Transfer applications to SD card in Xiaomi smartphones: the full guide

Owners of budget and mid-budget smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco often face a shortage of internal storage. Modern applications take up gigabytes of space, and system files grow with each update of MIUI or HyperOS. When the internal memory is filled, the device begins to work slower, and installing new programs becomes impossible.

Fortunately, most models support storage expansion with microSD cards. However, the default Android engine does not allow installation of programs on an external medium without additional manipulation. In this article, we will discuss proven methods of data transfer that will help free up valuable internal space.

There are several ways to solve the problem, from the standard system tools to the use of the developer's engineering menu, the choice of the specific method depends on the version of the operating system and the model of your gadget, and it is important to understand that not all applications support external memory due to security limitations.

Preparation of a memory card and smartphone

Before you start any operations, you need to make sure that your memory card is working and has a sufficient write speed. Class 10, UHS-I or higher cards are recommended for installing applications. Slow drives can cause programs to freeze and interface brakes.

Insert a microSD into your device's slot. If the card has been used in another gadget or camera before, it's better to format it. This will delete all the data, so back up photos and documents in advance. Formatting in the exFAT or FAT32 file system ensures better compatibility.

⚠️ Note: Formatting a memory card will completely destroy all the data stored on it. Be sure to save important files on your computer or in the cloud before starting the procedure.

Make sure your smartphone has USB debugging enabled if you plan to use advanced methods. Go to Settings → About Phone and press the MIUI version seven times to activate the developer mode. Then, in the advanced settings, find the appropriate item and turn it on.

Use of standard MIUI and HyperOS tools

With the newer versions of Xiaomi’s shells, the ability to port applications is simplified, but not available for all programs. The system itself determines which installed programs can be moved. To check, go to the storage management menu.

Open the Settings. → Memory. Here you'll see a list of all the installed applications. Select the program you want from the list. If the developer has authorized the transfer, you'll see the active "Move to" button. SD-map".

However, it is often the case that the move button is inactive or absent, which means that the application is installed by default in internal memory and the system blocks its transfer, in such cases, standard Android tools will not be able to do.

And it's worth noting that even if you successfully transfer some of the application files, they're still in internal storage, and these are the system libraries and cache that you need to run fast, and you can't completely free up your internal memory, but you can win a few hundred megabytes.

Activation of the function "Default Memory" through the developer mode

There is a hidden setup that forces the system to view the external map as the primary storage, a feature that is on the developer menu and can significantly change the logic of the file system.

To access the desired setting, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Developer. At the bottom of the list, find “Force permission to write” or “Default storage location” (depending on localization). Change the value to “SD Card”.

⚠️ Note: After changing this setting, new apps will try to install on the memory card. However, system applications and some Google services may not work properly if the card is retrieved.

After the change of settings, it is recommended to restart the device. Now, when installing new programs from Google Play, the system will default to offering external storage. Old applications will have to be removed and installed again to move them.

Application ADB-command-transfer

The most reliable method, which works on almost all versions of Android, requires the use of a computer and the utility ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to bypass the limitations of the interface and directly manage packages.

You'll need to connect your phone to your PC in debugging mode. Open the command line on your computer and type in the command to check the connection: adb devices. If the device appears in the list, you can go to memory management.

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

This command sets the priority of installing on an external card (value 2). The value of 0 returns the default settings, and 1 installs only in internal memory. After applying the command, all new applications will be installed on the microSD.

It just sets a vector for future installations, and you still have to use a regular menu or reinstall to migrate existing programs.

Creating an Adoptable Storage (Expandable Memory)

Adoptable Storage allows you to format your memory card so that it is considered part of your internal storage, in which case you can install any application on the card without restrictions.

Generally, this feature is often hidden in MIUI. To activate it, you will need to connect to your computer and enter a special command via ADB: adb shell sm partition sdcard:private 100%.

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Use only high-speed memory cards (U3, V30) for the Adoptable Storage function. Slow cards will lead to a severe decrease in overall smartphone performance.

Once formatted, the card will be encrypted and tied to this particular smartphone, and it will be impossible to insert it into another phone or computer without losing data and re-formatting, which is an important nuance to consider before the procedure.

This is the most radical, but also the most effective, method of integrating external memory into the Android file system, but stability depends on the quality of the memory card itself.

Possible problems and ways to solve them

Users may experience errors during the transfer process, most often the system says, "Can't move the application" or "App does not support porting", because developers explicitly prohibit the porting of their products.

Another common problem is that the speed of the work is slowed, and if the phone starts to slow down after the transfer, then the memory card reading speed is not enough to run heavy applications, in which case it is better to return the programs to internal storage.

⚠️ Warning: Do not remove the memory card while the smartphone is on, if it is ported applications, this will lead to their immediate closure and possible data damage.

There may also be problems with widgets and notifications from portable applications. If you notice widgets missing from your desktop, try restarting your device or moving the application back. Some system services require constant access to internal storage.

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Stability of the smartphone with applications on SD-The card is directly dependent on the quality and speed of the drive itself.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)