How to transfer applications to SD-map in Xiaomi smartphones: all ways and nuances

Xiaomi smartphones are getting more powerful every year, but the amount of internal memory does not always keep up with the needs of users, especially the problem of space shortage is felt on budget models with 32 or 64 GB of storage, where the system and preinstalled applications occupy the lion’s share. Transfer of applications to SD-The map seems to be a logical solution, but in MIUI This process has its own characteristics.

Unlike pure Android, Xiaomi’s firmware limits the ability to work with external drives. Not all applications can be moved, and some after moving can work unstable. In this article, we will discuss all available methods of transfer — from standard functions. MIUI You'll also learn which apps should never be ported to the user experience. SD-card so as not to lose data or encounter errors.

Why Xiaomi can’t migrate all applications to Xiaomi SD-map?

If you've tried to migrate apps through the standard Settings → Apps menu, you've probably noticed that the Move to SD button isn't active for all programs. It's not an accident, it's a deliberate restriction on the part of Xiaomi and Google. Here are the main reasons:

• 🔒 Data security: Applications that handle personal information (banks, instant messengers, payment systems) are blocked for transfer, which protects your data from theft when you lose your memory card.
• ⚡ Productivity. SD-cards (even class) A1/A2) Slower than internal memory: Transferring system or resource-intensive applications can lead to lags.
• 📱 Android Restrictions: Starting with Android 6.0, Google has banned porting native code applications (such as games with a mobile app). 3D-graphic).
• 🔄 Compatibility: Some applications simply don't support external drives and may become dyed.

Also, MIUI 12/13/14 has a partially hidden SD port function, which may not be available in newer firmware versions at all, especially on models with Adoptable Storage (where the memory card is formatted as internal storage), and we’ll talk about this in more detail in the next section.

Method 1: Standard Transfer through MIUI Settings

This is the easiest method that works on most Xiaomi devices (except flagships with the most powerful ones). MIUI 14+, where the function can be disabled. Instructions are suitable for Redmi Note models 8/9/10, POCO X3, Mi A2/A3 and others with support SD-map.

1. Put it in. SD-card to slot (if you use a hybrid-slot, make sure the second one is a slot card) SIM-map extracted).
2. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select the app you want to migrate to. Please note that the Move to SD button will only be active for supported programs.
4. Click on “Transfer” and wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 5 minutes).

If there is no “Move to SD” button, it means:

• 📵 The application does not support transfer (see list in the next section).
• 🔄 Your version. MIUI It does not have this function (relevant to the MIUI 14 on some models).
• 💾 The memory card is formatted as a portable storage, not as an internal memory.

Make sure that SD-map FAT32 exFAT|

Check the free space on the map (needs at least 2 GB) |

Close all background applications before transfer |

Backup important data on the map

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Which apps can be ported and which ones can’t be ported?

Not all programs work equally well with external drives. Below is a table with application categories and portability guidelines. Note that even if an application is technically portable, it is not always advisable.

The transfer of com.miui.gallery (Gallery), com.android.contacts (Contacts) or com.miui.calculator (Calculator) can cause MIUI malfunctions. If you see programs with the prefix com.miui. or com.android. in the list of applications, it is better not to touch them.

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Before transferring any application, check its settings: some programs (for example, Google Maps) allow you to manually select the cache storage location on the app. SD-map-less.

Method 2: Formatting SD-The card is an internal memory (adoptable storage)

If your Xiaomi smartphone supports Adoptable Storage (available on Android 6.0)+), You can format. SD-This allows you to install applications on the map automatically, but has serious shortcomings:

⚠️ Note: Once formatted as internal memory, the card cannot be used in other devices without being completely cleaned, and the card will be encrypted, and when it is removed, some applications may stop working.

Instructions for setting:

1. Put it in. SD-smartphone-card.
2. Go to Settings. → Memory. → [Your name is yours. SD-map] → Three dots (menu) → Storage settings.
3. Select “Inner Memory” (or “Format as Internal Memory”).
4. Confirm the action. It'll take a few minutes.
5. After formatting, go to Settings → Annexes → Three dots (menu) → Default location and select SD-map.

This method works on Redmi 5/6/7, Mi A1/A2, POCO F1 and other models with pure Android or older versions of MIUI. On new devices (MIUI 13/14), the function can be disabled.

Method 3: Transfer over ADB (for power users)

If the standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — a debugging tool that allows you to manually specify which applications should be stored on SD-This method requires command line skills and is suitable for Xiaomi models on Android 8.0+.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Turn on the smartphone Developer Mode (go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and press 7 times).
3. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This will force the system to install new applications on your PC. SD-default-card.
5. To transfer an already installed application (for example, Facebook), use: adb shell pm move-package com.facebook.katana Replace com.facebook.katana with the batch name of the desired application (you can find it through App Inspector or adb shell pm list packages).

If the team returns a Failure error [NOT_MOVED: Package couldn't be moved, so the app doesn't support portability, and then only manual copying will help. APK (see next section).

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Using ADB is the only way to migrate apps to new Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5), where the portability feature is removed from the interface.

Method 4: Manual copying of APK and data (for advanced ones)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can manually copy the application files to the SD-It's a risky way to do things that are wrong, you can lose data or you can break an application, and you can only use it if you're ready to experiment.

Algorithm of action:

1. Install File Manager with access to root folders (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /data/app/ and find the folder with the name of the application package (e.g. com.whatsapp-1).
3. Copy the folder to SD-map /Android/obb/ or /Android/data/ (depending on the type of file).
4. Remove the original application and install it again, pointing the way to the copied data.

⚠️ Note: This method often causes app failures, especially if they are using the app. OBB-Files (games) or encrypted data (messengers) Do not use it for banking applications or programs with two-factor authentication.

Alternatively, apps like AppMgr III or Link2SD can automate the process, but newer versions of MIUI can require root rights, which voids the warranty.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When transferring applications to SD-Xiaomi users often encounter common mistakes, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

• 🔄 The “Move to the button” SD» Inactive Solution: Check that the card is formatted in FAT32 Or exFAT. If you're using it. NTFS, Reformat it. Also make sure there's enough space on the map (minimum 1.5).× size).
• ⚠️ The application dyees after transfer Solution: Clear the app cache in Settings → Annexes → [Name of the annex] → Memory. → Clear the cache. If it doesn't work, transfer it back to your internal memory.
• 📱 Smartphone does not see the application after extraction SD-Solution: This is normal behavior. Applications ported to SD, To avoid problems, use the Adoptable Storage function (see Method 2).
• 🔒 System applications cannot be moved Solution: System programs (Gallery, Camera, Settings) cannot be moved. MIUI.

If the app stopped updating through Google Play after the transfer, try:

1. Transfer it back to your internal memory.
2. Update through Play Market.
3. Move it back to SD-map.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions