How to transfer applications from internal memory to a memory card. How to transfer Android applications to an SD card Programs for moving applications to Android

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A "Not enough storage space" warning when you try to install a new app on your smartphone means all those games, photos and 4K videos have finally done their job. Using a microSD card is good way Free up space in your phone memory by moving some content to it.

It is always worth remembering that memory cards work slower than internal storage, so you need it to be fast and large. You will need the fastest microSD, at least class 10 or UHS-I, and preferably UHS-3. If the system determines that the microSD is running too slow, a performance warning will appear.

Use internal storage

Starting with Android Marshmallow, changes have been made to how phones handle memory cards. Now they can be used as internal storage - Android will treat the card as an extension of the internal memory. But this method has a big drawback: the flash drive will be encrypted, so it cannot be placed in another device (unless formatted again).

Let's get started! First do backup copy important data, and then insert the USB flash drive into the phone. When the notification for a new SD card appears, select Install. Next you need to choose how the phone should use the card: Phone Storage(on Android 9) or Use as Internal Storage(in older versions). If this menu does not appear, then go to Settings> Storage.

In the next step, select Format SD Card or Erase & Format - the system will offer to transfer all files, including applications, to the card. Android OS will also show you how much space you'll save. Click the button Move Content to start the transfer. This function is called Adoptable Storage and it requires keeping microSD in the phone at all times. Any data present on the card will be erased when it is formatted as internal storage.

Unfortunately, not all devices with a microSD slot support this feature: Motorola, Huawei and Nvidia have included Adoptable Storage, while Samsung and LG have removed it.

Android 9.0 Pie

If your phone doesn't support adaptable storage, you can manually transfer apps to microSD.


Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App info. Find the app you want to transfer and select Storage > Change > Virtual SD-card in the dialog box Change storage. On the confirmation screen, tap Move.

To move it back to internal storage, repeat the steps, but in the last step select Internal shared storage. You should always do this if you want to change or remove a flash drive!

Android 7.0 Nougat


Go Settings > Apps. Scroll down to find the app you want to move to the card and tap on it. Select "Storage". If it supports transfer to a card, you will see a "Storage used" section. Click the button labeled "Change", select the location where you want to move the application, and click the "Move" button.

Android 5.0 Lollipop

Lollipop has less reliable microSD support than later ones Android versions. Additionally, not all applications can be migrated in this version.


Go to Settings > Apps and select the right application, then click the button Move to SD Card. The button will be grayed out while the transfer process is in progress, so do not do anything until the process is complete.

Once the transfer is complete, the information will be updated and show how much space the application takes up on the card and in internal memory.

Transfer via Link2SD

This is needed when the phone does not support transfer to an SD card. Apps2SD is a popular app for this purpose, as is FolderMount, but both require .

What applications can be migrated?

AppMgr III from Sam Lu Tools will help you find out. With it you can “freeze” applications using Freeze apps, hide using Hide Apps and move to SD card option Move app.


AppMgr III will show on the tab when you first launch Movable, which applications can be moved to a flash drive and which cannot.

The green robot's "stomach" is smaller than a thimble. Especially on devices with little memory. I fed him a dozen or two super-mega-needed programs - and the place ran out. But... many of us have the opportunity to install a second “stomach” in the gadget and continue feeding.

Today we’ll talk about transferring applications from internal memory to an SD card in Android smartphones and tablets.

Which apps can be transferred and which ones can't?

Among mobile applications There are those that can be transferred between drives and those that cannot. When you transfer a program to external media, some components remain in the same place - in the permanent memory of the device.

If the program is relatively autonomous and not too fussy in terms of the location of files and data, it will remain functional. And if it is deeply rooted in operating system, when the work of other structures depends on it, the transfer can end in failure - not only this program will stop working, but also everything that interacts with it. For this reason, you should absolutely not try to move system applications.

The ability to transfer third-party products to microSD varies. It depends on whether the program author has provided for this possibility. They don’t write about this in the characteristics - everything is learned experimentally, but such experiments do not threaten serious consequences. If after transferring the program does not work, it is enough to return it to its place or reinstall it into the device’s memory.

Moving by system means

Modern versions of Android, starting from 6.0, support transfer software to cards without additional funds. They use a micro SD card as an extension of the internal storage, and the movement function is built into the firmware.

To transfer a program from the memory of a smartphone or tablet to a card in Android 6.0 and higher, do the following:

  • Open system settings and go to " Device» – « Applications».
  • Open the menu (properties section) of the desired program with a short touch.
  • Tap " Storage", then " Change».

  • In the window " Changing storage location» select « Memory card».

The instructions are applicable to devices of many brands and models, but adjusted for individual characteristics. Some manufacturers, for example, Samsung, instead of " Storage"You need to go to the section " Memory" Others have a button Move toSD" is located in the menu of applications that support this function. Well, others... simply didn’t bother and refused to implement the transfer function into the firmware of their devices.

The ability to transfer applications to SD cards “without intermediaries” also exists in very old versions of Android - 2.2 and lower, and everything that appeared later - up to the sixth version - requires third-party tools, which will be discussed further.

Mobile software for moving applications to SD

AppMgr III

Utility AppMgr III (App 2 SD) it is convenient in that it makes it possible to perform similar operations with several objects at once (batch management of installed software). This is not only a change in the installation location of the software, but also:

AppMgr III simplifies and speeds up many tasks for maintaining a mobile gadget, supports all versions of Android starting from 4.1, but is officially incompatible with devices from certain manufacturers, in particular Xiaomi. Operations with some objects require root rights.

Link2SD

Exclusive feature of the utility Link2SD– moving absolutely all user applications to SD cards, even those that do not allow this. The truth is, nothing is said in the description about whether the developer guarantees their continued performance.

Other functions and features of Link2SD:

  • Changing attributes of user software to system software and vice versa.
  • Freezing unused software.
  • Batch transfer of software to SD cards and device memory.
  • Batch removal and reinstallation of programs, batch clearing of cache and data. Clear the cache of all installed software with one touch.
  • Removing potentially malicious software.
  • Manage device reboot.
  • Create custom shortcuts.
  • Sorting installed applications by various parameters, search and much more.

Link2SD is more omnivorous than AppMgr III: it runs on any version of Android, starting from 2.3, and Xiaomi devices generally supports (although, according to user experience, not all). Most operations require root rights; it does not work on some firmware without root. Free version The utility is quite good - functional and convenient, but plagued by intrusive advertising.

Files To SD Card

A simple utility FilesToSDCard designed for transferring files to a memory card different types– graphics, video, music and, of course, applications. In addition, it allows you to choose an SD card as the location for saving new files (by default, Android saves everything on the device).

Files To SD Card is used to unload the memory of mobile gadgets and backup data. Despite the fact that the manufacturer claims support for a limited number of devices: Lenovo A2010 LTE, Samsung GalaxyCore, Moto G, Vodafone Smart Prime 6, Nokia One and Sony Xperia M4, the utility runs on almost any smartphone and tablet under Android control 5.0 and higher. On most firmware everything works without root.

Move to SDCard

A program with a simple name " Move to SDCard» pleases users with its simplicity and good results. In addition to the main function, which coincides with the name, the utility can:

  • Move software from the card to the device memory.
  • Sort applications by name, size, installation date.
  • Display information about applications: installation location, date, time, size, name of the executable file (apk).
  • Search for software on your device and on the Internet.

The utility is compatible with most brands and models of mobile gadgets, including very Chinese and very old ones (supports Android 2.3 and higher). Some features require root privileges.

File manager

File manager from the developer Best App is an improved explorer, a replacement for the standard file manager on Android smartphones and tablets. Changing the installation location of applications is just one of its functions.

Other features of the File Manager include:

  • Copying, pasting, cutting, moving, deleting, renaming, downloading - that is, all standard operations with files and folders.
  • Integration with , OneDrive and DropBox.
  • Access to open resources on the local network.
  • Clearing cache, junk data, duplicates.
  • Sorting objects into categories.
  • Transfer files over Wi-Fi to others mobile devices, computers and Smart TV.
  • Analyze and graphically display storage space usage.
  • Archiving and unarchiving files. Supports all major compression formats: rar, zip, 7z, 7zip, tgz, tar, gz.
  • Organizing and storing documents of various formats: doc, ppt, pdf and others.

The explorer is very lightweight and easy to learn, not overloaded with redundant functions, and undemanding of hardware resources. Runs on Android 4.2 and higher. Some functions require root rights, but everything basic works like that.

All-In-One Toolbox

All-In-One Toolbox– utility for comprehensive optimization and maintenance mobile system. Painless transfer of applications from internal memory to SD card and vice versa is also one of its functions.

Other useful features of All-In-One Toolbox:

  • Management of startup software (user and system).
  • Removing unnecessary data (cleaning up garbage, caches, duplicates).
  • Complete removal of programs with clearing of remaining files.
  • Speeding up a device by releasing RAM from running services and programs.
  • Reduced battery consumption.
  • Encryption of personal data.
  • Display a list of large files.
  • Explorer with the function of sorting objects by category.

All-In-One Toolbox is a good tool for speeding up and maintaining smartphones and tablets with limited resources - small amount of storage and RAM, not the most productive processor, weak battery. Runs on devices of any brands and models, perhaps with a few exceptions. Some functions require root rights and depend on the Android version.

As most often happens, this is not an exhaustive list of utilities with the ability to transfer applications to an SD card and back. There are hundreds of them, but each with its own quirks and character. I hope this one short review will help you find exactly what you like, and will also be tough for your Android device.

The internal memory on your device may not be enough for all the applications you need. Modern programs and especially games can be very voluminous. This problem can be resolved by moving them to an SD card.

But there are also pitfalls. Cards are slower than internal memory. Therefore, games and other resource-intensive applications may slow down after transfer. To reduce performance loss, preferably with a minimum speed of 10 MB/s. The higher the better.

In addition, moved applications will stop working as soon as you remove the memory card. And when you insert it back, it is possible that some of them will begin to glitch and produce errors.

So, it's worth moving apps if you're willing to sacrifice speed and stability for free space.

Will you be able to transfer applications to a memory card?

It is important to understand that not all devices provide this opportunity. There is no list of models that support transfer. To find out if your device is one of them, you just need to try moving applications to the card. This process is reversible and uncomplicated.

In addition, even if yours allows you to transfer, you will not be able to do this with all applications. Some games and programs only allow part of their data to be transferred to the card, and many do not support transfer at all.

How to move apps to an SD card

Although the process of moving games and programs on different firmware is slightly different, the procedure is similar everywhere. This generalized instruction should suit everyone.

Manually

First, make sure that the memory card is inserted into the device. Then open Android settings and select the "Applications" section. In the list of games and programs, click on the one you want to transfer to the card.

When the menu of the selected application appears on the screen, find the navigation button and use it. After the transfer, in the same menu you can return the application back to the internal memory.

If the button is missing or not clickable, the program may not support movement. Repeat these steps with other games and applications. If you can't transfer anything, the option is likely not available on your device.

Automatically

Some devices running Android 6 or later OS versions allow you to use the card as part of the internal memory. This option allows you to transfer all applications at once.

To make the card work as part of the internal storage, go to settings and open the section dedicated to memory management. Find the SD card menu in it. Use the “Format” command, select the “As internal storage” option and follow the system prompts. If this option is not available, this feature is not available on your device.

Formatting will erase all data from the card. After this, it cannot be used on other devices until you format it again.

Then confirm the transfer of applications to the card. From this moment on, the device will begin to perceive it as part of the internal storage, transfer old applications and install new ones on the card.

To return the program back to the device’s memory, you need to use the “Format” command again, selecting the “As portable storage” option. Before formatting, the system will prompt you to transfer applications to internal memory.

Using third party programs

If your device does not support any of the listed methods, but it is unlocked, you can try to transfer applications using third party programs. For these purposes, there are, for example, utilities Link2SD and App2SD. But even their creators do not guarantee the performance and stability of this method. So be careful.

Apps2SD: All in One Tool This is an application that can not only transfer application data to SD card, but also an all-in-one app that includes many interesting features. It is one of a kind.

For Apps2SD to work, it is important to know that:

  • on the device must be received and they must be issued by Apps2SD
  • you must have 2 partitions on the SD card (the application provides the ability to create two partitions)
  • must be installed Busybox(if not available, you will be prompted to download)
  • must be installed Chainfire SuperSu when using Android 5 (Lollipop) or higher, if you want to use the ability to mount folders (Folder Mount), and also link obb and external data to the SD card. But Apps2SD also works great with other root management apps.

Features of Apps2SD:

  • Linking apk, odex, dex, lib, internal data, external data and obb folders of user/system applications to the SD card.
  • terminal emulator (Terminal Emulator)
  • mounting and linking folders (Mount folder, Link folder)
  • cleaning traces of broken applications (removing unused files and eliminating download/installation errors on Google Play)
  • hiding applications and games (possibly creating access with a password)
  • creating/restoring a backup of an application/game/SD card
  • additional reboot options
  • Screen recording (for Android Kitkat users or higher)
  • task manager (Task Manager) (cleaning RAM by stopping running processes)
  • application manager (App Manager) (enable/disable services/activities/receivers/content providers)
  • swap manager: RAM accelerator (create/manage partitions/swap files)
  • SD card accelerator (increase the speed of internal/external SD card)
  • SD card speed test (test the read/write speed of your SD card)
  • tool for working with partitions (the ability to create up to 3 partitions on your SD card)
  • Application hibernation (hibernation of user/system applications when the screen is turned off)
  • script manager (creation/launch of custom Linux scripts. Creation of shortcuts to home screen, For quick access to scripts)
  • CPU frequency switch (switch CPU frequency to extend battery life (charge level) when screen is off)
  • log log (view/save/send logs of your device)
  • fix sd card (fix write rights to external sd card)
  • removal of system applications (including software containing viruses)
  • transferring applications to an SD card using the standard app2sd method (forced transfer if transfer is not supported by the application)
  • enable or disable applications
  • link, return link, enable, disable, convert, integrate, clear data/cache, transfer to SD card, transfer to device and many other functions
  • automatic linking of newly installed applications (optional)
  • support for 32/64-bit devices

How does this work:

Linking apps and games (Link2SD)
Apps2SD moves the apk, odex, dalvik-cache, lib and internal data files to a second partition on your card, which the OS mounts on boot and creates an ID link in the original location. This allows you to transfer most of the data (while maintaining the entire structure of files and folders), while the system continues to think that the data is still in the device’s memory.

Link obb and external data (Obb2SD)
On devices that have an emulated (internal) SD card, the obb and external data files are actually located in the internal storage, not on the external (real) SD card. This method allows you to move these files to the first/second partition of your external SD card with an optional command binding to mount/remount the file hierarchy.

Download a program for transferring application data to an SD card - Apps2SD on Android you can follow the link below.

Developer: Vicky Bonick
Platform: Android 2.3 and higher
Interface language: Russian (RUS)
Status: Full
Root: Required

Probably, each of us has encountered the problem of insufficient memory or simply wanted to transfer applications to a flash drive, since the memory was already full, and games and applications cannot be transferred to MicroSD and the notification “Insufficient memory on the device, some functions may be limited” was annoying.
Even if I deleted many applications and games, there was still not enough memory. But how to increase memory without losing everything? Later in this article we will look at and find out how to solve this problem.

I want to warn you right away that neither I nor the site administration are responsible for your actions. You do everything at your own peril and risk.

P.S. The article uses the most simplified words for better understanding.

To continue you will need:

  • MicroSD Card with at least class 6 (preferably class 10) and larger than 4 GB in size
  • (To create a second partition)
  • (For transferring applications and games)
  • (For transferring games with cache)
Why do we need a MicroSD card and ?

To increase memory, we will have to transfer your applications to the so-called second partition of the MicroSD card (for transfer you need ), and we will create it ourselves. If you already have a second section on your map, you can skip this item.

Creating a second MicroSD partition

1. Save all files on another medium (For example, on a computer)
2. Disconnect the MicroSD card along the path “Settings/Memory/Disconnect memory card”

3. If there is ROOT rights, install , if not -

4. After starting, click on “+” twice
5. Select “Ext4” in Part 2. If you have a device running Android 2.2-2.3, select “Ext 3”
6. In Part 2, select the size, how much memory you want to allocate in MB from the card for applications and games (The more the better)
7. Look at the first graph with a white bar, with the amount of memory remaining and enter these numbers in Part 1
8. Check if you did everything correctly. If everything is correct, click on the menu button or the so-called “three dots in the corner”, and click on “Apply changes”
The hardest part is over, you can reconnect the memory card (Settings/Memory/Connect memory card), transfer files back to the flash drive, but before that you can notice that the size of the memory card has decreased. This is how it should be, because we created the second section.

Setting up transfer to the second partition

We need to install the program (Google Play)


After installation, open the application. You should see a window like this. Select "Ext 4" or "Ext 3" for Android 2.2-2.3 and click on "OK".

After rebooting, open the application. You should see a list of applications.

Now we will look at what can be transferred and what is better not to transfer.

Let's just say that system applications should never be transferred. You never know what will happen. Therefore, it is better to transfer custom applications (those that you installed yourself). I do not recommend transferring those applications that you actively use (For example, Browser or WhatsApp and the like).

And to make it more convenient, the application has sorting. To do this, click on “Exact three stripes” and select “Custom”.


A list of your applications should appear in front of you. Now you can select the applications that you want to move to the second partition and link them there. Click on “Three Dots”, then on “Several”, select the applications to transfer and click on “Send”.

A few minutes of waiting and you're done! You have more memory, and you can still download games and applications and transfer them. If you delve into the Link2SD settings, you can enable auto-link. This is a function that automatically transfers the application to the second section of the card, thereby making your life easier.

You can also change themes in the settings, buy the Pro version, and so on. But that’s not about that now. In general, we figured out the main problem. But, I want to tell you, Link2SD does not transfer game cache (Game cache is files in .obb format along the path Android/obb/“game package name”). So what should we do? Let's talk further.

Transferring game cache and data to a MicroSD card

Game caches can be transferred using a great program called . I’ll say right away that the cache is transferred to the flash drive itself, and not to the second partition.

Open the application, and swipe from the left edge of the screen to the right edge (Swipe) and tap on “Application Analyzer”

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