How to transfer data to a memory card in a Samsung phone: 5 proven methods

Transferring data to a memory card in smartphones Samsung Galaxy is a task that every second user faces. The reasons are different: lack of built-in memory, the desire to free up space for new applications, or backing up important files. But even in 2026, when Android 15 has already become the standard for flagships, the process remains not obvious to newcomers. In this article, we will look at all the current methods - from manually moving files to automated solutions for applications.

It is important to understand that Samsung traditionally limits the ability to work with SD cards in their devices. For example, unlike “pure” Android, here you cannot transfer all applications to an external drive - only their cache and part of the data. But photos, videos and documents move without problems. We tested all methods on the latest models Galaxy S24, Galaxy A55 and Galaxy Z Fold6to ensure that the instructions are up to date.

If you are using a device older than 2020 (for example, Galaxy S10 or Note 20), some menu items may differ. This is due to shell updates One UI, which changed dramatically in versions 5.0 and 6.0. In such cases, look for similar sections according to logic - their names may have changed, but the functionality remains.

1. Preparing a memory card: formatting and compatibility

Before transferring data, make sure that your SD card is compatible with the device. Samsung supports cards microSD (up to 1 TB in new models), but there are nuances:

• 🔹 File system format: For cards up to 32 GB — FAT32, above - exFAT. Galaxy S22 and newer are automatically offered exFAT when formatting.
• 🔹 Speed class: To record 4K video you need class UHS-I U3 or V30. Class cards Class 10 are only suitable for photos.
• 🔹 Manufacturer: We recommend Samsung EVO, SanDisk Ultra or Kingston Canvas —they are optimized for Android.

If the card is new, you need to format it directly in the phone:

1. Insert the card into the slot (in models with a hybrid slot, for example Galaxy A54, you will have to select the second SIM or SD).
2. Go to Settings → Device care → Memory → Advanced (⋮) → Memory settings.
3. Tap on SD card → Format → select Portable storage (if you only need to store files) or Internal memory (to transfer some applications).

⚠️ Attention: Formatting as internal memory links the card to the device. After extraction, the data on it will not be available on other gadgets. This mode can also reduce the speed of the card by 10-15%.

In Samsung models of 2023-2026, when formatted as internal memory, the system automatically reserves 10% of the space for Android service files. This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction.

2. Transferring files (photos, videos, documents) via "My Files"

The easiest way is to use the built-in file manager My files (My Files). It is preinstalled on all devices Samsung and supports batch movement:

1. Open the application My files (yellow folder icon).
2. Go to section Internal memory → select a folder (for example, DCIM for photos or Download for downloads).
3. Press your finger on the file to select → mark the rest or tap Select all.
4. Click Move (folder icon with arrow) → select SD card → specify the target folder (or create a new one).

To speed up the process:

• 📁 Use Sorting by date (filter button in the upper right corner) to transfer fresh files.
• ⚡ Enable Mode turbo in settings My files (section Additional), if you are moving more than 500 files.
• 🔄 For regular transfer, configure Automatic cleaning to Settings → Device care → Memory → Automation.

Important data has been backed up|The memory card is formatted|The phone has enough charge (at least 30%)|Cloud synchronization is disabled (Google Photos, OneDrive)-->

If files are not transferred, check:

Problem	Solution
The "Move" button is inactive	Check that the card is not write-protected (physical switch on the adapter)
Error "Insufficient places"	Delete the folder .Trashes on the card (hidden trash folder)
The files are copied but not deleted from the internal memory	Use Cut instead Copy in the context menu
Slow transfer speed	Connect the charger - Android limits performance when the charge is low

3. Transferring applications to an SD card: limitations and workarounds

Unlike files, applications are more difficult to transfer to Samsung . From version Android 9 (and One UI 1.0), the company removed the ability to completely transfer APK files to the card. However, some application data can be moved:

1. Open Settings → Applications.
2. Select the desired application (for example, Spotify or Netflix).
3. Tap Memory → Change (if the option is active).
4. Select SD card and confirm the transfer.

