How to change it on your phone from a CD card. How to turn a MicroSD card into internal memory? What to do if your phone doesn't allow you to format microSD as internal storage

Most owners of Android devices sooner or later face the problem of lack of internal space for storing files. Regular installation of applications gradually reduces the amount of free space in the gadget, which leads to slowdowns, incorrect operation, or even a complete failure of the system to work normally. In this case, replacing the internal Android memory with a memory card will help. How to do this and what other ways there are to deal with such a nuisance, we will consider further.


Before delving into the settings and transferring all applications to a flash drive at once, you need to understand what types of memory generally exist on your Android device:

  • operational - necessary for the correct operation of applications, programs and other processes that run on a phone or tablet;
  • ROM - stores information about the operating system during firmware and this data cannot be transferred to third-party media;
  • internal - applications are installed here automatically, as well as any user information; the system reports how much free space is left when installing new software;
  • expansion card - an external drive that is designed to expand the internal memory of the device and store applications and user information.

Why can't I save apps to my SD card?

In many gadgets, it is not possible to automatically allow the installation of new applications on a flash drive. This applies to phones and tablets from version 4.4.2 to 6.0.1. In this case, replacing the internal memory with an SD card is simply necessary, and this can be done in several ways (including using third-party applications). But first you need to find out the version of Android that is installed on your gadget. To do this, click sequentially on:

  1. Menu;
  2. Settings;
  3. About the phone.

The OS version will be indicated in the list that opens.

Programs for transferring applications to a memory card

The developers took care of the users and created programs to make the flash drive memory the main one on Android. This is especially useful for older versions of the system, such as 2.2 or even earlier.

Convenient software that contains all the necessary tools for transferring information from internal memory to an external drive. The interface is intuitive and simple. Applications available for moving are marked with icons, which, when clicked, opens all available information about them, as well as possible actions (move, copy, delete).

Move2SD Enablerv

This software is interesting to users for two reasons. The first is that it is compatible with different versions of Android (including later ones). And the second is the ability to transfer data and applications that are marked in the system as “unacceptable for transfer.”

Another interesting development that simplifies the life of Android gadget users. The main advantages are simple software installation (without the need to additionally download scripts and libraries) and the ability to transfer information not as complete libraries, but only as parts of them.

What other methods are there?

There is another option to make an SD card into the internal memory on Android. If the version of your gadget is from 2.2 to 4.2.2, then the instructions are extremely simple, click on:

  1. Settings;
  2. Memory;
  3. Default recording disk;
  4. SD card.

A checkmark or circle will appear opposite the flash drive, indicating that the settings have changed. Now installation of applications will automatically go to the flash drive.

For users of Android KitKat and higher, the process will be more complicated and tedious. The main problem is that you will need to root your device. You can do this at home, but there is a risk of turning your device into a “brick” that either cannot be repaired or will only be brought to life in service center at extra charge.

Remember that by installing root rights yourself, you void your device’s warranty and act at your own peril and risk. Whether it's worth it or not is up to you to decide. Maybe it's less risky to manually migrate new applications each time?

What do you think? Tell us in the comments if you had to get root rights, whether it was successful, or maybe you know other ways to switch the memory of a tablet/phone to a memory card.

By default, all applications are installed on the internal memory of the Android device. It is also used to store their cache. But even memory modern smartphones sometimes it is not enough to download all the necessary software. It's good that there are memory cards with enough capacity for this. We will look further at how to use them to offload main memory.

How to switch Android phone memory to memory card

Let us clarify that in this case we are considering a situation where the user needs to ensure that downloaded files and programs are saved on microSD. By default, Android settings are set to automatically download to internal memory. So we will try to change this.

First, let's look at options for transferring already installed programs, and then - ways to change the internal memory to flash drive memory.

On a note: The flash drive itself must have not only a large amount of memory, but also a sufficient speed class, because the quality of the games and applications located on it will depend on this.

Method 1: Link2SD

This is one of best options among similar programs. Link2SD allows you to do the same things you can do manually, but a little faster. In addition, you can forcefully move games and applications that are not moved in the standard way.

