How to download files from the Play Market to a memory card and outsmart everyone. Why data is not saved to the memory card on Android

Many owners of Android devices sooner or later, especially if the user is not experienced in computer technology, are faced with a similar situation. By manually or automatically installing applications on the gadget's internal memory, we gradually reduce its volume. Over time, the device begins to work slower and slower. Those programs that used to start in a matter of moments now start slowly. And then it’s generally impossible to send SMS or listen to the song normally. In addition, I get a message that there is not enough space in the memory of the Android device. So we've arrived. It's time to start optimizing the internal memory of the device. There is no other way. The main way to solve this problem in Android is to install applications on a memory card. But first you need to understand what types of memory your device has.

Types of Android memory

RAM is memory that is used by various processes and applications while the device is running. When the power is turned off, all data contained in it is erased. The larger its volume, the more application instances can be launched at the same time. That is, the more operational, the more you can afford right away. For example, listen to music and surf the Internet through a browser.

At this stage, the gold standard is considered to be 1 GB of RAM. In budget models, this figure averages 512 MB. To some extent, a large amount of RAM allows you to go longer without transferring an Android application to a memory card. Moreover, starting from version 2.2 of this operating system, it has built-in support for selective launch of processes. Now the device itself knows which application data to leave active. In earlier versions, when the entire amount of RAM was filled, the user received a message about its fullness and the impossibility of launching the application.

ROM is the internal memory of the device, onto which the data of the operating system itself is written during firmware. Unlike operational data, this data is saved after recording without changes, even after the device is turned off or rebooted. They are not modifiable and you will not be able to move applications to your Android memory card.

Internal memory of the device - user information and data of installed programs are recorded here. All information is available for change. How much free space is left in the internal memory is displayed in the settings. If the entire volume is almost full, then you can move applications to the android memory card.

Memory cards

An expansion card, or flash drive, is used to increase the amount of internal memory. It comes in different types and sizes depending on the slot supported. All information recorded on it is available for modification and is saved when the power is turned off. You can also find out about the degree of filling in the “settings” section of the gadget menu. The main purpose of expansion cards is to free up resources of the device's internal memory.

The essence of the problem

After purchasing a new device, the owner, who understands the controls, begins to customize the gadget “for himself.” Personalize by installing all new applications and gradually filling the internal memory. In the end, in addition to filling the RAM with many running processes, the internal volume is also filled to capacity. In this case, the system issues messages about this. Removing unnecessary programs and data solves the problem for a short time due to the constant influx of information and automatic installation of updates. Optimizing the system and deleting temporary files is also a temporary solution to the problem. There is nothing else left to do but transfer applications to the android memory card.

Let's start solving the problem

An inexperienced user would do this by first copying all the data to the computer and then moving it to a flash drive. Another solution could be online data storage. To do this, you need to download all the necessary “extra” information from your phone to the server of some specialized Internet resource for further storage and use at the right time. This is where the problem of accessing this data via the Internet arises. Unlike foreign countries, access to the network via wi-fi is still too poorly developed. And downloading through Edge will not only take a long time, but also be expensive.

Everything is much simpler. Transferring data to an expansion card is possible through the built-in operating system tools using a file manager. You just need to mark those that should be transferred. What if you need to move Android applications to the memory card? To do this, in this operating system, starting from version 2.2, this feature is implemented at the software level.

Open the gadget menu. Go to the “Settings” item. Next, go to the “Applications” sub-item and from there to “Application Management”. A list of installed programs opens in front of you. By clicking on the name of the desired application, we will see all the information about it. On the right there is a button that says "move to SD". If it is active (displayed in white), then this application can be transferred to the Android sd from the internal memory of the device.

Programs for transferring applications

Of course, a new version of the operating system is good. But what should those whose devices run on versions lower than 2.2 and their system do not know how to install Android applications on a flash drive?

The first option that immediately comes to mind is flashing the gadget. But this matter is so troublesome and time-consuming that first it is better to look for other ways to solve the problem.

All-knowing programmers have already thought for us and written a number of special programs for Android to transfer applications to SD.

