Owners of smartphones based on Android 10 often face a critical shortage of internal storage. System updates, messenger caches and modern games with heavy graphics are rapidly filling the available space. When the internal memory is full, the device starts to work slower, and installing new apps becomes impossible. In such a situation, the only way out seems to be using an external drive.
However, starting with version Android 6.0, Google has significantly changed its policy for working with external drives. B Android 10 the ability to easily transfer applications to a memory card is often hidden by manufacturers or completely disabled at the firmware level. This is done for the sake of data security and system stability, but creates inconvenience for users of budget devices with a small amount of built-in memory.
There are several methods to solve this problem: from standard system settings to using console utilities ADB. In this article we will look in detail at how to make a memory card the main storage or transfer individual applications to it, what risks this carries and why some apps categorically refuse to move.
Preparing a memory card and checking compatibility
Before you begin manipulating the system, you need to make sure the quality of the external media. Extended memory mode requires a high speed card. Slow class drives Class 4 or Class 6 will lead to the smartphone starting to “slow down” when launching apps. It is recommended to use cards with standard UHS-I or UHS-II marked A1 or A2, which guarantees high speed random reading and writing.
Make a backup copy of all data on the card. The formatting process required to integrate the drive into the system will completely destroy all information. If there are important photos or documents on the media, copy them to your computer or cloud storage. After formatting, it will be impossible to restore data without specialized software.
⚠️ Attention: After formatting the card for internal memory, it will be encrypted with the key of your device. You will not be able to read this card on another phone or computer without a special reset, which will again delete all data.
Insert the card into the slot and wait for the system to notify you. W Android 10 when a new drive is detected, a pop-up window usually appears asking you to configure it. If the notification does not appear, go to settings manually. It is important to understand that not all smartphone manufacturers support the function Adoptable Storage. For example, the company Samsung often disables this feature in its firmware, leaving only the portable drive mode.
Use memory cards with a capacity of at least 32 GB. A smaller volume may not be recognized by the system as suitable for installing applications, and too large a volume (more than 256 GB) may work unstable on older devices.
Standard method: Formatting as internal storage
If your manufacturer has not blocked this feature, this is the most reliable way. The system will combine the internal memory and SD card into a single space. Applications will be installed there automatically, wherever there is free space. To activate the mode, go to menu Settings → Storage. Select your memory card from the list of available drives.
Click on the menu button (three dots) and select “Storage Settings”. Here you will be asked to select the usage type: “Portable storage” or “Internal storage”. Choose the second option. The system will warn you that data has been erased and prompt you to format the media. Confirm the action.
After formatting is completed, the system may offer to transfer existing data (photos, files) to a new drive. Agree to this to free up space on your system partition. Now, when installing new games or apps Android 10 will select the memory card by default if the built-in memory is full.
☑️ Check before formatting
| Storage type | Read speed | Write speed | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MicroSD Class 10 | up to 80 MB/s | up to 20 MB/s | Only for photos and videos |
| MicroSD UHS-I A1 | up to 100 MB/s | up to 90 MB/s | Minimum for applications |
| MicroSD UHS-I A2 | up to 160 MB/s | up to 130 MB/s | Optimal for games |
| MicroSD UHS-II | up to 300 MB/s | up to 260 MB/s | For professional shooting |
Keep in mind that after this procedure you will not be able to remove the card without losing the functionality of the applications installed on it. If you remove the drive, app icons will remain on the desktop, but when you try to launch, the system will display an error that the application is not installed.
Forced transfer through the developer menu
In situations where the manufacturer has blocked formatting the card as internal memory, but technically the phone supports working with external drives, you can activate the hidden forced transfer function. This doesn't merge memory, but it does add a Move button to each individual app's settings.
First, you need to activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About phone and find the item “Build number”. Quickly click on it 7 times in a row until the message “You have become a developer” appears. After this, a new section will appear in the main settings menu "For developers".
Inside this section, scroll down the list to the "Applications" item. Find the switch “Allow saving on external storage” (or “Force allow apps on external”). Activate it. After enabling this option, you must restart the device for the changes to take effect.
⚠️ Attention: This feature does not guarantee stable operation of all applications. Widgets, live wallpapers and system services may not work correctly when placed on an external card due to access speed restrictions.
Now go to Settings → Applications, select any app that supports transfer. If the function is activated correctly, the “Change” or “Move to SD card” button will appear in the “Storage” section. Please note that many system applications and apps that require high performance (for example, Instagram or banking clients) may not have this button even if the option is enabled.
Using ADB to expand capabilities
If the standard settings do not help, you can use the tool ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and having basic command line skills. It allows you to bypass manufacturer restrictions and force a change in storage type.
Connect your phone to your PC via a USB cable. On your smartphone screen, confirm permission to allow USB debugging. Open a command line on your computer in the folder with ADB installed and enter the command to check the connection:
adb devicesIf your device appears in the list with the mark device, you can proceed to the main command. We will use the utility pm (package manager) to change the storage configuration. Enter the following instructions:
adb shell pm set-install-location 2Here the number 2 means the priority of the external memory card. The value 0 returns the default setting (auto), and 1 forces the internal memory to be installed. After executing the command, reconnect the cable or restart your smartphone.
What to do if the command does not work?
If you receive a “Permission denied” error, make sure that USB debugging is enabled on your phone. Also, some manufacturers block this command at the kernel level, and then only obtaining root access can help.
This method does not format the card, but only changes the system preferences when installing new applications. Already installed apps will have to be transferred manually through the settings of each application, where the corresponding button should now become active. The effectiveness of the method depends on the specific device model and firmware version.
Why some applications cannot be transferred
Users often wonder why, after all the manipulations, the transfer button remains inactive for popular apps. It has to do with architecture Android 10 and solutions of software developers. The application must be specially adapted to work on external media.
Developers can prohibit transfer if the application uses desktop widgets, background services that should start immediately after turning on the phone, or if data loading speed is critical. Banking applications and instant messengers often block this feature for security reasons to prevent access to data when the card is removed.
In addition, part of the application data (the so-called ODEX code and some libraries) always remains in the internal memory, even if the main package is transferred. This is necessary to ensure system performance. Therefore, transferring a large game can free up not 2 GB, but only 1.5 GB of space.
Even with a successful transfer, the application system files take up space in the internal memory. It is impossible to completely free the built-in storage.
There are also restrictions at the file system level. If the card is formatted in exFATformat, some older applications may not interact with it correctly, although Android 10 usually works well with this format. Problems most often arise with the file system FAT32 when you try to write files larger than 4 GB inside the application cache.
Returning to factory storage settings
If you decide to stop using the card as internal memory or sell the phone, you need to return everything to its original state. You cannot simply remove the card - the data will remain encrypted, and the system will consider the drive damaged. Proper unmounting and formatting is required.
First, transfer all possible applications back to the internal memory through the settings. Then go to Settings → Storage, select the card and click "Eject" or "Unmount". Only after this can you physically remove the card or format it as portable.
For a complete reset, select the “Format as portable storage” option. The system will remove all data and encryption, making the card a regular flash drive for photos and documents. Remember that all applications remaining on the card after this procedure will stop working and will require reinstallation.
⚠️ Attention: The settings menu interface may differ depending on the manufacturer's shell (MIUI, One UI, EMUI). If you do not find the items described, check the official documentation for your specific smartphone model, as the location of the elements may change.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I transfer WhatsApp to an SD card in Android 10?
It is officially impossible to transfer the WhatsApp application itself to a memory card, since the developers have prohibited this function. However, you can transfer media files (photos, videos) and chat databases. To do this, in the WhatsApp settings, change the save folder or use the file manager to move the folder Android/media/com.whatsapp to an external drive.
Why does it start slower after transferring the game?
The speed of applications directly depends on the reading speed of the memory card. Even fast microSD cards are inferior to the built-in memory type UFS 2.1 or UFS 3.0, which is used in modern smartphones. Delays when loading levels and textures are normal when working with external media.
What happens if you remove the card while the application is running?
The application will instantly close with an error. If it is critically dependent on the data on the card, the system may offer to forcefully close it. Data that has not been saved to the internal memory at this time may be lost. Do not remove the card while the phone is on.
Does transferring applications affect the life of the memory card?
Yes, the active operation of applications creates a constant load on the memory cells of the card, producing many cycles of writing and rewriting the cache. This may cause the card to wear out faster than normal photo storage. Use high-quality cards with a high rewritability.