Home-Good to know-How to download a program to an SD card. How to download programs and files to a memory card on Android

How to download a program to an SD card. How to download programs and files to a memory card on Android

If your device does not have enough internal memory, can use SD card as internal storage for your Android phone. This feature, called Adoptable Storage, allows the Android OS to format external storage media as permanent internal storage. The information on the installed SD card is encrypted and cannot be subsequently used on another device.

SD Card is very convenient option for storing photos, songs and videos. Even if you have a large amount of internal memory on your Android smartphone, you may always need big piece memory for storing long videos, filmed by camera high resolution your phone.

Important to know

There is one drawback, the SD chip can lag when recording high-definition video.

Android by default in the internal memory and only occasionally uploads data to the SD card. Thus, you are deprived of installing any additional applications, if your phone is experiencing a noticeable lack of internal storage capacity, for example, in the case of budget devices on Android One.

What is storage storage?

Storage storage is the main memory of your smartphone, but if necessary, it can be expanded using an SD card. This on Android it is called Adoptable Storage. This will allow you to use a removable microSD card installed on Android phone,as the main storage. This way, you can easily solve the problem of how to make an SD card the main memory on Android and overcome the lack of space if the phone has a small internal volume.

Features of using the card as the main storage

There are a number of important features that should be taken into account during this procedure.

Will be useful

When using a storage device, be it an SD flash drive or a USB drive, it is important to remember what format the device is in and whether the Android operating system supports it, and the main file formats There are four types: FAT32 or exFAT, ext4 or f2fs.

How to change phone memory to android memory card? The question is not entirely correct, it is impossible to completely replace it, you can only “increase” additional volume.

Using your SD card as your main storage can be great solution for music lovers and those who like to watch TV series on the way to work or on a long trip. But, as often happens, memory expansion always depends on the cost of the required device, after all, they differ both in speed and in volume, as well as in the adaptable information storage function. Here are some nuances that you can consider with different sides– as in negative side, and in the positive:

How to use SD card as internal memory on Android?

Is it enough for you? internal storage to store all your data?

How to replace internal memory phone to an external sd card on android? Configuring your SD card to act as internal storage on Android is essentially a fairly simple process. There is nothing complicated about this and you will see for yourself later.

It's possible that Adoptable function Storage is not supported by your device, even if the smartphone is running Android control 6.0 and higher (this also happens, it all depends on the model and brand of the smartphone). The device manufacturer may have disabled this feature. However, there are methods to use command line, which allow you to force the use of a flash drive to store data.

Below are the basic formatting steps.


On next screen do you have last chance decide for yourself if you want to change your mind

Important to know

Don't forget to back up your data; after formatting, the information will disappear without a trace!


After the formatting process is completed, you can use the removable SD card as a “temporary” or “removable” permanent place. But keep in mind that hot swapping and ejecting will no longer be available as you may have previously done. That's why Do not remove the flash drive without using the Eject parameter. In addition, you can practically delete the place accepted by the operating system, which, accordingly, is not recommended, since this can cause certain errors in the operation of the device. Now you know how to make a memory card the main memory on Android.

For modern mobile devices on the operating system Android problem lack of space for system partition the smartphone is no longer as relevant as it was just a few years ago. Manufacturers have long provided their phones or tablets with four, eight or more gigabytes of internal storage, a significant part of which is dedicated to the system. For most users, this space is enough so that applications can be installed without problems on the internal memory of the device, and not on an SD card.

But appetites and, accordingly, the amount of space occupied by applications are also growing, and if you - active user your smartphone, then one day you may well find that the space on its system partition is running out, or during the installation of an application you will encounter an error caused by a lack of space for its installation. Don't worry too much about this. operating room Google system Android provides its users with the ability to transfer already installed applications or installing new ones on an SD memory card, if one is present in your phone or tablet. And for special cases there are non-standard ones, but quite simple solutions to bypass system restrictions. So, in this small instructions We will tell you how to install applications on the SD flash card of your mobile device.

