How To Install App On Sd Card

How To Install Apps On SD Card From Google Play Store?

SD Card to The Rescue

Google Play Store offers a wide range of apps to its users. Ranging from language learning to games and fashion, you can find apps of every genre. The apps are both paid and free.

Now, if you own a smart Android gadget with ample storage, then it's all good. However, older devices or the ones with low internal storage offer problems.

Suppose you've got too many downloads and not enough space to store them. Don't necessarily delete your apps or other files. Instead, attach an SD card to your gadget.

To make space, you can now transfer most of your existing data on the SD card- including your previously downloaded apps. And from then on, you can make changes in the settings. This will enable your new apps to be installed directly on your SD card.

Most of the mobiles and tablets come with SD card slots. SD cards come in the storage of 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB. And the maximum they cost- for 128GB ones are around $40.

Also, before you set about transferring your installed apps, you must ensure if your android gadget allows installing them on your SD card. For that, you can go to the Application Manager to check it. After verifying this, comes the second step.

Next, you must see if the app supports this feature or not. Bigger apps store their data in internal storage. So, for instance, a big game may transfer 20% of its data on the SD card. But they will keep the rest of their data still stored up in your smart gadget.

Transferring Existing Apps to Your Micro SD Card

Go to your device's "Settings". You can access that by searching it on your device. Go to "Apps" and select the app you want to transfer to your SD card. Go to "Storage" and select "Change". If the option is absent from your screen, it means you can't transfer the app. This app is hence the unapproved app that isn't transferable to an SD card. That is unless you root your mobile.

If the app shows the option of "Change", it is transferable, and you now select "Move". You'll be notified once the app is transferred to the micro SD card. Press "OK" if it shows on your screen. Or the screen will be redirected to "App Info".

You can transfer the data back to internal storage whenever you want. You can select "Change" and tap on "Internal Storage".

Make the SD Card as Your Gadget's Internal Storage

Before making the SD card your device's internal storage, see that you have a fast SD card. Class 10 or UHS-1 and UHS-3 are some of the best types that assure efficient performances.

Also, know that removing your SD card anytime means stopping the performances of all apps installed in the cards.

First, go to the "Settings". Select "Storage". Then go to the option of "SD Card". Click on "Storage Settings" from the dropdown menu.

Go to "Format as Internal Storage" and select "Erase & Format". In case of slow performance of the SD card, your device will show a warning. The warning will state how erasing and formatting would further deteriorate the card's speed.

After this, select "Next". This allows your device to start transferring data to your SD card. A set of information will then pop on your screen. It will include the quantity of data being transferred and the expected time till the completion of the transfer.

Wait till the transfer process is finished. Then, you will automatically see the SD card appearing under the "Internal Shared Storage". Hence, the system will now use the card as the extra internal storage from now on.

Moving Unapproved Apps to the SD Card

As discussed above, some apps don't allow their transfer to SD cards. Instead, they remain in internal storage because the app developers disapprove of that.

However, it still cannot stop you from creating space in your internal storage. You must first root your phone. Rooting allows excess space to appear in your SD card for such unapproved apps.

Next, backup all your data present in the SD card already. After this, you must undergo the partitioning of your SD card. This step will remove everything on your SD card- hence the backing-up beforehand.

Steps for Unapproved Apps

Power off your device and remove your SD card. Insert your micro SD card into your computer and copy your data there.

Now, download the MiniTool Partition Wizard app on your computer to run the program. Launch the application, and you'll see numerous disks appearing on the screen.

Click on the disk that's for your SD drive. Delete its present partitioning from the popup menu. Now, click on the unallocated partition, then select the "Create". Define both the partitions as "Primary" from the "Create As" screen.

Select "FAT32" as the "File System". You can leave the "Partition Label" blank if you don't want to write anything. You can change the size of partitions based on your preference. Though it also depends on the size of the micro SD card.

To edit the portion's size, go to "Size and Location". Click and drag the yellow bar until it reaches your preferred size. Select OK. Now, you have assigned space to one portion.

Now, click on the unallocated partition and tap on "Create". A warning popup might appear on your screen. Click on Yes anyways. Tap on "Primary" on the "Create As" bar and name the File System as your preferred "Ext".

Enter a suitable description in the "Partition Label" and select OK. Finalize the modification by choosing "Apply Changes''. If a confirmation dialogue box appears on the screen, click on Yes. A popup will show information like total storage and portions of Create Partition and Format Portion on your screen.

Go to the General menu and click on "Exit" to leave the MiniTool. Copy any data you want from your computer to the SD card. Now, remove the card from your computer and insert it into your device. Then download InstallLink2SD from the Play Store.

Considering you have already rooted your gadget. That means you have got SuperSU on your device already. Grant permission to this app for complete access to Link2SD. Click on the Ext that you selected earlier for your second partition.

Proceed by tapping on OK. A dialogue box requesting to restart your gadget will appear on the screen. Click on Reboot Gadget. After restarting it, open Link2SD again. You can now see various apps and options appear on your screen.

Reasons for Being Unable to Move Installed Apps on SD Card

The primary reason for being unable to transfer your apps to an SD card is the developer's preference. The designers of the applications must have wanted to keep the app in the device's internal storage. It's just as what is mentioned above.

Apart from that, there could be other reasons as well:

Firstly, there may be an issue with syncing or the account interface. An application might require a specific kind of syncing. Or it might need a particular account to run smoothly. Because of this, that app may not run if transferred into the SD card.

Another reason could be its lack of widget compatibility. So, if you install an app on your SD card, you might be unable to use it because the widgets don't support it. It can be due to the Android system installed on your device. In such cases, restarting your device helps. As you restart your device, you can see the widgets from the application once again.

Conclusion

Installing apps from the Google store to land into your SD card might seem complex. However, once you read this guide, you will understand that it's not the case. Follow the steps mentioned above and make the SD card act as your internal storage.

Even if you have a short-storage Android gadget with an SD card slot, you can enjoy massive benefits. You will need to invest in a large-storage SD card. But that will be worth it.

Because now, you can change the settings and install all apps you want- on your SD card. After all, spending a nominal amount for a 128GB SD card is always better than spending a lot more to buy a new mobile or tablet.