Set default storage to SD card

[traveld]

I recently bought a new Galaxy Tab S2 to replace my Galaxy Tab 10.1. Mainly because one of the features was the use of the SD card to store and run apps. Memory on my Tab 10.1 was always maxed out and I was moving apps to the SD card daily. However, on the new S2, I cannot find any setting which will make use of the mega memory on the SD card (128 GB), and the feature to manually move an app to the SD card is not even available on the S2, like it is on the 10.1.

Does anyone know how to move apps to the SD card to avoid maxing out internal memory too quickly? I would also like apps to "know" that's where updates should be loaded too. On the 10.1 after every update, I need to move the app back to the card.

 

[B. Diddy]

For devices that don't implement the Move to SD feature, you'd probably have to root it and use an app like Link2SD or App Mgr III.

 

[traveld]

I'm not very Android savvy. Are there instructions for doing something like this?
Would there be something that is more definitive on what to do and what that would accomplish?

 

[B. Diddy]

If you're a beginner, I would recommend against rooting, because there's more chance that you might inadvertently do something wrong, which could then render the tablet useless.

But if you want to give it a try, start here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/tab-s2/general/guide-root-tab-s2-t3205019

Otherwise, the other option is to limit the number of apps you install. If there are apps you hardly ever use, uninstall them.

 

[traveld]

Thank you for the information. But it would seem counterproductive to limit what is loaded when there is an abundance of memory if there were just some way to access it. There must be an easier way!

In one of the reviews I read, there was something about setting the tablet up to recognize the SD card as memory storage, but I could not find anything in the various Settings screens or in the skimpy user manual. I was hoping that someone on this forum had better information.

 

[couper330]

What I do....Settings/Applications/Applications Manager. By clicking on any app you'll see under Storage the app size and where it's stored ...either internal or external. If it shows internal you can click on Storage which takes you to a new screen which might show an option to Change. If so you can click on that and move the app to external (sd card). If Change does not appear that app cannot be moved. Unfortunately each app has to be looked at to determine if it can be moved. Have yet to find an easier way.

 

[traveld]

I finally found something on the Samsung forums. Funny, I was chatting with support at the same time and he did not provide instructions that were applicable on the device I had. I sent him what I found in the Community. I was able to move apps, but the downside is these will not be in the automatic backups.

Android Version 6 was supposed to have the ability to automatically direct use of the SD card. But it's not there yet.

Thanks.

 

[B. Diddy]

Thank you for the information. But it would seem counterproductive to limit what is loaded when there is an abundance of memory if there were just some way to access it. There must be an easier way!

The SD card has always been primarily intended for storage of your own data files, like media files (photos, videos, music) and documents. Using the SD card to install actual apps has historically been fraught with glitches and risk of data loss, since SD cards are notoriously unreliable and relatively easily corrupted (compared with onboard memory). This is part of the reason Google shies away from implementing external SD cards in its own devices (i.e., Nexus and now Pixel devices).

Marshmallow did introduce Adoptable Storage, which allows you to format the SD card to become recognized by the system as part of Internal Storage -- which thereby expands the ability to install apps. However, some manufacturers (like Samsung and LG) opted not to implement this feature on their devices, for reasons that I'm not entirely sure of (although it's probably related to the potential for corrupted cards as I mentioned above). For those phones that did implement Adoptable Storage, it's not without problems either. Moto phones in particular seem to have issues -- I've seen a number of threads here complaining of Moto phones saying there was not enough room to install apps, even though the card was formatted as Internal Storage and there was still plenty of space left on it.

There's a well-known workaround for the S7 that involves ADB commands: https://www.xda-developers.com/enable-adoptable-storage-for-galaxy-s7-and-s7-edge/. However, I've read that this doesn't work for the Tab S2. Instead, you could try this: https://forum.xda-developers.com/tab-s2/general/patch-adoptable-storage-enabler-t3460521. But I think that requires root.

 

[traveld]

Thank you for the explanation. I will weigh this against other perceived benefits.

 

[Pamela Curry]

I recently bought a new Galaxy Tab S2 to replace my Galaxy Tab 10.1. Mainly because one of the features was the use of the SD card to store and run apps. Memory on my Tab 10.1 was always maxed out and I was moving apps to the SD card daily. However, on the new S2, I cannot find any setting which will make use of the mega memory on the SD card (128 GB), and the feature to manually move an app to the SD card is not even available on the S2, like it is on the 10.1.

Does anyone know how to move apps to the SD card to avoid maxing out internal memory too quickly? I would also like apps to "know" that's where updates should be loaded too. On the 10.1 after every update, I need to move the app back to the card.

I'm guessing that your on marshmallow. In the applications menu TAP on the storage menu of the app the ability to use EXTERNAL storage it will appear as an option of the app supports it.

 

[wapiwezar84]

I'm guessing that your on marshmallow. In the applications menu TAP on the storage menu of the app the ability to use EXTERNAL storage it will appear as an option of the app supports it.

I think this will help... I've been struggling with the same problem.

With the new software update the applications manager is built into the software. Follow the steps on the samsung link below. It may just say "Apps" instead of "Applications" but the process remains the same. Not all apps can be moved however.

Galaxy Tab S2 - How do I move apps on my Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 to a microSD card

I hope that helps.

 

[sparksd]

I think this will help... I've been struggling with the same problem.

With the new software update the applications manager is built into the software. Follow the steps on the samsung link below. It may just say "Apps" instead of "Applications" but the process remains the same. Not all apps can be moved however.

Galaxy Tab S2 - How do I move apps on my Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 to a microSD card

I hope that helps.

If you move an app to SD, isn't it the case that it ends up back in main storage on an app update and needs to be moved again? Thought I read that somewhere ...

Edit: I may be confusing this with adoptable storage.