Smartphone Honor 8A is a popular budget device that is often chosen by users due to its excellent price-quality ratio. However, one of the weaknesses of many affordable gadgets is the limited amount of built-in storage. After installing basic applications and saving several dozen photos, the free space quickly runs out, which leads to a slowdown of the system.
Fortunately, the engineers have provided the ability to expand the storage. Owners of the device can use the slot for microSD cards to store media content and even transfer some apps. Many users encounter difficulties when trying to change the default save path or transfer already accumulated files manually.
In this material we will analyze in detail all the ways to free up your internal memory Honor 8A. You will learn how to set up automatic recording of photos to external media, how to correctly move applications and what are the nuances of working with the Android file system in the EMUI shell.
Preparing a memory card for use in a smartphone
Before you start the file transfer procedure, you need to make sure that your memory card is physically serviceable and correctly installed in the device. In the model Honor 8A a combined slot is used, which means it is possible to install either two SIM cards, or one SIM card and one memory card. Carefully inspect the card tray before installation.
Insert the microSD card into the appropriate compartment until it clicks and turn on the smartphone. The system should automatically detect the new drive. If this does not happen, check the card contacts or try inserting it into another slot, if the tray design allows it. After detection, the system may offer to format the media.
Format is a mandatory step for correct operation, since it creates the necessary file structure that is understandable to the operating system. Android. Please note that this procedure will delete all data already written to the card, so first copy important files to your computer.
⚠️ Warning: If the memory card has previously been used in another device or camera, there may be hidden system files on it. Full formatting through the phone settings will clear the drive of debris and prevent reading errors.
To start formatting, go to the menu Settings → Memory. Select your card from the list and click the "Format" button. The process will take several minutes depending on the volume of the media. Do not remove the card or turn off the phone at this moment to avoid damage to the file table.
☑️ Checking the readiness of the card
Setting up automatic saving of photos and videos
The easiest way to save space in the internal memory is to change the default saving path for the camera. In the shell EMUIinstalled on Honor 8A, this function is implemented quite conveniently and does not require the installation of third-party software. This will allow you to immediately save all new pictures to an external drive.
Open the Camera app and look for the gear-shaped settings icon, usually located in the top corner of the screen. In the menu that opens, scroll down the list of options to “Save Priority.” Activate the switch next to the words “Memory card.”
After enabling this option, all new photos and videos will automatically be transferred to SD card. Old photos taken before changing the settings will remain in the internal memory and will have to be transferred manually. It is also worth checking the settings of the voice recorder and other applications for recording media.
Use UHS-I speed class memory cards (U1 or U3) to record high-resolution video. Slow cards may cause delays in shooting or dropped frames.
Please note that some shooting modes, such as time-lapse video or certain filters, may still save data to internal memory due to recording speed limitations or specific image processing algorithms. Regularly check the fullness of the main drive.
Manual file transfer through the manager
If you need to move existing archives of photos, music or documents, the built-in file manager will be your best assistant. In smartphones Honor this application is called “Files” and has an intuitive interface divided into categories.
Launch the application and go to the “Internal Memory” section. Find the folder DCIMwhere photos from the camera are stored, or the folder Download for downloaded files. Touch and hold your finger on the file or folder you want to move to highlight it. You can select a group of objects at once.
An action bar will appear at the bottom of the screen. Click on the “More” button (three dots) and select “Move” or “Copy”. The difference between them is significant: moving will delete the original from the internal memory, and copying will leave a duplicate, taking up even more space.
| Data type | Standard folder | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Photos and Videos | DCIM/Camera |
Move |
| Downloads | Download |
Move |
| Music | Music |
Copy (for backup) |
| Documents | Documents |
Move |
After selecting the action, the system will prompt you to specify the target directory. Select your memory card from the list of available storages and confirm the operation. For large amounts of data, this process may take several minutes, progress will be displayed on the screen.
Transferring applications to an external drive
The issue of transferring installed apps to a memory card is one of the most difficult in the ecosystem Android. Starting with new versions of the operating system, Google developers have limited this feature to ensure stability and data security. In Honor 8A the situation depends on the firmware version and the specific app.
Go to Settings → Applications and select the app you are interested in. Click on "Memory". If the app developer has allowed the transfer, you will see an active "Edit" or "Move to SD card" button. If the button is gray or missing, it means that transfer is not possible using standard means.
It is worth noting that even if the transfer is successful, some of the critical application data will still remain in the internal memory. This is done so that the app can start even if the card is missing or damaged. It will not be possible to completely free up internal space in this way.
⚠️ Attention: Applications transferred to the memory card may work slower than when installed in the internal memory. The speed of reading data from microSD is usually lower than that of the built-in flash drive.
For some system utilities and widgets, transfer is strictly prohibited, since they are integrated into the system core. Attempts to bypass these restrictions using special apps can lead to unstable operation of the smartphone or loss of data.
Why can’t you transfer all applications?
Android developers deliberately limited this function, since memory cards are less reliable than internal memory. Sudden disconnection of the card can lead to application crash and loss of progress in games.
Using the card as internal memory
There is an advanced method that allows you to combine internal memory and a microSD card into a single storage. This feature is called Adoptable Storage (adaptive storage). When using it, the system formats the card in a special way, encrypts it and makes it an integral part of the smartphone.
In the memory settings menu, select the card and find the “Use as internal memory” option. The system will warn you that all data on the card will be deleted, and the card itself will be linked to this particular phone. It will be impossible to read it on other devices or a computer without reformatting.
This method is ideal if you have a large card (64 GB and above) and you plan to use it constantly in this smartphone. New applications will be installed on the combined volume by default, which actually solves the problem of lack of space.
The “Internal Memory” mode makes the card non-removable. Removing the card without first disabling it in the settings will lead to errors in the system and loss of application data.
However, there are also disadvantages. The performance of the entire smartphone may be reduced if the memory card does not have a high write speed. In addition, if the card breaks, you will lose access not only to files, but also to all applications installed on it and their data.
Possible errors and ways to eliminate them
During operation, users may encounter various problems when working with an external drive. Errors like “The memory card is damaged” or “The data cannot be read” are common. This may be due to either a software glitch or a physical contact defect.
First, try rebooting the device. Sometimes a simple system restart allows you to correctly remount the file system and restore access to files. If the error persists, remove the card, wipe the contacts with a soft eraser or dry cloth, and insert it back.
If the phone offers to format the card even though it contains important data, do not rush to agree. Try connecting your smartphone to your computer via a USB cable and copying the files to your PC's hard drive. After saving the data, you can format it in your phone.
⚠️ Attention: Frequent reading errors may indicate an imminent failure of the memory card. MicroSD cards have a limited resource for overwriting memory cells.
In rare cases, the problem lies in the smartphone slot itself. If other memory cards are also not detected or work intermittently, you may need to diagnose the device’s hardware at a service center.
How to check the card for errors?
Connect the phone to the PC, open the card disk properties in “My Computer”, go to the “Service” tab and click “Check”. The system will find and correct logical errors.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp to a memory card in Honor 8A?
It is impossible to completely transfer the WhatsApp application itself to a memory card, since the messenger requires high speed access to the database. However, you can choose to save received photos and videos directly to the card. To do this, go to the WhatsApp settings inside the application, select “Data and storage” and specify the path to save the media files.
Why is the internal memory not freed up after transferring the files?
You may have used the “Copy” function instead of the “Move” function. In this case, the files are duplicated, taking up space in both places. Also check the recycle bin in the gallery or file manager - deleted files may be temporarily stored there, continuing to take up space.
What is the maximum card size that Honor 8A supports?
Officially, the smartphone supports memory cards up to 512 GB. The use of larger capacity cards (for example, 1 TB) is not guaranteed by the manufacturer and may be unstable or not detected at all. It is recommended to use cards from well-known brands.
Will widgets work if you remove the memory card?
No, if the widget belongs to an application that was transferred to the memory card or installed on it in adaptive storage mode. When you remove the media, the application will become inaccessible, and the widget will stop updating or disappear from the desktop until the card is reinstalled.