How Do I Install Apps To My Sd Card

McCloud Wrid1940 · Tuesday, November 30, 2021

It seems like apps - and just about everything else - is by default placed in internal storage so I constantly am running out of internal space even though I have a large SD card. How can I make apps (and ideally everything) install to the SD card by default? I realize some apps "cannot" (???) be placed in external storage but all that can be - should go there. This would keep a decent amount of internal storage open and that seems to make my phone run faster. Yes there's software that I can and do use to MANUALLY move files but it's a royal pain and I'd like to to be automatic.

Thank you!

Kent S

01-31-2018 09:53 PM
Welcome to Android Central! You can't do that (at least, not on an unrooted device). Apps have to download and install to Internal Storage first, after which you can Move to SD (if the app supports that function). The way to have the SD card used for app installation would be to format it as Internal Storage (aka Adoptable Storage), but the device has to support that feature (and not all manufacturers implement it).

02-01-2018 07:17 PM
It is generally recommended not to move apps to the SD card. Even for the ones that do allow it, not 100% of the data migrates, SD cards are slower, and they are more susceptible to being corrupted. It's just too many downsides to be worth the trade-off. It's best to leave them on the internal storage, and only keep independent files, like your media files, on the SD card. If you have an app that allows you to save files and downloads to specific locations, then you need to set those to save to the SD card on an app by app basis.

And no, moving everything over to free up internal space wouldn't likely speed up the phone. If anything, it would be the opposite. Think about it, the same data you are using now is still going to be there after moving it, except in a storage medium that is slower to read and write from. It's like carrying cargo with a truck, thinking moving the cargo to a trailer will increased fuel economy because the truck itself is now lighter and ignoring the fact you're pulling the same weight plus the added weight of the trailer.

02-01-2018 07:42 PM
Originally Posted by Mooncatt

It is generally recommended not to move apps to the SD card. Even for the ones that do allow it, not 100% of the data migrates, SD cards are slower, and they are more susceptible to being corrupted. It's just too many downsides to be worth the trade-off. It's best to leave them on the internal storage, and only keep independent files, like your media files, on the SD card. If you have an app that allows you to save files and downloads to specific locations, then you need to set those to save to the SD card on an app by app basis.

I work in devops so I generally find all the memory consumed in apps obnoxious;
Ultimately the apps I utilize use as little operating resources as possible, as such they do not need to request more performance because they are all within the bubble of performance for their purpose.
With that in mind, I would prefer to retain my internal storage for any apps which do require this additional bloat, and not having the freedom to choose which resource pool my apps are installed in causes me, as a power user a great deal of frustration, as I have MANY apps installed on internal resources which most certainly don't require it.

This is well within the scope of being a Linux derivative, and I feel it needs to be addressed by the devs.

04-26-2019 11:30 AM
Originally Posted by Kyle Manel

This is well within the scope of being a Linux derivative, and I feel it needs to be addressed by the devs.

You actually need to take it up with Google, as they set the parameters, and they don't like allowing SD cards in the first place. From performance issues, to increased chances of corruption and data loss, to security concerns, I don't expect them to be any more forgiving with how Android uses them.

04-26-2019 02:38 PM