Owners of Honor smartphones are often faced with a situation where the device’s built-in storage is rapidly filling up. The operating system Android accumulates cache over time, and high-resolution photos and videos take up gigabytes of space. This leads to a slowdown in the interface and the inability to install new apps.
Fortunately, most brand models support the installation of memory cards of format microSD. Transferring data to external storage allows you to free up valuable space in your internal memory without deleting important information. This process is simple, but requires an understanding of the features of the file system Android.
In this article we will analyze in detail all methods of moving files: from a standard manager to using a computer. We will also touch on the topic of transferring applications, since there are technical nuances here that every user should be aware of.
Preparing the memory card and smartphone for work
Before you start transferring data, you need to properly prepare the external drive. Not every memory card is suitable for stable operation with a smartphone Honor. It is recommended to choose media with a speed class of at least Class 10 or standard UHS-I. Slow cards may cause the gallery to freeze when viewing photos.
Insert the card into the appropriate slot using the supplied paperclip. Usually the tray is combined: you can install either two SIM cards, or one SIM and one memory card. After physical installation, the system will automatically prompt you to configure the media.
Use memory cards up to 256 GB for maximum compatibility, although many modern Honor models support both 512 GB and 1 TB.
⚠️ Attention: Formatting a memory card will delete all data that is already on it. If there are important files on the media, first copy them to your computer.
Select the option to use as portable storage. This mode allows you to store files and easily remove the card for reading on other devices. The “internal memory” (Adoptable Storage) mode on the shell Magic UI or EMUI is often missing or unstable, so we will consider the classic scenario for working with files.
Transferring photos and videos through the Gallery application
The most voluminous content on a smartphone is media files. Camera apps take hundreds of pictures, which eventually take up tens of gigabytes. You can move them directly through the standard application Gallery, without resorting to third-party software.
Open the application and go to the "Albums" section. You need to select the pictures or videos you want to move. A long press on one file activates the selection mode, after which you can check off the remaining elements.
☑️ Preparing to transfer photos
After selection, click on the menu button (usually three dots in the corner of the screen or the "More" button). In the drop-down list, select Move or Copy. The difference between these actions is critical: when moving, the original is deleted from the internal memory, and when copying, a duplicate remains.
The system will prompt you to select the target directory. The file navigator will show available storages. Select your memory card SD Card. You can create a new folder, for example Photos_Archive, so as not to mix old pictures with new ones, which will be saved by default to the internal memory.
Using the Files application for bulk transfer
For more flexible data management, a system file manager is best suited. On smartphones Honor it is simply called Files. This tool provides access to the entire file system and allows you to work with archives, documents and installation files.
Launch the application and select a category, for example, "Images", "Videos" or "Documents". You can also go to the "Internal Memory" tab to manually search for folders. Find the directory DCIM —this is where pictures from the camera are stored, or the folder Download for downloaded files.
Select the desired folders or individual files with a long press. An action bar will appear at the bottom of the screen. Click on the button Move (scissors icon) or Copy (two sheets). After that, return to the main menu of the application and select the "Memory card" section.
Go to the desired directory on the external media and press the button Paste. The process of copying large amounts of data may take time. Do not minimize the application or lock the screen if the file weighs more than 1-2 GB to avoid write errors.
Using the file manager gives full control over the folder structure, allowing you to create a logical archive system on the memory card.
Setting the default data saving to the SD card
In order not to transfer files manually every time, you can change the settings of some applications. This will force them to immediately save new data to an external drive. However, it is worth considering that not all apps support this function due to security restrictions Android.
First of all, check your camera settings. Go to the application Camera, click on the gear icon in the corner. Find item Save priority or Default storage. If the switch is active, set the value SD card.
| Data type | Capability auto-save | Where to look for the setting |
|---|---|---|
| Photo and Video | High | Camera application settings |
| Voice recorder | Average | Dictaphone settings |
| Browser downloads | Depends on the browser | Browser settings → Downloads |
| Messages (MMS) | Low | Often unavailable |
You can configure your browser in the same way. In Google Chrome or built-in browser Honor go to settings and find the section Downloads. There may be an option to change the save path. If this option is not available, the files will continue to be downloaded to the internal memory and will have to be transferred manually through the file manager.
