Owners of smartphones on Android 10 often face a lack of internal memory, especially if the device is budget or was released several years ago. Even after clearing the cache and deleting unnecessary files, many applications take up precious gigabytes, slowing down the system. Moving apps to SD card seems like a logical solution, but in Android 10 this function works differently than in previous versions. Google has tightened its security rules, and now not all applications can be moved, and some methods require root access or workarounds.

In this article we will look all available transfer methods from standard settings to advanced solutions for advanced users. You will learn why some apps cannot be transferred, how to bypass manufacturer restrictions (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei), and what to do if the system blocks movement. We will also analyze alternative options for freeing up memory if transferring to SD is not possible.

Before you begin, check two key points: format of your SD card (must be FAT32 or exFAT for compatibility) and speed class (recommended Class 10 or UHS-I for smooth operation of applications). Low-class cards can cause lags and errors when launching transferred apps.

📊 What is the amount of internal memory in your smartphone?
16–32 GB
32–64 GB
64–128 GB
More than 128 GB

Why is it difficult to transfer applications to an SD card in Android 10?

Starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google has introduced the concept Adoptable Storage —the ability to format an SD card as internal memory. However, this feature has become less available due to changes in security policy. Smartphone manufacturers ( Android 10 This feature has become less available due to security policy changes. Smartphone manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, HUAWEI) often block it or modify it, leaving users with only partial solutions.

The main reasons for the restrictions:

  • 🔒 Data security: Applications on an SD card are easier to steal or replace, especially if the card is removed and connected to other devices.
  • ⚡ Performance: SD cards (even class UHS-III) are slower than built-in memory eMMC/UFS, which can cause delays.
  • 📱 Manufacturers' policy: Brands want users to buy models with large amount of built-in memory.
  • 🛠️ Technical limitations: Not all applications support working with external drives (for example, system services or protected games DRM).

In Android 10, most users only have access to partial transfer: you can move part of the application data (for example, cache or media files), but not the APK file itself and not all user data. This applies even to devices with pure Android (for example, Google Pixel or Nokia).

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (Samsung Galaxy A-series, Redmi Note) after updating to Android 10, the function of transferring applications to SD may completely disappear from the menu settings. This is due to the customization of shells (One UI, MIUI).

Method 1: Standard transfer through Android settings

This is the simplest method, but it does not work for all applications. Suitable for devices with minimally modified Android (for example, Motorola, Nokia, ASUS ZenFone).

Steps for transfer:

  1. Open Settings → Applications and notifications → View all applications.
  2. Select the application you want to transfer (for example, Facebook or Spotify).
  3. Tap Storage (or Memory).
  4. If the option is available, you will see a button Change or Move to SD card.
  5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to complete.

What to do if there are no button Transfer ?

  • 📌 The application does not support transfer (for example, WhatsApp, Google Play Services).
  • 📌 The manufacturer has blocked the function (typical for MIUI or EMUI).
  • 📌 The SD card is formatted as portable storage, not as internal memory.

Format card in FAT32/exFAT|Check free space (minimum 500 MB)|Disable card encryption (if enabled)|Reboot the smartphone after formatting-->

⚠️ Attention: After transferring an application to an SD card, its performance may drop, especially if the card is class Class 4 or below. Tests show that startup time increases by 20–40% compared to internal memory.

Method 2: Formatting the SD card as internal memory (Adoptable Storage)

This method allows you to use the SD card as part of the internal storage, but has serious limitations:

  • 🔄 The card cannot be used extract and use on another device without formatting.
  • 📉 The speed of operation depends on the class of the SD card (recommended UHS-I or higher).
  • 🚫 Some manufacturers (Samsung, HUAWEI) block this function.

Instructions:

  1. Insert the SD card into the smartphone.
  2. Go to Settings → Storage.
  3. Click on the name of the SD card → Three dots (menu) → Storage settings.
  4. Select Format as internal (or Internal Storage).
  5. Confirm the action. The system will offer to transfer some of the data to the card.

After formatting:

  • 📁 New applications will be installed on the SD card by default (if there is space).
  • 🔄 Existing applications can be transferred manually through Settings → Applications.
  • ⚠️ The card will be encrypted and linked to the device.
What happens if you remove the SD card after formatting as internal?

