Moving Apps from internal to external storage

[MartyDC]

I would like to move a large game app (Marvel Future Fight) to my external SD card. This particular game installs itself in a way that makes it invisible to normal file managers.

Every "file manager" I download only lets you move a specific file or folder. Hasn't anyone created a file manager that recognizes apps and lets you move the entire app?

 

[JAy3001]

Would you not just go into settings/apps/marvel future fight - and see if there was a "move to sd" card option there? I've never moved an app to my sd card via a file browser. Not saying you can't, but root would be required and it might well bork on startup if not moved correctly.

Alternatively there are apps on the playstore that might help force a move to sd card.

 

[Dannydet]

Some apps can be installed on either your internal storage or external storage.
But not all of them.
It's up to the developer of the app, not by just moving files over.

 

[ocnbrze]

I would like to move a large game app (Marvel Future Fight) to my external SD card. This particular game installs itself in a way that makes it invisible to normal file managers.

Every "file manager" I download only lets you move a specific file or folder. Hasn't anyone created a file manager that recognizes apps and lets you move the entire app?

most applications including games don't have just one file. they have many files and using a file manager to move things like that will not work. file managers are mainly used to move things like documents, photos, videos, and such. if you want to move an app you have to do it thru the phone's settings. also keep in mind that not all apps can be moved entirely onto your sd card. on certain apps, only part of the app is on the card.

and lastly if a game is on the card and it is reading and writing to and from the card, it will wear out the card.....so be careful.

 

[MartyDC]

Would you not just go into settings/apps/marvel future fight - and see if there was a "move to sd" card option there? I've never moved an app to my sd card via a file browser. Not saying you can't, but root would be required and it might well break on startup if not moved correctly.

Alternatively there are apps on the playstore that might help force a move to sd card.

Thanks Jay. No, the game has no setting for moving.

I didn't get the question actually. Most phones come with huge storage spaces. So, a single game can be easily run on a device.

You are correct. Phones these days have lots of G's. Unfortunately, I'm playing on an ASUS 10" tablet wtih 16G of internal storage, 6 of which is used by the operating system, leaving 10G. With no music, podcasts or pictures, I've still managed to use up the entire 10G.

 

[MartyDC]

If you want to move an app you have to do it thru the phone's settings.

Could you expand on this point? What "settings" did you have in mind?

 

[MartyDC]

Some apps can be installed on either your internal storage or external storage.
But not all of them.
It's up to the developer of the app, not by just moving files over.

Interesting. My main game is Real Racing 3. The developers have dealt with it's large size in a clever way. When you first "install" it, it's really only a shell. Each time you open a new level, it downloads more code. When it sensed that my internal storage was used up, it switched over to storing code on the external SD card. I now have half the game's code stored internally and half the code on the external card.

 

[ocnbrze]

Could you expand on this point? What "settings" did you have in mind?

settings>apps>move to sd card

 

[MartyDC]

That would be great if it existed in 7.0 but it doesn't. All you can do in 7.0 is reset or force stop. No move option.

 

[Dannydet]

That's not a problem with 7.
It's a problem with the app itself, which the game developer did not make an option for. If it doesn't show move to SD, then you can only install and play from internal storage.

 

[ocnbrze]

yeah not all apps can be moved to the sd card. and that's probably a good thing as apps that read and write to the sd card wears out the card much faster.

 

[MartyDC]

That's not a problem with 7. It's a problem with the app itself, which the game developer did not make an option for.

I've reviewed the 40+ apps currently on my ASUS tablet. NONE of them offer a "move" option. Could you provide a screen shot of an app you've installed that has such an option?

 

[Dannydet]

 

[Dannydet]

 

[Dannydet]

 

[MartyDC]

What Android version do you use?

 

[MartyDC]

I just installed Better Camera. No move button on my 7.0 device. I think it's a new feature.

 

[Xplore Institute]

Every app have own terms and conditions and according to that they store either in internal memory or external memory. So we cant do anything about that.

 

[Dannydet]

I'm running 7.0
How to Move Apps to an SD Card on Android 7.0 Nougat

1. Go to Settings > Apps.
2. Locate the app you want to move to your microSD Card and tap on it.
3. Go to Storage > Change and choose your card from the prompt box that opens.
4. Tap Move to complete the process.

Depending on the size of the app, it may take a few moments to complete (especially in the case of large games), so don’t touch your phone until it’s done. To move the app back, repeat the steps and choose Internal shared storage in Step 3.

 

[MartyDC]

Interesting. When I go to my "storage" screen I get 2 buttons; "clear data" and "clear cache". Alas, no "change" button. I guess there are different versions of Android 7.0. My "buttons" are not small & square; they are long and oval.

 

[doniago]

Could be something specific to the tablet, or IIRC it could be how your SD card is formatted to work with the tablet; I seem to recall some versions of Android/some tablets really wanted to format your SD card so that it was essentially 'extended memory' for the tablet.

 

[MartyDC]

If I go to my settings/storage screen, it calls the SD card "portable storage". I CAN move files/folders to it using the ASUS file manager. I just can't do it the way Danny can. As others have pointed out, Android "file manager" apps are designed for moving pictures, documents & audio files. They don't have the "intelligence" to move an app.

 

[MartyDC]

Wanted to add this response that I received from ASUS tech support:

"Since Android 5(Lollipop) Google removed/disabled the feature that allows applications to be stored on an external source(SD card). However, some manufacturers have designed their own firmware to restore this feature. ASUS devices do not have the feature so you are only able to store files such as; Music,Pictures,Video etc on your SD card."

Mystery solved.

 

[Trom]

There is a file manager named x-plore that is very feature rich and will show hidden files, but I wouldn't recommend moving apps with it. In the worst case scenario, if you're feeling ballsy, copy the file(s) to the SD card and re-name the original folder. Usually if I'm testing stuff out, I just add a few caps at the end of the name so there's no mistaking what it was when I have to change it back.

 

[MrJavi]

Try installing the same version of "a better camera" in the screenshot posted by Dannydet. His screenshot has the option to move to external sd. After installing the app check your setting to see if the option is provided to move tm"a better camer" to external sd. Sometimes, it helps to eliminate variables to better access the situation. Just a thought
If your device prevents that as an option then the only possible way would be to root and force app to sd. However, rooting is not something to take lightly and there is a possibility of permanent hard bricking the device. I provide an example of the power of root and a pre-installed system app I foced to sd.