Moving data from the internal memory of a smartphone Samsung to a memory card is a task that almost every user faces. Over time, photos, videos, music and documents take up more and more space, and system notifications about low memory become annoying. Fortunately, modern devices Samsung Galaxy (from S21 to A54) support microSD cards with a capacity of up to 1 TB, which allows you to free up precious gigabytes without deleting important files.

In this article you will find 5 proven methods data transfer - from standard tools Android to specialized applications. We'll figure out how to move not only media files, but also applications (where possible), and also talk about hidden Samsung settings that speed up the process by 2-3 times. If you are using a memory card for the first time, pay attention to the section on formatting - this is critical for stable operation.

Before you begin, make sure that your memory card is compatible with the device. Most modern smartphones Samsung support microSDXC (up to 1 TB), but in budget models (for example, Galaxy M13there may be a limit on 256 GB. Also check that the card is formatted in the file system exFAT or FAT32 —this guarantees correct operation with files larger than 4 GB.

📊 What memory card are you using?
MicroSD up to 32 GB
MicroSD 64–128 GB
MicroSDXC 256–512 GB
MicroSDXC 1 TB
I don’t know/don’t use

1. Preparing a memory card: formatting and checking

Before transferring data, you need a memory card format - this will delete all files from it and configure the file system for optimal work with Android. Samsung recommends using exFAT for cards with a capacity of more than 64 GB, so as FAT32 does not support files larger than 4 GB (for example, 4K video).

To format the card:

  • 📱 Insert the card into the smartphone slot (or adapter if the slot is hybrid).
  • 🔧 Go to Settings → Device care → Memory.
  • 💾 Click on Memory card, then select Format.
  • ⚙️ Select the file system (exFAT for cards >64 GB) and confirm the action.

⚠️ Attention: Format deletes all data from the card without the possibility of recovery. If there are important files on it, first copy them to your computer.

What to do if your smartphone does not see the memory card?

If after inserting the card it is not displayed in the settings, try:

1. Remove and reinsert the card (check that the slot is not dirty).

2. Connect the card to the computer via a card reader - if it is not readable, it may be damaged.

3. In Samsung s Android 12+ sometimes rebooting the device with the card inserted helps.

After formatting, it is recommended to check the speed of the card. To do this, you can use the application A1 SD Bench (available in Google Play). The minimum recording speed for comfortable work is 10 MB/s. If your card shows values ​​lower than that, it may be slow when recording video or transferring large files.

2. Transferring files through a standard file manager Samsung

The easiest way to move data is to use the built-in file manager My files (My Files). It is pre-installed on all smartphones Samsung and supports batch moving files, which saves time.

Step by step instructions:

  1. Open the application My files (folder icon on the main screen or in the menu applications).
  2. Go to the section Internal memory and select a folder with files (for example, DCIM for photos or Download for downloads).
  3. Press and hold your finger on the file, then select the rest (or click Select all).
  4. Tap on the icon ⋮ (three dots) in the upper right corner and select Move.
  5. In the list of locations, select Memory card, then the destination folder (or create a new one).
  6. Confirm the movement by pressing Done.

The memory card is inserted and is recognized by the system

There is enough free space on the card (check in Settings → Memory)

Files are not used by other applications (for example, music does not play)

The battery is charged more than 20% (for long-term operations)

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🔹 Tip: If you are transferring photos and videos, create a folder on the card DCIM —so gallery Samsung automatically display media files in the application Gallery. For music, use the folder Music, and for documents - Documents.

⚠️ Attention: Some system files (for example, from the folder Android) cannot be moved manually - this may disrupt the operation of applications. For them, use specialized methods (see section 4).

The application Gallery in smartphones Samsung has a built-in function for automatically saving new media files to a memory card. This eliminates the need to manually transfer each picture.

To enable autosave:

  • 📷 Open Gallery and tap on the icon ⋮ (three dots) in top right corner.
  • 🔧 Select Settings → Memory.
  • 💾 Activate the option Save to memory card.
  • 📁 Specify the folder to save (default DCIM/Camera).

Now all new photos and videos taken with your smartphone camera will be automatically saved to the SD card. Please note that this does not transfer already existing files - for them you will have to use the method from section 2.

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If you often shoot videos in 4K or 8K, it is recommended to use a class memory card UHS-I U3 or UHS-II. It will provide stable recording speed without lags.

📌 Important: Some models Samsung (for example, Galaxy S23 Ultra) by default save photos in HEIF (.heic) format. If you plan to view them on other devices, in the camera settings, enable the option Compatible formats (JPEG).

4. Transferring applications to a memory card (where possible)

Unlike media files, applications cannot simply be moved to a memory card - Android imposes strict restrictions on their storage. However, some applications support the function Adoptable Storage (accepting the card as internal memory), while others allow you to transfer part of the data.

Methods for transferring applications:

Method Supported device Restrictions
Adoptable Storage (card as internal memory) Android 6.0–9.0 (on Samsung disabled with One UI 2.0) The card becomes “tied” to the device, cannot be removed
Transfer cache and application data All models with Android 8.0+ Works only for supported applications (for example, Spotify, Netflix)
Manual transfer of APK and data via ADB Any devices with USB Debugging Requires a PC and command line knowledge

To transfer cache and data supported applications:

  1. Open Settings → Applications.
  2. Select an application (for example, Spotify).
  3. Tap Memory, then Change.
  4. If available, select Memory card and confirm.

⚠️ Warning: It is possible to transfer applications to the card slow down their work, since the read/write speed of the SD card is lower than that of the internal memory. It is better to leave critical applications (messengers, banking clients) in the internal memory.

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Starting with Android 10, Samsung blocked the function Adoptable Storage due to the risks of data loss Instead, use transfer only for media files and application cache.

5. Using a PC for bulk data transfer

If you need to move large amount of data (tens of gigabytes), it is more convenient to use a computer. It is faster than transferring via a smartphone and avoids copying failures.

Instructions for Windows:

  • 🖥️ Connect your smartphone to the PC via USB cable (use the original cable for a stable connection).
  • 📱 On the phone in the notification panel, select mode File transfer (MTP).
  • 📁 On your PC, open This computer —two disks will appear there: internal memory and memory card.
  • 📂 Copy files from the phone disk to the memory card disk (by dragging or via Ctrl+C → Ctrl+V).

🔹 Tip for Mac: To work with Android on macOS you will need an application Android File Transfer (official utility from Google). Download it from the website android.com/filetransfer.

⚠️ Attention: When connecting via USB 2.0 (old cables or ports), the transfer speed may drop to 5–10 MB/s. To speed up, use USB 3.0 (blue connector) and a cable with support USB 3.1.

6. Specialized applications for data transfer

If standard methods seem inconvenient, you can use third-party applications. They offer additional features such as task scheduler, data compression or cloud synchronization.

Top 3 file transfer apps:

  • 📲 Files by Google - a simple manager with the function Cleaning and quick access to frequently used files.
  • 🔄 Send Anywhere - allows you to transfer files between devices via Wi-Fi without cables.
  • 📦 Solid Explorer - an advanced file manager with support for FTP and cloud storage.

Example of use Files by Google:

  1. Install the application from Google Play.
  2. Open the section Device memory.
  3. Select files, press Move and select Memory card.
  4. Confirm the action - the files will be moved without loss.

📌 Important: Some applications (for example, Send Anywhere) require an Internet connection to transfer files. If you are transferring data in an office or public place, use local Wi-Fi network to save traffic.

7. Solving problems: the memory card is not recognized or files are not transferred

Sometimes errors occur during data transfer. Here are the most common problems and their solutions:

Problem 1: The memory card does not appear in My files.

  • 🔌 Remove and reinsert the card (check that the slot is not dirty).
  • 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
  • 🖥️ Connect the card to the PC via a card reader - if it cannot be read, it may be damaged.

Problem 2: Files are not transferred, an error appears "Not enough space".

  • 📊 Check the free space on the card in Settings → Memory.
  • 🗑️ Delete unnecessary files from the card or format it.
  • 📁 Try transferring files in smaller parts (for example, 1-2 GB).

Problem 3: After transfer, photos are not displayed in Gallery.

  • 🔍 In Gallery tap ⋮ → Update.
  • 📂 Make sure the files are in the folder DCIM or Pictures.
  • 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.

⚠️ Attention: If the memory card was previously used in another device (for example, in a camera), it may be formatted in NTFS or another file system that is incompatible with Android. In this case, it must be reformatted to exFAT via a PC.

What to do if the memory card asks for a password?

Some cards (for example, SanDisk Ultra with hardware encryption) may require a password. If you haven't installed it:

1. Try standard combinations: 0000, 1234.

2. Connect the card to the PC - perhaps the password can be reset using the manufacturer's proprietary software.

3. If all else fails, format the card (the data will be lost).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about transferring data to a memory card Samsung

Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp to a memory card?

Officially WhatsApp does not support transferring chats and media files to SD card. However, you can manually copy the folder WhatsApp to the card, and then specify a new path to the backup copy in the messenger settings. Please note that this may disrupt the operation of the application.

Why is it not played after transferring music to the card?

Probably, the player does not update the media library. Try:

  1. Open the application Music and manually update the library (⋮ → Update).
  2. Move files to folder Music on the card.
  3. Use a third-party player (for example, VLC or Poweramp).
How to transfer data from the internal memory to the card if the smartphone does not turn on?

If the device does not respond to the power button, but is detected by the computer, try:

  • Connect your smartphone to the PC in Recovery (press Power + Volume Up + Bixby with the phone turned off).
  • Use ADB (if enabled USB Debugging).Command for copying: 
    adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ D:\Backup\
  • Contact the service center - they can extract the data via JTAG.
Is it possible to use a memory card as internal memory on new Samsung smartphones?

No. on One UI 2.0 (based on Android 10), Samsung disabled the function Adoptable Storage due to the risk of data loss when removing the card. An alternative is to transfer only media files and application cache.

Which memory card is best to buy for the Samsung Galaxy S23?

For Galaxy S23 class cards are recommended A2 or UHS-II U3 with a write speed of at least 90 MB/s. Optimal options:

  • Samsung EVO Select (128–512 GB, U3 A2).
  • SanDisk Extreme Pro (256 GB–1 TB, UHS-II V90).
  • Lexar Play (1 TB, optimized for 8K video).

Avoid cheap cards without certification - they can slow down when recording video.