Portable or Internal Storage? How to Set Up an SD Card on Android
When you insert a new SD card, Android asks how to use it. The choice decides what you can move to it.
| Portable storage | Internal storage (adopted) | |
|---|---|---|
| For | Photos, music, videos and files | Apps and app data, as part of the phone storage |
| Use in other devices | Yes | No, it is encrypted for this phone |
| Move files to it separately | Yes | No |
| Remove the card | Safe after ejecting | Apps and data on it stop working |
What APPtoSD shows
- "Android on this phone moves apps to this card: App info → Storage → Change." Your card works as it is.
- "No Change button in App info?" Some phones move apps only to an SD card formatted as internal storage. Your card is set up as portable storage.
- "This card is formatted as internal storage": Android moves apps to it from App info → Storage → Change; files can’t be moved to it separately.
Change the format
Formatting deletes everything on the card. Copy your files first, then follow How to Format an SD Card as Internal Storage.
Use a fast, genuine card for internal storage. Check it with the Full capacity check first: a slow or fake card makes apps slow and can lose data.
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