How to transfer applications to a memory card in Xiaomi Redmi: all the ways of 2026

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi smartphones sooner or later face a shortage of internal memory — especially if the model is equipped with a modest 32 or 64 GB drive. Even after cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary files, the system stubbornly signals overflow. The solution seems obvious: move applications to a microSD card. But here users are waiting for an unpleasant surprise: in MIUI, this feature is either hidden or works with restrictions.

Why is that happening? It's a policy of Google and Xiaomi: starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, moving apps to the Internet. SD-The card has become less flexible because of changes in the permission system, and manufacturers including Xiaomi have tightened the rules further to avoid performance and security issues, but workarounds do exist, and we'll talk about them in more detail.

In this article you will find:

• 🔍 Official ways to port applications (including hidden settings) MIUI)
• 🛠️ Alternative methods for advanced users (including: ADB)
• ⚠️ Limitations and risks that the system does not warn about
• 📊 Comparison of application speed with internal memory and SD-map

1.Preparation: Which Memory Card is Right for Xiaomi Redmi

Not every microSD can handle the role of storage for applications. Xiaomi Redmi imposes strict requirements on speed and class of cards, if you ignore these parameters, the applications will slow down, and the system will give errors.

Minimum requirements for stable operation:

• 📁 Speed class: not lower UHS-I (U1) Or Class 10 — UHS-I (U3) or A2 (specially).
• 🔄 Volume: from 32 GB (but better 64 GB and higher, as part of the memory will take the system).
• 🛡️ Brand: Avoid no-name cards. Recommended manufacturers are SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, Lexar.

⚠️ Warning: ExFAT maps are not supported for application porting! MIUI requires formatting in FAT32 or ext4 (automatically selected when configured. If your card is formatted in NTFS, It will have to be re-formatted, losing all data.

Before buying, check whether your Redmi model is compatible with large-volume cards. For example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro supports microSD up to 512 GB, and older models like the Redmi 5A only up to 256 GB. This information is listed in the official specifications on the Xiaomi website.

2.Official method: transfer via MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, but it doesn’t work with all applications and has limitations, such as system programs like Google Play Services or MIUI Launcher that can’t be moved.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to migrate (like Facebook or VK).
3. Slip on Warehouse.
4. If the option is available, you will see the button Move to SD-Map (or Modify in new versions) MIUI).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

⚠️ Note: After the transfer, some features of the application may not work correctly. For example, widgets will stop updating and notifications will come with a delay.

List of applications that cannot be transferred in an official way:

• 🚫 System utilities (Settings, Phone, Messages).
• 🚫 Applications with administrator rights (such as Clean Master or antiviruses).
• 🚫 Games with high performance requirements (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact).
• 🚫 Programmes using OBB-Files (additional data for games).

3. Hidden settings MIUI: formatting SD-maps as internal memory

If standard portability doesn't work, you can go further and format the memory card as an internal storage, and then the system will perceive it as part of the main memory, and most of the restrictions will be removed.

• ✅ Applications will work faster than normal transfer.
• ❌ The card cannot be retrieved without losing data (it will become "tied" to the phone).
• ❌ Not all Redmi models support this mode (e.g., Redmi models). 9A option may not be available).

How to activate this mode:

1. Insert microSD into the slot (if the card is already in use, copy the data to the PC – it will be erased!).
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
3. Tap your name on it. SD-maps (e.g. SanDisk) 128GB).
4. In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select Storage Settings.
5. Select the internal memory and follow the system instructions.
6. After formatting, restart the phone.

Important: After this operation, the card will be encrypted and not read on other devices (including the computer), and to return it to its original state, you will have to format it again via the PC.

Comparison of application speed in different modes:

Advanced method: transfer through ADB (without root)

If previous methods didn’t work, you can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool, which is Google’s official utility that allows you to control your smartphone through a computer.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original or qualitative analogue).
• 📦 Utility. ADB (You can download from the official Google website).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB phone-on.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode on Redmi: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and enable USB Debugging.

Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in the device.

cmd

ADB

adb devices

The serial number of your Redmi should appear.

package name

App Inspector

Google Play

com.example.app

adb shell pm set-install-location 2


adb shell pm move-package com.example.app

⚠️ Note: Some apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) after being migrated ADB You may lose access to notifications or media files. Before the procedure, make a backup copy of the chats!

💡

If the pm move-package command is a Failure error [INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_INSTALL_LOCATION], So the application doesn't support portability. Try another method or drop the idea for that particular software.

5. Transfer of cache and application data (OBB-file)

Many games and programs store additional data in folders. Android/obb or Android/data. These files can be transferred to SD-It's a handheld card, even if the app itself is stored in internal memory, and this is especially true for games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile, which take up several gigabytes.

How to do this:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via cable (in File Transfer mode).
2. Open your internal memory and find the folders: /Android/obb/ /Android/data/
3. Copy the folders you want (e.g. com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact) to SD-map: /SD_card/Android/obb/ /SD_card/Android/data/
4. Remove the original folders from internal memory.
5. Create symbolic links (root or root required) ADB): adb shell ln -s /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Android/obb/com.example /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/com.example (substitute XXXX-XXXX on the real path to yours SD-map).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions