Smartphone owners Xiaomi Redmi often encounter a situation where the internal storage of the device fills up faster than expected. This is especially true for budget models with 32 or 64 GB of memory, where after installing the system and basic applications there is very little free space left. Expanding the capabilities of a smartphone using a microSD memory card is the most affordable and effective way to solve this problem.
The process of transferring information does not require deep knowledge of programming or complex software. Modern shells MIUI and HyperOS provide built-in file management tools that allow you to migrate data in a few minutes. However, it is important to understand the difference between simply copying files and fully setting up the card as the main storage device.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the stages of working with an external drive: from proper preparation and formatting to transferring media files and installing applications. You will learn how to avoid data loss and optimize your device for maximum performance.
Preparing the memory card and smartphone for use
Before starting any operations with an external drive, you must make sure that the memory card is working and compatible with your device. Not all microSD cards work equally well in smartphones Xiaomi, especially when it comes to older models or large-capacity cards.
It is recommended to use cards of a speed class of at least Class 10 or standard UHS-I. Slow cards can become a bottleneck for the system, causing the interface to slow down and take a long time to load photos. Insert the card into the slot until you hear a characteristic click, making sure that the contacts are directed correctly.
After physical installation, the system should detect the new media. If this does not happen, check the integrity of the contacts on the card itself and in the smartphone slot. Sometimes gently cleaning the contacts with a soft eraser or dry cloth helps.
⚠️ Attention: If the memory card was previously used in another device (camera, old phone), it may contain files with access rights that conflict with the current system. It is recommended to back up important data on your computer before formatting.
Use memory cards up to 256 GB for optimal compatibility with older Redmi models, although modern devices support both 512 GB and 1 TB.
Formatting the drive in Android
After detection card, the system will offer to configure it. At this stage, the user is faced with choosing the type of use of the drive. This decision determines whether you can transfer applications or just media files.
In the storage settings menu, which opens automatically or through the path Settings → About phone → Storage, select your memory card. The system will offer two options: use as a portable storage device or as internal storage.
Selecting the “Portable storage” mode is the most secure and versatile option. In this mode, the card works like a regular flash drive: you can freely transfer photos, videos, music and documents to it. However, installing applications on such a card will be limited or impossible depending on the Android version.
If you select the “Internal storage” mode, the system will format the card into a special file system, encrypt it and link it exclusively to this smartphone. It will no longer be possible to remove such a card and read the data on another device without resetting the settings.
☑️ Check before formatting
| Type of use | Ability to read on PC | Installing applications | Data security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable | Yes, without restrictions | Limited | Data available on any device |
| Internal | No (reset required) | Full support | Linking to a specific smartphone |
Transferring photos and videos through Explorer
The most common scenario for using a memory card is storing media content. By default, the smartphone camera saves all pictures and videos to the internal memory, quickly filling it up. You can change this behavior in the settings of the Camera application itself or by manually moving files.
For manual transfer, open the standard application Explorer (File Manager), which is preinstalled on all smartphones Redmi. Go to the "Internal Shared Storage" section and find the folder DCIM. This is where all your photos and videos are stored.
Highlight the desired files or entire folders with a long press. From the bottom menu, select the "Move" or "Copy" option. Then go to the "SD card" section, open or create a folder DCIM and paste the files there. The process of copying large amounts of data may take several minutes.
To immediately save new pictures to the card, go to the Camera application settings. Find the “Save to SD card” item and turn on the switch. Now all new frames will be automatically sent to external storage, freeing up internal space.
⚠️ Attention: When moving files through File Explorer, do not interrupt the process by removing the card or turning off the phone. This can lead to damage to the file system and loss of some data.
Setting up saving data in messengers
Messengers like Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber are one of the main consumers of memory. They automatically upload thousands of images and videos that are duplicated in the gallery. You can transfer this data to the card through the settings of the applications themselves.
