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How to Move Apps to an SD Card for Your Android Devices
Give yourself a little breathing room on your devices
By Brad Stephenson Brad Stephenson Freelance Contributor Western Sydney University Brad Stephenson is a freelance tech and geek culture writer with 12+ years' experience. He writes about Windows 10, Xbox One, and cryptocurrency. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 9, 2021 Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article
Expand Jump to a Section Step by Step: Moving Apps to an SD Card What Is an SD Card Why Move Apps to an SD Card? Can I Move All Apps to an SD Card? What Else Are SD Cards Used For What to Know
If you haven't already, insert a microSD card into your phone's card slot.Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App info > select app.Tap Storage > Change. Select your SD card. Your selected app will move to the SD card. This article explains how to move Android apps to an SD card. The information below should apply no matter who made your Android phone (Samsung, Google, Huawei, Xiaomi, etc.). How to Move Apps to an SD Card on Android
The majority of modern Android phones and tablets support microSD cards. If you have an older Android tablet or mobile, it may require a miniSD card. Open the microSD card slot on your phone or tablet. The microSD card slot is typically located along the side of an Android device. It could be hidden under a plastic flap, or there could be a small hole that you must insert a pin or needle into. Mikhail Artamonov / Getty Images If a small tray pops out, place your microSD card into it and reinsert the tray into your Android device. If your device only has a small slot, insert the disk directly into it. Sean Gallup / Staff / Getty Images With the screen facing you, make sure the side of the microSD card with the label or sticker on it faces upwards when you insert it. Before you begin, make sure the microSD card has been properly formatted. If your Android device gives you a notification after inserting the SD card, tap Set up and choose Use as internal storage as the format style. If you didn't get a notification, or you dismissed it by accident, manually format the SD card. Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the Settings gear. Tap Apps & notifications > App info. On Android 7 and earlier, tap Apps. Tap the Android app you want to move to the SD card. Tap Storage. Tap Change. If you don't see Change on this screen, the app cannot be transferred to an SD card. Tap your SD card from the list of storage locations. Your selected app will be moved to the SD card. What Is an SD Card
SD cards are small plastic cards for storing data. There are three sizes of SD cards. SD card: The original SD card format, which measures 24x32 mm in size. This is commonly used in desktop computers and laptops. MiniSD card: The miniSD card is smaller than the regular SD card, measuring 21x30 mm. This format is common in older smartphone and tablet models, but it was eventually replaced by the smaller microSD card. MicroSD card: The type of SD card usually used in modern smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, and video game consoles such as the Nintendo Switch. MicroSD cards measure 15x11 mm in size. All SD cards are available in a variety of storage sizes, and their prices vary depending on the size, the brand, and the store selling them. Most miniSD and microSD cards are sold with an adapter that allows them to be used on devices that require standard SD card sizes. Why Move Android Apps to an SD Card
Moving Android apps can free up space on your device for other apps, files, and photos. However, since most app data is saved to the cloud, an easier way to do this is to delete the app and re-download it later if you need it. If you have enough space on your Android tablet or smartphone and aren't encountering any memory problems, there really is no reason to use an SD card. Can I Move All Android Apps to an SD Card
While most Android apps can be transferred to an SD card, some cannot. This restriction is usually placed on the apps by their developers due to them needing to access your Android device's hardware directly. Such apps could also be necessary for your smartphone or tablet to function properly, and putting them on an SD card would break your device when the card was removed. If an Android app is unable to be transferred to an SD card, the option to move it won't show up, so you don't have to worry about transferring the wrong apps. What Else Are SD Cards Used For
In addition to being used to store Android app installations, you can also move photos, videos, and other files to an SD card. Placing files on an SD card frees up space and allows you to transfer files to another device. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Set an SD Card as Default Storage in Android How to Erase Everything on an SD Card How to Move Apps to an SD Card on Android How to Remove Write Protection on a Micro SD Card How to Format an SD Card to FAT32 How to Fix It When WhatsApp Images and Videos Are Not Showing in Gallery How to Free Up Space on Your Phone Fast How to Back Up Your Android Phone to a PC How to Fix a Corrupted SD Card on Android Without a Computer How to Free Up Space on Android Phones How to Format an SD Card on Your Mac How to Transfer Your Contacts From Android to iPhone How to Transfer Save Data Between Users on the Switch How to Delete Apps on an Amazon Fire Tablet How to Format an SD Card for Your Camera How to Transfer Data From a Nintendo 3DS SD Card Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies