How do I install apps directly to my SD card?

What is an SD card?

An SD card, or Secure Digital card, is a small removable flash memory card used for storing data in devices like digital cameras, phones, and tablets. SD cards come in different sizes and speeds:

Standard SD – Up to 2GB storage
SDHC – Between 4GB and 32GB storage

SDXC – Between 32GB and 2TB storage

Faster SD cards have higher speed classes indicating their read/write speeds. Common uses of SD cards include:

Expanding storage for mobile devices like phones, tablets, game consoles

Storing photos, videos, music from digital cameras
Transferring files between devices

Compared to internal storage, the pros of SD cards include:

Removable and portable for transferring files
Upgradable storage as needs change
Provides backup of data

The cons include:

Slower speeds than internal storage
More prone to corruption and physical damage

Limited lifespan and potential data loss

Overall, SD cards provide a convenient way to expand storage for mobile devices and cameras when needed. But for primary storage internal memory tends to be faster and more secure.

Why install apps on SD card?

Installing apps to an SD card frees up internal storage space on your device, allowing you to install more apps than would normally fit (1). However, there are some downsides to storing apps on external SD cards. Apps installed to SD cards are generally slower and take longer to load than those installed to internal storage. This is because SD cards have much slower data transfer speeds compared to internal storage (2). Some features of apps stored on SD may be unavailable or limited too (3).

Despite the drawbacks, installing apps to SD can be useful if you have a device with very limited internal storage and want to install more apps than it can normally hold. Just keep in mind that those apps may suffer performance lags. Use SD for less frequently used apps while keeping primary apps on internal storage for optimal speed.

Sources:

(1) https://www.howtogeek.com/114667/how-to-install-android-apps-to-the-sd-card-by-default-move-almost-any-app-to-the-sd-card/

(2) https://www.quora.com/Is-it-better-to-install-apps-on-internal-storage-than-on-SD-cards-in-Android-phones

(3) https://www.reddit.com/r/PocoPhones/comments/ymogvs/how_do_i_install_apps_to_a_micro_sd_card/

Requirements

In order to install apps directly to your SD card, your Android device must meet certain minimum requirements. The most important requirement is having a compatible version of the Android operating system. According to this Quora thread, Android 9 (Pie) and above allow installing apps directly to SD cards. Older versions of Android do not have this capability without rooting the device.

Your SD card itself also needs to meet certain specifications to support app installations. Most modern SD cards with speeds of Class 10 or UHS-1 will work fine. However, very old or slow SD cards may cause performance issues. The SD card also needs to use the FAT32 or exFAT filesystems. Other filesystems like NTFS are not supported for app installs.

So in summary, you’ll need an Android phone running Android 9 or newer and a reasonably fast SD card formatted with FAT32 or exFAT. With those requirements met, you can start installing apps directly to your SD card storage.

Enable SD card app installs

Before you can install apps directly to your SD card, you’ll need to enable this feature in your phone’s settings. The steps to do this may vary slightly depending on your specific Android device and version, but generally involve:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.

2. Tap on “Apps & notifications” or “Applications.”

3. Look for an option called “App install location” or “Default install location” and tap on it.

4. Change the setting from “Internal shared storage” to “External” or “SD card.”

On some Samsung devices, this setting may be under “Storage” instead of “Apps.” You’ll need to tap “Storage settings” then change “App install location” to “SD card.”

5. Confirm the change when prompted.

Once enabled, your device will now install new apps to your SD card by default. However, existing apps will remain on internal storage, so you’ll need to move them manually if desired (Source). The option to install to SD card may not be available on all devices or Android versions.

Installing new apps

To install new apps directly to your SD card on Android, you first need to enable the ability to install apps to your SD card in your device settings. This option may be labeled “Install unknown apps” or something similar. Once enabled, you can install new apps to the SD card in a few ways:

When downloading an app from the Google Play Store, look for the option to change the install location and select your SD card.

For APK file downloads, use a file manager to navigate to the APK on your SD card rather than internal storage. Then open the file to trigger the installation.
Use the ADB command line tool connected to your Android device to specify the SD card as the install destination.

Some tips when installing apps to SD card:

Not all apps support installation on external storage, so the option may not be available.
Apps with widgets usually need to remain on internal storage.
Games with large media files benefit the most from SD card installation.

Installing apps on your SD card helps preserve internal storage space on your Android device. Just make sure your SD card is fast enough to provide good performance for apps.

