You probably uninstall applications on your Android phone or tablet if you have a tiny amount of storage. However, if you have an SD card slot on your Android device, there is a method to increase its storage capacity. Android apps are installed to the phone’s internal storage by default, often insufficient.SD card is the preferred choice for users when it comes to storage. It allows you to store hundreds of applications on a device. Here, we would be discussing how to download apps to SD card on Android. Also checkout How To Increase Internal Memory Of Android Phone.
This article will guide you step-by-step, So Read on.
See also: How to Download Apps to SD Card on Android?
Contents
What to know about adding storage to an Android device?
Before knowing how to download apps to SD card on Android, let us look at this. When you add storage to your Android device, you have three options:
- – Use the SD card as portable storage: This option allows you to move files between the card and your device’s internal storage, but the card is not readable by other devices.
- – Use the SD card as internal storage: This option formats the card as part of your device, allowing you to install apps and store data on it. If you choose this option, the card can no longer be used as a portable storage device.
- – Set up your SD card as adoptable Storage: This converts your SD card into internal storage and merges it with your device’s internal storage. After doing this, the SD card will show up in your device’s storage settings and behave like built-in memory.
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What to know about adoptable storage?
Here is how to download apps to SD card on Android. To use an SD card as Adoptable storage, you should format it to the FAT32 file system mode. The Android operating system only supports the exFAT and FAT32 formats. If your SD card isn’t in this way, you can easily do so by using a computer that has a card reader.
Once the card is formatted, you can follow these steps to set it up as Adoptable storage:
1. Plug your SD card into your computer.
2. Open a File Explorer window and locate the SD card drive letter.
3. Type “cmd” (no quotes) in the address bar and press Enter. A command prompt will open.
4. Type “diskpart” (no quotes) and press Enter. The DiskPart utility will open.
5. Type “list disk” (no quotes) and press Enter. This will list all of the disks connected to your computer.
6. Locate the disk number for your SD card and note it down. In this example, our SD card is disk 2.
7. Type “select disk 2” (no quotes) and press Enter.
8. Type “clean” (no quotes) and press Enter. This will erase all of the data on your SD card.
9. Type “convert MBR” (no quotes) and press Enter.
10. Type “exit” (no quotes) and press Enter. This will close the DiskPart utility.
11. Open the Storage settings on your Android device, locate your SD card, and tap the three dots in the top right corner to get more options.
12. Tap format as internal storage and wait for the process to finish.
Aftermath
After formatting your SD card as internal storage, it will show up in your device’s storage settings. You can now install apps on it just like you would on the internal memory of your phone, tablet, or another device.
If you have an SD card slot but no SD card, you can also use cloud storage as expandable memory for your Android devices.
You might be able to save some money by choosing a service with free storage. Also, make sure that the files are accessible through a web browser, so you don’t need to set up another app on your phone.
Finally, note that this guide applies to most smartphones and tablets running Android 4.4 KitKat or higher.
The Android Marshmallow Method
The new Android Marshmallow operating system has a feature that lets you “adopt” your SD card as internal storage. This means apps can be installed on the card, freeing up space on your device’s internal storage. Here’s how to download apps to SD card on Android:
- Format your SD card as internal storage
- Insert the SD card into your Android device
3. Go to Settings > Storage > Format as internal
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4. Confirm by clicking Erase & format
After formatting, the SD card will list as “Internal storage” in your device’s storage menu. You can now install apps to the card just like you do on your phone’s internal storage.
See also: How to Format an SD Card on MAC | Top 5 Methods
The Adoptable Storage Method
There is a much easier method if you don’t want the extra work of formatting your SD card as internal storage. This other method will make Google format your SD card for you, turning it into adoptable storage. This method requires inserting the SD card into your phone and allowing Android to do its thing.
1. Insert the SD card into your device
2. Go to Settings > Storage & USB
3. Select your SD Card from the list
4. Choose the Format as an internal option
5. Click Erase & format to confirm
Your SD card will be formatted and listed in your storage menu as “Internal storage.” You can now install apps to this card just like you do on your device’s internal storage. This was how to download apps to SD card on Android.
If at any point, you want to remove the adoptable storage from your device, you can do so by formatting the card as usual (step 4 above).
The Root Method
Note: This method requires root access on your device, which some people prefer to avoid.
In Android Marshmallow, the adoptable storage feature cannot be used if you have modified your system in any way. This includes rooting your device and installing a custom ROM. If you have one of these modified devices, Android won’t allow you to format your SD card as internal storage.
However, a workaround lets you partition your SD card and use it as internal storage. This method also allows you to move any app you want to the SD card, including those customarily installed, to the device’s internal storage. Here’s how:
1. Firstly, root your Android device
2. Install a root-enabled app that can partition your SD card
3. Download and run the “MiniTool Partition Wizard” app from Google Play. This free application will allow you to format your SD card as internal storage on any Android device running Android 5.0 or later.
4. Choose “Create Partition” from the main menu
5. Select your SD card from the list of available drives
6. Choose “Primary” as the partition type
7. Set the size of the partition to be the same as or larger than your device’s internal storage (or leave it at its default setting)
8. Click OK to create the partition
9. Close the MiniTool Partition Wizard app
10. Reboot your Android device
Finally, after rebooting, your SD card will show as “Internal storage” in Settings > Storage & USB. Therefore, you can now install apps to this card just like you do on your device’s internal storage.
See also: How To Remove Write Protection On Micro SD Card
Conclusion :
In conclusion, whichever method you choose, using an SD card as internal storage can be a great way to free up space on your Android device. Here was how to download apps to SD card on Android.
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