How to install applications on an SD card for Android versions from 2.2 to 4.2.2

The very first versions of the OS Android feature Transferring applications to an SD card was not supported, although for the first smartphones with a small amount of internal memory it would have been most relevant. Since version 2.2 this function began to be included by developers as standard in device firmware. It is worth noting that not every application can be transferred to a memory card, even if you have installed latest version Android. This depends on the application developers, who simply may not provide such a function for it.

So, how to install an application on an SD memory card, if it provides such a function? If you want to free up space on the system partition of the device by transferring already installed programs to a flash drive, you need to perform the following sequence of actions:

1. Open the menu of your device and go to “Settings”;

2. Select "Applications";

3. Go to the “SD card” item, you will see a list of all programs that support transfer to an SD card;

4. If you have old version Android OS, you need to go to the "Manage Applications" item and go to the "Third Party" tab;

5. Select the application that you would like to transfer to the memory card by tapping on it with your finger;

6. You will see an application window, where it will be indicated how much space it takes up in the device’s memory, buttons for forced stop, uninstallation, etc. We are interested in the "Move to memory card" button;

7. If this button is active, press it and your program will be transferred from the device’s internal memory to the SD card. Inactive button indicates that this application Does not support transfer to memory card function.

8. By re-entering the application window after the operation is completed, you can observe that some data still remains on the system partition. This is fine. The main thing is that most files moved to a flash card, freeing up precious space for us.

There are also specialized utilities, which can install applications on an SD memory card. One of them, which is also free, is AppMgr II I. This program can move apps, hide system applications, supports batch operations with applications and much more.


Installing applications on an SD card for Android versions 2.1 and lower

As mentioned above, in Android OS versions 2.1 and earlier, installation and transfer of applications to a memory card are not provided. But this problem You can get around it if you have some patience and minimal knowledge to perform simple operations with your smartphone or tablet.

Before installing the necessary specialized software and carrying out further manipulations with it, we strongly recommend that you make a backup copy of everything that is stored on your memory card. In the future, this may help you save a lot of nerve cells.

Also, for applications that work with data transfer to function, you need to have Superuser rights (Root access) on your device; take care of this in advance if you have not yet “rooted” your smartphone or tablet.

To work with a flash card, you need to download the free program MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition. After downloading and installing the program on your PC, perform the following steps:

1. Connect your device to your computer with a USB cable as external storage;

2. Delete all partitions on the SD card;

3. Create a Primary FAT32 partition on the flash card for your data;

4. Create another primary partition ext2 (the new version also supports ex3/ext4 partitions), it will store the data of applications transferred to the memory card;

5. Reboot your smartphone and make sure that the memory card is visible. Now you can copy to it from backup copy your previously saved personal data;

6. Application data is transferred to the memory card separate program. One of the most popular is the free Link2SD, which can be downloaded from Google Play Market.

7. Install Link2SD, give the application root rights. The program is ready to work;

8. Select the apk file that you want to transfer to your memory card and select "Create link". The selected application will be transferred to your SD card. To return it back, you must select the "Remove link" item.


How to install applications on a memory card for Android 4.4.2 KitKat

Due to the fact that Google company, an Android OS developer, has changed application protection algorithms in new version his operating system Android 4.4.2 on some device models there may be problems with transferring installed applications to a flash card. Some developers of applications for mobile devices with the Android 4.4.2 operating system are concerned about solving this problem by promptly preparing updates to their programs that can bypass this problem. Also, some manufacturers have solved this problem in firmware updates for their devices, as, for example, Sony did for Xperia models T2 Ultra and Xperia T2 Ultra Dual.

For those who want to be able to record programs on an SD card on Android 4.4.2, but regular capabilities this is not provided, there is an SDFix application: KitKat Writable MicroSD

We hope the transfer instructions we provided user programs on a flash card will be useful to you, and your applications will find their place on the memory card of your phone or tablet, freeing up valuable space on your device. Be careful when performing operations with a memory card and always back up your data before you start doing anything with your phone. Good luck!

Unlike other operating systems, Android can fully work with a memory card and has an open file system. When system memory is limited, the user of a smartphone or tablet inevitably has the desire to install applications on external card memory.

By default, this is not always possible: only if the developer allows such an option, and the version of the operating system allows you to use it. But there is also certain tricks, allowing you to install the program on Micro SD.

Simple regular method

As you probably know, starting with version 2.2 of Froyo, Android acquired the ability to place programs and games on a flash drive. This convenient opportunity In fact, it turned out to be not so simple. However, when installing most applications on a smartphone with Micro card SD, you immediately have a choice: whether to install the application on the card or in the main memory.

Fine? Comfortable? Wonderful? Notice that all these words end with “but.”

"But" in in this case such:

  • Not every application can be installed on a memory card in the normal way. If the developer decided that his brainchild is worthy only of main memory, so be it.
  • Starting with version 4.4 KitKat, the creators of Android decided that in modern smartphones There is already enough memory for everything you need, and installing on Micro SD only creates problems. Therefore, in the most modern versions of the OS this option is not available.

Android users, of course, often disagree with this approach. Of course: the built-in memory in a smartphone can be only 4 GB, some of which goes under the system. You can't go wild here!

Fortunately, in Android world everything is possible. Therefore, take a look at the available third-party solutions.

Alternative ways that are complex but powerful

One of the most obvious ways is to install applications from third party sources. They can either be modified for installation on a memory card, or (more often this applies to games, multimedia reference books and navigation programs) are divided into main part and cache. It is the cache, which sometimes takes up several gigabytes, that is most appropriate to transfer to a flash drive.

If you still have enough space in the main partition, you can install a program or game from Google Play into the main memory, and then transfer it to the card. About this.

For Android users 4.4.2 (KitKat) or higher later versions The SDFix: KitKat Writable MicroSD application will be extremely useful.

By installing it, you again gain access to your memory card and can install applications on it. True, the application requires Root access, which is logical: it also makes changes to system files! Our website has information on.

Since you have decided to install your programs on a memory card, take it for granted: you cannot easily remove it from your smartphone and replace it. At a minimum, you will have to copy all its contents to new map, and it’s not a fact that it will work. Therefore please note:

  • Choose a card with a reserve. You know how quickly gigabytes can melt away. But, in addition to applications, you will want to store music, videos, photos, and other data there! And you won’t be able to change the card without disrupting the system. So, if you decide that 16 GB is enough for you, take 32.
  • Applications like FolderMount, which prevent you from disconnecting the card (since they mount it to the main system memory), now you don't need it. After all, the card must remain in its place one way or another!
  • Class 16 only! Cheaper and slow cards They will simply ruin all your pleasure from playing games, working with applications, and watching videos. This, by the way, applies not only to installing applications.

Android OS devices contain varying amounts of built-in memory, but its resource is limited and not comparable to the amount of information you can store on an SD card. Users often simply do not know how to install programs and games on Android directly to an SD card. In Android 2.2, this issue was resolved by adding a built-in utility.

Resetting applications to an external drive in devices with Android 2.2 and higher

First you need to understand how the built-in transfer system works. Not all programs are available for this operation. They must support the app2sd instruction. Only in this case can you work with them both directly on the built-in memory and on external drives.

To carry out the transfer operation on Android devices 2.2 and higher, use the following algorithm:

Some program data will still be saved to the built-in memory (cache files and temporary information). If you need to perform the reverse manipulation (transfer from the SD card to the “native” drive), just click on “Move to phone” in the application properties menu.

There are also additional utilities, which will help transfer applications between two types of memory. They differ more clear interface, advanced features and more attractive design. One of the representatives of such software is free program AppMqr Pro, with which you can transfer applications in one click.

Resetting applications to the built-in memory in Android devices below 2.1

How to transfer your applications directly to an SD memory card in Android versions 2.1 and below? There are two main options:

  • Use custom firmware with the pre-installed ability to reset applications to an SD card;
  • Use additional software and software to work with the built-in memory.

In both cases, you must start by creating a backup copy, because... both methods were not provided for by the developers, and therefore can lead to errors and system malfunctions. In addition, neither flashing nor software that manipulates built-in and external drives will work without obtaining root rights. After the manipulations have been completed, you can proceed to data transfer:


Be extremely careful when working with SD card partitions. Don't confuse her with yours hard drive. Otherwise, you may format all data or create an unnecessary partition in your computer's memory.

How to transfer using Link2SD?

Link2SD – free utility, which can be downloaded from the Play Market. To install applications on a memory card using it, you need to complete several steps:

  1. Install the program and restart your device.
  2. After downloading, run the application and allow it root access (select ext2).
  3. Select the program or utility you want to transfer and click “Create link”.
  4. After that, add the created link to the desired folder on the external memory of your device.

Very important feature The program is the ability to work with “Dalvik-cache”. This folder is the cache data of all games and applications that are installed on the internal memory by default. With Link2SD, you can transfer this data to an external drive to relieve the load on your device's native memory.

If you have difficulties working with Link2SD, try another similar program - Move2SD Enabler. Its essence is no different from the utility described, but it will also be useful to owners of Android with version 2.2. and higher. With it, you can transfer applications marked as “Unportable” to the SD card and back.

How to set the default save path to SD card?

Many users wonder how to install games, applications and other files downloaded from the Internet directly to an SD card? You can do this by changing the data storage in your browser.

When a smartphone or tablet running Android OS runs out of memory, the question immediately arises of how to ensure that applications are downloaded to the memory card.

There is a way to transfer already existing programs to microSD and make sure that they are immediately loaded onto external media.

Method number 1. We transfer existing applications

If Android still has some MB, programs can be installed on internal memory and then transferred to external memory.

The latter happens as follows:

  • Go to settings and select “Applications” there.

  • Next, click “Application Manager”.

Note: This instruction relevant for latest versions Android OS. In more earlier versions in the settings there could immediately be an “Application Manager” item or something similar. In any case, you need to look for something that will show all applications.

  • Choose the right application. By clicking on it you will go to its page. There, tap on the inscription “Memory”.

  • On the memory information page, click “Change”. A window will appear in which you need to select where exactly the program will be transferred. Place a check mark next to “Memory card”.

  • In the next window, click "Move" in the lower right corner and wait until the task is completed.

Thus, using standard settings you can easily and quickly move the software to external media. You can also use a computer for this.

Method number 2. We use the computer

In short, in this case we simply drop the file with apk extension to a memory card via a computer. Accordingly, being on external media, the application will be installed there.

Theoretically, the same can be done without a computer, but in this case the apk-downloader site may not work or work but incorrectly. Now you will understand what we are talking about.

So, the procedure described above is carried out as follows:

  • Go to play.google.com and select the app you want to download. Copy the link to it to the clipboard. She is in address bar above.

  • Now go to the above-mentioned apk-downloader website and paste into the only field on it the link you copied in the first step of this list of actions. Click "Generate Download Link". After this, another button “Clock here do download… now” will appear. Click on it. The apk file will be downloaded.

  • That's it. Now you have installation file programs. It can be transferred to a memory card via USB cable, Bluetooth or other ways. If a cable is used, it is important to select the memory card when loading.

  • Then, when the file is on the memory card, just run it. Most likely, the software will be installed on microSD.

Finally, there is another rather sophisticated way to complete the task. But the programs will be immediately installed on the card.

Method No. 3. Additional Applications

In this case, you will need to install only 3 samples of additional software.

The process looks like this step by step:

  • Give your device superuser rights, aka root rights. How to do this is described in this article. Choose any application and install it.
  • Go to settings, section “Memory”, “Memory card” and click “Disable”. Confirm the request if it appears.

  • Download and install the AParted program on your device (it is best to do this from play.google.com). Click on the plus icon on the left top corner and add two sections - one for the cache, the second for the programs themselves. It is important that the first partition is of type “fat32”, the second is “ext2”. This parameter is indicated on the right. Next, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select “Apply changes.”

  • In the same way, download and install Link2SD (again, we use play.google.com). Upon startup, a selection window will appear file system, check the box for “ext2”. A reboot will occur. After that, open Link2SD again. In the program settings, check the box next to “Auto link”. In the “Installation location” window, select “1st partition of SD card”. Finally, in the “Auto Link Settings” window, check all three boxes and close the program.

After this, everything you download from the Play Market will be automatically installed on the memory card.



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