How do I set my SD card as my default storage?
What is an SD card?
An SD card, or Secure Digital card, is a small removable flash memory card used for storing photos, videos, music, and other files on digital devices like cameras, phones, and computers (Definition of SD card).
There are several types of SD cards:
- SD – The original SD card with up to 2GB capacity.
- SDHC – SD High Capacity cards with up to 32GB capacity.
- SDXC – SD eXtended Capacity cards with up to 2TB capacity.
- microSD – A smaller form factor SD card used in many phones.
SD cards are commonly used for the following purposes:
- Expanding storage on smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
- Storing photos, videos, music, and other media files.
- Serving as the default storage for media in digital cameras.
- Transferring files between electronic devices.
SD cards provide removable, rewritable storage that can greatly increase the capacity of devices with limited built-in storage. Their small size makes them convenient and portable (SD card).
Benefits of using an SD card as default storage
There are several key benefits to using an SD card as your default storage on a device like a smartphone, tablet, or computer:
More storage space – SD cards can dramatically increase the overall storage capacity of your device. Many SD cards offer anywhere from 32GB to 512GB of additional space. This allows you to store more apps, photos, videos, music, and files.
Portable storage – SD cards are removable and portable. You can take your SD card out of one device and insert it into another. This makes transferring files and data convenient. It also lets you expand storage on multiple devices with one SD card.
Keep internal storage free – Storing apps, media, and other files on the SD card rather than the device’s internal storage helps keep the internal storage from filling up. This can improve your device’s performance.
Overall, setting your SD card as the default storage location is an easy way to gain more storage capacity. The portability of SD cards also makes them useful for transferring data between devices and backing up important files.
Source: https://www.minitool.com/partition-disk/how-to-make-sd-card-default-storage.html
Check SD card compatibility with your device
Before you can set your SD card as the default storage, you need to make sure it is compatible with your Android device. Here are the steps to check compatibility:
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Insert your SD card into your device. Make sure it is properly seated in the card slot.
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Open your device’s Settings app.
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Navigate to the Storage section.
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You should see the SD card listed under Portable storage. If you don’t see it listed, your device may not be compatible with your SD card.
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Check for any error messages about the SD card. If you see an error like “SD card unexpectedly removed”, it means your device is not compatible.
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If your SD card is listed and no errors appear, your device is compatible! You can proceed with setting it as default storage.
Before inserting an SD card, you can also check the device manufacturer’s website for a list of compatible SD card types. Look for information on supported SD standards like SD, SDHC, and SDXC (1). Refer to your SD card’s specifications and match it to your device’s compatible SD card list.
Move apps and data to the SD card
One of the main benefits of setting your SD card as default storage is being able to move apps and data over to the card. This frees up space on your device’s internal storage. Follow these steps:
- Open your device settings and select Storage.
- Tap the name of your SD card.
- Select “Set as default storage” or “Default write disk.”
- You will get a prompt asking if you want to move your existing apps and data over to the SD card. Tap Move Apps.
- Wait for the transfer process to complete. All newly installed apps will now download to the SD card automatically.
Keep in mind that some apps do not support being moved to external storage. These will stay on the device’s internal memory. You can manually move pictures, videos, music and other media files to the SD card as well through your device’s file manager.
Source: https://www.lifewire.com/set-sd-card-as-default-android-6743109
Change default camera storage location
To store photos and videos directly onto your SD card by default when using the camera app, you will need to change the default storage location in your camera settings.
First, open your camera app. The exact steps to access the settings menu may vary depending on your specific Android device and camera app, but look for a settings/gear icon.
In the camera settings menu, look for an option to change the storage location or “Data storage”. Tap on this option.
You should then see options to choose either device storage or SD card. Select SD card to set it as the new default storage location.
Now when you take photos or record videos within the camera app, they will automatically save onto your inserted SD card rather than the internal storage. You may see a notification confirming the storage location change.
If your Android device does not allow changing the default storage like this, you may need to use a third party camera app that provides more customization options and flexibility over storage settings.
Set Downloads to Save to the SD Card by Default
One of the most common uses for SD card storage is saving files downloaded from the internet. Here’s how to set your Android device to automatically save downloads to your SD card rather than internal storage:
Open your browser’s settings menu and look for the “Downloads” or “Storage” section. In Chrome, tap the three-dot menu icon and select Settings > Downloads. In Samsung Internet, tap the three-line menu icon and choose Settings > Downloads.