You can download Link2SD

Instructions for working with Link2SD are as follows:

  1. The main window will display a list of all applications. Select the one you need.
  2. Scroll down the app information and tap " Transfer to SD card».

Please note that those applications that are not transferred in the standard way may reduce their functionality. For example, widgets will stop working.

Method 2: Setting up memory

Let's return to system tools again. On Android, you can specify the SD card as the default installation location for applications. Again, this doesn't always work.

In any case, try the following:

1. While in the settings, open the “ Memory».

2. Click on " Preferred installation location" and select " SD card».

3. You can also designate storage to save other files by designating the SD card as " Default Memory».

The location of elements on your device may differ from the examples given.

Method 3: Replacing internal memory with external memory

And this method allows you to deceive Android so that it perceives the memory card as system memory. From the toolkit you will need any file manager. The example will use Root Explorer.

Attention! You perform the procedure described below at your own peril and risk. There is always a chance that this will cause problems with Android, which can only be corrected by flashing it.

The procedure is as follows:

1. In the system root, open the folder “etc" To do this, open your file manager.

2. Find the file " vold.fstab" and open it with a text editor.

3. Wednesday and the entire text, find 2 lines starting with “ dev_mount"without a grid at the beginning. They should be followed by the following values:

  • « sdcard /mnt/sdcard»;
  • « extsd /mnt/extsd».

4. You need to swap the words after “ mnt/", so that it becomes like this:

  • « sdcard/mnt/extsd»;
  • « extsd/mnt/sdcard».

5. Different devices may have different symbols after “ mnt/»: « sdcard», « sdcard0», « sdcard1», « sdcard2" The main thing is to swap them.

6. Save the changes and restart your smartphone.

As for the file manager, it is worth saying that not all such programs allow you to see the above-mentioned files. We recommend using ES Explorer.

Method 4: Transfer applications in the standard way

Starting from Android 4.0, you can transfer some applications from internal memory to an SD card without using third-party tools.

To do this you will need to do the following:

1. Open " Settings».

2. Go to the section "Applications».

3. Tap (touch with your finger) the desired program.

4. Click the button Move to SD card».


The disadvantage of this method is that it does not work for all applications.

In these ways you can use SD card memory for games and applications.



Starting with version Android 6.0, it became possible to use a flash card as internal storage device data. Now the device, after certain actions, can use the memory available on the SD as freely as the internal one. The article will tell you how to connect an SD card in this quality and what restrictions are imposed on it.

How to connect a flash drive as internal memory

Before connecting the drive, you must transfer from it all important information. During the setup process, it will be completely cleared and the data will not be returned.

First of all, you need to go to Settings, and then go to the section " Storage and Drive", where you should click on the SD card.

Next you need to select “ Tune" and click " Inner memory" Immediately after this, the device will warn the user that all information will be deleted and it will become impossible to read it on other devices without full formatting.

Here you need to select the item “ Clear and Format" and wait for the memory clearing process to complete. You may then receive a message indicating that the media is running slowly. As a rule, this means that the flash drive used is not of very good quality and its use as device storage may also affect the performance of the smartphone itself. For good and fast work recommended to use UHS Speed ​​Class 3 (U3) drives.

After formatting is completed, the smartphone will ask you to transfer information, you should agree with this and wait until the work is completed. After the transfer, the work of turning the flash drive into internal memory will be almost complete; all that remains is to reboot the device.

Features and limitations of using an SD card

There are a few things you should be aware of before you start using a flash drive in this way.

  1. After conversion, all data, except for some applications and system updates, will be placed on the SD drive.
  2. When connected to a computer, only this part of the memory will be available for interaction.

In fact, all actions are performed only with a flash drive, the real internal storage of the phone not available for interaction and is practically not used at all. Firstly, this means that when you remove the drive, almost all your data, photos and applications will be lost. Secondly, if the volume of the flash drive is less than the actual storage capacity of the smartphone, then the amount of available memory will decrease, not increase.

Format the card using ADB for use as internal storage

The function is not available on some devices, but it is possible to connect a flash drive as storage in another way. However, it is worth noting that this method is very labor-intensive and can cause damage to the device Therefore, if you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better not to do this on your own.