Moving existing apps

If you already have apps installed that you want to move to your SD card, it’s easy to do without reinstalling them. Here are the steps:

1. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps.

2. Tap on the app you want to move. In the app info screen, tap Storage.

3. Select “Change” next to Storage used. Choose your SD card when prompted.

4. The app and its data will be moved to your SD card. You may need to wait a few minutes for the process to complete.

Not all apps can be moved to SD card. The developer has to enable this feature in the app’s settings. Also, some manufacturers block moving pre-installed apps. But most apps you download from Google Play can be moved with these steps. Refer to your device’s user manual for specific details.

If you don’t see the Change button, your device may not support moving apps to SD card. There are still some workarounds as mentioned in the Alternatives section. You can use apps like AppMgr III or Link2SD to force move unmovable apps.

Troubleshooting Issues Installing or Moving Apps to SD Card

If you are running into problems installing or moving apps to your SD card, there are a few potential fixes to try:

Check that your SD card and device are compatible for installing apps externally. Some older devices do not support this feature. Refer to your device manufacturer’s specifications to confirm compatibility. Certain high speed SD cards may also be required for optimal performance (Source).

Make sure you have enabled the SD card install option in your device settings. This allows apps to be downloaded and installed directly to the external SD card. The setting may be found under Storage, Application Manager, or Additional Settings (Source).

If trying to move an existing app, first make sure the app supports this feature. Some apps are coded to only install on internal storage. Check online or with the app developer to confirm (Source).

Free up more internal storage if you get a “not enough space” error when moving apps. The device needs some temporary space to facilitate the transfer.

Unmount and remount the SD card, restart the device, clear app cache and data, or uninstall/reinstall problem apps to refresh the storage allocation.

If issues persist, contact the device manufacturer or reformat the SD card to fix any corruption errors.

Optimizing performance

When installing apps on an SD card, performance can suffer compared to installing apps directly on the device’s internal storage. Here are some tips to optimize app performance when installed on an SD card:

Use an SD card with a high performance class rating like A2 or U3. These cards are optimized for running apps compared to more basic cards. According to the SD Association, A2 cards provide faster random read IOPS performance critical for running apps directly from SD cards (Application Performance Class).
Only install apps to SD that don’t need to load quickly or refresh data constantly. Good candidates are apps like offline games, media players, or productivity apps. Avoid moving social media or messaging apps.

Consider leaving some free space on the SD card. Having extra free space can help performance.
Disable or remove apps you don’t use often. The fewer apps on the SD card, the better performance you’ll get.
Check for app updates which may contain optimizations for SD card performance.

Consider reformatting the SD card to optimize the file system for app performance. Back up data first.

Even with optimizations, SD card performance is unlikely to match internal storage. But following these tips can help maximize app performance on SD cards.

Alternatives

While installing apps directly to an SD card can be useful for some users, it may not be the ideal solution for everyone. There are a few other options to consider for expanding storage or saving internal storage on your Android device:

Adoptable storage allows you to format an SD card so that it acts like internal storage, seamlessly integrating with the system. This requires Android 6.0 or higher and formats the entire card for that device only. See instructions here.

AppMgr III is a free app that helps move apps to an SD card without full adoptable storage. It also has a storage analyzer and file manager. Learn more here.

Cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive allow you to store files, photos, videos, and other data in the cloud rather than locally on your device. Some offer free storage tiers.

Delete unused apps and clear app cache/data to free up more internal storage space. You can also move media files like photos, videos, and music to an SD card.

If your device doesn’t have an SD slot, consider a device with more internal storage next time you upgrade. Many modern devices offer 128GB or 256GB options.

While SD cards can be convenient, services like cloud storage, deleting unnecessary files/apps, and buying a device with more internal storage are other options for managing storage.

Summary

To recap the key steps for installing apps to your SD card:

Make sure your SD card and device are compatible for installing apps externally.
Enable the “Install apps to external storage” option in your device settings.

When downloading new apps, choose the SD card as the install location.
Use the app manager to migrate existing apps to the SD card.
Check for any app issues after moving to SD card and troubleshoot as needed.

Consider using a high-speed SD card to optimize performance.

Installing apps on an SD card can help free up internal storage space on your Android device. Just be sure to use a compatible high-quality card and follow the proper setup steps for a seamless experience. With apps on external storage, you can take full advantage of your device’s capabilities.