Setting your SD card as the default download location for apps and games from Google Play is easy to do. By default, apps and games from Google Play store download to your device’s internal storage. While this works fine for most people, you may want to change the default download location to your SD card if you are running low on internal storage space.
Why Set the SD Card as Default Storage?
There are a few key reasons why you may want to set your SD card as the default download location for Google Play apps and games:
- Free up space on internal storage – Apps and games can take up a lot of storage space. Using the SD card for downloads helps avoid filling up your limited internal storage.
- Store more apps – With more available storage on the SD card, you can download more apps and games from Google Play.
- Easily transfer apps between devices – If you get a new device, you can quickly transfer apps and data by moving the SD card.
The main downside is that SD cards are a bit slower than internal storage in many devices. However, modern SD cards are fast enough that most users won’t notice a difference.
Requirements for Using SD Card for Google Play
Before setting your SD card as default storage, make sure:
- Your Android device supports using an SD card for apps.
- You have an SD card inserted into your device.
- The SD card has sufficient free space for saving apps and games.
Most modern Android devices support using an SD card for storing apps and data. However, some budget devices still do not allow saving apps to the SD card. Consult your device manufacturer’s documentation to verify SD card support.
If your device supports SD cards, make sure you have one properly inserted. The card should be formatted and have at least 100MB or more free space.
How to Set SD Card as Default in Google Play
Here are the steps to set your SD card as the default download location in the Google Play Store app:
- Open the Play Store app on your Android device.
- Tap on the hamburger menu icon in the top left corner.
- Select “Settings” from the menu.
- Tap on “App download preferences.”
- Under “Download apps to,” select “External” or your SD card.
And that’s it! The Play Store will now save any new app or game downloads onto your SD card by default.
Confirming the Play Store Download Location
To confirm the setting change was successful:
- Open the Play Store app again.
- Search for and select any free app to download.
- Go through the download process, but cancel before the install.
- Open your device’s Files or File Manager app.
- Navigate to the SD card folder.
- You should see the recently downloaded app in the folder.
If you see the downloaded app in your SD card folder, then your setting change was successful!
Moving Existing Apps to the SD Card
Changing the default storage location does not automatically move apps that are already installed on your internal storage. To move existing apps to the SD card:
- Open your device’s Settings app.
- Go to Apps or Application Manager.
- Select the app you want to move.
- Look for and tap the “Storage” or “Memory” option.
- You should see a Change or Move button.
- Tap it and select your SD card.
- Allow time for the app data to transfer to the new location.
Some apps do not support being moved to external storage. In that case, the Move to SD option will not be available.
What Types of Apps Can Be Moved to SD Card?
Most apps can be downloaded and stored on your SD card without issues. However, there are few exceptions:
- System apps – Apps that are pre-installed on your Android device cannot be moved.
- Widgets – App widgets cannot be saved externally, only the main app APK file.
- Root apps – Apps requiring root access may have issues running from external storage.
Beyond those exceptions, most apps from the Play Store can be downloaded to and moved over to an SD card without problems.
Freeing Up More Internal Storage Space
In addition to moving apps to your SD card, here are some other tips to free up more built-in storage space on your Android device:
- Delete unused apps – Uninstall apps and games you no longer use.
- Clear app cache – Temp app files can build up over time. Clear them out.
- Move photos/videos – Use the SD card for storing your photos and videos.
- Disable auto-download – Turn off auto-downloads for email attachments, streaming media, etc.
- Uninstall manufacturer bloatware – Safely disable or uninstall unneeded pre-installed apps.
Combining these steps with fully utilizing your SD card storage gives you the most free space for installing apps, games, media, and more.
Potential Issues When Using SD Card Storage
While using your SD card for Google Play app storage works well in most cases, there are a few potential downsides to be aware of:
- Slower app performance – Apps running from SD card storage are generally a bit slower than internal storage.
- SD card corruption – Damage to the card can cause data loss and app issues.
- App compatibility problems – A very small number of apps may not work properly from external storage.
- SD cards are less secure – Built-in storage is encrypted, SD cards are not.
These issues do not affect all users, but are worth knowing in case you run into app crashes, slowness, or data loss. Adopting good SD card habits like regular backups can avoid most problems.
Simplifying App Management with Android 10
Android 10 introduced a change that simplifies managing apps on SD cards:
- Apps are treated as “adoptable storage” – The phone stores apps on the card automatically as needed, without user involvement.
- No need to manually move apps – The system handles moving apps itself.
- Easier transfers to new devices – Just move the SD card to transfer apps and data.
This adoptable storage approach makes managing SD card storage much simpler. Most users will just need to insert a card, set it as default in the Play Store, and let the system handle the rest.
Adoptable Storage vs Portable Storage
Android supports two formats for external SD cards:
- Adoptable storage – Card is encrypted and formatted for use as internal storage.
- Portable storage – Remains separate from system, allowing easy transfers between devices.
Adoptable storage integrates the SD card with your device’s internal storage using encryption. Portable storage keeps the SD card separate as a standalone partition.
Both formats are useful depending on your needs. Adoptable storage simplifies app management, while portable storage makes transferring data between devices easier.
Adoptable Storage Advantages
- Apps automatically managed by the system.
- Card is encrypted for security.
- Easy to transfer to a new phone.
Portable Storage Advantages
- No need to format when moving between devices.
- Can be accessed on a computer via USB.
- Works across Android devices.
Checking Your SD Card Format
To check whether your SD card is formatted as adoptable or portable storage:
- Go to Settings > Storage.
- Tap the SD card name.
- Check if it says “Portable” or “Internal” storage type.
If you want to switch formats, you will need to back up data first, as formatting erases the existing card contents.
Troubleshooting SD Card Issues
If you run into problems using your SD card for Google Play app storage, try the following troubleshooting steps:
- Restart your device – A simple restart can clear up SD card issues.
- Check SD card health – Use your phone’s built-in utility to scan for errors.
- Reinsert SD card – Remove and reinsert the card to ensure a proper connection.
- Clean SD card contacts – Use isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab to gently clean the copper contacts.
- Check for corruption – Use chkdsk in Windows or fsck in Linux to scan for filesystem errors.
- Format SD card – As a last resort, backup and reformat the card to fix stubborn issues.
With some troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve most common problems with using your SD card for apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to keep apps on internal storage or SD card?
In most cases, keeping apps on your SD card instead of internal storage is better, as it frees up your limited built-in storage. However, certain apps like photography or music creation apps may benefit from the faster speed of internal storage.
Can you use SD card as internal storage?
Yes, with Android 6.0 Marshmallow and above you can format your SD card as internal storage instead of portable storage. This encrypts the card and integrates it with the system to allow seamless use for apps and data.
Do all apps work from SD card?
The vast majority of apps work perfectly fine when stored on an SD card instead of internal storage. However, some rare apps that require low-level hardware integration or root access may not work properly from external storage. But these are uncommon exceptions.
Does formatting SD card delete everything?
Yes, formatting an SD card erases all data on the card and resets it to factory condition. This is necessary when switching between portable storage and internal/adoptable storage modes. Always backup your SD card data before formatting.
How do I transfer apps from phone to SD card?
On Android 6.0+ that supports adoptable storage, apps are automatically managed and stored across both internal and external storage. On older versions, you must manually move each app one-by-one using your device’s Settings/Storage menu.
Conclusion
Setting your SD card as default storage for Google Play app downloads is straightforward to do. The process frees up space on your internal storage and allows installing more apps than your built-in memory could normally handle. Just make sure your device supports SD cards and has the latest Android OS version for the smoothest experience. With this setup, you can download to your heart’s content and make the most of your device’s expandable storage.