To use this method, you will need to perform many steps. You need to download from the site and install Android SDK, then download and install from the official website device drivers, and also, you need to enable “ debug modeUSB» on the device.

  • adb shell
  • sm list-disks (after execution, an id will be issued in the form disk:ХХХ,ХХ should be written down and entered in the next line)
  • sm partition disk:ХХХ,ХХ private

Then you will need turn off the phone, go to settings and click on sd, select menu and click “ Transfer data" That's it, the actions are finished.

How to set a memory card to standard mode

To return the flash drive to standard mode, you just need to go to its settings, as in the first option, and select “ Portable media" Before doing this, all important information should be transferred to another location, because the drive will be formatted during the process.

Almost every application on Android is installed in the internal memory of the device. But it’s not rubber, so it tends to fill up. So any user can face this situation. An SD card will come to the rescue, the volume of which can reach tens or even hundreds of GB. Now we will tell you in detail how to transfer the application and cache to an SD card.

It is also worth noting that not every card is suitable for replacing internal memory with external memory. It's all about the speed classes of SD cards, which vary from slow (C2 and C4) to fast (C10 and C16). If the procedures discussed below are performed on slow SD, then the data transfer will affect the overall performance of the device, therefore it is recommended to use only fast flash drives.

There are not so many ways to replace internal memory with external memory, so we will focus only on the most effective ones, and they will be described sequentially: from simple to more complex.

Cache transfer for Android versions 4.0+

It is worth noting that this method does not require ROOT rights, but is not suitable for all applications. So, if the application description does not contain the necessary buttons, you should not be upset, because this was the easiest way. For even greater ease, you can use a utility or similar, where all applications are conveniently structured, which speeds up the search for the ones you need.

ATTENTION! The methods presented below can only be used on devices with RUT rights. All further operations are done at your own peril and risk; no one gives a 100% guarantee that in case of failure you will not receive a brick. We also do not accept any responsibility for the loss of personal data.

Transfer using third-party programs

If the application does not support standard data transfer, then you can do it forcibly using third-party utilities, such as:

The principle of operation of these programs is very similar, so let’s consider the method using Link2SD as an example.

This method, unlike the next one, does not require special knowledge from the user, except for basic concepts about Root rights.

Complete transfer of Android applications to SD memory card

An attentive user was able to notice that Link2SD and other similar utilities have an interesting “Send” function. With its help, not individual parts of the program are transferred, as in the previous paragraphs, but absolutely all data. In this case, the program will consider that it is working in the internal memory of the device, which for some of them is an important condition for normal operation.

To implement this method, the SD card must be “split” into two sections, after which all data will be deleted from it, so be careful and make a backup copy of important information.

Partitions on a memory card can be made as on a computer, using programs such as Paragon Hard Disk Manager 12 Server or MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition. But this is a rather labor-intensive process, and therefore we will do everything right on the smartphone, using.

  1. Download and install the utility.
  2. In the device settings we find the “Memory” section, where we click “Eject SD”.

  3. We go directly to AParted and in the first tab Create, click ADD twice.

  4. In Part 1 we leave Fat32, and in Part 2 we select ext2 or any other format, if you know what they are needed for.
  5. Make sure that the Format field is checked and select the required memory size for each partition. In this case, Part 1 will remain our standard “flash drive”, but Part 2 will be referenced by applications.
  6. Click APPLY and confirm the action.

  7. We patiently wait for the process to complete.

Now applications and games can be safely linked to the second section of the memory card using the corresponding Link2SD function or its equivalent.

Transferring cache to a flash drive

This method is useful for users who like games with a large cache. Now many large projects (for example, a series of games) occupy several gigabytes. The same goes for navigation maps. Not all devices can boast this amount of built-in memory, so FolderMount comes to the rescue. It allows you to create virtual folders so that the system still thinks that the application data is in the internal memory, although in fact all the files are located on the flash drive.

  1. We install.
  2. Launch and grant Superuser rights.
  3. Open the pull-out menu on the left side of the screen.

  4. Go to the “Application Analyzer”, look for the desired game and click on it.

  5. In the window that opens, we see the volume occupied separately by the application data and its cache.
  6. Click the “Create pair” button next to the cache size.

  7. Answer the question “Yes” and click the checkmark at the top of the screen, after which you must answer “Yes” again.

  8. You will be able to see the process of file transfer in the notification bar.
  9. As soon as the transfer is complete (reaches 100%), open the pull-out menu again and select “List of pairs.”
  10. All that remains is to press the switch next to the name of the game you transferred.

Replacing internal memory with external memory

This method allows you to deceive the system, i.e. Android will consider the SD card to be the device’s memory. One of the main advantages is the fact that all applications will be automatically installed on the flash drive. Ideal for devices with very little internal memory. To implement this, you will need a file manager; it is best to use Total Commander. The point of the method is to swap the paths to the device memory and the flash drive.

  1. Install
  2. Click on the file, then “Edit”.

  3. The file contains many lines that begin with # (the hash character). But we need a line that starts with the words “dev_mount” and without (!!!) a hash at the beginning.
    There should be 2 such lines: the first indicates internal memory, the second - external.

    For example, if your lines are:
    dev_mount sdcard/mnt/sdcard
    dev_mount extsd/mnt/extsd

    Then they should become:
    dev_mount sdcard/mnt/extsd
    dev_mount extsd/mnt/sdcard

    That is, the most important thing is to swap the words after /mnt/.

  4. You don’t need to change anything else, click the “Save” button (floppy disk icon).
  5. Reboot the device.

The memory on smartphones is not rubbery, despite the huge amount of information that many of us store on them. That is why some manufacturers to this day do not refuse the possibility of expanding the built-in memory using MicroSD cards.

Current flagships support cards with a capacity of up to two terabytes, which greatly increases the internal reserves of smartphones. However, this does not solve another problem - all applications are automatically installed in the internal memory, and its quantity cannot be expanded. In this regard, we decided to write an article on how to make sure that everything is saved to a memory card. It offers several methods for owners of different devices - starting from budget models with 4-8 GB built-in and ending with flagships with latest versions operating system Android.

We save applications to a memory card using standard means

In most modern smartphones, the procedure for transferring applications (games and programs) can be carried out using several taps. Unfortunately, there is no way to activate their automatic installation on MicroSD. Therefore, we will have to be content with manual transfer. So, for this you must follow these steps:
  1. Go to the “Settings” menu;
  2. We find the “Applications” item there. In some sections it may be referred to as "Application Manager";
  3. We select the application we need there. In our case, the game “CSR Racing”;
  4. The information in the window is updated. Now you need to tap on the “Move to SD card” button;
  5. After a few seconds, the text on the button will change to “Transfer to device,” which tells us that the application has been successfully transferred and internal memory has been freed up.
Didn't find the "Move to SD card" button? This is not a reason to worry, then you will just have to use a third-party transfer application.

Using Clean Master to transfer data to a memory card

As noted above, this method is analogous to the previous option of transferring to an SD card. We invite you to immediately begin reviewing the instructions:

Ready! The memory on the device itself is freed. By the way, if you compare the two methods already presented, we recommend choosing the second one - using the Clean Master application. This way you will spend significantly less time due to the fact that you can select several games and programs at once.

Connecting the memory card with internal memory

In Android 6.0+, a way to expand memory using an SD card became available. However, we would like to warn you right away that it only works on some devices - not all manufacturers have implemented this function in their shell. So let's get started:

It is also worth noting that not all SD cards are suitable for this type of operation. It is important that the external memory card belongs to class 10 and corresponds to the declared speeds of reading and writing data.

Swap internal Android memory with a memory card (Root required)

Another known method, most used on devices with a small amount of built-in memory - replacing the internal memory with an SD card. You should already be rooted and the Root Explorer application installed. You must follow these steps:

Ready! From now on, everything you download will be automatically installed on the SD card. As you can see, there are enough a large number of ways to ensure that everything is saved to a memory card, you need to choose only one of them depending on what version of the OS you have installed, what exactly you want to get and whether the device has Root.