You have a MicroSD slot , but would you like to install anything and everything on your external card? Indeed, to have a microSD card of 64 GB and to be able to enjoy only half, it is frustrating. Things have become much simpler with Android Marshmallow but it is also possible with lower versions. Here's how to transform your external SD card into internal storage to increase memory on your Android.
Increase internal memory on Android Lollipop or lower
Increase memory on Android - Tools & Downloads
- MicroSD card (the better the class of the SD card, the better the performances):
- Download and install a partition manager, for example MiniTool Partition
- The Link2SD application on your Android
Warning: the contents of the sd card will be suppressed. Please make a backup of the items contained on it before starting the procedure.
Increase memory on Android - Prerequisites
- Your smartphone needs to be rooted
- You must first perform a restore to the factory settings of your smartphone (data loss), so make a backup of everything that is important beforehand.
- Once the restore is complete (settings, backup and reset), turn off your smartphone.
Restoring factory settings before performing the operation is NOT optional. © AndroidPIT
Increase memory on Android - Procedure
1. In MiniTool Partition , click your microSD card
Do not touch other discs, these are those of your computer! © QDL / AndroidPIT
2. Click Partition Format , and then name it PRIMARY , give it as a FAT32 file system .
3. Click on Split Partition
4. We separate the microSD card into two partitions. We have a 16 GB SD card, with about 15 GB usable. So we will enter 13 GB for a partition, which will give a little over 2GB for the other partition. If you have a 64 GB card, enter for example 61 GB.
5. Now select the smallest newly created partition, then click Partition Format , enter here Ext2 as the file system
6. Right-click the partition, and then in the Modify drop-down menu , click Set Partition as Primary . You should now have something that looks like this:
Both partitions must be of "Primary" type © QDL / AndroidPIT
7. Click Apply on the top left of MiniTool Partition. Note that the procedure takes a few minutes. You can have a coffee.
8. When done, do not insert the SD card into your smartphone at this time, keep it aside
9. Start your smartphone, but do not update any app, do not let the Play Store do it
10. Launch the Super User application, and update the SU binary (About> SuperUser> Update)
11. Turn off your smartphone and insert the microSD card
12. Restart your smartphone, and without further updates, install the Link2SD application (on the internal memory)
13. Launch Link2SD
14. A message appears asking you what is the file system of the second partition on your SD card, click Ext2, and then restart
15. Launch Link2SD , and then in the settings, click Installation Location, and select Internal
16. Also in the settings Link2SD , click Auto-bonding
There you go ! You have just increased the memory of your Android device. The next time you install, you will see a notification that the installed application has been attached to the SD card.
Increase internal memory on Android Marshmallow or higher
Increase memory on Android - Tools & Downloads
- A microSD card (obviously!)
- ADB on your computer (Download ADB)
- A smartphone that allows this function (Samsung, LG, Sony ...)
Once you are ready and you are in the console to enter the commands, type this:
Adb shell
This will allow you to communicate with your smartphone.
Sm list-disks
You receive the name (or rather the number) of your SD card. Mine is 179.64, but you probably have something else.
Sm partition disk: 179.64
This will format and partition your card. Clearly, this means that all data will be deleted, so make sure you have made a copy of what you want to keep. Do not be impatient, this may take a while.
You can then transfer your application data to your microSD card. Only updates and system applications will be installed on the phone's internal memory.
One last tip: Never remove your SD card while your smartphone is on. Turn off your Android first!
