the storage.
3. Go to the Movable tab, and you will see the programs that you can transfer.
4. Select the right ones and tap the Move to SD card.

Limitations:

• 🚫 Not all applications support portability (depending on the developer).
• 🚫 The widgets of the transferred programs may stop working.
• 🚫 After updating MIUI Some apps are “flying off” from the flash drive.

💡

Before transferring the application to the USB drive, check its size in Settings → Applications. If the program weighs less than 100 MB, it is not advisable to transfer it to the USB drive - space savings will be minimal.

Method 4: Manual installation of APK on a flash drive

If you don't want to be ported by standard methods, you can install it directly on the memory card.

1. Download. APK-Application file (e.g. from APKPure website).
2. Connect the phone to your PC and copy the file to the SDCard/Download folder.
3. Unplug your phone from your PC and open any file manager (such as Mi File Manager).
4. Find it. APK-file on the flash drive and tap it.
5. In the installation window, select Set on SD-Card (if the option is available).

If the option of selecting storage does not appear, use the ADB command to force installation on the flash drive:

adb install -s /sdcard/Download/ appendix.apk

Important:

• 📌 Set up. APK Only from verified sources (virus risk!).
• 📌 Some apps (such as Netflix or Banking apps) block installations from external sources.
• 📌 After installation, check the program operation - some may issue an error "Application not installed".

Method 5: Use ROOT-rights (for advanced)

If your Xiaomi has an unlocked bootloader and ROOT-access, you can force any application to the USB drive, including the system:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (instructions for Xiaomi here).
• 🔓 Installed by Magisk or SuperSU.
• 🔓 Annex Link2SD or Foldermount.

Instructions for Link2SD:

1. Install. Link2SD from Google Play and provide ROOT-access.
2. In the main menu, select the application you want to move.
3. Tap Create a link → select Application Data and APK.
4. Point the folder to SD-map (e.g., map, /sdcard/link2sd).
5. Reboot the phone.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Transfer any applications, including games.
• ✅ Ability to transfer cache and data.
• ✅ It works even on older models (Redmi). 4X, Mi A1).

Risks:

• ⚠️ Loss of warranty (if the phone is under warranty).
• ⚠️ Possibility of “bricking” in case of incorrect change of system files.
• ⚠️ Some banking applications (for example, Sberbank Online) refuse to work on phones with a mobile phone. ROOT.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with Dynamic RAM Expansion (e.g, POCO X4 Pro) transferring applications to a flash drive may conflict with virtual memory, causing occasional reboots.

💡

ROOT-Access gives you the maximum freedom to manage your memory, but it requires technical skills.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you install apps on a flash drive in Xiaomi, users face typical problems.

Additional advice:

• 🔄 If the application is lagging after transfer, try clearing its cache in Settings. → Annexes.
• 🔄 For games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), a transfer to a flash drive is not recommended - they will slow down.
• 🔄 If the card is not defined, try inserting it into another slot (some Xiaomi has a separate microSD slot that is not combined with the same slot). SIM).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions