Transferring applications to a memory card in smartphones Samsung is a pressing task for users with limited internal memory. Despite the fact that modern flagships are equipped with built-in storage, budget models and devices of previous years (for example, 128–512 GB built-in storage, budget models and devices from previous years (for example, Galaxy A12 or Galaxy M21) often suffer from a lack of space. Unfortunately starting with Android 9.0 Samsung has significantly limited the ability to transfer applications to an SD card through standard settingsbut workarounds still exist.

In this article we will look at all the working transfer methods - from built-in functions before using ADB and third-party utilities. You will learn which applications can be transferred and which remain “tied” to the internal memory, how to avoid mistakes when working with microSD, and what to do if the system blocks the transfer. Let us separately dwell on the nuances for different versions One UI (from 4.0 to 6.0) and models Samsung — from Galaxy S22 to Galaxy A54.

Why does Samsung limit the transfer of applications to an SD card?

Since 2019 Samsung has been consistently removing the ability to transfer applications to a memory card through a standard interface. This is due to several factors:

  • 🔒 Security: Applications on an SD card are easier to spoof or hack, which increases the risk of malware infection.
  • ⚡ Performance: MicroSD (especially classes UHS-I U1 or lower) run slower than the built-in memory UFS 3.1, which slows down applications.
  • 📱 Google Policy: Starting from Android 10, Google recommends that manufacturers stop supporting adoptable storage (binding an SD card as internal storage).

However, some applications (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram or Google Maps) allow you to manually transfer media files (photos, videos, maps) to a memory card. And for a complete transfer APK files and data, you will have to use alternative methods.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with One UI 5.0+ (Android 13–15) the standard option for transferring applications via Settings → Applications completely deleted. Even if you see the “Move to SD card” button, it may not be active.

Preparation: which memory card to choose for Samsung?

Not every one microSD suitable for transferring applications. Here are the key requirements:

Characteristics Minimum requirement Recommended option
Speed class UHS-I U1 (10 MB/s) UHS-I U3 or A2 (30+ MB/s)
Volume 32 GB 128–256 GB (for games and heavy applications)
Formatting FAT32 (up to 4 GB/file) exFAT (without restrictions)
Brand Any Samsung EVO Plus, SanDisk Extreme

If you plan to transfer games (for example, Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), be sure to take a class card A2 —it is optimized for random writing of small files, which is critical for the game cache. Class cards U1 can cause lags and stutters.

📊 What memory card do you use in Samsung?
SanDisk
Samsung EVO
Kingston
Transcend
Other/I don’t know

Before purchasing, check whether your model supports cards of this size more Samsung cards with a volume of more than 128 GB. For example, Galaxy A10 officially works only with cards up to 512 GB, and Galaxy J2 Core up to 256 GB.

Method 1: Transfer through settings (for older versions of Android)

This method only works on devices with Android 8.0–9.0 (for example, Galaxy S8, Galaxy Note 9) or One UI 1.0–2.5. In new firmware, the option is hidden or removed.

Make sure that the memory card is formatted as portable storage

Connect the charger (the process may take 5-15 minutes)

Close all running applications

Free up at least 10% of internal memory-->

  1. Open Settings → Applications.

  2. Select the application you want to transfer (for example Facebook or Spotify).

  3. Tap Storage → Change → SD card.

  4. Confirm the transfer. The system will show how much space will be freed up.

If the button Change is inactive or missing, it means:

  • 🚫 The application does not support transfer (for example, Google Play Services or Samsung Knox).
  • 🔄 The memory card is formatted as internal storage (see Method 2).
  • 📱 You have a new version One UI (4.0 and higher).
⚠️ Attention: After transfer, some applications may run slower or issue errors during update. For example, Instagram may not save stories to the gallery if you transfer it to an SD card.

Method 2: Formatting the SD card as internal storage

This method allows you to “deceive” the system, forcing it to be perceived microSD as part of the internal memory. Important: after formatting, the card cannot be removed without losing data, and it will not be read on other devices.

Instructions:

  1. Insert the card into slot (or an adapter if you Galaxy S22 Ultra without a slot for microSD).

  2. Go to Settings → Device care → Memory → Advanced (⋮) → Storage settings.

  3. Select your SD card → Format as internal storage.

  4. Confirm the action. The system will offer to transfer some of the data (photos, videos) to the card.

After formatting:

  • ✅ Applications will be installed on the card automatically (if it allows developer).
  • ❌ The card cannot be removed without a factory reset.
  • ⚠️ The speed of applications may drop by 20–40% (depending on the class of the card).
What happens if you remove the card after formatting as internal storage?

The device will stop booting or will constantly show the error "SD card is damaged." To restore functionality, you will have to:

1. Insert the card back (if it is not damaged).

2. Reset the phone to factory settings via Recovery Mode.

3. Format the card on a PC and start over.

This method does not work on Samsung s One UI 4.0+ (Android 12 and later) - the option to format as internal storage is hidden. In this case, only method with ADB will help.

Method 3: Transfer via 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 transfer to SD card. This method works on all versions One UI, but requires connection to a PC.

What you will need:

  • 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
  • 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original to avoid connection problems).
  • 📦 Installed drivers Samsung USB Drivers i ADB Tools.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Enable on your phone Developer mode: go to Settings → About phone → Software information and tap 7 times on Build number.

  2. Go back to Settings → Developer and enable USB debugging.

  3. Connect your phone to the PC and confirm permission to debug.

  4. Open Command Prompt (or Terminal on macOS) and enter:

    adb shell pm set-install-location 2

    This command causes the system to install applications on the SD card by default.

  5. To transfer an already installed application (for example, Facebook), use:

    adb shell pm move-package com.facebook.katana

    Replace com.facebook.katana with the package name of the desired application (you can find it out through App Inspector or adb shell pm list packages).

If the command gives an error Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_INSTALL_LOCATION], it means:

  • 🔹 The application does not support transfer (for example, Samsung Health or Google Play Market).
  • 🔹 Memory card formatted as portable storage (needs to be reformatted).
  • 🔹 Additional restrictions have been added (try One UI 5.0+ added additional restrictions (try method with Link2SD).
adb shell pm list packages | grep "key word"

For example, Telegram use grep telegram.-->

Method 4: Using third-party applications (Link2SD, AppMgr III)

If the previous methods did not work, you can use specialized utilities. The most reliable:

  • 🔗 Link2SD — creates symbolic links, “deceiving” the system. Required root access on new versions of Android.
  • 📦 AppMgr III (App 2 SD) —works without root, but with restrictions. Supports cache and data transfer. data-i="210">— allows you to manually move application files (for example, downloaded maps to
  • 🛠️ Files by Google - allows you to manually move application files (for example, downloaded maps to Google Maps).

Consider working with AppMgr III (the most universal option):

  1. Install the application from Google Play.

  2. Open it and provide access to the storage.

  3. Select a tab Moved —applications that can be moved will be displayed here.

  4. Click on the application (for example, VK) → Move to SD card.

  5. Confirm the action. The application will freeze temporarily - this is normal.

Method limitations:

  • 🚫 Not all applications are supported (especially system ones).
  • 🔄 After updating Android, you may need to transfer again.
  • ⚠️ Applications with transferred data may crash when the card is removed.
💡

Application side like Link2SD or AppMgr III cannot bypass Samsung restrictions 100%. They work only with those applications that natively support transfer, but simplify the process.

What applications cannot be transferred to an SD card?

Even with the use of ADB or root access, some applications remain “unportable”. Here is the full list:

Category Examples Reason for blocking
System Samsung Knox, Google Play Services, One UI Home Hacking protection
Banking SberBank Online, Tinkoff, VTB Online Security requirements (PCI DSS)
Games with DRM PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, Honor of Kings Protection against cheating
Widgets Any widgets (weather, clock, etc.) Require constant access to the system
Applications with OBB files Asphalt 9, Call of Duty Mobile OBB files must be in the internal memory

If you are trying to transfer a banking application and it stops working, uninstall it and install it again - some banks (for example Alfa-Bank) block access when they detect a transfer to an SD card.

⚠️ Attention: Transferring games from OBB files (for example, Genshin Impact) to a memory card may result in a loading error. In this case, copy the folder Android/obb manually through the file manager, but the game may still slow down due to low reading speed microSD.

Common errors and their solutions

When transferring applications to an SD card, users encounter typical problems. Here's how to solve them:

  • 🔄 Error “Not enough space on device” when transferring
    Solution: Free up at least 1 GB internal memory. Use Settings → Device care → Free up space.
  • 🚫 The “Transfer” button is inactive
    Solution: Check if the card is formatted as internal storage. If not, use ADB.
  • 🐢 Applications slow down after transfer
    Solution: Buy a class card A2 or transfer the application back to internal memory.
  • 🔌 The phone does not see the SD card after transfer
    Solution: Reboot the device. If it doesn’t help, remove the card, insert it back and format it again.

If after the transfer the application stops updating via Google Play, try:

  1. Delete updates for Google Play Store (Settings → Applications → Google Play Store → ⋮ → Delete updates).

  2. Clear cache Google Play Services.

  3. Restart the phone and repeat the update.

Why are some applications not updated after being transferred to the SD card?

Google Play checks the integrity of application files before updating. If some of the data is on the SD card, the system may perceive this as a potential threat (for example, file substitution). The solution is to temporarily move the application back to the internal memory, update it, and then move it back to the card.

Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp to a memory card in Samsung?

The application itself WhatsApp cannot be transferred, but you can move media files (photo, video, voice messages). To do this:

  1. Open WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → Storage and data.
  2. Click Storage management → select files → Move to SD card.

To transfer the message database, you will need to manually copy the file msgstore.db.crypt14 via a file manager.

Why after transferring the game to the SD card does it crash?

Most likely, the game uses OBB files or cachethat remain in the internal memory. Solutions:

  • Copy the folder Android/obb/[game_name] to the SD card manually.
  • Use a class card A2 (for example, Samsung EVO Plus A2).
  • Move the game back to the internal memory - some titles (for example, PUBG Mobile) block launching from external storage.
How to transfer applications to the SD card in the Galaxy S23 Ultra?

In Galaxy S23 Ultra (and other flagships on One UI 5.1+) the standard transfer is blocked. Options:

  1. ADB: Use the command adb shell pm move-package [package_name] (see Method 3).
  2. Link2SD: Requires root, but allows you to move even system applications.
  3. Manual transfer: Copy the application folder from /data/app to SD card via Root Explorer (advanced users only).

Please note: Galaxy S23 Ultra does not have a slot for microSDso an adapter will be required USB-C → microSD.

Can I use an SD card as internal memory in Samsung A54?

In Galaxy A54 (One UI 5.1) option to format the SD card as internal storage disabled. Workarounds:

  • Use ADB to force the transfer (see Method 3).
  • Install custom recovery (for example, TWRP) and edit the file vold.fstab manually (requires root).
  • Buy a large capacity card (256–512 GB) and transfer only media files to it.

Remember: any manipulations with system files can lead to to loss of warranty.

What to do if after transfer the application does not open?

The problem arises due to:

  • Incompatibility of the memory card (for example, class U1 instead A2).
  • Transfer errors (application files are corrupted).
  • Developer blocks (for example, banking applications).

Solutions:

  1. Move the application back to internal memory.
  2. Clear cache and application data (Settings → Applications → [name] → Storage → Clear cache).
  3. Reinstall the application.