Important nuances:

• 🚫 Not all applications support transfer. For example, WhatsApp, Instagram and system utilities remain in the internal memory.
• 🔄 After transfer, the application may work slower - SD cards (even class A2) are inferior in speed to the built-in memory UFS 3.1/4.0.
• 📱 In models Galaxy S22 Ultra and newer, the option to transfer applications may not be available due to security policy Samsung on security.

How to transfer applications for which there is no "Change" option

For some applications (for example, games) you can manually move the file OBB to the card:

1. Download the .obb game file on your PC.

2. Connect your phone as a USB drive and copy the file to the folder SD card/Android/obb/.

3. Install the game from the Play Market - it will pull data from the card.

⚠️ This method does not work for all games and may cause errors during updates.

⚠️ Attention: Transferring applications to the SD card may lead to failures when removing the card. For example, Google Maps will stop working if the card is removed. Always check critical applications (navigators, banking) after the transfer.

4. Automatic data transfer using Smart Switch

If you need to transfer data from another device Samsung (or a backup copy) directly to an SD card, use a proprietary utility Smart Switch. It supports:

• 📸 Photos and videos (saves EXIF data and albums Google Photos).
• 🎵 Music and documents (including files .pdf, .docx).
• 📱 Contacts, messages and call log (if the card is formatted as internal).

Instructions:

1. Install Smart Switch s Galaxy Store (if not preinstalled).
2. Connect the old device via cable or via Wi-Fi Direct.
3. In the section Transfer settings select SD card as a target.
4. Check the desired data categories and start the process.

The speed of transfer via Smart Switch depends on connection interface:

Connection method	Speed	Max. volume for 1 session
USB-C cable (3.1)	Up to 50 MB/s	Unlimited
Wi-Fi Direct	Up to 15 MB/s	50 GB
OTG adapter + card reader	Up to 30 MB/s	256 GB

5. Transferring data via a PC: a reliable but time-consuming method

For large amounts of data (for example, a collection of videos in 4K or RAW photos), it is more convenient to use a computer. This method is also useful if the phone does not recognize the card.

You will need:

• 🖥️ PC with Windows 10/11 or macOS.
• 🔌 Cable USB-C → USB-A (for new ones Galaxy S24 you need a cable with support USB 3.2 for speed >100 MB/s).
• 📁 Card reader (optional if there is no SD slot on the PC).

Step-by-step guide:

1. Connect the phone to the PC in mode File transfer (in the notification shade, select this option).
2. Open This computer → find the device Galaxy and folder Internal Storage.
3. Copy the necessary files to the desktop or to a separate folder.
4. Remove the SD card from the phone, insert it into the card reader and connect to the PC.
5. Transfer files from the desktop to the card.

Advantages of this method:

• ⚡ Speed: When using USB 3.2 and the card UHS-II reaches 200 MB/s.
• 🛡️ Security: You can check files for viruses before transferring.
• 🔄 Flexibility: Easily organize files into folders before copying to the card.

⚠️ Attention: When connected Galaxy S23 Ultra and newer for Windows PCs may require driver installation Samsung USB Driver for Mobile Phones. Download it from the official website Samsung, avoiding third-party sources.

6. Alternative methods: cloud + map and specialized applications

If standard methods are not suitable, consider alternatives:

Method 1: Cloud → Map

Upload files to Google Drive or Samsung Cloud, and then download them directly to the SD card:

1. In Google Drive select the files → Download.
2. In the download menu, select SD card as the save location.

Method 2: Applications for transfer

For automation suitable:

• 📲 Files by Google —has a function Cleaningthat offers to transfer rarely used files to the card.
• 📲 AppMgr III —allows you to transfer APK files (requires root on new versions of Android).
• 📲 Solid Explorer —supports FTP server for wireless transfer of large files.

