Transferring applications to an SD card in Xiaomi: all methods and pitfalls

Smartphones Xiaomi on database MIUI often encounter a lack of internal memory, especially if you are actively installing games or heavy applications. Transferring data to SD card seems like a logical solution, but in modern versions Android i MIUI this process is not nearly as simple as before. Unlike old devices, where it was enough to press a couple of buttons, now you need to understand the system settings, application rights and even use ADB.

In this article we will look at all current methods for transferring applications external drive in Xiaomi, including official methods through MIUI, manual settings via ADB, as well as workarounds for applications that refuse to move. We will pay special attention limitations of Android 10+ and MIUI 12-14, which block the transfer of most apps without additional manipulation. If you want to free up space in your internal memory, but don’t know where to start, this guide is for you.

Why does Xiaomi limit the transfer of applications to the SD card?

Starting from Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google introduced a concept Adoptable Storagethat allowed formatting SD card as part of the internal memory. However, in MIUI this function is either missing or works with serious limitations. The reasons for this approach:

• 🔒 Data security. Applications on an SD card are easier to steal or damage, especially if the drive is removed.
• ⚡ Performance. Memory cards microSD (even class A2) work slower than the built-in memory UFS/eMMC, which slows down applications.
• 📱 MIUI Policy. Xiaomi simplify the interface, removing "unnecessary" settings, including transferring applications.
• 🔄 Android updates. With each new version Android (especially 10+), the possibilities for transferring are narrowed due to changes in the permission system.

It is important to understand that even if you manage to transfer the application, it may be unstable. For example, games with high read/write speed requirements (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobileon A1 class SD card will slow down or crash. But instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) or offline maps (Google Maps, 2GIS) are transferred without serious losses in performance.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13/14 i Android 12+ application transfer through standard settings is often blocked. If there is no "Move to SD card" button in the menu, it means that your model does not support this functionality without Settings → Applications → [Select application] → Storage there is no "Move to SD card" button, which means your model does not support this functionality without ADB.

Method 1: Standard transfer via MIUI settings (if available)

This is the simplest method, but it only works on older devices (MIUI 11 and below) or some regional firmware. Check if you have this option:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Manage applications.
2. Select the application you want to transfer (for example, Facebook or Spotify).
3. Tap on item Storage.
4. If there is a button Transfer to SD card - press it and wait for the process to complete.

If there is no button, then your firmware does not support it. In this case, proceed to the following. methods. Also keep in mind that even if the transfer is successful not all application data will be moved - some of the files (cache, settings) will remain in the internal memory.

Xiaomi model	Support for transfer through settings	Does ADB be required?
Redmi Note 8/9 Pro (MIUI 11-12)	Yes (partially)	No
Poco X3/X4 (MIUI 12-13)	No	Yes
Redmi 10/11 (MIUI 13+)	No	Yes
Xiaomi 12/13 series (MIUI 13-14)	No	Yes (with restrictions)

⚠️ Attention: On some devices, after transferring, the application may stop updating via Google Play. In this case, you will have to return it to the internal memory, update it, and then transfer it again.

Method 2: Transfer via ADB (for experienced users)

If the standard method does not work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) a debugging tool that allows you to manually tell the system which applications can be migrated. This method requires PC and basic knowledge of the command line.

Preparation:

1. Enable Developer mode on the phone: Settings → About phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times).
2. Go back to Settings → Advanced → For developers and activate USB debugging.
3. Download ADB Tools to a PC and unpack it into a separate folder.
4. Connect the phone to the PC via USB (select mode File transfer).

Next, run the commands in Command Line (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux):

adb devices

(Your device should appear. If not, check your drivers.)

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

(This command forces the system to install applications on the SD card by default. Attention: may cause some apps to crash!)

adb shell pm move-package com.example.app /sdcard

(Replace com.example.app with the package name of your application. You can find it via App Inspector or website Google Play —it is indicated in the URL.)

Install USB drivers for Xiaomi|

Enable USB debugging|

Download ADB Tools and unpack|

Connect the phone in the "File Transfer" mode|

Checking the connection with the command `adb devices`-->

If the command move-package returns an error Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_INSTALL_LOCATION], then The application does not support transfer or your version MIUI/Android blocks this function. In this case, only root access or alternative methods will help (see the next section).

Method 3: Using an SD card as internal memory (Adoptable Storage)

This method allows you to format SD card as part of the internal storage, but it has serious disadvantages:

• 🔄 The card will encrypted work only on this device.
• ⚠️ After removing the card, applications on it will stop working.
• ⚡ Performance depends on the card class (recommended A2 or UHS-I).
• 📵 Not all models Xiaomi support this function (especially with Android 10+).

Instructions:

1. Insert SD card into the phone.
2. When the "New SD card" notification appears, tap Configure.
3. Select Internal memory (not "Portable storage").
4. Confirm formatting (all data on the card will be deleted!).
5. Once completed, transfer the data manually through Settings → Storage → Data transfer.

Important: after this formatting, the card cannot be read on other devices without completely erasing it. Also, some applications (for example WhatsApp) may refuse to work from an external drive, even if it is mounted as such. internal.

Method 4: Workarounds for resistant applications

If the application refuses to be transferred, you can try the following tricks:

1. Transfer cache and media files

Many applications (for example, Spotify, Netflix) allow you to manually specify the path for downloading data:

• 🎵 In Spotify: Settings → Storage → Download folder → select the SD card.
• 📸 In Google Photos: Settings → Backup and synchronization → Device folder.
• 🗺️ In Google Maps: Settings → Offline maps → Folder storage.

2. Symbolic links (requires Root)

If you have root access, you can create symbolic links (symlink) that redirect application folders to the SD card. To do this:

1. Install Root Explorer or FX File Explorer.
2. Find the application folder in the internal memory (for example, /data/data/com.example.app).
3. Copy it to the SD card.
4. Delete the original folder and create a symbolic link with the command:

   ln -s /sdcard/application_folder /data/data/com.example.app

3. Cloning applications

apps like App Cloner or Parallel Space allow you to create a copy of the application, which can be installed on an SD card. Minus - notifications are duplicated and data is not synchronized.

What to do if the application does not start after transferring?

If the application crashes or does not open after transferring to the SD card, try:

1. Clear the cache (Settings → Applications → [Application] → Clear cache).

2. Reinstall the application (return it to the internal memory first).

3. Check the memory card for errors (via a PC or application SD Card Tester).

4. Format the card in exFAT (if it was in FAT32).

If nothing helps, the application is not compatible with working on an external drive.

Which applications can be transferred and which cannot?

Not all apps work equally well with SD cards. Here are the general rules:

Application type	Is transfer possible?	Risks/limitations
Messengers (Telegram, Viber)	Yes	May slow down when sending media files
Social networks (Facebook, Instagram)	Partially	Cache and stories remain in the internal memory
Games (PUBG, Genshin Impact)	No (recommended)	Strong lags, crashes, loss of progress
Offline maps (Google Maps, 2GIS)	Yes	No performance loss
Music/video (Spotify, VLC)	Yes	Only media files, not the application itself

You should be especially careful with banking applications (SberBank Online, Tinkoff) and apps with high security requirements. They often block work from external drives due to the risk of data leakage.

Frequent errors and their solutions

When transferring applications to an SD card, users encounter typical problems. Here's how to solve them: Xiaomi users face typical problems. Here's how to solve them:

• 🚫 "The 'Move' button is inactive" → Your firmware does not support the transfer. Try ADB or update MIUI (sometimes in new versions return this function).
• 🔄 "The application has been transferred, but is not updated" → Return it to the internal memory, update it, then transfer it back.
• 🛑 " 'Insufficient space' error when transferring" → Clear the cache applications or use a larger card.
• 📵 "SD card not detected" → Restart your phone, check the card on another device or format it in FAT32/exFAT.
• ⚡ "Applications slow down after transfer" → Buy a class card A2 or return the application back.

If after transfer the application stops starting, check:

1. Whether the card was removed while the app was running.
2. Has the path to the files changed (for example, after connecting the phone to the PC in USB storage mode).
3. Has the application been updated (updates often reset storage settings).

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp to an SD card in Xiaomi?

Officially WhatsApp does not support transfer to external drives, but you can:

1. Transfer media files (photo, video) via Settings → Data and storage → Memory management.
2. Use ADB for forced transfer (risk of losing messages!).
3. Create a backup copy of chats and restore it after reinstalling the application on the card.

⚠️ After the transfer WhatsApp may stop sending notifications or synchronizing messages.

Why after transferring the game to Does it crash the SD card?

Games require high read/write speeds, and most microSDcards (even class A1s) do not provide sufficient performance. Solutions:

• Buy a class card A2 or UHS-I U3 (for example, Samsung EVO Plus).
• Transfer only additional files games (cache, updates), and leave the APK itself in the internal memory.
• Use Google Play Games for cloud saving of progress - this will allow you to reinstall the game without loss.

How to find out which applications have already been transferred to the SD card?

Check via:

1. Settings → Applications → [Select application] → Storage (will be indicated "SD card").
2. File manager (Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer) - open the SD card and find the folder Android/data.
3. Command adb shell pm get-install-location (will display the current installation location: 0 — internal memory, 2 — SD card).

Is it possible to transfer Xiaomi system applications to an SD card?

No, system applications (Subject, Security, Mi Video) are protected from transfer. They can only be disabled or deleted (required Ruth). data-i="312">root ADB will lead to an error INSTALL_FAILED_SYSTEM_APP_REMOVED.

What to do if the SD card is no longer detected after transferring applications?

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🔌 Bad contact → Remove and reinsert the card, clean the connector.
• 🖥️ The file system is damaged → Connect the card to the PC and check via chkdsk (Windows) or fsck (Linux/macOS).
• 🔄 Conflict with the application → Uninstall the last transferred application.
• 📵 The card is dead → Try it on another device. If it doesn’t work, replace it.

If the card was formatted as internal memory, it can only be restored through full formatting (loss of all data!).