B WhatsApp the path to the storage settings may differ depending on the version. Usually this is the section Settings → Chats → Media visibility or saving settings. In new versions of Android, directly changing the save path to the SD card may be blocked by the system, so manual transfer of folders is often required WhatsApp/Media via Explorer.
The application Telegram allows you to flexibly configure the cache. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here you can clear the cache and select the path to save downloaded files, if such an option is available in your version of the MIUI shell.
Regularly clearing the messenger cache and transferring heavy video files to external storage allows you to free up gigabytes of space without deleting important correspondence. This is especially important for users who actively share media in work chats.
Why don't instant messengers always let you choose a memory card?
Starting with Android 11, Google's security policy limits app access to arbitrary folders on the SD card. This is done to protect the user's data, but it complicates the direct choice of saving path in application settings.
Transferring and installing applications to an SD card
The issue of installing applications on a memory card is one of the most difficult in the Android ecosystem. Starting with Android 6.0, Google changed its policy for working with external storage, and now this function depends not only on the smartphone, but also on the developer of a particular application.
If you formatted the card as “Internal Storage”, the system may allow you to transfer some applications. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, select the desired app and click “Storage”. If the “Change” button is active, you can move the application to the card.
However, many system applications and popular services (banks, social networks) do not support transfer to external media for reasons of security and stability. Trying to launch such an application from a slow card can lead to crashes and freezes.
There is a way to bypass restrictions through the engineering menu and ADB commands, which allows you to forcefully allow the transfer of any applications. But using this method requires high qualifications and can lead to unstable operation of the system or loss of warranty.
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2This command puts the smartphone into a mode that allows you to install default applications on external media. Use it with caution and only if you understand the risks. Returning to standard settings is carried out by a command with the parameter 0.
Transferring applications to a memory card is only advisable for games and heavy apps that do not require constant background access. It is better to leave system utilities and instant messengers in the internal memory.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
During operation, users may encounter a number of typical problems. The most common of them is a message about a card reading error or sudden disappearance of files. This is often due to poor contact or damage to the file system.
If the smartphone no longer sees the card, try removing it and inserting it again. Make sure the adapter (if used) is working properly. It is also worth checking the card on another device to exclude its physical malfunction.
- 🔍 Format error: Try formatting the card on your computer to the file system
FAT32(for cards up to 32 GB) orexFAT(for cards larger than 32 GB), and then insert it again phone. - 🐌 Low recording speed: If saving a photo takes a long time, your card may have a low speed class. Replace it with a model marked
V30or higher. - 📂 Files are not visible in the gallery: Sometimes new files are not displayed immediately. Restart your smartphone or start scanning media files through the Explorer application.
Another problem is the rapid drainage of the battery after installing the card. This can happen if the card is damaged and the smartphone controller is constantly trying to read data from it, going into an error cycle. In this case, it is better to replace the card.
⚠️ Attention: The settings interface and menu item names may vary slightly depending on the MIUI or HyperOS firmware version. If you do not find the described item, use the search in the phone settings.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to transfer all the data to a card and remove the internal memory?
No, the Android operating system and basic applications must be on the internal storage of the smartphone to ensure stable operation. The memory card is used only as additional space for user files.
Why are they displayed as duplicates after transferring photos?
This may happen if you used the Copy function instead of the Move function. In this case, the originals remain in the internal memory, and copies are created on the card. Delete unnecessary files from the internal memory manually.
Is it safe to store personal photos on a memory card?
Memory cards are less reliable than the internal flash memory of a smartphone. They are more sensitive to temperature changes and physical influences. For important data, always have a backup copy in the cloud or on your computer.
How to find the real speed of my memory card?
You can use special applications from Google Play, for example, A1 SD Bench or Speed Test. They will show the read and write speed, which will help you understand whether the card is suitable for recording video in 4K.
Are the camera settings reset after transferring the data?
No, the settings of the camera application itself are saved in the internal memory. However, if you transferred the camera application to an SD card (which is rarely possible for system applications), its settings may be reset.