When using third-party applications:

• 🔒 Check permissions: the application should not request access to SMS or geolocation to transfer files.
• 📊 Monitor your phone's temperature: long-term operations can cause overheating (critical temperature for Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 — 50°C).

7. Common errors and their solutions

Even when following the instructions, users encounter problems. Let's look at them top 5 errors and their solutions:

Error	Cause	Solution
Card not detected	Incompatible format or damaged file system	Format the card in exFAT via PC
Files disappear after transfer	Card is connected as internal, but removed without safe disconnection	Always use Extract in the notification shade
Applications crash after transfer	OBB files are not copied or damaged	Reinstall the application and transfer the data again
Slow writing to the card	A class card is used Class 4 or a fake	Check the card with the utility H2testw (Windows)
Cannot transfer screenshots	The folder Pictures/Screenshots is protected by the system	Use My files with superuser rights (root)

If the card is physically damaged (for example, after being dropped phone), do not try to recover data with apps like Recuva —this may make the problem worse. Contact the service center Samsung with a request to extract data via JTAG (the service costs from RUB 3,000 in 2026).

8. Optimizing work with an SD card after transfer

After successful data transfer, configure the system to effectively use the card:

• 📸 Camera: In the camera settings (Settings → Save location), select SD card as the default save location.
• 🎵 Music: B Google Play Music or Spotify specify the path to the map for offline tracks.
• 📥 Downloads: In the browser (Samsung Internet or Chrome) change the downloads folder to SD card/Download.

To extend the life of the card:

• 🔋 Avoid removing the card when writing/reading (activity indicator - flashing SD icon in the curtain).
• 🧹 Once a month, clean the folder .Trashes i .thumbdata (hidden folders with garbage).
• 🔄 Defragment the card once a quarter (use SD Maid or the built-in utility in My files).

In models Galaxy S24+ i S24 Ultra a function has appeared that automatically moves unused files to the card. To activate it: Intelligent Storage, which automatically moves unused files to the card. To activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Device care → Memory.
2. Tap on Advanced (⋮) → Memory settings → Smart storage.
3. Enable the option and select SD card as the target storage.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp to an SD card in Samsung?

No, WhatsApp does not support transfer to external drives for security reasons. However, you can:

1. Make a backup copy of chats in Settings → Chat → Backup.
2. Copy the backup file (msgstore.db.crypt14) to the SD card manually via My files.

When you reinstall the application, restore the chats from the card.

Why did they disappear from the gallery after transferring the photos to the card?

This happens because Google Photos and standard Gallery scan only internal memory by default. Solution: Google Photos data-i="363">Enable the option

1. Open Gallery → Settings (⋮) → Gallery Settings.
2. Enable the option Show files from SD card.
3. If photos are still not displayed, reboot the phone.

How to transfer games to a memory card in Samsung?

Most games (for example Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) do not support transfer to an SD card. But you can:

1. Copy the folder Android/obb/[game name] to the card.
2. Delete the game and install it again - it will pull up the data from the card.

For games with major updates (for example PUBG Mobile) this method may not work - internal memory is required.

How long does it take to transfer 100 GB of data to an SD card?

The time depends on the speed of the card and the interface:

• USB 2.0 + card Class 10: ~3-4 hours.
• USB 3.1 + card UHS-I U3: ~1-1.5 hours.
• Via Wi-Fi via Smart Switch: ~5-6 hours (speed ~5 MB/s).

To speed up, disable background processes in Settings → Device care → Battery → Background processes.

Is it possible to use an SD card as internal memory on Samsung in 2026?

Technically yes, but with reservations:

• In models Galaxy S24/A55 and newer, this option is hidden in the engineering menu (*#9900#).
• After activation, the card is encrypted and becomes unreadable on other devices.
• The performance of applications on the card will be 20-40% lower compared to the internal memory.

We do not recommend this method for everyday use - only for temporary memory expansion.