How Do I Install anything to my SD card without rooting my Android?

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ClintBX

PCHF Member
Mar 24, 2017
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Hi PCHFMs,

I have an android 5.0 phone with only 8 GB internal memory and 4 GB available after all the preloaded and undeletable programs. I thought I could work around that issue with 16 GB SD card.

I'm having a very hard time working out to to move or install barely anything to my SD card.

I've moved some things to it but there are some larger apps that despite moving it to the SD card, it still taking the same space on the internal.

I've tried APK editor app. I've tried installing SDK studio on my laptop and connecting my phone to it. Laptop won't recognize the phone. Even after command prompts instructions "adb devices"

I know that some of the move app's data stays on the internal but I think my phone is holding onto the whole thing as well as putting it on the SD card.For example. I downloaded and installed a 700 MB game and after moving it, my internal storage didn't go back up. I confirmed this by uninstalling the app and then getting back that 700 mbs despite appmgr III telling me it was located on the SD.

Please help me have control over where and how I can install and move my apps.

Another issue is.... even though I've set my storage settings to write to SD as default, every time I go to install a new app, dos it straight to internal.

I've looked at so many tutorials. I'm frustrated over this. I want answers that work. Can somebody walk me through this please?
 
Hi ClintBX and welcome to PCHF :)

What phone are you using? Each manufacturer has different methods for moving apps and stuff to the SD card.
 
Hi,

Try this:

Press Settings, Press Applications, Press Manage Applications, Select Application, Press Move to SD Card (not applicable to all applications)

Also note that a lot of times, moving things to the SD card requires root
 
I can't find an "applications" there's "apps" but that just shows a list of my apps.
Also, I know how to move them, but it still keeps internal device space used. (Read first post thoroughly please)
 
There are dozens of tutorials that offer to do this without root.
Let's start with the main issue.
Why is it that I can move a 700mb app to my SD and it doesn't clear ANY internal space?

And how do I get "wrote to SD as default" to work?
 
Of course, I have no plan to clear system apps. That world be dumb. They're there for a reason. I just want to expand my storage freely.
 
ClintBX said:
Hi PCHFMs,

I have an android 5.0 phone with only 8 GB internal memory and 4 GB available after all the preloaded and undeletable programs. I thought I could work around that issue with 16 GB SD card.

I'm having a very hard time working out to to move or install barely anything to my SD card.

I've moved some things to it but there are some larger apps that despite moving it to the SD card, it still taking the same space on the internal.

I've tried APK editor app. I've tried installing SDK studio on my laptop and connecting my phone to it. Laptop won't recognize the phone. Even after command prompts instructions "adb devices"

I know that some of the move app's data stays on the internal but I think my phone is holding onto the whole thing as well as putting it on the SD card.For example. I downloaded and installed a 700 MB game and after moving it, my internal storage didn't go back up. I confirmed this by uninstalling the app and then getting back that 700 mbs despite appmgr III telling me it was located on the SD.

Please help me have control over where and how I can install and move my apps.

Another issue is.... even though I've set my storage settings to write to SD as default, every time I go to install a new app, dos it straight to internal.

I've looked at so many tutorials. I'm frustrated over this. I want answers that work. Can somebody walk me through this please?
Click to expand...

I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 & to move apps, files etc which are downloaded (not system files & apps) the sd card has to be either formatted as exFAT or (with newer devices) set up to be formatted as part of the internal storage, being part of the internal storage means you can only use & see files on that device; you can't even plug into your pc to copy pictures etc over. I can now move large files (over 400Mb) onto the sd card, tbh even then some downloaded apps cannot be moved as they require to be on internal memory to work. I had to use my pc to format the sd card to exFAT.

Yes apps will install on internal by default, you can then move to external, click on the app name in the apps list & click on the installed on internal memory & it'll give you the option to change to external memory.
 
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1. Insert the SD card into the PC
Copy anything you wish to save from the card to your pc. If you've used it with the android then it may have several folders - save them all.
2. Open My Computer and right-click on the drive named Removable Disk (if you have multiple removable disks then check the capacity of the disk by selecting Properties)
3. Click Format.
4. In the 'File System' dropdown, choose exFAT
5. In the 'Allocation unit size' dropdown, choose Default allocation size. NB: I didn't choose default but scrolled down to the largest size & chose that.
6. Click Start and close this window when finished.
7. Your SD card is now using the exFAT file system.

Copy anything you saved from the card back to the card.
 
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Cool. I'll try it. As soon as I get an SD adapter for my laptop.

If I do this, Dora it effect ANY of the apps negatively?
 
Usually micro sd cards come with the adapter so I hope you can find one.
Not seen any slowdown in accessing my apps, & all seems ok, when moving apps the first time it looked as though it froze during moving but it hadn't so don't be surprised if the progress bar/% stops moving. :)
 
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