Due to the fact that the internal memory of mobile devices in terms of volume by different manufacturers of such equipment is often quite limited, when installing more and more applets, the place on the internal drive is dramatically reduced. However, all Android systems support working with removable memory cards, so it is much more convenient for users to move the application to the SD card in Android. But in various modifications of the OS and on devices from different manufacturers it is necessary to apply completely different methods. And in some cases this cannot be done at all.
How to move an Android application to an SD card: general principles
In general, it’s worth noting right away that all the actions relating to transferring files and directories of installed applications on mobile devices can be performed by two main methods. The first is to use system tools, and the second involves the installation of additional software in the form of universal utilities that can function in all versions of Android.
Actions with applications in Android below the fourth version
In obsolete versions of Android, moving the application to the SD card is quite simple. So, for example, even in the long-unused modification 2.2, there are built-in tools for this. To perform such actions, you just need to use the basic settings of the smartphone, go to the applications section, select the desired applet, and then use the move item to an external drive (SD card).
What should I do if there is a modification of 4.4 on the device?
Modification KitKat is considered one of the most unsuccessful. It is not known what this was connected with, but its developers decided to get rid of the function of transferring Android applications to the SD card completely. Thus, moving using system tools is not possible in principle. But you can use special applets from third-party developers that allow you to perform such manipulations. We will dwell on them separately. However, even in this case, you need to clearly understand that the application itself can be installed on a mobile device, but if the smartphone does not support transferring applets to an external drive, there will be absolutely no sense in the installed tool. For example, on devices like the Sony Xperia C2005, no action helps. To make sure that your device supports this function, install the required applet and try to transfer.
Transferring an application to an SD card in Android 5.1
In the fifth-generation modifications, physically moving files and folders of the necessary applets to external media without using third-party applications will fail. However, it was in these modifications that it became possible to specify the repository to which files will be copied when installing applets.
To set such options in the settings section, you need to go to the memory section, and then tap on the SD card item in the default disk block. However, it is worth considering that such a technique can be supported by no means on all devices and by far not all applets designed specifically for these OS modifications. The last limitation is due to the fact that the developers of mobile applications themselves sometimes protect them from installing on external drives.
It is quite obvious that in some cases, in order to transfer an Android application to an SD card, you may need root privileges. The easiest way is to get using utilities like Kingo Root, which install the main part on a stationary computer or laptop, and when synchronizing with a mobile device, transfer the Kingo Link client applet to it in the form of an additional application and driver.
The principle of working with removable drives in the OS of the sixth version and higher
Moving the application to an SD card in Android 6.0 and higher has become much easier due to the fact that the principle of working with removable drives in them has changed dramatically. Its essence consists in combining internal and external memory into a single whole.
But in this situation, you need to take into account the moment that when you try to combine the card with the internal drive, you will first have to format it, which can be suggested by the system when you first connect the media, or it can be done through the memory section.
The main incident is that applications will be installed on removable media, so to speak, chaotically. That is, one applet can be installed in the internal memory, and the other in the external one. Some users also note the fact that directories of the same application may be present on both the internal drive and the memory card in the main Android section. On a removable card, such a section is automatically created. Thus, you cannot select the repository at the time of installing the applet, as it is done, for example, in the same Windows systems by changing the paths for putting the main program directories to disk.
But there is a way out. It is best to leave the installation path intact, and only then - in the sixth, eighth versions or in Android 7.0 - move the application to an SD card using specially developed applets from third-party developers.
AppMgr III
This software product, formerly known as App 2 SD, can be called the undisputed leader among all software products in this area.
In it, you just need to mark the applet that is needed and accessible for moving, and then confirm the action of the transfer to the external card or vice versa (from the card to the internal memory). If you have root-rights, the application capabilities expand very significantly. In addition, for example, transferring applications to an SD card in Android 7.0 and all modifications supporting this function is greatly simplified, you can use the so-called freezing of applets, setting up storage for automatic transfer at the end of the installation, deleting applets without confirmation etc.
Link2SD
Moving applications to an SD card in Android 7.1 or in any other version of the OS that supports this functionality will be somewhat more difficult with this applet. This is due only to the fact that the program itself does not look as simplified as, for example, the previous one, because first you have to enter Recovery mode, then create a hidden system partition on the external card with the file structure ext3 / ext4, specifying the required size (for example, 1024 MB), and a swap file with zero volume. You can also create a partition using partitioning programs when connected to a PC. After restarting the smartphone, you will need to specify the file structure for the main FAT32 partition. When porting applets, you will have two options.
Clicking on the Create Link button allows you to transfer the desired applet to an external card, but the link to it will remain in the internal memory.
In the second option, the move button is used, however, during the transfer process, the application will use only standard Android tools, and not its own tools.
Files To SD Card
This applet is intended for use in versions of Android 5 and above.
The utility is quite simple to use and can not only move applications to different repositories, but also set one of them to be the default storage location for installed applets. The only inconvenience is that the program has limitations in supporting mobile devices of some manufacturers.
All-in-one toolbox
This universal package is basically an optimizer, but it is able to perform the required actions to transfer applets from one place to another.
True, to use some functions, you may need root-rights, and on some devices full functionality may not be available due to current restrictions on the support of manufacturers of smartphones and tablets.
Manager from Best App
The file manager from this developer is one of the simplest applications. In it, application transfer is, in a sense, a side feature, but with its help you can easily synchronize your mobile device with popular cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive.
Utility "Move to SDCard"
Finally, we have yet another simple applet, among the main advantages of which we can single out full compatibility with Android systems of versions 2.3 and higher, as well as the correct support for any mobile devices, including even “deeply Chinese” phones, with which “normal” applets work correctly do not want under any circumstances.