Applications installed on the card will stop working until it is returned. The system may display errors or automatically delete data from the card when it is reconnected. On some devices. (Xiaomi) this leads to resetting application settings.

If the option Format as internal is missing, then the manufacturer has disabled it. In this case, only rooting (root) or alternative methods will help (see the next section).

Method 3: Transfer using ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods do not work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) a debugging tool that allows you to manually tell the system which applications to migrate. This method does not require root access, but requires connection to a PC.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on your computer.
  2. Enable on smartphone Developer mode (click on Build number 7 times in Settings → About phone).
  3. Activate USB debugging in the developer menu.
  4. Connect your phone to the PC and open the command line (or Terminal on Mac/Linux).
  5. Enter the command to check the connection: 
    adb devices

    The name of your device should appear.

  6. Find out the batch name of the application (for example, for Facebook this com.facebook.katana). data-i="157">or the command: App Inspector or the command: 
    adb shell pm list packages -f
  7. Move the application to the SD card with the command: 
    adb shell pm set-install-location 2

    Then reinstall the application - it will automatically be installed on the card.

Method limitations:

  • 🔧 Not all applications support installation on SD (for example, system or with protection DRM).
  • 📱 On some devices (Samsung s One UI) the command may not work due to a modified kernel.
  • ⚠️ After updating Android, the settings may be reset.
💡

If team pm set-install-location does not work, try an alternative method: delete the application, then install it again with the command adb install -s package.apkwhere the key -s forces installation of the APK on the SD card.

Method 4: Transfer through third-party applications (without root)

If the previous methods did not work, you can use utilities from Google Playthat automate the process. The best options:

  • 📲 AppMgr III (App 2 SD) - analyzes which applications can be transferred and offers to do it in one click.
  • 📲 Files by Google - has a built-in memory manager with a cleaning and transfer option.
  • 📲 SD Maid - in addition to transferring, cleans unnecessary files, freeing up additional space.

How to use AppMgr III:

  1. Install the application from Google Play.
  2. Open it and provide access to the storage.
  3. Go to the tab Movable —applications that can be transferred will be displayed here.
  4. Select the ones you need and click Move to SD card.

Advantages of the method:

  • ✅ Does not require a connection to a PC or knowledge of ADB commands.
  • ✅ Shows how much space will be freed up after the transfer.
  • ✅ Works on most devices, even with customized ones shells.

Disadvantages:

  • ❌ The free version has limitations (for example, you cannot transfer more than 3 applications at a time).
  • ❌ Not all applications are displayed in the list (depending on the manufacturer's policy).

Method 5: Root access and forced transfer (for advanced)

If you are ready to receive root access, additional opportunities will open up for transferring applications. This method is suitable for devices where the manufacturer has completely blocked standard methods (for example, Xiaomi Redmi or Samsung Galaxy J-series).

What you will need:

  • 📱 A smartphone with an unlocked bootloader and root access (for example, through Magisk).
  • 💻 Application Root Explorer or FX File Explorer.
  • 🔧 Application manager with root support (for example, Titanium Backup or Link2SD).

Instructions using Link2SD:

  1. Install Link2SD from Google Play and provide root access.
  2. Select the application you want transfer.
  3. Click Create link (or Link to SD card).
  4. Select which components to transfer: APK, Data or Cache.
  5. Restart the device.

⚠️ Attention: Forced transfer of system applications or services Google can lead to unstable operation of the smartphone, including errors when updating the OS or malfunctions Google Play Services.

Advantages of the root method:

  • ✅ You can transfer almost any application, including system ones.
  • ✅ Control over which files (APK, data, cache) are moved.
  • ✅ Possibility "freeze" unnecessary applications, freeing up memory.

Risks:

  • ❌ Loss of warranty (on most devices).
  • ❌ Possibility of "bricking" the smartphone if performed incorrectly.
  • ❌ Security problems (root access opens vulnerabilities to malware).

Alternative ways to free up memory without transferring to SD

If moving applications to an SD card is impossible or ineffective, consider alternative methods to free up internal memory:

1. Clearing cache and unnecessary files

  • 🧹 Use the built-in utility Storage in the settings to clear the cache.
  • 🧹 Applications like CCleaner or Files by Google will help you find and remove garbage.

