Owners of smartphones that have received an update to Android 10are often faced with an unpleasant situation: the built-in storage is full, the system warns about lack of space, and new apps simply refuse to install. In this version of the mobile operating system, Google significantly redesigned the security policy and work with the file system, which led to a change in the usual memory management algorithms. Many users, accustomed to simple solutions in earlier versions, are now confused, not understanding where the move button has disappeared.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that manufacturers Samsung, Xiaomi i Huawei often introduce their own interface add-ons, hiding standard functions or replacing them with proprietary ones analogs. SD card still remains the most affordable way to expand the capabilities of the device, but now the activation process requires a more careful approach. You will have to deal with formatting and access rights to make the system work correctly with an external drive.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods, from standard settings to using the engineering menu. You will learn how to turn an ordinary flash drive into a full-fledged extension of the system drive and what risks exist. Proper data preparation and understanding of the architecture Android 10 will help avoid losing important information.
Why the ability to move in Android 10 disappeared
Starting with Android 6.0, and especially in releases 9 and 10, Google has introduced strict restrictions on the operation of applications with external drives. This is due to the implementation of technology Scoped Storage (limited storage), which isolates the data of each application from other processes. Previously, apps could freely read and write files to any folder on the SD card, which created security holes and allowed malware to steal data.
Now, if the application developer has not explicitly specified support for installation on an external drive in the manifest code, the system blocks this possibility. This means that even if you have a free memory card, you will not be able to transfer popular instant messengers or banking clients to it if their creators did not provide such an option.
⚠️ Attention: Even if the move function is active, system components and widgets may stop working correctly after removing the memory card. It is better to always keep critical applications in internal storage.
In addition, the speed of modern built-in memory modules (UFS 2.1/3.0) significantly exceeds those of most microSD cards. Transferring heavy applications to a slow card can lead to noticeable lagam longer loading times for apps. The Android 10 system automatically analyzes the performance of the drive and may recommend leaving data on the internal drive.
Preparing the SD card for working with applications
Before attempting to transfer any data, you must properly prepare the external drive. In Android 10, there are two modes of working with an SD card: portable storage (for photos and music) and internal storage (for installing apps). For our purposes, we need the second option, which requires full formatting card.
It is important to understand that when switching to internal storage mode, the card will be encrypted and linked specifically to this smartphone. You can't just insert it into another phone or computer and read the data without resetting it. Make sure that there are no important files on the card, or create backup copies of them in advance.
Use UHS-I or UHS-II speed class memory cards with a capacity of at least 32 GB for comfortable operation of applications. Cheap cards can quickly fail due to intensive recording.
The preparation process is as follows:
- 📱 Insert the memory card into the device slot until you hear a characteristic click.
- ⚙️ Go to
Settings → Storage(orMemory). - 💾 Click on the name of your SD card in the list of available drives.
- 🗑️ Select the menu (three dots in the corner) and click
Settings storage. - 🔄 Select the option
Internal storageand confirm formatting.
After the process is completed, the system will offer to transfer some of the data (photos, media files) to a new drive. This will free up space in the internal memory for installing new applications. slow Android 10 may issue a warning about low performance - in this case, using it to run apps is not recommended.
Standard method of transferring through settings
If your SD card is successfully formatted as internal storage, you can begin transferring installed apps. This method does not work for all applications, but it allows you to move a significant part of the user's. software without using third-party utilities.
Go to the application management section. The path may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer's shell, but usually it is located at Settings → Applications and notifications → All applications. Here is a complete list of installed software.
| Application type | Possibility of transfer | Data location | Impact on speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| System (Google, Phone) | Prohibited | Only internal memory | No influence |
| Social networks | Partially | Cache on the card, core in the system | Possible delays |
| Games (heavy) | Often available | Full transfer | Depends on the card |
| Office apps | Available | Full transfer | Minimum |
Select the desired application from the list. If transfer is possible, you will see an active button Change or Storage, inside which you will be able to select the installation location. If the button is gray or missing, it means that the developer has prohibited the move, and there is no way to bypass this using standard means.
☑️ Transfer algorithm
Using developer mode to force a transfer
There is a hidden feature in Android 10 that allows you to force a transfer even for those applications that do not officially support installation on the SD card. This method requires activation of the developer mode, but does not require root access.
First you need to unlock the developer menu. Go to Settings → About phone and find the item Build number. Click on it quickly 7 times in a row until a message appears indicating that you have become a developer. After that, a new section appears in the main settings menu For developers (or System → For developers).
⚠️ Attention: Enabling experimental features may lead to unstable operation of some applications. transfer, the app has stopped running, return it to the internal memory.
Inside the developer menu, scroll down to the "Applications" section. Find the switch Allow saving on an external drive (Force allow apps on external). After this, you need to restart the device for the changes to take effect. Now, when viewing information about applications, the transfer button may become active where it was before. not available.
What to do if nothing has changed after enabling the function?
Some applications are tightly bound to system libraries that physically cannot be moved. In such cases, even the developer mode is powerless, and the only solution is to delete the application or use the internal one. memory.
Transferring multimedia data and cache manually
Even if the application itself (APK file) cannot be transferred to a memory card, its “expanded” cache and user data often take up gigabytes of space. In Android 10, you can manually change the saving path for photos, videos and documents, which will significantly relieve the main storage.
The largest amount of data is usually generated by instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) and social networks (VK, Instagram). In the settings of these applications, find the “Data and memory” or “Storage” section. Select your SD card and create a separate folder there, for example /sdcard/Media/Apps.
To transfer already accumulated files, use the built-in file manager or utility Files by Google. Select folders with heavy content and move them to an external drive. After moving, in the settings of the application itself, specify a new path so that new files are also saved there.
- 📂 Open the file manager and go to the internal memory.
- 📁 Find the folders
DCIM,Download,WhatsApp,Telegram. - ✂️ Select the files and select the function
Move(do not copy, so as not to duplicate). - 💾 Specify the path on the SD card.
This approach allows you to free up to 70% of the space in the internal storage without violating the integrity of system application files. This is the safest method of optimizing space for users who do not want to risk the stability of their smartphone.
Transferring only user data (photos, cache, documents) is safer and more effective than trying to move the system files of the application itself.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Various errors may occur during operation. For example, the system may stop seeing the memory card or applications will begin to crash. This is often due to poor contact in the slot or damage to the card's file system after incorrect removal.
If you encounter the "SD card is damaged" error or constant storage check notifications, try removing the card, cleaning the contacts with an eraser, and inserting it back. If the problem persists, the memory card may be faulty - modern cards have a limited resource of rewrite cycles, especially when used as a system drive.
⚠️ Attention: Menu interfaces and item names may differ depending on the firmware version of your manufacturer (MIUI, OneUI, EMUI). If you do not find the described item, use the search in your phone settings.
Another common problem is slowing down the interface. This happens if the memory card's writing speed is lower than required by Android standards. In this case, the system will work slower than with full internal memory. The only solution is to replace the card with a faster model marked A1 or A2.
Is it possible to transfer applications to Android 10 without root access?
Yes, using standard system tools you can transfer only those applications that are supported by this function by the developer. To force the transfer of all apps without restrictions, root access and special utilities are usually required, but this voids the warranty and may interfere with the operation of banking applications.
What happens to applications if you remove the SD card?
All applications transferred to the card will become unavailable. Their icons will remain on the desktop, but when you try to launch, the system will report an error or prompt you to install the application again. The data inside these applications will also be unavailable until the card is returned.
Why is the "Move" button gray (inactive)?
This means that the application developer has prohibited its installation on external drives in the manifest file. The only way to get around this is through developer mode (not always effective) or by getting root access.
Will transferring to an SD card increase the speed of the phone?
No, rather the opposite. The internal memory of smartphones usually works faster than memory cards. Transferring applications can lead to longer loading times for apps and the appearance of freezes in games.