Android moved some data to the SD card, now many apps don't work anymore

[Android Central Question]

Yesterday I reformatted my 64GB micro SD card to move some photos etc. away from internal memory. After formatting, Android suggested me to move about 10 of 60GB or so of internally stored data to the SD, which I thought sounded great.
However, now many apps don't work properly anymore (e.g. Whatsapp can't download photos anymore, some buttons in Pokemon Go disappeared) or don't even start (Revolut crashes on startup).

How can I automatically move these data back or fix the problem in an other way?

 

[Annie_M]

Hello and welcome! Which device are you referring to? We need to know that so we can better help you. Also, in order to continue participating in this conversation, you may want to consider registering for an account here on Android Central. If you're interested in registering for an account, you'll find instructions here: https://forums.androidcentral.com/as...community.html

 

[NXValiant]

Hi Annie, thanks for you reply! The device is a Fairphone 3, running build number 8901.3.A.0136. I logged in now, it just took me a while to find the hidden login button ;-)

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Just to be clear -- did you format the card as Portable Storage or Internal Storage?

Go to Settings>Apps, and look at each of those apps that are having problems. Is there an option to move their data back to the phone's internal storage?

 

[NXValiant]

The three apps with which I have noticed issues so far actually all seem to be using internal storage. In the case of Pokémon Go, it would be possible to switch to SD card.
I formatted the card as internal storage. And at least in the case of Whatsapp the problem with downloading pictures definitely has a connection to the SD card, since I once saw a brief error message regarding it flash up.

 

[B. Diddy]

Ah, I was going to ask if you formatted the card as Internal Storage, but didn't because it's technically not supported on Samsung phones (although there used to be a workaround for older phones). So it probably has to do with that. This is one of the reasons why Adoptable Storage never really took off -- SD cards are slower than internal storage memory, and the interface is less reliable. If you absolutely need to use the card to expand your internal storage, then you may just have to live with this. But be aware that since SD cards can fail without notice, it might increase your risk for system crashes.

 

[NXValiant]

Ok, so I may have to reformat the SD card as mobile storage eventually and only store media there, fair enough. But in the meantime, how to I get my data back into the phone's storage and get my apps working again? I would move the files manually, but a) I don't necessarily know where to put them, since Android didn't tell me which files it moved from where and b) when I connect the phone to my computer, Windows Explorer doesn't show me the phone's actual memory anymore, just the SD card.... How do I do that?

 

[NXValiant]

PS: even if I take the card out of the phone and connect the phone to the PC, windows recognises the phone but doesn't show any files on it...

 

[NXValiant]

Ok, so I lost my patience with that stupid card. I backed it up on the PC and removed it from the Save-Settings on the phone. All apps seem to be working again, so it seems like nothing crucial was moved. Stupid problem, stupid solution.

 

[B. Diddy]

Sorry, your responses came in overnight where I am. I'm glad it's sort of working now. Typically, you can change a card from Internal Storage to Portable Storage in the Settings>Storage menu, in the SD Card submenu -- see if you can find that.