Find the option to change where downloads are saved. You may see a dropdown menu labeled “Storage location” or “Download location.” Choose your SD card from the options.
Now when you download files, movies, music, and more, they will automatically be saved onto your external SD card rather than filling up your internal storage. Downloads from your browser as well as other apps like YouTube will follow this setting.
If you ever need to save individual files like photos to internal storage again, long press on the image and choose “Download” or “Save image.” This will allow you to pick Download location and choose between SD card or internal storage.
(Source)
Change default music and video storage
One of the biggest benefits of using an SD card as default storage is being able to save all your music, videos, movies, and other media directly to the card. Here’s how to set your music and video apps to automatically save new content to the SD card:
Open the Settings menu for your music app, such as Spotify or Apple Music. Look for an option to change the default download or save location. Select your SD card from the storage options.
Similarly, open your video streaming or media app settings, like Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube. Look for a setting to set the default download folder or storage location. Choose your SD card.
For local music and video files, open the Files app or My Files. Tap on the three-dot menu icon and select Settings. Choose your SD card as the default storage location. Now, any new music or videos you add will automatically save to the SD card rather than internal storage.
Setting your SD card as the default storage location for media files is an easy way to free up space on your device’s internal storage. With high-quality audio and video files, an SD card’s extra storage capacity really comes in handy.
Transfer existing data to the SD card
Once you have set up your SD card and configured it as the default storage location on your Android device, you may want to transfer existing data from your internal storage to the SD card.
The easiest way to do this is by using your device’s file manager app. The file manager allows you to browse all the files and folders on both your internal storage and SD card, and move them between the two storage locations.
To transfer files using the file manager:
- Open the Files app on your Android device. This is the default file manager app on many Android phones.
- Tap on Internal Storage to browse folders and files stored internally.
- Browse and select the files or folders you wish to move to the SD card.
- Tap and hold on the selected items, then choose “Move to…” from the menu.
- Select your SD card from the storage options.
- The selected items will now be moved from internal storage to the SD card.
You can also copy files instead of moving them if you want to keep the originals stored internally. The file manager makes it easy to transfer items like your photos, videos, music, and document files off of internal storage and onto your SD card.
Just remember that your SD card needs to be properly mounted and set up before transferring data. Overall, the file manager provides the simplest way to migrate existing files to your new default storage location.
Source: https://support.google.com/files/answer/9712028?hl=en
Troubleshooting Tips
If you run into issues after setting your SD card as default storage, here are some troubleshooting tips:
SD card not detected – Make sure the SD card is properly inserted and mounted. Go to Settings > Storage and check if the SD card shows up. If not, remove and reinsert the SD card. If it still doesn’t show up, try a different SD card reader or slot. The SD card itself may be corrupted or damaged.
Reverting default storage – If you want to revert back to using internal storage as default, go to Settings > Storage > Internal Shared Storage > Transfer data to internal storage. Wait for the transfer to complete. Then go to SD card settings and select “Unmount.” The internal storage will now be used as default again.
Storage full errors – If you get insufficient storage errors even with the SD card set as default, go to Settings > Storage and check the usage stats for both internal and SD card storage. You may need to free up space on both drives. Try transferring more apps, videos, music and photos to the SD card. Also clear caches for apps from internal storage. If the issue persists, your SD card may be faulty.
For more help, check out Google’s troubleshooting guide for SD card default storage issues or post on tech forums like r/AndroidQuestions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about setting the SD card as the default storage on Android devices:
Does setting the SD card as default delete data?
When you initially format the SD card as internal storage, it will erase all data on the card. However, once formatted, any existing apps, photos, videos or other media you have on your device can be moved to the SD card without erasing them from the original location.
Can I undo making the SD card as default storage?
Yes, you can switch the default storage back to the internal storage. Go to Settings -> Storage and tap on the SD card name. Choose “Format as portable” to remove the card as internal storage. Any apps or data on the card will then only be accessible when it is inserted back into the device.
What happens if I remove the SD card after making it default storage?
Once the SD card is set as default storage, the device will not function fully without the SD card installed. Any apps that were moved to the card will not be available. You will have to insert the SD card again to access that data and those apps.
Can I use the SD card in other devices after making it default storage?
No, the SD card is formatted specifically for the device it is set up on. You cannot simply remove the card and insert it into a different phone or tablet and access the data. The card is encrypted and paired to your device.
Will using the SD card as default storage slow down my device?
There may be some performance lag when running apps or loading data from the SD card versus internal storage. Use an SD card with a fast read/write speed to help minimize any reduction in speed.