App 2 SD program.

It contains all the necessary tools for transferring applications not only from external memory to an expansion card, but also vice versa. Having launched the program, a table with icons of available functions appears in front of us. At the top there are three keys for selecting the desired operation option: with roaming applications located on the memory card and located in the internal memory of the device. Before transferring applications to the memory card on Android, click on the icon of the program being moved. All information about it and possible options for action are displayed in front of us: transferring, erasing data.

Using the menu that appears after pressing the device's function keys, you can transfer all installed programs, update the list, configure, clear the cache, or upgrade to the professional version of App 2 SD. Moreover, the price of switching to the pro version is only $2.

Program Move2SDEnablerv0. 96.

It will be useful not only for those whose gadget runs on Android below version 2. 2. In devices with a later version of the operating system Move2SD Enabler v0. 96 allows you to move to a flash drive even those applications that are marked as “unportable” in the standard file manager (the transfer button is inactive). Before saving applications to your Android memory card, familiarize yourself with the space occupied by this program.

Link2SD program.

Unlike others, it allows you to export applications not only completely, but also in parts. That is, you can move individual libraries. Another advantage of Link2SD is that it is installed immediately in one package without copying files or running scripts.

After transferring the application with this program in devices running versions of the operating system up to 2.2, it begins to be displayed only after the device is rebooted.

To export, 2 partitions must be created on the expansion card. One is based on the FAT 32 file system, and the other is ext2 (the limitation is not relevant for new versions).

Of course, these programs completely solve the problem. But in Android, how to install applications on a flash drive right away?

Install immediately

Of course, the memory of devices, especially phones, is not infinite. And constantly transferring programs using specialized applications or the built-in Android file manager is tedious.

And I would like to know how to install applications on a memory card on Android.

Unfortunately, by default, all applications are installed in any version of Android on the internal memory. The solution to this problem can be considered to be flashing the gadget with a third-party version of the OS. But this is a very troublesome matter. In addition, you need to have decent skills and knowledge in handling this kind of software.

After installing the application, if possible, immediately move it to the memory card. Following this simple rule will help you save built-in memory resources.

Install one of the cleaning utilities on your gadget. For example, Android Assistant. After a while, systematically launch it, and clean the system and clear the cache. Using this program allows you to clear the internal memory of temporary and unnecessary files (“system junk”), and thus save space.

Comfortable work

Make it a rule to uninstall applications as soon as they are no longer needed.

When downloading various multimedia information via a browser on the Internet, immediately set the save path to the folder on the expansion card.

By following these tips, you can ensure comfortable work on your device, even if its internal memory resources are small. And the developers will definitely answer us about how to ensure that applications are installed on the Android memory card with the release of one of the next versions of this wonderful operating system.


The internal memory on smartphones is not endless, and photos, videos, documents and applications take up quite a lot of space. This is why most devices have an SD card slot - this allows you to significantly expand your memory reserves.

And yet, users are faced with the following problem: the phone has external storage installed, but all applications are automatically downloaded to the internal memory. Because of this, a notification constantly appears that there is not enough space. On Android, this problem can be solved in several ways.

How to download games and applications to an SD memory card

There are several ways to use an external card to download applications and games to it. So, you can set the SD card as the default memory, move applications using standard settings or memory consolidation.

Setting the default external SD drive

You can set the SD card as the default memory, and then the smartphone will determine it as a priority for storing data.

To do this:

Some applications will still be saved in the internal memory, this is determined by their settings.

Using Settings to Move Apps

Unfortunately, in the settings there is no option to select automatic installation of applications on external media. But you can manually move some of them (not all applications support such a transfer).

To do this:

There is another option: you can transfer applications not separately, but all together. To do this:

Combining internal and external memory

This method is available for smartphones with Android version 6.0 and higher installed.

Video: how to set up downloading games and applications to an SD card

Video: Moving games to an external drive using Apps2SD

Using an SD card and the methods described will help significantly relieve the internal memory of your smartphone. They are quite simple, so any user can handle them, even if he is not very well versed in technology.

Device malfunctions may occur after mechanical damage, such as shocks or falls. This may be a system error in which the memory card is not detected by the device or is not set in the settings for saving information.

Why this might happen:

  1. The most obvious situation is that there is not enough space in the phone's memory. In most models, data is saved to an internal drive, the resource of which is significantly less than a removable one. In the system settings, you can determine the default save location to the memory card, which will increase the performance of the device.
  2. System failures are also a negative factor affecting the preservation of personal data. Some errors can be resolved yourself, for others you will have to contact a service center.
  3. Full cache downloads can also create a file saving problem. A similar feature is often observed in Samsung smartphones, as well as Huawei honor 6a models.
  4. Often, files are deleted by the user himself by mistake. Regular “cleaning” of your phone is, of course, important, but you shouldn’t get carried away with it and be sure to review the files before deleting. It is also advisable to install on your smartphone an application similar to the “Trash” on your computer. This way you can periodically view deleted files, as well as undo erroneous deletion.

If, in addition to failures when saving files, your device suffers from other problems, the best option would be to contact a service center. Diagnostics of the device and updating the system will help solve a number of system and software errors.

Information is not saved on the phone in the gallery

A similar problem can appear not only on a new device (which you may not have gotten to know closely yet), but also on an old phone that has served faithfully for many years. If your smartphone does not save photos to Android in the gallery, you need to perform the following manipulations.

What actions help solve the problem:

  • Select the “Storage” item in the camera settings and set the active checkbox in the “Save to SD card” mode. This option is not available on all devices.
  • Find data reset in the camera settings. The command might sound like “Restore camera settings to default?” or similar option.
  • In the phone settings, select the “Erase data” section, and in the proposed list, select the camera from the applications.
  • After carrying out all the above manipulations, it is recommended to clear the cache memory and then reboot the device. So the changes made are saved.

It should be noted that when the memory card is full, the device may not work correctly and files are either not saved at all or are lost during the update process. To prevent such situations, it is advisable to regularly transfer data to a computer or cloud storage.

It is impossible to save a photo taken on the tablet

Problems with saving photos can also arise on a tablet computer. Often the cause is failures of the external drive, when the device simply does not identify the memory card. If previously saved photos are visible through the CD card connection from the card reader, the signal conductivity from the drive socket may be impaired. Such failures can be resolved at a service center.

To recover accidentally deleted photos from your gallery, you can install special applications. The most popular of them: Dr. Fone for Android, DiskDigger, GT Recovery and similar. Each program has its own operating principle and features of use. Some of them require superuser access (root rights). However, the capabilities of such programs are very limited, so it is best to synchronize your device with a valid Google account or cloud storage in advance to avoid such situations in the future.

Photos are not saved to the memory card

Often the reasons why pictures are not saved to an external drive are extremely simple: the phone or tablet simply does not see the removable device.

In this case, the following steps will help:

  1. Disconnect the gadget, remove the memory card and install it in its original place.
  2. The card can be scanned for errors and, if necessary, formatted.
  3. The device is locked, which can be removed at the service center.
  4. If the gadget does not “see” any of the installed cards, then we are talking about internal damage. Such errors can be corrected by contacting a workshop.
  5. Often the device does not support older card formats. Mostly microSD is now used.

After the manipulations, the phone’s memory can be increased and optimized by transferring all possible programs to an external drive. Some system applications are not designed for such transport, but removing all others can save a lot of space.

How to solve the problem

It is not always possible to determine the type of problem yourself. Often this is a system error, so to eliminate it you will have to debug installed programs. The proposed algorithm “works” if the snapshot is not detected immediately after execution.

To do this, it is recommended to perform the following algorithm of actions:

  • In the “my files” section, find the item “device memory” (may have a different name with similar content).
  • Find a folder called DCIM.
  • Move the contents to another folder or storage location.
  • Delete the entire folder.
  • Reboot the device.
  • After a reboot, the DCIM folder will appear again, but with a high percentage of probability - without a system error.

Does your Android not save photos or videos you take to the memory card? The problem may lie in system settings, card incompatibility, or even system failures of the device. Common errors in which a phone or tablet does not save new information to a CD card or internal storage, as well as methods for solving such problems, are discussed in the information provided.

Many smartphone models have a built-in function for saving photos to a memory card by default. However, there are devices in which this parameter must be set manually or is absent altogether, and the captured images are saved to the internal memory of the phone. How to make sure that photos are saved to the memory card of an Android device - this will be discussed in the article.

For different models of Android smartphones, there are different ways to solve the problem of saving images in memory. Despite the fact that a specific phone model has its own characteristics for configuring storage parameters. In a certain line of devices, the location of the function for saving photos to a memory card is usually the same. We will look at the location of this function, which is typical for any smartphone configuration, and various ways to solve the problem.

Method 1 - Changing the Storage Partition in Camera Settings

In most smartphones, the folder for saving photos can be set in the camera settings. To do this, you need to launch it and find the “settings” tab, in which the item regarding image storage will be written. It might be called something like this:


“Save to memory card” item in the “Camera settings” section

Here you need to move the slider of the “Save to memory card” item to the right position, thereby activating saving the photo to the memory card. As a rule, this method solves the problem in most cases. If it doesn't help, move on to the next one.

Method 2 - changing the save folder in the smartphone settings

Often, image storage settings can be changed directly in the “Settings” section of your device. The method is implemented in several steps:


If this solution does not help you, move on to the third.

Method 3 - Restore Camera Default Settings

Some intentional or accidental changes to the camera parameters can also affect the operation of the smartphone, resulting in the SD card failing. In this case, it is recommended to restore the camera to factory settings. In our smartphone model this is done like this:

Method 4 - hardware solution to the problem of saving photos to a memory card

If the previous methods did not help save images to a memory card, then perhaps the problem lies in the phone itself, since the memory module is the weak point of the device and its operation can easily be disrupted, for example, if the smartphone is dropped. It would be a good idea to check this by doing the following:

  1. Turn off the phone and remove the memory card;
  2. Turn it on and take a test shot;
  3. Turn off the device again, insert a memory card and start it;
  4. Try to photograph something again.

After completing these steps, the failure is usually eliminated and subsequent images are saved to the SD card.

We looked at the main reasons for the problem of saving photos to a memory card and ways to resolve it on Android gadgets. I hope the article helped you in troubleshooting this problem.

How to set up saving files to an Android memory card?

    Setting up independent transfer of applications or files on Android is almost impossible. After all, the system itself is programmed that all applications that you install save their system files when installed on the main system memory, but later, it can be transferred to a memory card.

    In order to transfer the application to a memory card, you need:

    • go to the application program file in the application manager, and click on the button there to transfer the file to the memory card.
    • this can also be done using a special application called AppMgr III. With its help, you can easily transfer applications from your phone to a memory card, or vice versa, because it has a user-friendly interface. Just launch the application and you can transfer.
  • To check applications you need to go to settings and find the item application manager (sometimes just applications). Next, we check whether it is movable, if it is movable, then click on it. Then you need to select the button to a memory card. The application should be automatically transferred to the memory card.

    You can also transfer the application to a memory card through other applications. For example this application AppMgr III can handle this task well.

    Below are instructions on how to correctly transfer applications using the application AppMgr III:

    Depends on what you mean, if you want photos and videos from the camera to be saved to the memory card, to do this you need to go to settings / memory / default memory, and assign the memory card as the default memory.

    If you want installed applications to be saved to the memory card, you will have to install special software for this, but you need to remember that not all applications support working from a memory card, it’s easier for me to transfer applications to the card myself, to do this, go to settings / applications / application manager, select the desired application from the list and click transfer to card

    It is impossible to make sure that all applications are immediately saved to the memory card in androids, since they are based on the fact that applications and any files are saved when installed, downloaded, or photographed on the phone’s memory. Afterwards, the files can be transferred to a memory card. To do this, you need to go to the application settings and select the option to transfer to a memory card.

    You can also use the AppMgr III program to transfer files.