2. Transferring media files

  • 📷 Move photos and videos to Google Photos (with the option enabled Free up space).
  • 🎵 Save music and podcasts directly to the SD card through application settings (Spotify, VLC).

3. Using cloud storage

  • ☁️ Google Drive, Yandex Disk or Dropbox to backup files.
  • ☁️ Some applications (for example, WhatsApp) allow you to save backup copies of chats to the cloud.

4. Removing pre-installed applications (bloatware)

  • 🗑️ Using ADB, you can disable unnecessary system applications without root access: 
    adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.package.name

    Replace com.package.name with the name of the package (for example, com.samsung.knox for Knox to Samsung).

5. Optimizing existing applications

  • 🔄 In application settings (Settings → Applications → [name] → Storage) you can clear the cache and data.
  • 🔄 Disable auto-loading of unnecessary apps in the battery settings.
💡

If your smartphone supports cards memory microSDXC (up to 2 TB), but you are using a 32 GB card, consider an upgrade - modern class cards A2 (for example SanDisk Extreme) significantly speed up the work of transferred applications.

Compatibility table: which applications can transfer?

Not all apps support working from an SD card. The table below shows examples of popular applications and their compatibility with transfer:

Application Transfer to SD (standard method) Transfer via ADB Transfer from root Notes
Facebook ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ✅ Yes You can transfer some of the data, but the cache remains in the internal memory.
WhatsApp ❌ No ❌ No ⚠️ Partially Media files can be saved to SD, but the application itself cannot.
Spotify ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ✅ Yes Music can be downloaded directly to the card in the application settings.
Google Maps ❌ No ❌ No ⚠️ Partially Maps can be saved to SD, but the application itself cannot.
PUBG Mobile ⚠️ Depends on the device ✅ Yes ✅ Yes On some smartphones the game works with SD, but there may be lags.

If your application is not in the table, check its compatibility via AppMgr III or try transferring it manually.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about transferring applications to SD in Android 10

❓ Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp to an SD card?

The application itself WhatsApp cannot be transferred, but you can:

  • Save media files (photos, videos) directly to the SD card in the settings chat.
  • Save backup copies of chats in Google Drive.
  • Use Titanium Backup (with root) to transfer part of the data.

If you force the application to be transferred (via root), it may stop working due to data protection.

❓ Why does the application slow down after the transfer?

This is due to:

  • SD card class: Maps Class 4/6 too slow for applications. Use Class 10 or UHS-I.
  • File fragmentation: Over time, the read/write speed on SD drops. Format the card regularly.
  • Android limitations: Some operations (for example, working with a database) are still performed in the internal memory.

Solution: Transfer only “light” applications to SD (messengers, players) and avoid games or apps with intensive I/O.

❓ How to transfer the application back to the internal memory?

This can be done in the same ways:

  1. Through settings: Settings → Applications → [name] → Storage → Edit → Internal memory.
  2. Via ADB: 
    adb shell pm move-package com.package.name i
    (where i is internal memory).
  3. Via AppMgr III: select the application and press Move to Phone.

If the transfer back button is missing, try reinstalling the application.

❓ Does transfer to SD work on Samsung Galaxy with One UI?

On most devices Samsung (for example, Galaxy A50, Galaxy M31) function of transferring applications to SD disabled to One UI. Alternatives: Disabled applications

  • Use ADB (see Method 3).
  • Format SD as internal memory (if available).
  • Remove unnecessary apps Samsung (for example, Samsung Pay Mini, Bixby) via ADB:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.bixby.agent
❓ Is it possible to transfer games to an SD card?

Technically yes, but with reservations:

  • 🎮 Light games (Candy Crush, Clash of Clans) are usually transferred without problems.
  • 🎮 Heavy 3D games (PUBG, Call of Duty Mobile) may slow down or produce errors when loading textures.
  • 🎮 Some games (Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail) block installation on SD due to protection against cheats.

Recommendation: Transfer only the game cache (via Settings → Applications → [game] → Storage → Clear cache and specify SD as the save location).