How to Move Apps to the SD Card on Samsung: Free Up Precious Space!

Let’s cut to the chase: Moving apps to the SD card on your Samsung device is primarily done to free up internal storage. While Android’s evolved storage management means not all apps can be fully moved, and newer Android versions limit this capability more stringently, the process remains a valuable trick for older devices or those with limited internal memory. Here’s the straightforward method:

1. Insert an SD card into your Samsung device. Make sure it’s properly formatted and recognized. Go to Settings > Battery and device care > Storage to verify that the SD card is detected and has sufficient free space.

2. Format the SD card as internal storage (Optional, but highly recommended for newer devices): This step is crucial for making the SD card usable for storing apps. Settings > Battery and device care > Storage > SD Card > Format > Format as internal storage. Warning: This will erase everything on your SD card, so back up any important data beforehand.

3. Navigate to your Apps settings: Go to Settings > Apps. You’ll see a list of all installed applications on your device.

4. Select the app you want to move: Tap on the app you want to move to the SD card. This will open the app’s information page.

5. Look for the “Storage” option: Within the app’s information page, find and tap on the “Storage” option.

6. Check for the “Change” button: If the app supports being moved to the SD card, you’ll see a “Change” button under the storage usage information. If you don’t see the “Change” button, it means the app either doesn’t support being moved or it’s a core system app.

7. Tap “Change” and select the SD card: Tap the “Change” button. A pop-up will appear asking you to select where you want to move the app to. Choose the SD card.

8. Confirm the move: You’ll see a warning message. Read it carefully, as some apps might not function correctly after being moved. Tap “Move” to confirm the action. The app will then be transferred to the SD card. The process can take a few minutes, depending on the app’s size.

9. Repeat for other apps: Repeat steps 4-8 for other apps you want to move. Remember that not all apps can be moved.

It’s important to understand that newer versions of Android have greatly restricted the ability to move apps to SD cards, especially after adopting the “adoptable storage” feature which merges the SD card with the internal storage in a more seamless, but also less controllable way. Also, some apps are designed to run exclusively from internal storage for performance and security reasons.

FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Moving Apps to SD Card on Samsung

Here are some frequently asked questions and detailed answers to further illuminate the process and its limitations:

Why Can’t I Move All Apps to the SD Card?

This is a common frustration. There are several reasons why you can’t move all apps:

• App Developer Restrictions: App developers can explicitly prevent their apps from being moved to the SD card. This is often done for security reasons or because the app relies on features that require fast internal storage access. Apps dealing with sensitive user data are especially likely to be restricted.
• System Apps: Core system apps that are essential for the phone’s operation cannot be moved to the SD card. These apps are typically pre-installed by Samsung or Google.
• Android Version Limitations: As mentioned earlier, newer versions of Android have increasingly restricted the ability to move apps to the SD card, prioritizing security and performance stability.
• Adoptable Storage in newer Android Version: If you have adoptable storage active, then everything on the SD card behaves like internal storage and can be used without limitations for all apps.

What are the Advantages of Moving Apps to the SD Card?

The primary advantage is freeing up internal storage space. This can improve your phone’s performance, especially if it’s running low on internal memory. Having more internal memory available also means you can install other apps and download more files.

What are the Disadvantages of Moving Apps to the SD Card?

While freeing up space is a plus, there are potential downsides:

• Performance Issues: SD cards are generally slower than internal storage. Moving apps to the SD card can result in slower loading times and decreased performance, especially for resource-intensive apps like games. High-quality SD cards can mitigate this somewhat.
• SD Card Reliability: SD cards are more prone to failure than internal storage. If your SD card fails, you’ll lose all the data stored on it, including the moved apps. Regularly backing up your data is crucial.
• Widget Issues: Some widgets may not function correctly when the associated app is moved to the SD card.
• File Access: If an app you moved to your SD card requires access to a file in the internal memory, it might cause a crash.

How Do I Know if My SD Card is Fast Enough for Apps?

Look for the speed class rating on your SD card. A Class 10 or UHS (Ultra High Speed) rated card (U1 or U3) is generally recommended for running apps. UHS cards offer faster read and write speeds, which can help minimize performance issues. Avoid using older, slower SD cards, as they can significantly impact app performance. Also, consider its compatibility with your device. Check your phone’s specifications to make sure you choose an SD card with the appropriate speed and capacity.

What Happens if I Remove the SD Card After Moving Apps?

If you remove the SD card after moving apps to it, the apps stored on the SD card will become unusable. They’ll still appear on your app list, but you won’t be able to open them. You’ll need to re-insert the SD card to use those apps again. Also, if you were using the SD card as internal memory and you remove it, expect to run into errors.

How Do I Move Apps Back to Internal Storage?

The process is similar to moving them to the SD card:

1. Go to Settings > Apps.
2. Select the app you want to move back.
3. Tap on “Storage”.
4. Tap “Change”.
5. Select “Internal Storage”.
6. Confirm the move.

Why is the “Change” Button Grayed Out?

A grayed-out “Change” button indicates that the app cannot be moved to the SD card. This is usually due to developer restrictions, system app status, or Android version limitations, as discussed earlier.

Can I Move App Data (Like Photos and Videos) to the SD Card?

Yes, you can typically move app data, such as photos and videos, to the SD card. This is often done through the app’s settings. For example, in the camera app, you can usually change the storage location to the SD card. For other apps, you might need to use a file manager to manually move the data. But be careful of moving the app’s core data without using its internal settings.

Will Moving Apps to the SD Card Affect App Updates?

Generally, moving apps to the SD card does not affect app updates. The Play Store will still be able to update apps stored on the SD card. However, in some rare cases, an update might fail if there’s an issue with the SD card or if the app requires more space than is available on the SD card.

What is “Adoptable Storage” and How Does It Affect App Movement?

“Adoptable Storage” is an Android feature that allows you to format an SD card as internal storage. When you do this, the SD card becomes integrated into the phone’s internal storage, effectively increasing the total storage capacity. While it simplifies storage management, it also means you can no longer selectively move individual apps to the SD card in the traditional way. Everything is managed as a single pool of storage. This is typically enabled only for newer Android systems.

How Can I Format the SD Card as Internal Storage?

Go to Settings > Battery and device care > Storage > SD Card > Format > Format as internal storage. This is the “Adoptable Storage” option. Be aware that formatting the SD card as internal storage will erase all data on it.

Is it safe to move games to the SD card?

Moving games to an SD card is generally safe but can cause performance issues. Because SD cards typically have slower data transfer speeds than internal storage, games might load slower or experience lag.