⚠️ Attention: Update interfaces Magic UI may vary. If you do not find a save option in the camera, the manufacturer may have blocked this function for this model.
Moving applications to a memory card: myths and reality
The issue of transferring installed apps to a memory card is one of the most popular. Users want to free up space for games and heavy applications. However, in modern versions Android this function is severely limited by security system developers.
Previously there was a function Adoptable Storagethat allowed you to combine the internal memory and card into a single space. Google currently recommends using Maps only for portable storage. However, some applications can still be moved.
Go to Settings smartphone, select the section Applications and find the desired app in the list. Click on it to open the information page. If the developer has allowed the transfer, you will see an active button Move to SD card.
Why is the transfer button inactive?
The button is gray or missing if the application is a system application or the developer has prohibited installation on external media in the app manifest. It is almost impossible to bypass this limitation without root access.
If the button is active, press it. Some of the application data will move to the card, but the cache and important system files will remain in the internal memory. This means that significant freeing up of space (especially for heavy games) may not occur.
For games with a large cache (files OBB) the situation is different. Often the game does not start if the cache is not in the internal memory. In such cases, it is better to leave the game on the smartphone, and transfer only personal files associated with the game to the card, if such a possibility is provided by the application itself.
Working with files through a computer and card reader
The most reliable and fastest way to transfer large amounts of data is to use a computer. Connecting via a USB cable provides high transfer speeds and allows you to conveniently manage files in Explorer mode.
Connect your smartphone Honor to the PC with a cable. A request for connection mode will appear on the phone screen. Select Transferring files or MTP. Do not select "Charge only", otherwise the computer will not see the device.
On your computer, open "My Computer" and find your device. You will see two sections: internal memory and memory card. Open two Explorer windows: in one go to the internal memory, in the other go to the card.
Path to photo: Internal Storage/DCIM/Camera
Path on card: SD Card/DCIM/Backup
Simply drag the desired folders from one window to another. This method is ideal for creating backups. You can create a structured system of folders on the map by year or event, which is more difficult to do directly from the phone screen.
If the computer does not see the phone, try using a different USB cable (preferably the original one) or switch the cable to another USB 3.0 port (blue) on the computer.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
During operation, users may encounter card reading errors or slow write speeds. Most often, the problem lies in the quality of the drive itself or the file system.
If the phone says “Memory card error” or “Damaged,” do not rush to throw away the media. Try formatting it again through your smartphone settings. This will correct file system logical errors.
If the gallery with photos on the card is slow, check the recording speed. Cheap cards often have high read speeds but very low write speeds, which is critical for shooting 4K video. In this case, only replacing the card with a more productive model from trusted brands, such as SanDisk or Samsung.
⚠️ Attention: If the memory card often falls off or requires reconnection, the contacts in the phone slot or on the card itself may have oxidized. Wipe the contacts with a dry soft cloth.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp to a memory card on Honor?
You cannot transfer the WhatsApp application completely, but you can transfer media files. To do this, go to WhatsApp settings → Chats → Chat backup and change the settings if there is such an option. Or manually move the folder WhatsApp/Media via the file manager, but this may disrupt the display of files inside the application.
What happens if you remove the memory card while the phone is running?
If you remove the card without first disabling it in the settings (Settings → Memory → Remove SD card), this may happen loss of data that was being recorded at that moment. The file system may be damaged, and the phone will require formatting the card the next time it is inserted.
Why did they disappear from the Gallery after transferring the photos?
Most likely, the system’s media scanner worked. Try restarting your smartphone. Also check if a file has been created in the photo folder on the memory card - this file prevents the system from displaying media files from this directory in the gallery. Is it possible to use one memory card on different Honor phones? Yes, if the card is formatted as portable storage. You can freely move it between devices. However, if you encrypted the card as the internal memory of a specific phone, other devices will not be able to read it without resetting the data. .nomedia in the photo folder on the memory card - this file prevents the system from displaying media files from this directory in the gallery.
Can I use one memory card on different Honor phones?
Yes, if the card is formatted as portable storage. You can freely move it between devices. However, if you have encrypted the card as the internal memory of a particular phone, other devices will not be able to read it without resetting the data.