Xiaomi Redmi 8T, despite its age, remains a popular device due to its excellent price-performance ratio. However, built-in storage of 64 or 128 GB may not be enough for a modern user who actively shoots high-resolution video or stores huge music libraries.
Many owners have difficulty connecting the drive for the first time without knowing how to format it properly or transfer data there without losing system performance. It is important to understand that the Android operating system with the MIUI shell has its own features of working with external drives. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances in detail so that you can use your gadget at full capacity.
⚠️ Warning: Before removing or installing a memory card, always make sure the device is turned off, or use the software shutdown in the settings menu to avoid damaging the file system.
Choosing the right storage device for Redmi 8T
Not all memory cards are equally effective, and for stable operation of the smartphone you need to choose drives with certain characteristics. Xiaomi Redmi 8T supports cards of microSDHC and microSDXC format, which allows you to use volumes up to 256 GB, although some users successfully test and 512 GB. The key parameter here is the speed class, as it depends on how quickly will open applications and record video.
When buying, you should pay attention to the Class 10 marking, UHS-I or V30. If you plan to store only documents and music, a budget option is suitable, but for recording. 4K-Video or heavy game installation requires high recording speeds. Using a slow map can lead to interface lags and a long gallery load.
- 📏 Form factor: MicroSD (standard) only SD The cards will not physically fit into the slot).
- ⚡ Speed: Minimum Class 10 for comfortable operation of the system.
- 💾 Volume: Officially supported up to 256 GB, actually work and more.
- 🏷️ Brand: It is recommended to buy cards from well-known manufacturers (Samsung, SanDisk, Kingston) to avoid counterfeiting.
It is also worth noting that the file system plays an important role: by default, cards are often formatted in FAT32, which ensures compatibility, but does not allow you to write files larger than 4 GB. For modern tasks, it is better to use exFAT, which the system will offer when formatting.
Physical installation of the memory card
The process of installing the drive in Redmi 8T requires accuracy, since the slot is combined and combined with the second SIM-To extract the tray, you need a special paper clip that comes with a kit, or a thin needle. It is important not to confuse the orientation of the map, since forceful indentation can damage the contacts inside the smartphone.
On the side of the device, usually at the bottom, there's a small hole, and after a little pressure, the tray will extend out. SIM-The card, and in the reverse or adjacent position, the microSD. The contacts of the card should look down, and the bevelled angle should match the shape of the tray.
☑️ Correct installation of the map
Once the physical installation is done, the system must automatically detect the new drive, if that doesn't happen, check the density of the contacts, sometimes rubbing the gold contacts of the card with a soft dry cloth helps, as oxidation or dust can interfere with the connection.
⚠️ Warning: Never remove the tray SIM-cards while the smartphone is turned on, if at this moment there is an active recording of data on the card, this can lead to software errors.
Primary configuration and formatting
Once you turn on your smartphone, Xiaomi usually suggests formatting the map itself, which is a necessary process, since the phone creates a special folder structure for system files, and if the notification does not appear, you need to go to the settings menu manually.
To do this, open Settings, then scroll down to About Phone, or immediately find Storage in the main menu. The list of available drives should display your card. Click on it, you will see a formatting option. Select Use as Portable Storage if you want to store media files, or Use as Internal Storage to expand memory for applications (although in newer versions of MIUI, this feature is often hidden or unstable).
Path to format: Settings → About Phone → Storage → SD- Map → FormatDuring the formatting process, all the data on the card will be deleted, so save important files on the computer in advance, the system will warn you several times, and after the procedure is completed, the phone will assign the card a letter or ID, and it will be available for recording.
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It is recommended to format the card through the smartphone menu, and not through the computer, to avoid problems with access rights in Android 10 and above.
Setting up storage of photos and videos
One of the main reasons for the expansion of memory is the desire to shoot more photos and videos without fear of overflowing the built-in buffer. The camera in Redmi 8T allows you to redirect the saving of all new images immediately to the external drive, this is done through the settings of the camera application itself.
Open the Camera app, click on the three bars in the top right corner and select Settings. Find the "Save to" switch. SD-Now all new media files will be automatically written to an external slot, freeing up the internal memory of the system.
| Parameter | Built-in memory | Memory card (SD) |
|---|---|---|
| Recording speed | High (UFS) | Depends on the class of the card. |
| Reliability | Tall. | Medium (sensitized to impacts) |
| Use of the system | System files, cache | Photos, videos, music |
| Possibility of transfer | No. | Yes (on a PC or other phone) |
However, it is worth remembering that when shooting high-resolution video (for example, 1080p at 60 frames per second), the speed of the map can become a bottleneck. If the video is interrupted or a recording error message appears, try to reduce the quality of shooting or replace the map with a faster one.
Why do some apps not want to be on the map?
Transfer of existing files and applications
If the internal memory is already full, then the issue of transferring the data already accumulated arises. Unlike automatically saving new photos, old files will have to be manually moved through a standard Explorer (or File Manager).
Go to the Explorer app, select the category “Internal Drive”, find folders DCIM (Photos, Downloads, or Music. Select the files you want, click Move, and specify the path to the SD-This process can take time depending on the amount of data.
- 📂 DCIM: Photos and video from the gallery.
- 📥 Download: Files downloaded from the browser or messengers.
- 🎵 Music/Audio: Musical tracks and voice recordings.
- 💬 Tencent/MicroMsg: WhatsApp and WeChat cache (requires caution).
The app is more complicated. MIUI The mapping function is often not available for most programs. You can try Settings. → Annexes → All applications, select the desired application and check if the “Move to” button is active. SD-If it's gray, then the app developer has banned it.
⚠️ Note: When transferring the messenger cache (WhatsApp, Telegram), manually make sure that the folder structure is saved, otherwise the application may not see the history of correspondence or media files.
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Automatically porting apps to the map in modern versions of Android is almost impossible, so focus on clearing the cache and transferring heavy media files.
Typical problems and their solution
Redmi 8T users sometimes experience a situation where the phone stops seeing the map or writes a format error. Often this involves improper extraction or failure of the file system. The first step should always be to reconnect: turn off the phone, remove the card, wipe the contacts and paste again.
If the system writes «SD-The card is corrupted" or requires formatting, but you don't want to lose the data, try connecting the card to your computer through a card reader. Run error check through the disk properties in Windows or use utilities like SD If the computer can't see the card, it may have physically failed.
Another common problem is that the interface is slow after the card is installed, which happens when the card is low speed, the system tries to index files on a slow medium, which puts a strain on the processor, and then it will only help to replace the drive with a more productive one.