How to transfer applications to SD-Map in Xiaomi smartphones: all ways + mistake-making

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones sooner or later face a lack of internal memory – especially if the device from the budget line of Redmi or the other devices. POCO s 32/64 GB of storage. One of the obvious ways out is to migrate applications to the storage. SD-map, but here users are waiting for pitfalls: starting with the version MIUI 9 The company has significantly limited this function, and in this article we'll look at how to circumvent the constraints, which applications can be migrated and which can't be moved, and what to do if the system is making an error.

It’s important to understand that current versions of Android (starting with 6.0) and the MIUI shell block full portability of applications to external media for security and performance reasons. However, there are legal and non-obvious ways to expand memory — from standard tools to the use of ADB and third-party utilities. We tested all methods on current models (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro, Xiaomi 13 Lite) and collected working solutions.

Why Xiaomi restricts the portability of applications to SD-card?

Since 2018, Xiaomi has been consistently removing the “Move to SD” option from the settings menu, for reasons rooted in Android architecture and Google’s policies:

• 🔒 Security: Annexes to SD-It is easier to hack or replace the card (risk for banking programs, instant messengers).
• ⚡ Performance: Class Memory Cards A1/A2 slower-than-integrated memory UFS 2.2/3.1, What's stopping apps.
• 📱 Adoptable Storage: Formatting function SD as internal memory (available in pure Android) MIUI Disabled due to frequent failures.
• 💰 Marketing: Manufacturers are interested in selling devices with a large amount of internal memory.

However, some applications (such as cache games or instant messengers) can be ported in part, as discussed below, and for advanced users, there is the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) option, which we will discuss in a separate section.

⚠️ Note: Transfer system applications (e.g. com.miui.gallery or com.android.settings) to SD-The card can cause a cyclical reboot of the device, and only the Fastboot can restore the functionality.

Method 1: Standard transfer through MIUI settings (not for everyone)

This method is suitable for older models (Redmi 4X, Mi A1, POCO F1) and some applications on new devices.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (such as Telegram or Spotify).
3. Press Warehouse. → Move it to SD-card (if the button is active).

If there is no button, the application does not support portability, most often this applies to:

• 📱 System utilities (Camera, Phone, Settings).
• 🔐 Applications with administrator rights (antiviruses, VPN).
• 💳 Banking programs (Sberbank, Tinkoff, Google Pay).
• 🎮 Online-authorized games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact).

SD-The card is formatted as a portable storage (not internal memory)|

Card size is at least 16 GB (Class A1/A2)|

The application is not system or secure |

There is enough free space on the map (minimum 1 GB)-->

Limitation MIUI: Even if the transfer was successful, SD-The card moves only a portion of the data (usually cache and media files) the main.apk and.odex files remain in internal memory. To free up more space, read the next section.

Method 2: Transfer over ADB (for advanced users)

Android Debug Bridge Tool (ADB) It allows you to manually specify which applications can be transferred to the system. SD-map, even if the option is hidden in the interface. MIUI, requires USB-debugs and computers.

Step 1: Preparation

1. Download ADB Tools for Windows/macOS/Linux.
2. Turn on your smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode) Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB (enable)
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the trusted device.

Step 2: Transfer commands:

1. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
2. Enter the command for the list of applications: adb shell pm list packages -f Find the desired application in the output (for example, package:/data/app/com.whatsapp-1/base.apk=com.whatsapp).
3. Move it to the port. SD-map: adb shell pm set-install-location 2 adb shell pm move-package com.whatsapp

Possible errors and solutions:

⚠️ Note: Pm Set-Install-Location Commands 2 and --force-external This may cause the application data to be lost. Before execution, make a backup copy through Settings. → System system → Backup.

SanDisk Ultra (A1)|Samsung EVO Plus (A2)|Kingston Canvas Go!|Another.|I don't use it.-->

Method 3: Formatting SD-Cards as internal memory (risky method)

In the “pure” Android has a feature Adoptable Storage, which allows you to use the SD-The card as part of the internal storage. MIUI It is disabled, but it can be activated through ADB:

Advantages:

• 📈 Annexes shall be installed on SD Automatically (if there is not enough space in the internal memory).
• 🔄 Application data (including cache) is fully transferred to the map.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ The card is encrypted and becomes unreadable on other devices.
• ⏳ Application speeds drop by 30-50% (Redmi Note 10 Pro tests).
• 🔄 When you remove the map, the application stops working.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and start the ADB.
2. Enter the command to check for support: adb shell sm list-disks The response should be something like disk:179.64.
3. Format the card as internal memory: adb shell sm partition disk:179.64 private
4. Reset the device.

Method 4: Transfer of cache and media files of applications

If the application itself cannot be moved, you can free up space by moving its cache and media files (for example, uploaded photos to WhatsApp or music to Spotify).

For messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram):

1. Open the app settings (e.g. WhatsApp → Storage and Data).
2. Click Storage Management → Change the path to the folder (if you have an option).
3. Select a folder on SD-map (e.g., map, /storage/1234-5678/WhatsApp).

For games (PUBG, Genshin Impact):

• 🎮 Use the built-in option "Move data to the SD" In the game settings (not available in all versions).
• 📁 Manually move the file. Android/obb Memory card (requires a file manager with root or Mixplorer permissions).

For multimedia (Spotify, YouTube):

• 🎵 In Spotify: Settings → Sound quality → Download folder → choose SD-map.
• 📺 YouTube Premium: Settings → Background reproduction → Download folder.

💡

If the application does not allow you to select a folder SD-Create a symbolic link (symlink) through the map ADB or terminal (root required). For example, the ln command -s /storage/1234-5678/Music /storage/emulated/0/Music Redirect the standard Music folder to the map.

Mistakes in transferring applications to SD and their solutions

Even if you did everything right, MIUI can make mistakes.

Critical information: On devices with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset 8 Gen 1/2 (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) portability of applications SD-The card may result in loss of warranty, which the manufacturer considers as "unauthorized interference" due to the risk of damage to the file system.

Alternative ways to free up memory on Xiaomi

If the transfer is SD-The card is impossible or ineffective, use these methods:

• 🧹 Cache cleanup: Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache (releases 1–3 GB).
• 🗑️ Removing duplicates: Use Files by Google or SD Maid to find unnecessary files.
• ☁️ Cloud Storage: Move your photos/video to Google Photos or Mi Cloud (gives 5GB for free).
• 🔄 Lite versions of applications: Install Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite, Spotify Lite – they take up 2-3 times less space.
• 📦 Archiving of rarely used applications: B MIUI 14 the function "Archive" (Settings) appeared → Annexes → Archivate), which saves data but deletes the apc.

For games: Many projects (like Call of Duty: Mobile) allow you to download resources on demand. HD-texture.

💡

The safest way to free up memory is by combining cache cleaning, transferring media files to SD, and using lite versions of applications. Transferring the apcs themselves to a memory card is fraught with failure and is only suitable for non-critical programs.

FAQ: Frequent questions about porting apps to SD in Xiaomi