How to move apps to SD to free up space on Android

If we have little internal storage space on our Android device, optimizing it becomes essential. First we can install Google Files Go, an application that can be great for deleting temporary files and doing some cleaning.

Unfortunately, we will still take up a large amount of space with all the apps that we have installed on the device. Solution? Move those apps to the terminal's SD card.

How are we going to move those apps?

Basically we have 3 methods to transfer applications from internal memory to micro SD memory Of the device:

• From the Android settings menu (does not require root permissions).
• Using an application like Link2SD to move any application (requires root).
• Configuring the SD card as internal memory.

Moving apps to the SD from the Android settings menu

The easiest way to transfer apps to external memory is by using the tools offered by the Android application manager itself. It does not require administrator permissions and can be done with a couple of clicks.

Unfortunately, this is a function that only available on some phones and tablets (usually those that have 16GB or 32GB of space). Also, not all apps are compatible with this type of movement.

To move an app to the phone's micro SD, we must follow these steps:

• We came in "Settings -> Applications«.
• We click on the app we want to move and select «Storage«.
• If the system allows the application to be moved to the SD, a button will appear for «Change»The storage unit. We click on it.
• We select the SD card as the new storage unit for the app.

From here, a new window will be loaded where we can complete the process of transferring the application to external memory.

Configure an SD memory to use it as internal memory and be able to install apps

If our phone does not support this method to move applications and we do not have root permissions, we can use a pass. The idea is quite basic, and it consists of configuring the micro SD memory so that it works as part of the internal memory of the device.

• We are going to "Settings ->Storage«
• We scroll to «Portable storage«, We select the SD card, and from the upper drop-down menu we select“Storage settings”.
• In this new window, click on «Format as internal -> Delete and format».

It is important to clarify that if we do this, all files previously stored on the card will be deleted. Also, from now on, SD memory will only work on that device.

How to transfer applications to the SD card using a management tool

At this point, if none of the 2 alternatives shown interest us, we can also use an advanced tool to carry out the management. The application is called Link2SD and it is a free app, with a paid pro version that adds some extra features. If all we want is to move the app, with the free version we will have enough.

Previous requirements

One of the requirements to be able to use Link2SD (or any other app that does the same functions) is have root permissions .

How to move apps to the terminal's SD memory

Once we have installed and launched Link2SD we will see a list of all the applications installed in the internal memory of our Android phone or tablet. Before we start moving apps like crazy we have to be very clear about which applications we can move and which ones we cannot.

Here everyone is free to do what they see fit, but if you don't want to find yourself with a pretentious paperweight the next time you restart the phone, I would recommend do not move any of the system applications.

Many of these applications are critical to the proper functioning of the system, and we can differentiate them from the rest thanks to their location in the internal memory of the device.

Location of system and user apps on Android

Almost all Android apps are installed by default in the following internal routes of the terminal:

/ system / app / ( System apps , here we can find applications such as the call interface or the SIM services)

/ system / priv-app / ( System apps , here we can find applications such as the interface that allows us to see the information of the contacts or the same messaging service)

/ data / app / ( Apps installed by the user )

Taking this into account, We will only move those apps whose installation path is located in / data / app /.

Let's get to the point! Moving apps to SD

Now that we have everything very clear, we will only have to select the app that we want to move and click on it. A new screen will be shown in which we will see how much space does the application occupy in total, and then a breakdown of the weight of the application files, data and cache.

Click on "Move to SD”And we accept the confirmation message.

Once the process is finished, a message will appear indicating that the app has been successfully moved to the SD card of our terminal.

Create links to move the rest of the data

Once the transfer has been carried out correctly, we will see that there are some files that have not been moved to the SD. This is because from the start We can only move the application's .apk and lib files.

In order to move the remaining files, .Dex, data, and cache you need to create a link.

To do this we will need to create a second partition on the SD card with Unix format (i.e. ext2, ext3, ext4 or f2fs).

If we create this second partition we will only have to click on "Create Link”To move the rest of the remaining files.

Other Link2SD features

In addition to the aforementioned, Link2SD offers the possibility of recreate mount scripts, clear dalvik-cache, clear second SD partition or clear cache of all apps simultaneously, among other functionalities.

In addition to this there are other applications in Google Play capable of moving apps to the SD but today I think this is the one that works best and includes the greatest functionalities.

If you know of any other app that is just as good or better, please do not hesitate to go to the comment box.