How to transfer applications to a memory card in Xiaomi smartphones: all ways and life hacks

Xiaomi smartphone owners (including the Redmi line and the POCO) Often, they face a lack of internal memory, especially if the device is equipped with only 32 or 64 GB of storage. MicroSD card seems to be the logical solution - a cheap storage expansion of 128-512 GB. MIUI block the transfer of most applications to SD-This is a map, even if it's formatted as an internal memory, and why that happens, and how to get around the limitations, we'll look at this guide.

The manufacturer argues that the blocking of applications from the memory card can be slower (especially on cheap microSD Class 10 instead of UHS-I/UHS-II) and less stable. However, for many users this is not critical: instant messengers, social networks or cache games like Genshin Impact work well from an external drive, the main thing is to prepare the map correctly and use proven methods of transfer.

In this article you will find:

• 🔍 Official ways to port applications through settings MIUI (if available).
• 🛠️ Bypasses for models where the option is blocked (including: ADB-team).
• ⚠️ Limitations and Risks: Why Some Applications Cannot Be Portable and What It Risks.
• 📱 Alternative solutions: cloud storage, cache cleaning, media file transfer.

Memory card preparation: formatting and class selection

Before trying to migrate apps, make sure your microSD meets the minimum requirements:

• 📌 Speed class: not lower than Class 10 (optimally — UHS-I U1/U3). Class Cards 4/6 They will slow down applications.
• 🔄 Formatting: in MIUI There are two options available, either portable storage (file only) or internal memory (applications!
• 💾 Size: Minimum 32 GB (on smaller cards, the system may refuse to format as internal memory).

To format the card as an internal memory:

1. Insert a microSD into a slot (or an adapter for hybrid slots like the Redmi Note 10).
2. Go to Settings → Storage → Memory Map.
3. Tap format as internal (on some firmware, the option is called Configure as internal memory).
4. Confirm the action – all data on the map will be deleted!

⚠️ Note: After formatting as internal memory, the card will not be read on other devices (PCs, cameras) without completely erasing it, and it will be encrypted, and when you reset your phone, the data on it will become unavailable.

2. Official Application Transfer via MIUI Settings

Some Xiaomi models (especially with the MIUI 12 and older) option to port applications to SD-The map is directly accessible:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (such as Telegram or Spotify).
3. Put the storage (or memory on some firmware).
4. If there is a button Change or Move to SD-map - you're lucky!

However, even in this case, there are limitations:

• 🚫 System applications (such as Mi Browser or Security) cannot be migrated.
• 🎮 Games with OBB-files (e.g., files, PUBG Mobile may not work after the transfer.
• 🔒 Annexes with DRM (Netflix, Disney+) Often blocking transfers for licensing reasons.

⚠️ Warning: If the app starts to crash or slow down after the transfer, put it back in internal memory, especially for games with high read speed requirements (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile).

3. Transfer applications over ADB (for advanced users)

If you don’t have a port option in your settings, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android, which works on most Xiaomi devices, but requires a PC connection.

Step-by-step:

Install. ADB-Drivers on PC (download from the [developer.android.com](https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools))|

Enable Developer Mode on Xiaomi (7 times tap the MIUI version in Settings → About phone)|

Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For Developers |

Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your debugging permission

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1. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with the platform-tools.
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
3. Run the port command (replace com.example.app with the application package): adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This command installs the SD-Map as the default installation location for new applications.
4. To transfer an already installed application, use: adb shell pm move-package com.example.app

To find the application package, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

For WhatsApp, it would be com.whatsapp.

💡

If the pm move-package command returns the error [NOT_MOVED], This means that the application does not support transfer. Try alternative methods (see section). 4).

4. Alternative methods: Link2SD, App2SD and root rights

If none of the above methods worked, then radical measures remain: using third-party root-access utilities, which is risky (you can lose your warranty or brick your phone), but gives you maximum freedom.

Popular applications for transfer:

• 🔗 Link2SD: creates symbolic links, allowing you to partially transfer applications to SD. Requires root.
• 📱 App2SD: It automatically moves the cache and the application data. MIUI restrictively.
• 🛠️ FolderMount: mounts application folders on SD-It's good for big games. OBB-file.

Instructions for Link2SD:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Provide root access (you must pre-unlock the bootloader and flash Magisk).
3. Select the app in the list and tap Create a link.
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and later unlocking the bootloader resets all data, including the contents of the internal memory. Backup is mandatory! Also note that after unlocking some features (for example, Mi Pay or Widevine) L1 for Netflix HD) They may stop working.

5. Why can't some applications be moved?

Even if you format your card correctly and use ADB, some applications will still be glued to internal memory.

• 🔐 Protection DRM: Services like Netflix and Spotify store license data in internal memory to protect against piracy.
• 🤖 System components: Annexes MIUI (For example, the Theme Store or Mi Account are tightly tied to the system partition.
• 🎮 Antichit: Many online games (e.g, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty is blocking the launch from the SD-cards to prevent cheating.
• ⚡ Performance: Applications sensitive to read/write speeds (like Google Camera) may fail to work with slow-mode maps.

It is almost impossible to circumvent these restrictions without modifying system files, which can lead to:

• 🚨 Loss of guarantee.
• 🐞 Unstable phone operation.
• 🔴 Blocking some features (e.g. Google Pay will stop working on rooted devices).

Remove unnecessary apps (use Settings → Apps → Clear cache).

- Transfer media files (photos, videos, music) to SD-hand-write.

Use Google Drive (Mi Cloud) for backups.

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6.Memory optimization without application portability

If porting apps is not possible or feasible, try these space-free methods:

• 🧹 Cache Clearing: Go to Settings → Warehouse → Clean.The system will show which apps take up the most cache space (e.g. YouTube or Instagram).
• 🗑️ Removing duplicates: Use Files by Google or MIUI Cleaner to find duplicate files.
• ☁️ Cloud Photos: Enable automatic upload of photos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud, and then delete local copies.
• 🎵 Streaming music: Instead of downloading tracks in Spotify or Yandex Music, listen to them online (saves up to 5-10 GB).

For big games OBB-files (e.g., Genshin Impact takes up the ~15GB):

1. Download the.obb file to your PC.
2. Connect your phone to USB in File Transfer mode.
3. Transfer the file to the folder Android/obb/[game-name SD-map.
4. In the game settings, specify the path to the cache on the external drive.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When transferring applications to SD-Xiaomi users often face typical problems. Let's analyze the most common problems:

If the application has stopped updating through Google Play:

1. Put it back in your inner memory.
2. Update through the Play Store.
3. Move it back to SD-map.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions