Storing apps on a portable storage SD card - General Questions and Answers

Is this still possible? If so, how do I do this? Preferably solutions without routing but any solution is welcome
For context I'm running Android Nougat (7.0) and this issue is regarding my Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. As you're probably aware, the S6 doesn't have an SD card slot so I have to attach an adapter to use an SD card. This means that setting the SD card as internal storage would be a problem since I can't keep the adapter attached all the time, and if I unplug it part of my phones functionality would be affected, since it'll be formatted so my phone always expects it to be present (unless I'm mistaken). This also means that the solution of splitting the SD card into part portable and part internal wouldn't work either.
If you're wondering why I need an SD card its because I've run out of room for apps, I currently have no photos or music that isn't in the cloud so cleaning my phone out to make room isn't much of an option either.
If you need anything clarifying, just ask.

Moving apps to external SD Card
Google took a step backwards with this in the new update. Here's how you move apps from internal storage to your micro sd card:
1. Go to settings/applications/app manager and select an app you wish to move.
2. Select "Storage." Notice that the current storage location is provided. If the app is able to be moved to your micro sd card, there will be a "Change" option. If the app cannot be moved, thus field will not appear.
3. Change the location from Internal to SD Card.
4. Tap on "Move."
I have no idea why Google made this change, because it added more steps to this process than necessary, not to mention that it's a little harder to find on your own.

sysentgames said:
Google took a step backwards with this in the new update. Here's how you move apps from internal storage to your micro sd card:
1. Go to settings/applications/app manager and select an app you wish to move.
2. Select "Storage." Notice that the current storage location is provided. If the app is able to be moved to your micro sd card, there will be a "Change" option. If the app cannot be moved, thus field will not appear.
3. Change the location from Internal to SD Card.
4. Tap on "Move."
I have no idea why Google made this change, because it added more steps to this process than necessary, not to mention that it's a little harder to find on your own.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!!! Sorry just to confirm I don't have to have my SD card formatted as internal storage to do this right?

Bump

flae99 said:
Thanks!!! Sorry just to confirm I don't have to have my SD card formatted as internal storage to do this right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, he described the normal "move to SD card" method, not the adoptable storage method, I think?
Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk

sysentgames said:
Google took a step backwards with this in the new update. Here's how you move apps from internal storage to your micro sd card:
1. Go to settings/applications/app manager and select an app you wish to move.
2. Select "Storage." Notice that the current storage location is provided. If the app is able to be moved to your micro sd card, there will be a "Change" option. If the app cannot be moved, thus field will not appear.
3. Change the location from Internal to SD Card.
4. Tap on "Move."
I have no idea why Google made this change, because it added more steps to this process than necessary, not to mention that it's a little harder to find on your own.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But on my phone, Android 7.0, there is not "Change" or "Move to SD Card" option for any installed apps.

James_Watson said:
But on my phone, Android 7.0, there is not "Change" or "Move to SD Card" option for any installed apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I doubted it would have it, nougat should have the adoptable storage option, not the "move to SD" option. That doesn't do you any good.
I'm not sure that you can even do what you're trying to do without leaving the sd inserted.
Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk

As far as I know, in newer android versions you can only move apps to adoptable storage.
What you want might be possible with root and a dedicated App2SD app. Without root this is not possible.

Vankog said:
As far as I know, in newer android versions you can only move apps to adoptable storage.
What you want might be possible with root and a dedicated App2SD app. Without root this is not possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
James_Watson said:
But on my phone, Android 7.0, there is not "Change" or "Move to SD Card" option for any installed apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do what was suggested above, you won't be able to remove the sd card because the device won't function properly with it removed. You'll get an endless chain of FC's(app has stopped working) that will make your device uncontrollable because it keeps popping up with FC notifications. You won't be able to navigate the device because the notifications will continously pop up one after the other.
Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk

While this is true, I think it should work for apps that don't start automatically. As long as the particular app isn't used it won't bother, I guess.

Vankog said:
While this is true, I think it should work for apps that don't start automatically. As long as the particular app isn't used it won't bother, I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, depending on the app. Then again, Google play services update checks for the installed apps might get a little screwy when the card is removed. Only one way to find out, try and hope it works.
Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk

Related

new SD card: now error: Application not installed on your phone"

Just moved from a 8 GB to a 32GB card. And cannot use it...
First I unmounted the old SD card on the phone, and put in the new, unformatted 32GB. I then choose to format it in the phone. Its a Galaxy S GT-9003i with firmware I9003XXKPN v2.3.5
It formated fine. Then I unmounted the new card, plonked in the old card and connected the phone in USB mode to the Macbook. I also connected the newly formatted SD card via a card reader, and it promptly showed up, with the correct free space (although there was a directory on it already called LOST.DIR)
I then copied all apps from the phones 8GB SD to the 32GB card, using the laptop (drag and drop). This also went fine and without a glitch. I then shut down the phone, swapped out the SD cards and booted the phone on again. As expected, it went to do the usual Scanning USB memory. It completed. The space appears to be taken up, but all apps that are on that USB are inaccesible. Their icons grey Androids with a small SD logo in the bottom right corner.
All other apps (the ones on the phone) work fine. The SD card can be used to copy files to on the computer and to take pictures...
Phone is not rooted.
PLease help, if you have a solution to this...
Many tHanks
oranabana said:
Just moved from a 8 GB to a 32GB card. And cannot use it...
First I unmounted the old SD card on the phone, and put in the new, unformatted 32GB. I then choose to format it in the phone. Its a Galaxy S GT-9003i with firmware I9003XXKPN v2.3.5
It formated fine. Then I unmounted the new card, plonked in the old card and connected the phone in USB mode to the Macbook. I also connected the newly formatted SD card via a card reader, and it promptly showed up, with the correct free space (although there was a directory on it already called LOST.DIR)
I then copied all apps from the phones 8GB SD to the 32GB card, using the laptop (drag and drop). This also went fine and without a glitch. I then shut down the phone, swapped out the SD cards and booted the phone on again. As expected, it went to do the usual Scanning USB memory. It completed. The space appears to be taken up, but all apps that are on that USB are inaccesible. Their icons grey Androids with a small SD logo in the bottom right corner.
All other apps (the ones on the phone) work fine. The SD card can be used to copy files to on the computer and to take pictures...
Phone is not rooted.
PLease help, if you have a solution to this...
Many tHanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried rebooting your phone? If it still does not work, try to unmount your SD Card via settings and then wait for it to successfully unmount and then mount again
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Application not installed on your phone
saywhatt said:
Have you tried rebooting your phone? If it still does not work, try to unmount your SD Card via settings and then wait for it to successfully unmount and then mount again
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, yes tried this one. No luck.... Its a Samsung mirco SD card (Model: MB-MSBGA) class 10
Anyone else..!?
Did u done app2sd in ur phone with the 8 gig 1
Sent from my GT-I9003 using xda premium
No not much.
DONT FORGET TO PRESS THE THANKS BUTTON IF HELPED YOU IN ANY WAY
ah ha
So, I cannot even find the app2sd app under My Apps on the Google Play store... weird. Its also not listing under Manage Applications. Would this really be the cause of the problem!?
Anyone else have any ideas, why the phone cannot load the apps copied from the other SD card...!?!
First of all u have to move all apps from the old sd card to the phone. Or while inserting ur new sd, the apps you moved to your old sd will not work
DONT FORGET TO PRESS THE THANKS BUTTON IF HELPED YOU IN ANY WAY
Mebin Robin said:
First of all u have to move all apps from the old sd card to the phone. Or while inserting ur new sd, the apps you moved to your old sd will not work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but I canot make sense of this. Firstly all apps on the old SD card will never fit onto the phone (8GB, vs 2GB space), and secondly elsewhere online they always talk about copying files to the new card and then inserting that instead of the old one....
mmmh...!? Whilst I apprecite your post - its not working for me
When apps are moved to the SD card, it isn't entirely moved to the SD card. Only part of it is, that's why when installing apps the space for apps still decreases. Therefore you should use titanium backup or similar backup programs to move the applications.
bscraze said:
Therefore you should use titanium backup or similar backup programs to move the applications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks,I had a look at titanium backup, but it requires root access (my phone has not been rooted). I really dont think one should need to root their phone to move from a small to a larger SD card without having to re-install all apps from scratch...!?
oranabana said:
Thanks,I had a look at titanium backup, but it requires root access (my phone has not been rooted). I really dont think one should need to root their phone to move from a small to a larger SD card without having to re-install all apps from scratch...!?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Without root you will not be able to backup data(AFAIK)
bscraze said:
...Therefore you should use titanium backup or similar backup programs to move the applications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, so I rooted the phone and used Titanium Backup. It created a backup file on the phone memory. I thought, voila, I am good then, popped in the new SD card, formatted it, and did the restore from Titanium Backup... but:
still getting a lot of greyed out files in the application folder and on the home screens... I really cannot believe all this work is needed to swap out SD cards from a smaller to larger capacity! what a pain in the •••
I have the same problem on my new samsung 32gb 10 class micro sd card and still searching for the solution. If anyone have a solution, please, share it for us. Thanks!
martynas393 said:
I have the same problem on my new samsung 32gb 10 class micro sd card and still searching for the solution. If anyone have a solution, please, share it for us. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same problem to, just backed up my old 16gb card to my pc, installed and formatted a new 32gb card in my S4 and copied the data back over and all the apps that are on the sd card are showing up grey.
Ok, after a quick google, i've found that making a clone of the card and then copying the clone to the new card works
you can use HDD-Raw-Copy-Tool to do this (you'll have to google it as I don't have enough posts to post external links)
heathen666 said:
Ok, after a quick google, i've found that making a clone of the card and then copying the clone to the new card works
you can use HDD-Raw-Copy-Tool to do this (you'll have to google it as I don't have enough posts to post external links)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Yeah that works perfectly! (Apparently there are some "secure" folders in the SD card that start with a period, and the contents do not get copied at all. Those hold the apps and data.) However after using HDD-Raw-Copy it will create an exact replica of the smaller SD card on the larger one and the larger one will appear to be small too, so you must resize your partition or you won't gain anything, your new card will be exactly the same as the old one! You can use MiniTool Partition Wizard home edition which is free to do this: partitionwizard.com :good:
I had the same problem but I was able to fix without extra software. Took old card out of my phone and installed both externally via flash readers to my pc and copied files from one to the other. View hidden files is turned on just in case any hidden items is also copied. This work great for me all apps are accessible now. Hope this helpped
Here is the step-by-step solution: http://www.tomsguide.com/forum/id-2545604/move-data-card-samsung-galaxy.html
There are two ways described to do it successfully:
METHOD 1 uses the xcopy (or xcopy32) command in a Cmd Prompt windown on Windows. The /h switch used on the command allows the hidden and system files to be copied!
METHOD 2 uses a straight copy from old SD card to the new SD card (or from old SD card to folder on computer, then from folder on computer to new SD card) using the simple drag and drop on Windows. BUT YOU MUST HAVE WINDOWS EXPLORER CONFIGURED TO SHOW SYSTEM AND HIDDEN FILES!
Just to be clear, the solution to the problem is trivial. You are simply copying ALL the files from one SD card to another. There is absolutely no reason that copying ALL files from one SD card, including the complete file structure, to another SD card should not work. Your phone can't tell that you switched SD cards. It only knows the files and file structure it can see on the SD card and if they are EXACTLY the same as they were before the switch, your phone should work exactly like it did before the switch except now it will see more free storage space on your larger SD card (which was probably your goal in the first place) AND your phone may possibly even run faster by accessing the data much faster if your new SD card is a faster class of storage media.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO ROOT YOUR PHONE OR INSTALL ALL KINDS OF CRAZY APPS ON YOUR PHONE OR SOFTWARE ON YOUR COMPUTER TO DO THIS!!!
BUT, the key is that YOU MUST ALSO COPY ALL THE HIDDEN FILES and there are lots of them on Android! Everytime I hear of someone having a problem with switchinging to a new SD card, it is because they did NOT copy the hidden files OR their SD card was not properly formatted (FAT32) for the phone.
Please click the Thanks button if this has helped you!

Nabi 2 Apps to SD Card

I've rooted and installed gapps onto my kids Nabi 2 tablet that he got for Christmas, I just got a 32GB MicroSD card so I can move all apps to the SD card and use the SD card for apps so I don't run out of internal memory. I don't see how to move the Apps to the SD card, can someone tell me how to do this or if it's possible? I did a little research on this and it looks like there might be an app that does this, but I'm not too familiar with it. You used to be able to just go into to manage your apps and select move to SD.
I tried posting to the root instructions thread but apparently I'm too new to post ona developers thread. Thanks for any info.
Anybody have an answer??
GatorBait1996 said:
I've rooted and installed gapps onto my kids Nabi 2 tablet that he got for Christmas, I just got a 32GB MicroSD card so I can move all apps to the SD card and use the SD card for apps so I don't run out of internal memory. I don't see how to move the Apps to the SD card, can someone tell me how to do this or if it's possible? I did a little research on this and it looks like there might be an app that does this, but I'm not too familiar with it. You used to be able to just go into to manage your apps and select move to SD.
I tried posting to the root instructions thread but apparently I'm too new to post ona developers thread. Thanks for any info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
titanium back up has the option to port apps the ext sd card
JGoN86 said:
titanium back up has the option to port apps the ext sd card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, is that the only way to move apps over to an external SD card nowadays is using a 3rd party app?
It was so nice before to just go into the Apps section within settings and move choose "Move to SD".
GatorBait1996 said:
Thanks for the reply, is that the only way to move apps over to an external SD card nowadays is using a 3rd party app?
It was so nice before to just go into the Apps section within settings and move choose "Move to SD".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1905674&page=136#
Scroll down untill you see the post regarding Root External 2 Internal SD.
JGoN86 said:
titanium back up has the option to port apps the ext sd card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not on the current configuration it doesn't. Nabi2 has been updated to Android 4.1.1, with Gapps, and I think the dunderheads at Fuhu went out of their way to make sure you couldn't get extra space on their P.o.S. tablet.

Installing apps to the SD.

Hey all,
Does the Z3 support installing every app fully to the SD card? I ask because 16gb seems a bit limiting if you can't fully use the SD card.
I just came here to ask the same question. In Kitkat 4.4.4 (and maybe other versions?) the 'Move to SD' is disabled/not there and it is up to the phone manufacturer to enable/add it. There is no option in settings on the Z3 to move app data to your SD card. It is very easy to enable apps to be able to use the SD card, either manually or using an app such as SDFix (but you will need to be rooted).
Here are some questions I would like answered if anyone knows:
There are folders on the SD card for most apps in /Android/data/ for example, 'com.microsoft.skydrive'. That same folder is also in the same place (/Android/data/) on the phones memory and contains data for the app. Can that just be moved with a file explorer to the SD card? If so are there any other steps to take?
Is there an app to automate moving data or a way to add the button in settings, apps?
Cheers
Wait till 5 ! It's was disabled is kk
You can use FolderMount to transfer game data to external storage (sdcard)
I use it and it is really essential to me
installed 4 big games

Google Play Music not supporting external SD

I want to select my external SD card as the download location for Google Play Music. There should be an option in settings to do this, but it is missing on mine. However, under "Manage Downloads" it shows 30gb available, so it knows my external SD card exists. I've tried to create a link from my internal storage to my SD card using Root Browser, but it fails and tells me that some systems and SD cards don't support symbolic links.
I'm running CM11 and my SD card works perfectly in every other application.
I really need help on this one
Thanks in advance
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using XDA Free mobile app
Caveman_eh said:
I want to select my external SD card as the download location for Google Play Music. There should be an option in settings to do this, but it is missing on mine. However, under "Manage Downloads" it shows 30gb available, so it knows my external SD card exists. I've tried to create a link from my internal storage to my SD card using Root Browser, but it fails and tells me that some systems and SD cards don't support symbolic links.
I'm running CM11 and my SD card works perfectly in every other application.
I really need help on this one
Thanks in advance
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe it was a bad update from googles side? try on some other phone if u have one or maybe on a friends phone? if they dont have it post in the cyanogenmod forum of your device, they might help you
Caveman_eh said:
I want to select my external SD card as the download location for Google Play Music. There should be an option in settings to do this, but it is missing on mine. However, under "Manage Downloads" it shows 30gb available, so it knows my external SD card exists. I've tried to create a link from my internal storage to my SD card using Root Browser, but it fails and tells me that some systems and SD cards don't support symbolic links.
I'm running CM11 and my SD card works perfectly in every other application.
I really need help on this one
Thanks in advance
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm nearly sure there's an xposed mod for this. At one point I think there was an update from Google that it would have the ability to save to the external SD but somehow they managed to screw it up
Sent from my N5

How to Root Huawei Y5 2019? Or transfer APPS to SD Card

Hi,
Does anyone knows how to root Huawei Y5 2019?
I just want to root it because i want to be able to transfer the APPS to SD Card
And i can't find a way to do this from the phone itself, so if anyone knows how to do this.. Please help
How to move apps to external SD-card in detail is described here:
How to Move Your Android Apps to an External Sd Card: 7 Steps
This wikiHow teaches you how to move an Android app to an SD card. This option may not be available for all of your apps. Open your Android's Settings. It has a gear icon that's either gray or white. If you don't see it on the home screen,...
www.wikihow.com
jwoegerbauer said:
How to move apps to external SD-card in detail is described here:
How to Move Your Android Apps to an External Sd Card: 7 Steps
This wikiHow teaches you how to move an Android app to an SD card. This option may not be available for all of your apps. Open your Android's Settings. It has a gear icon that's either gray or white. If you don't see it on the home screen,...
www.wikihow.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, this is not possible on Huawei Y5 2019, if i manage to root it then with, for example Link2SD application i can transfer them.. Like this, i cannot do anything, but i said that if maybe anyone knows a way without root too
Bump
thsiw said:
Unfortunately, this is not possible on Huawei Y5 2019, if i manage to root it then with, for example Link2SD application i can transfer them.. Like this, i cannot do anything, but i said that if maybe anyone knows a way without root too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe because your phone doesn't have a sd card u need a sd card for the phone
Not all phones have a sd card
If you're phone doesn't support for a sd card than it's just not possible
Austinredstoner said:
Maybe because your phone doesn't have a sd card u need a sd card for the phone
Not all phones have a sd card
If you're phone doesn't support for a sd card than it's just not possible
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phone has a microSD slot.
jwoegerbauer said:
Phone has a microSD slot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep that's true
Austinredstoner said:
Yep that's true
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bought a 32gb one few days ago, just cant find a way to transfer the apps to it, unlucky
thsiw said:
Bought a 32gb one few days ago, just cant find a way to transfer the apps to it, unlucky
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well most apps really can't be moved to external SD-card. Only a few can.
BTW:
The mentioned Link2SD app - as it name implies - simply creates in Android OS's file tree links ( read: shortcut in Windows OS terminology ) to apps / their data what are located on external SD-card. This only will work if the external SD-card has two partitions (at least): one partition works as a regular external storage on SD-card, for pictures, music, etc.pp, the second partition ( must be ext4 formatted ) would work as the "extended real memory" or, the virtual memory, where "externally installed apps" are housed.
Since Android 6 this technique is part of Android OS: it's called Adoptable Storage.

Categories

Resources